Sequim Counseling expands

Local counseling center looking to better serve community

By Conor Dowley • July 10, 2019 1:30 am
Sequim Counseling’s office at 435 W Bell Street. The office has been open for two years, but recently added two more clinicians to be able to better serve a wider variety of clients. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley.
Sequim Counseling’s office at 435 W Bell Street. The office has been open for two years, but recently added two more clinicians to be able to better serve a wider variety of clients. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley.

Sequim Counseling

What: Mental health counseling services

Where: 435 W. Bell St. Suite B

Phone: 360-207-4345

On the web: www.sequimcounseling.com

A high demand in any community, and Sequim Counseling is looking to provide more mental health services for the Sequim community.

Owner and counselor Doug Blessington has run the company as the only counselor for about two years but recently decided to expand his operations to better help his clients and the community at large.

In June, Blessington hired two new clinicians to serve as counselors for the company.

Jenni Mellum is a specialist at working with children and families as a whole, and according to Blessington she integrates several different holistic treatments with her more traditional counseling methods.

JooRi Jun is a naturopathic doctor and counselor, and utilizes some of that specialty as well.

Blessington said that he brought in Mellum and Jun in order to provide “a diversity of approaches and backgrounds in order to help people with a variety of needs.”

Blessington offers couples therapy and also specializes in working with those working through anxiety and trauma.

More than anything, though, he wants to help reduce the negative perception of mental health treatment in the world.

“Mental health issues have been stigmatized, but it’s OK to reach out for health if you’re suffering,” Blessington said.

“It’s a form of strength to ask for assistance if you need it. We can get stuck in a mindset that we need to do everything on our own. We get too busy to take care of our own mental health, and we suffer because of it.”

In addition, Blessington wanted to clarify the role of counseling in mental health treatment. He says he has encountered many people who think they need a clinical diagnosis of a mental health disorder in order to seek counseling, but that’s not the case.

“You don’t need a mental health diagnosis to get counseling,” Blessington said.

“Counseling is a very normal and healthy thing to do. You aren’t sick just because you want help, you’re reaching out for support if you need it.”

Blessington added that he wants people to be comfortable with the care that they’re getting, and where they’re getting it from.

“If folks aren’t sure we’re a good fit for them,” Blessington said, “they’re more than welcome to call us and we’ll help them navigate their decision — whether they become our client in the end or not.”

For more about Sequim Counseling, see www.sequimcounseling.com.