Finding a therapist who you really click with can feel like a daunting process— and for good reason!
The relationship between counselors and the people they work with, otherwise known as the therapeutic alliance, has been shown to be one of the most significant predictors of positive outcomes in therapy (Ardito & Rabellino, 2011). In other words, working with a therapist who you trust, who agrees with your goals and wishes to collaborate with you in reaching them, and who has empathy for your experiences can have a major impact on your healing and growth.
Am I the right therapist for you?
I do not wish for anyone to feel like they are walking into their first counseling appointment without having a baseline idea of who they may be working with . This is why I offer a free, 15-minute phone consultation before we commit to therapy (see the “Book a Consultation” tab at the top and bottom of this page).
Below, you can read a little about who I am as a human and as a counselor before booking a consultation.
Rhiannon Sturgess, LPC
Hello again (:
I was born and raised in Kalispell, MT, and moved south to the high desert of Boise, ID with my husband and (then 2, now 3) cats in 2020. My experiences growing and living in Northwest Montana gifted me a lifelong treasure of emotional and spiritual healing through connecting with our natural world and the creatures we share it with (wasps exempted).
I also find humor to be a true healer and enthusiastically invite it into my life and practice. My hope is that we can give ourselves permission to cry as well as laugh both inside and outside of the therapeutic room.
Included in my many passions are visiting the national parks (don’t ask me about how many are left on the list) my human and animal relationships, and wildlife conservation and protection of our natural spaces. I also love to rock-climb, hike/trail-run, float the river, and lift weights. Reading historical fantasy, watching scary movies, listening to survival story podcasts, and painting with watercolor are other interests of mine. If I had to choose just one food to eat every day for the rest of my life, sushi wins every time.
I earned my BA in Psychology at Carroll College (Helena, MT) and my MA in Counseling at Boise State University. I also have ongoing experience working at a community agency where I provide group and individual counseling services for people from all walks of life and a variety of backgrounds, with primary focuses being addiction and trauma.
As a counselor, I have found that when I bring my authentic (and of course, professional) self to session, the therapeutic relationship benefits. In the field of mental health, counselors are often taught to be “blank slates” to best serve our communities. In response to this I ask, “How could I expect somebody to show up as their real self in session if I, the counselor, remain cloaked in mystery?”
While ours would be a professional relationship, counseling relationships are just that— relationships which exist between two humans. I endeavor to bring my human self to the therapeutic room and eliminate the power dynamic that unfortunately yet commonly permeates counseling through interrogative “counselor-as-expert” archetypes. I will not superimpose my goals onto yours and will not give you advice pertaining to what I would do if I were in your shoes. What I will do is work with you collaboratively and holistically. I will hold space for you when you need it and see you for the complex human you are with professionalism, compassion, and a desire to understand.
