Counseling & Addiction Services at JFS provides individual therapy and group support for people seeking assistance around mental health and emotional well-being. Our focus areas include working with people impacted by trauma; people connected to Jewish community and identity; people navigating substance abuse and addiction; and teens and young adults. The team is collectively trained in evidence-based, trauma-focused modalities, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Individual counseling is the primary service of our program. Counselors are available to provide up to one year of one-on-one support. We offer weekly therapy sessions during regular business hours. We serve the Jewish community, and individuals that do not identify as being Jewish.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at this time, our services have moved entirely to telehealth. We provide both individual and support groups over HIPAA-compliant Zoom. Clients can access this service either through a computer or smartphone.
Looking Back, Looking Forward: 2021 in Review
Our approach is to engage at a human level, grounding our work in the relationship developed between a person and their therapist. We focus on helping a person develop insight and awareness around their patterns of thinking and behavior, as well as the world and relationships around them. This foundation offers people opportunities to build deeper understanding, develop emotional regulation and stress reduction skills, and move toward meaningful goals of improved mental health and emotional well-being.
Therapists work together to build partnerships with those they are supporting, helping to identify these goals and move towards overall improvement.
While our program can help to address a variety of concerns, we maintain four central (often overlapping) specializations:
Trauma Therapy
Jewish Community / Antisemitism / Historical Trauma
Addiction Counseling
Teen & Young Adult
Our program aims to provide support to teens and young adults, as well as the parents and caregivers in their lives.
At this time our program hosts an ongoing weekly support group (co-facilitated by a JFS therapist and a DV advocate) for survivors of domestic violence.
We also periodically provide short-term support groups (6 to 8 weeks) that often take on a different theme. Past groups have included art therapy, movement therapy, and parenting support.
To inquire for individual therapy, please reach out through our Get Help form, or contact us at (206) 861-3152.
To inquire about group availability or get on a wait list for group, please reach out through our Get Help form, or contact us at (206) 861-3152. If we have space available in a current or upcoming group (either our continuous DV Survivor support group, or one of our limited-time, thematic groups), the group facilitators will contact you for a brief screening to ensure fit.
If you are interested in parent coaching, please begin the intake process by emailing cas@jfsseattle.org that you are interested in parent coaching.
We do not provide therapy to those who perpetuate domestic violence or sexual assault. This treatment is a different skillset and a different type of care than what we offer. If, at intake or over the course of our work together, we assess that controlling or harmful behaviors are an issue we will provide an appropriate referral to programs or providers who focus on accountability.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, at this time, our services have moved entirely to telehealth. We provide both individual and support groups over HIPAA-compliant Zoom. Clients can access this service either through a computer or smartphone.
With updated guidance from the local and national public health agencies, we are continuing to assess the situation – and will make a future determination on reintroducing in-person support as an option for people engaging in our services.
If our team determines that our services are the best fit for your needs, you will be matched with a therapist based on a variety of factors, including scheduling, openings, skillset, and personality.
It is my great pleasure to serve as both a therapist and the Addictions Specialist at JFS! I have been a practicing mental health counselor, chemical dependency counselor and dance/ movement therapist for more than 18 years and hold LMHC, CDP and R-DMT licenses.
I am passionate about helping clients navigate through a wide variety of challenges including trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, grief, domestic violence and addiction. With deep compassion and non-judgmental listening, I hold space for healing and growth to occur. Utilizing EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Somatic Psychotherapy, Mindfulness and other practices, I help my clients find the freedom to live life more fully.
It is vitally important to me to create an affirming space that includes people of all religions, races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. It is my honor to stand by your side through this healing journey!
I grew up deeply embedded in Seattle’s Jewish community. After many years in New York where I received my MSW and LICSW, I returned in 2015 and began working at JFS shortly thereafter. My social work has been focused on serving survivors—at a teen anti-violence center, homeless shelters and in teen and adult psychotherapy clinics.
I believe that therapy presents an opportunity to deepen our understanding of patterns and behaviors—and ultimately cultivate more authentic, genuine relationships. I work with individuals to successfully meet life’s challenges, navigate transitions and develop practices to grow into our best selves. From a place of collaboration and warmth, I assist clients to uncover the strengths, clarity and resources needed for lasting change. Some of the approaches I use include: Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapies, EMDR, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing and Relational Therapy.
I customize therapy for each person and provide an affirming environment for clients of all religious, ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations. I especially love working with Jewish clients, teens and young adults, trauma survivors and folks finding themselves at a personal crossroads.
I began working with survivors of trauma in 1994 and completed my MSW in 1998. Since then, I’ve worked for many years as a domestic violence advocate, therapist, and somatic practitioner.
Although I work with clients on many different goals, I have the most experience with and am the most passionate about healing from trauma—including sexual violence, other forms of interpersonal harm, and institutional and historical trauma such as racism and anti-Semitism. I have worked inside both Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities, and often work with trans and non-binary folks.
Therapy is a very particular kind of relationship that holds your healing and growth at its heart. In my own practice, I bring a variety of methods with me including: EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy and somatic approaches. I tend to be straightforward, intuitive and (as appropriate) humorous. I grew up in Brooklyn and although I’ve mostly lost my accent, I think it still shows! Supporting people to heal, build resilience and deepen their connections with others is an honor and a joy.
I am delighted to serve as the Intake Specialist and a Mental Health Counselor on the team. I received my MSW from University of Washington in 2018 specializing in mental health and have worked in a variety of community mental health and non-profit settings since 2014. I use an eclectic approach that integrates modalities such as DBT, CBT, ACT, Somatics, and Mindfulness to address the various challenges that clients face throughout their lifespan. I am most passionate about working with young adults and the LGBTQIA community, specifically with queer and trans folks.
I believe that therapy is a co-created space where healing takes place. I use a clinical approach that is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and client-centered to support you in building the life you wish to live. I approach each client with warmth and positive regard as we work together to challenge patterns that are no longer serving you. Through an anti-racist lens, I offer a space to explore life’s up’s and downs through building on each person’s inherent resilience’s and resources to create lasting change. I work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, relationships issues, ADHD, and trauma. I am experienced in working with people from a diverse religious, ethnic, racial, socioeconomic backgrounds and clients from all sexual orientations and gender identities.
If our team determines that our services are the best fit for your needs, you will be matched with a therapist based on a variety of factors, including scheduling, openings, skillset, and personality.
We have five clinicians on staff who provide individual therapy to patients ages 13+.
Because of COVID-19, our 50-minute weekly counseling sessions are occurring online through a confidential and remote telehealth platform. Our counselors are available Monday through Friday. We look forward to providing in-person counseling services at our Capitol Hill office again, once it is deemed safe to do so.
Thanks for your interest! The first step is our intake process, where our Intake Specialist will go over some initial questions with you. There are two ways to start the counseling intake process:
To leave a voicemail message:
Call the intake line directly at (206) 861-3152, and include the following information: name, phone number, email address, age of prospective client, preferred method of contact, relationship to prospective client, preferred day/time for counseling, and if it is safe to leave a message. After you get in touch with us, our Intake Specialist will follow up with you directly within two business days to schedule an intake phone call. Please note that if you are calling about counseling for a person age 13+, our Intake Specialist will need to speak separately with that person during the intake process.
You and your therapist will decide on the tools and techniques most appropriate to meet your needs. All of our services come from building a trusting relationship with the client, including but not limited to: Addiction, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Psychodynamic, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Our counseling program (currently online only) typically operates on a time-limited model, with once-weekly sessions. If you have any questions about duration, you may discuss this with the Intake Specialist during the intake process.
We are not open on weekends. We offer our services Monday through Friday, with later appointments available on occasion.
We’re so glad you’re helping a loved one connect to us! This looks different depending on who you’d like to help connect with us:
Unfortunately, we do not offer same-day or walk-in appointments since we have an intake process that we must adhere to. Once you get in touch with us through one of the methods above, we will do our best to see you as soon as we are able. Thank you for your understanding.
Unfortunately, Jewish Family Service is not equipped to respond to crisis situations. If you are experiencing a crisis, please contact Crisis Connections at (206) 461-3222. If it is an emergency, please contact 9-1-1, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Meet Kelsey Schulman, Mental Health Clinician & Intake Specialist
Meet Kelsey Schulman, Mental Health Clinician & Intake Specialist at JFS!
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