Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge. They are chaotic, sometimes painful, sometimes contradictory, but they come from deep within us. And we must key into those feelings and begin to extrapolate from them, examine them for new ways of understanding our experiences. -Audre Lorde

Education

Master of Arts, Couple and Family Therapy, Antioch University Seattle

Sex Therapy Certificate Program, Antioch University Seattle

Bachelor of Arts, Women and Gender Studies, CUNY Hunter

Specialties

Religious Trauma, Sex Therapy, Body Image, Kink, Neurodivergence

License:

Marriage and Family Therapist: LF61538248

Welcome. I’m Ciera (she/her) …

I came to therapy as a client years before I became a clinician. I grew up in the Evangelical church. I left my religion and lost my faith because I couldn’t figure out how to love myself as a queer woman in a community that upheld sexism, homophobia, and purity culture. That loss of faith and community set me on a deeply painful path that fortunately led me to therapy as a client and eventually as a therapist myself.

My ideology…

As a therapist and as an individual, the way I see the world is rooted in intersectional feminism and queer theory. I believe that the systems we are a part of, whether they be our personal relationships or larger social and cultural structures, impact us deeply. I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of balance and embracing ambiguity. My work aims to balance the cognitive (analysis, understanding, taking action) and the embodied (feeling your feelings, trusting the wisdom of your body, getting comfortable with our fundamental lack of control).

My approach…

I am a collaborative therapist, meaning I work with you to create a space safe enough to allow for productive vulnerability and exploration. Ultimately, each of us are experts in our own lives, so I work from a place of genuine curiosity and acceptance of each person’s unique story. So much change can happen simply from radical honesty and self-understanding.

I utilize an integrative approach, based on the needs of each individual client and relationship.  I always operate from a place of encouraging self-acceptance and empowerment. My approach to therapy often utilizes general systems theory, an internalized oppression model, and existential therapy. I start with a holistic, humanistic approach that prioritizes every client’s lived experience. I also incorporate Narrative Therapy and Attachment Theory. Additionally, I encourage clients to connect with their physical selves through Polyvagal theory and somatic experiencing. 

Outside of Therapy…

When I’m not working I can usually be found playing with my beautiful Bombay cat named Eve, cooking, or interacting with water in some capacity. I’m from Northern California and lived in New York City before transitioning to Seattle. I worked as a bartender for over a decade, which was excellent preparation for becoming a therapist! I’m an avid reader, television viewer, and comedy podcast enthusiast.

A Note on Identity…

While I work with any and all identities, I understand the importance to some of us of finding a therapist who is marginalized in the same way we are. If you are BIPOC, transgender or genderqueer, and/or disabled and you are looking for a therapist who shares one or more of these identities, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me to help connect you with a therapist who might be a better fit. I am happy to use my network to help match you with the right therapist for you!