You might recognize yourself in some of these experiences:
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Feeling anxious, avoidant, or unsure in close relationships
Patterns that repeat despite insight or effort
Longing for closeness while also protecting yourself
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Chronic self-criticism or shame
Feeling “not enough” or fundamentally flawed
Difficulty accessing self-compassion
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Anxiety, low mood, or emotional numbness
Feeling overwhelmed or shut down
Trouble settling or feeling safe in your body
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Emotional neglect or inconsistency growing up
Feeling unseen, unprotected, or parentified
Carrying responsibility too early
Relational therapy for adults in Washington
Hi, I’m Tamryn, an intern therapist in Bellevue, Washington.
You don’t have to know exactly what’s wrong
Many people come to therapy feeling unsettled, stuck, or disconnected, without a clear diagnosis or label. You might sense that something from earlier in life is still shaping how you relate, cope, or feel about yourself today.
Who this work tends to support
I work primarily with adults who carry early relational experiences into their present lives, often showing up as anxiety, self-doubt, difficulty trusting, or a sense of longing. Many are thoughtful, capable people who have tried to understand themselves, yet still feel something is missing.
If you’re not sure whether your experiences “count,” that uncertainty itself often belongs here.
“It is a joy to be hidden, but a disaster not to be found”
― D.W. Winnicott, Playing and Reality
Sometimes what we need most is someone who really listens - therapy offers that space. Email me for a free 15-minute consult.
I’m Tamryn, a psychotherapist-in-training and I currently offer 55-minute psychotherapy sessions at CoHear in Bellevue, as an intern therapist. This means reduced rates!
I work with individuals and couples, specializing in issues including (but not limited to):
My approach
I believe we are all shaped by our early relationships, and that the patterns formed in these relationships influence emotional regulation, self-perception, and interpersonal dynamics throughout life. Because of this, I find it crucial that you feel safe in your process of self-exploration through a secure and meaningful therapeutic bond. I believe that over time this bond can create an internal sense of security and well-being outside of therapy.
How does therapy work?
I believe therapy can be one of the most meaningful, life-altering relationships a person can experience, not because it ‘fixes’ you but because it offers something most of us rarely get - a place where we can learn to bring our whole selves without worrying about how we are being perceived or if we are saying the ‘right’ thing. The therapeutic relationship is one in which we don’t have to perform and because of that, we get the chance to make sense of our patterns, pain, and possibilities, and then work towards life that feels authentic and whole.
These are some books that might help with some questions you have about therapy, as well as some that can take you further into the therapeutic world. (They are not a substitute for therapy but can help with understanding how it works).
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb: this is the ultimate ‘fly on the wall’ experience where you get to hear what goes on inside the therapy room as well as what goes on inside the mind of the therapist. An easy read and intro to therapy!
Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller: more sciencey and a great way to figure out your attachment style and how it impacts your romantic and social relationships.
Attachment in Psychotherapy by David J. Wallin: this book translates attachment theory and research into way to understand adult behavior in the context of childhood development. Comprehensive, with lots of case material, if that’s what you’re looking for.
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: if you’re looking for validation that what you feel in your body is a result of what you’ve experienced in your life, this is it. Helpful to understand the mind-body connection as well as the neuroscience behind it.
Here are some other books I’ve found helpful.
