Seattle Therapy and Coaching for Teens and Adults
Come as you are. We’ll start there.
Maybe you’ve tried therapy before and spent more time explaining yourself than getting anywhere. Maybe you’re looking for help for your teen, who has already announced they won’t be talking. Or maybe things look fine from the outside, but keeping up is taking everything you have.
I’m Carla Hilderbrand, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker offering therapy and coaching through Grimalkin Counseling Group in Seattle. I work with teens and adults, including people living with complex mental health diagnoses and those who have struggled to find the right support.
I’m warm, direct, and comfortable with difficult conversations. I also bring humor into my work, because getting help shouldn’t mean leaving your personality at the door.
Therapy or Coaching: Which Fits Your Needs?
Individual Therapy in Seattle
You might be seeking therapy because your symptoms have become harder to manage, your relationships feel strained, or you’re tired of getting through each day on willpower alone. You might also be doing well and want support maintaining that progress.
I offer therapy for people navigating:
Bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety
Schizoaffective disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), and other personality disorders
Trauma and recovery from emotionally harmful relationships
Alcohol, cannabis, and other substance use concerns
We’ll talk about what’s happening in your life and decide what needs attention first. I draw from approaches including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), with practical skills you can use between sessions.
Behavioral Health, Life, and Relationship Coaching
Coaching gives us time to focus on specific goals and the everyday situations where you feel stuck. That could mean asking for what you need in a relationship, following through on plans, navigating a transition, or helping your teen build confidence and independence.
My coaching services include:
Teen coaching
Dating and relationship coaching for individuals and couples
Support for coming out later in life
Communication, boundaries, and everyday coping skills
I bring my clinical background to this work, but coaching is a separate service from therapy and does not provide mental health diagnosis or treatment.
If you aren’t sure which service makes sense, we can discuss that before getting started.
Support for Teens Who Are Skeptical About Getting Help
If your teen’s response to another appointment is an eye roll, silence, or a firm “absolutely not,” I won’t be surprised—or offended.
I was a teen who resisted therapy. I remember wanting adults to listen without turning everything into a lesson. That experience still influences how I work with young people.
We might start with a video game, a shared activity, or a conversation about something they care about. I want to hear their perspective, including what they think the adults around them are missing.
As we build a working relationship, we can practice handling frustration, asking for space, navigating friendships, and working toward goals they’ve helped choose. We’ll also discuss how parents can be involved and what privacy looks like.
Therapy for Personality Disorders and Stigmatized Diagnoses
If you’ve been turned away after sharing your diagnosis, looking for another therapist can feel exhausting.
I welcome people with personality disorders and other stigmatized mental health concerns. This is work I choose and value.
You can talk about jealousy, anger, shame, mistrust, or patterns you’re reluctant to admit keep happening. I’ll listen carefully and give honest feedback. When something is hurting you or someone else, we’ll address it together and practice different ways to respond.
Your diagnosis matters to your care. So do your relationships, strengths, interests, and the life you want to build.
[Learn About Personality Disorder Therapy]
[Explore Therapy for Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and Schizoaffective Disorder]
LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy and Coaching in Seattle
You should be able to talk about your life without spending the session explaining or defending your identity.
I welcome LGBTQ+ clients, people coming out later in life, and people in monogamous, polyamorous, and ethically nonmonogamous relationships. My practice is also kink-affirming.
I especially enjoy working with tech employees, pilots, and high achievers who are used to being capable—and may find it difficult to admit they need support, too.
We’ll make room for the parts of your life that matter to you, whether that’s work, family, gender, sexuality, relationships, or figuring out what you want next.
Getting Started With Grimalkin
You don’t need to know your diagnosis, choose a therapy approach, or have the right words before contacting me.
Tell me a little about what you’re looking for. We’ll discuss your needs, therapy or coaching options, current availability, and fees so you can decide whether working together feels like a good fit.
Carla Hilderbrand | Grimalkin Counseling Group
Seattle, Washington
206-851-8492
grimalkincounseling@gmail.com