Rate Sommer Garrett

Counseling is a sacred space as there is something incredibly meaningful about being trusted with another person’s story—the parts they are proud of, the parts that hurt, and even the parts they may have spent years trying to hide. Much of my work focuses on the toxic guilt and shame that can grow out of these experiences. Shame has a way of convincing us that something is wrong with who we are, rather than helping us recognize what has happened to us and how we learned to survive it.

My counseling experience has also taken me beyond the United States. I have had the privilege of providing trauma-focused counseling and education in Kenya, Uganda, and Ukraine, working across cultures to address trauma, guilt, and shame. Those experiences have reinforced something I deeply believe while our stories may look very different, the desire to be known, accepted, connected, and whole is deeply human.

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and sometimes a little unconventional. One of my favorite sayings is, “It’s weird until it works.” In addition to talking, I may incorporate Trauma-Focused CBT, guided imagery, bilateral stimulation, and creative expression to help decrease anxiety and stress, strengthen self-worth or attachments, and work through experiences that may be difficult to put into words.

My hope is that our work together helps you understand how your experiences have shaped you without allowing those experiences to define you. Together, we can explore what has kept you stuck, recognize the strengths that have carried you this far, and begin loosening the grip of guilt, shame, and fear.

You have a story worth hearing. I would be honored to share that space with you as you work toward feeling healthier, more connected, and more whole.