Mercedes Stepp

Before Our Work Together Many of the people I see arrive feeling exhausted by their own symptoms - sleep disturbances, appetite changes, constant anxiety, being easily triggered, irritability, and a sense of being out of control in their own lives.

What You'll Feel After Our First Session You'll leave feeling heard, validated, accepted, and hopeful, with a clear path forward toward the life you actually want.

How I Help My practice helps people with a history of trauma and related conditions - including OCD, anxiety, ADHD, and substance use disorders - move toward healing through acceptance, validation, hope, and clarity. I use evidence-based treatments including Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), CBT, DBT, ACT, and medication management.

My first sessions run a full 90 minutes, dedicated to genuinely getting to know each other: receiving or validating a diagnosis, defining your goals, and - most importantly - building hope for the future you actually want to live.

I offer Talk therapy and/or Medication Management and/or Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). ART is a faster version of EMDR that is highly effective for many disorders including PTSD, OCD, and addictions.

Imagine Your Life Transformed Triggers gone. Boundaries held with ease. Self-acceptance. Real, restful sleep. Better choices in nutrition and movement. A life driven by purpose and motivated by your own goals.

What Makes My Practice Different

• I take the time to truly get to know you - follow-up appointments run 60 to 90 minutes, not the rushed 15-minute check-ins common elsewhere.
• I practice Shared Decision Making - you're always part of the plan, never just informed of it.
• I will never make you feel judged for not wanting to take medication, or for forgetting a dose. We're all human.

Nothing makes me happier than working with people who are ready to heal - people working through trauma, and the people who love them: men, women, children, parents, and couples. I work with clients across Washington who have a history of struggling and a genuine desire for healing and change.

A Little About Me I'm a Navy veteran with 7 years of inpatient psychiatric nursing experience and 2 years as a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. Outside the practice, I love creative writing (I've taught it!), traveling and photography (I've visited all but 3 U.S. states), hiking, acting, and watching movies.