Meet Theresa Russell.
I’ve always been a deep feeler. As a kid, books were my escape hatch—doorways into liminal worlds where I could breathe and make sense of all the energy I was taking in.
As a teen, I navigated depression and anxiety. Beginning therapy changed everything. It gave me a consistent place to be fully myself, learn how to meet panic with presence, and move toward a future I couldn’t yet see—graduating high school, then college.
In 2021, I finally said yes to the path I’d always wanted: becoming a therapist. I completed my graduate work at National University and, in 2023, began training with Somatic Experiencing® International, deepening my work with the nervous system. I’ve since supported people moving through psychosis and complex trauma within a community model that centers around relationship, repair, and connection.
I’ve been sober since 2022. That choice opened new layers of intuition, dreamwork, and somatic practice—more presence, more listening, more capacity.
Theresa Russell
My story
How I Practice
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Somatic awareness
We notice sensation, pendulate when intensity rises, and re-orient to the here-and-now to build capacity. (Somatic Experiencing)
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Narrative therapy
We separate you from the problem (“I deal with…”), creating room for voice and choice.
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CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
When thought loops take over, we gently reality-test and practice kinder interpretations.
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Motivational interviewing
Thoughtful, reflective questions help you hear yourself and choose next steps that fit.
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Experiential work
Art, writing, and dreamwork move what words alone can’t—inviting creativity and life-force back online.
Relational themes are central to how I work. The therapy relationship becomes a mirror where early patterns can be replayed and, with care, healed in new ways. Skepticism is welcome here—discernment and doubt are not obstacles; they’re part of the process.
What Shapes Me
Nature and animals are anchors in my life. I grew up in the woods, and a childhood moment of eye contact with a deer felt like a soul-level conversation. That kind of attunement informs how I practice today. I plan to integrate equine-assisted work as my practice grows.
Creative and nature-based expression keep me connected to the “more-than-human” world—another way of noticing. Another way of knowing.
If you’re a thoughtful, sensitive soul…
…and you’re ready to move from self-doubt to expansiveness, from over-functioning to ease, from old stories to choice—you’re in the right place. We’ll take it one felt step at a time and let change root from the inside out.
Ways to meet: Online via telehealth
In person retreat experiences will be offered in the future
FAQ
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Standard individual therapy sessions: 50 minutes
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Online/telehealth sessions for teens and adults physically located in California at the time of session
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Most clients begin with weekly sessions
We may shift to biweekly as stability and capacity grow, if clinically appropriate
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Current fee: $200 per 50-minute individual session (private pay)
Limited reduced-fee spots may be available based on need and schedule -
Payment is collected via secure card-on-file through my HIPAA-compliant client portal (SimplePractice)
Payment is due at the time of service
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I am currently out-of-network / private pay only and do not bill insurance directly.