R. Kent Bezzio
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
1200 6th Ave.Suite 2001
Seattle, WA 98101
Primary Focus: Abuse / Incest / PTSD Counseling, Addiction / Drug /Alcohol Counseling, Anxiety / Panic Disorders Counseling, Child / Teen Counseling, Communication / Social Skills Counseling, Consulting / Coaching, Couples / Marriage Counseling, Family Counseling, Grief Counseling, LGBTQ Counseling
Scope of Practice
- Abuse / Incest / PTSD Counseling
- Adult Adjustment / Life Transitioning Counseling
- Anxiety / Panic Disorders Counseling
- Child / Teen Counseling
- Family Counseling
- Grief Counseling
- Couples / Marriage Counseling
- Life Coaching / Consulting
- Stress / Depression Counseling
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Counseling
- Addiction / Drug / Alcohol Counseling
- Communication / Social Skills Counseling
- Specialty Counseling
Range of Focus
- ADD / ADHD Issues
- Added / New Responsibilities
- Adolescents and Parents: Individuation / Separation Issues
- Agoraphobia
- Anxiety
- Autism/Attachment Disorders
- Chemical Dependency
- Codependency Issues
- Communication Issues
- Couples Counseling
- Domestic Violence
- Emotional Abuse
- Family Adjustments
- Family Therapy
- Gay Male Issues
- Life Coaching
- PTSD Issues
- Parent / Child
- Peer Interaction
- Physical Abuse
- Rape Counseling
- Rejection by Family of Origin
- Relationship Rekindling
- Self Esteem
- Sense of Self
- Sexual Abuse
- Social Anxiety
- Teens / Young Adults Counseling
- Work / Life Balance
- Access your own deepest wisdom for life changing results
- Addictive / Compulsive Behaviors
- Aftercare Counseling
- Anger Management
- Attract abundance and financial prosperity
- Bereavement
- Children's / Adolescent Therapy
- Coming Out Issues
- Couples Conflicts
- Divorce/Separation
- Dual Diagnosis Issues
- Estrangement
- Family Conflicts
- Foster Care
- Goal Setting
- PTSD
- Panic Attacks
- Parenting Skills
- Phobias
- Power Issues
- Recovery Issues
- Relationship Issues
- Relationships
- Self Esteem Issues
- Separation/Divorce
- Sexual Identity Issues
- Spirituality
- Trauma
Values and Philosophy
My Approach to Therapy: My approach to therapy is to view the client as the expert in their own life. I do not play the role of expert in my client’s life. I do, however act as a guide, advocate, educator, and support person. What I will do is attempt to see your issues from your perspective and your view of the world. I will do this by asking questions in order to clarify my understanding of what the issues are for you. I work within the framework of person-centered theory, which focuses on the client as the expert, and existential therapy, which focuses on behavior and looks at how the client thinks, feels, and behaves and the impact they have on others. Even though the therapy process is a liberating and freeing experience, it can be difficult at times due to the possibility of working through of some painful issues. This is when my role as support person is crucial. The form, in which the therapeutic process will be dictated by your particular goals, will be very much up to you as the client.
In addition, I draw upon other theories and approaches, as appropriate in our work. I work with both adults and children with issues ranging from anxiety, grief, post traumatic stress, life transitions, relationships, depression, career changes and chemical dependency. If you have any additional questions, I am open and willing to answer them for you.
Therapeutic Technique and Methodology
The primary theoretical orientation that supports my therapy goals is the existential theoretical orientation. First, before any work can be done in therapy, the relationship between the client and therapist needs to be attended. In existential therapy the relationship between the client and the therapist is the cornerstone of the work that will proceed. Also, in existential therapy there is the belief that all individuals search for meaning in their lives. When they have ceased that search, or have somehow gotten sidetracked, they will experience symptoms of anxiety, guilt, depression, drug abuse, or fear. Existential therapy addresses the very core cause of these symptoms. Authenticity and transparency of the therapist is crucial in work within the existential framework. Since existential therapy does not incorporate any special techniques, per se, the relationship is used instead.
Person-Centered therapy also has influenced my work, and supports my goals as well. Person-centered therapy very much is a good complement in reaching my goal of building a relationship with my client that will assist with their process. PCT is a perfect accompaniment with the fundamentals of existential relationship building because it focuses on congruence, unconditional positive regard of the therapist.
Adlerian theory also views the relationship as very crucial to the work being done. Adlerians consider a good client/therapist relationship to be one between equals that is based on cooperation, mutual trust, respect confidence, and alignment of goals. This very much is compatible with the general tenants of existential relationship building principals. In addition, clients in the Adlerian theoretical orientation are seen as active parties in a relationship between equals. Through this collaborative partnership, clients recognize that they are responsible for their behavior.
In regards to supporting my goal of assisting the client in realizing their reality, finding out what it means to them, and recognizing their identity in the world in which to find where their discomfort is originating, existential theory supports these goals entirely.
The basic dimensions of the human condition, according to existential approach, include (1) the capacity for self-awareness; (2) freedom and responsibility; (3) creating one’s identity and establishing meaningful relationships with others; (4) the search for meaning, purpose, values, and goals; (5) anxiety as a condition of living; and (6) awareness of death and nonbeing.
These are the very tenants that can create discomfort in an individual’s life, or an existence that is fulfilling and rewarding. In regards to addressing anxiety in the client’s life, anxiety is caused by a person’s fear of losing their identity or losing the image of who they see themselves to be in the world. In Existential therapy the therapist would assist the client to recognize their view of themselves and their world what it means to them. The therapist does this by confronting the client in a way that the client, them self will begin to confront their own lives. Once they confront their perception of their reality and identify, they can begin to take responsibility for the freedom they realize they posses upon learning who they really are and they can affect their future.
Maslow’s Model of Hierarchy of Needs also influences my work due to the believe that as long as an individual had the basic substances and comforts to survive, then they would continue to proceed to enrich their lives and attempt to obtain loftier values, such as truth, beauty, love, esteem and so on. It is this drive for “spontaneous expression” and a desire to improve their existence that can cause dysfunction in an individual’s life if this pursuit is blocked somehow. This view of humankind very much acts an accompaniment to the existential theory in its view that the individual has the desire and is able to affect their future.
Education, Certification and Professional Associations
Degrees and Certifications
Masters in Mental Health Counseling
Washington School of Psycology at Argosy University-Seattle
Seattle, WA
Memberships
- American Counseling Association
- National Board of Certified Counselors
Licenses to Practice and Registrations
Licenses
Washington State Licensed Mental Health Counselor
License number: LH00011289
Payment Information and Hours
Please contact me for hours and rate information.
Insurance Reimbursement Provider For: Aetna, First Choice Health, LifeWise of Washington, Premera
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