Kaitlyn Rusca

I am drawn to matters of the heart – to the deep questions we ask, how we find meaning, the way we move through pain, and how we heal and become more free. I cherish so much my own experiences of healing and expansion through relationships, therapy, spirituality, the expressive arts and body movement that I followed the rich and transformative path to becoming a therapist. I completed my MA in Couples and Family Therapy from Seattle University in 2019, started my private practice in 2021, and have been training in Internal Family Systems Therapy for the past 6 years. I also have a background as a yoga instructor, training as a doula, and experience exploring the spiritual realms of therapy and healing work.

I work primarily with Internal Family Systems theory (IFS), weaving in mindfulness, somatic awareness, and experiential interventions. I also draw upon attachment theory, Emotion Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy. These approaches emphasize how one makes meaning of one’s life and experiences, how to express emotions and create deep and trusting relationships, and how to process difficult experiences internally so as to live from a centered place of calm, confidence, and authenticity.

I bring warmth and genuine curiosity to every session, helping people feel truly heard from the very first conversation. In an IFS session, I will guide you to get curious about different parts of yourself -the anxious part, the one that shuts down, the one that keeps pushing through - rather than treating any part as the enemy. Experiential moments in session, like noticing what shows up in your body or exploring something through imagery, can unlock insight that talk alone sometimes cannot reach. I will help you to identify and explore the patterns, reactions, body sensations and emotions that come up as we talk. Through being deeply present and inviting in compassion, we will understand, heal and integrate parts of you that feel stuck, often burdened with past trauma or even intergenerational trauma. Sessions feel collaborative and unhurried, with space for both depth and lightness. I especially bring an openness and attunement to spirituality to my sessions and honor however clients might want deconstruct, explore, or integrate spirituality into our work together.

First sessions are a chance to explore what brings you to therapy and what you are hoping for, at whatever pace feels right to you. We will explore some of your family, relationship and trauma history to understand the bigger picture of what you are experiencing. I will introduce IFS and we will begin to map your parts and create a plan for future sessions. We may drop into some mindfulness, somatic awareness or guided work with one of your parts/feelings if it feels comfortable. It is important to take a few sessions to connect, build trust and see if my style feels like a good fit for you! Sessions are 50 minutes and typically weekly, and I will always check in on pacing so therapy fits your life.