"When we deny the story,
it owns us. When we own the story, we can write a
brave new ending."
—Brené Brown
As a therapist, I aim to help you feel better prepared to address life's transitions. To find calm and clarity with the unknown.
Therapy Services
We often experience feelings of anxiety and depression related to the challenges we are experiencing. I hope to help you slow down and focus on achieving positivity and happiness in a safe, non-judgmental space where we can explore feelings of confusion and personal concerns. My goal is to help you feel more fulfilled and content with your life.
Learn More About My Therapeutic Style
Hello
I'm Caitlin Steele, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker living and working in Sonoma County, CA.
I am passionate about supporting women and individuals through postpartum mood disorders, reproductive trauma, infertility, grief, and women’s mental wellness. I offer both in-person therapy in Sebastopol and telehealth counseling across California.
I started my private practice in 2021, after 16 years of community social work. My private practice was born from my personal experiences in the world of reproductive medicine. In an effort to understand my own journey, I dug into research and attended trainings focused around pregnancy loss, infertility, postpartum mood disorders and third party reproduction. I opened my practice with a desire to help others navigate these complex situations and the emotional turmoil and pain that often accompanies them.
I am certified as a Perinatal Mental Health Therapist through Postpartum Support International and have post-graduate training in reproductive mental health. I am also trained in Somatic Experiencing (SEI, completed level 1) and incorporate a somatic approach during sessions. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
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CA Licensed Clinical Social Worker # 88316
UT Licensed Clinical Social Worker #12677337-3501
Perinatal Mental Health Certification, Postpartum Support International
SE Professional Training Program, in progress
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National Association of Social Workers
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Postpartum Support International
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
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Continuing Education:
Mental Health Professional training series, American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Fertility Counseling Postgraduate Course 2022-23, hosted by Sharon Covington and Linda Applegarth
Ongoing training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
California State University, Chico:
Master of Social Work
Bachelor of Social Science & Psychology
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It’s natural to worry occasionally, however sometimes worries can become excessive. If you’re experiencing persistent worry, which is interrupting your sleep, causing your heart to race, or making daily activities challenging, it may be time to seek help.
Depression presents in many ways - anger, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, irritability, guilt, low mood, worthlessness, among others… Therapy can help you address depression by developing healthy thinking styles and coping skills.
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Somatic therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on the mind-body connection and emphasizes the importance of bodily sensations, movements, and experiences in understanding and addressing psychological issues. As a therapist, I help clients explore and work through emotional and psychological concerns by paying attention to bodily sensations, movements, and patterns of tension or relaxation. Emotional experiences are stored not only in the mind, but also in the body; addressing both aspects can lead to more holistic healing and growth.
What to expect: Body centered practices, such as breath work, mindfulness, and movement exercises. By becoming more aware of bodily sensations and learning to release tension or trauma held in the body, one can experience relief from symptoms such as anxiety, depression, trauma-related stress, and chronic pain.
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I have experience providing support to those in the caregiver role as well as those transitioning out of the workforce and into retirement. This time of life is filled with large, often life altering, decisions. It’s beneficial to have emotional support when making decisions about next steps.
I have much experience working with family caregivers who are experiencing burnout related to their role. Therapy can provide an outlet and help create healthy boundaries.
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Baby is here, but you’re not feeling right? You may be wondering, isn’t this supposed to be the happiest time of my life, why am I so sad? Are you experiencing anxiety and scary thoughts? You’re not alone. One in seven women will develop a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth. Thankfully, we can get you back to feeling yourself and enjoying your new little one with the right treatment. Please contact me so we can chat further.
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After experiencing a miscarriage, depression is common, as is anxiety around future pregnancies. Research has shown that therapy following a loss can decrease depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. Although therapy is beneficial at any time, research states starting treatment soon after the loss is the most helpful.
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Infertility is life-altering. I view this diagnosis as a total loss of control. It’s overwhelming to experience the grief and shock that comes with infertility while also attempting to identify the right treatment and medical providers. Often, you’re on a time crunch with infertility, so processing your emotions moves to the back burner.
In our work together, I can help you navigate through this challenging time and help you feel like yourself again. If you’re interested in a free consultation to see if we are a good fit, please reach out.
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Surrogacy can be such an amazing process. However, at times it may not feel that way. For the intended parent, surrogacy can be a source of extreme stress and anxiety. For gestational carriers, surrogacy is an emotional journey. You may feel you’ve lost control of your body as you carry a little one for another. Whether you’re the intended parent or the gestational carrier, support can be beneficial. I’m happy to help guide you through this journey to feel more emotionally secure and stable on the other side.
Areas of Practice
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule a complimentary consultation today.
There are many different therapeutic approaches, rooted in specific theories (think cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, Freud, etc). These theories act as a roadmap for psychotherapists - guiding them through the process of understanding the client, presenting problem, and then developing a response / solution. The six major therapeutic approaches include (1) Behavioral, (2) Cognitive, (3) Psychanalytic, (4) Humanistic, (5) Systemic, and (6) Constructionist.
Therapeutic Style
I rely on CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) for practical tools to combat symptoms of anxiety and depression while incorporating mindfulness or ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) to tackle letting go and accepting what is not in our control. When appropriate, I will also incorporate somatic therapy, which is a bottom up therapeutic approach focusing on the mind body connection. This is particularly helpful for trauma.
With a holistic social work approach, I see clients within the context of their community and relationships — supporting your whole self, not just symptoms. Sessions are engaging and collaborative, designed to leave you with actionable steps to improve your daily life.
What to expect
During our first session, we outline goals and I tailor one's treatment to their identified goals and needs. I recommend starting with weekly therapy and decreasing to biweekly and monthly as coping skills improve and symptoms reduce. In my mind, therapy is not forever. Instead, therapy is a safe space where you can develop and practice tools to foster self-reliance and acknowledge and address feelings of psychological distress. I always advocate being choosy when finding a therapist, a good fit makes all the difference.
My approach to therapy is integrative, providing services through a holistic lens.
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Currently Serving clients based in California and Utah.I am unable to provide therapy to those residing outside of California and Utah.
To Get Started:
Contact me to schedule an appointment or a free consultation.
Online counseling is performed using HIPPA compliant zoom telehealth software. You are emailed a link, and can start the appointment from anywhere, on any device. You will be sent appointment reminders to ensure the scheduled time still works.
If you are unable to attend a session, please cancel at least 24 hours beforehand; otherwise, you will incur a late cancelation fee of $95.00.
You will be emailed the intake package upon our initial contact, please be sure to complete this prior to the appointment start time.
Please contact me if you're interested in reviewing the intake forms prior to scheduling an appointment.
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Current fee is $175 per 50 minute session
I accept payment through a secure therapy platform, SessionsHealth. I accept all major credit cards. I'm also able to accept HSA and FSA payments.
No Surprises Act: Good Faith Estimate
Under a new law, No Surprises Act (H.R. 133), Licensed Clinical Social Workers are required to provide clients who do not have insurance (or who are not using insurance), an estimate of the total expected costs for therapeutic services to be received. This is known as a Good Faith Estimate; the Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of services that are reasonably expected to address your mental health care needs.
Brief explanation of estimate for new patients:
The estimate below is the range of costs that is likely for most new patients. Until I do an initial evaluation and we start to work together, I will not have a clear picture of your specific concerns, diagnosis and needs. I typically see therapy patients for 12-16 sessions for a total cost of $2,100 - $2,800. However, in some situations the concerns are more complicated, so we may need additional sessions above the time covered by this estimate. We can discuss this further during our work together.
Upon request, I will provide an individualized Good Faith Estimate. Please note, you can ask myself or any therapist you work with for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an appointment.
If you receive a bill/statement that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill/statement.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit: www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019.
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I am considered an 'Out-of-Network Provider' (OON).
I can provide a superbill to those who plan to seek reimbursement from their insurance carrier. I'm happy to answer any questions regarding insurance reimbursement. Most PPO insurance plans will reimburse a portion of the session fee, if you'd like more information, please reach out or phone your insurance directly.
If you're interested in seeking reimbursement, I would recommend checking your coverage carefully. I think it's best to call the carrier to clarify your benefits and ask if seeing an out of network provider is an option. Some helpful questions:
What are my mental health benefits?
Is a referral from my primary care physician necessary to seek counseling services?
Am I able to see an out of network provider and submit a superbill?
- If yes, where do I submit the bill and how do I arrange for reimbursement?
- If yes, what percentage will the carrier reimburse for / what is the coverage amount per therapy session?Does my coverage include online therapy?
How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
After years of accepting insurance, I have made the difficult decision to move away from an insurance based practice. If you’d like more information on why its challenging to accept insurance as a private practice therapist, here is a good and simple read.
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Tuesday: 10am-3pm
Wednesday: 10am-2pm
Friday: 10am-2pm
* Phone calls will be returned during working hours. Typically, I am able to respond to emails within 48 hours of receipt*