Northwest Family Life

Northwest Family Life Domestic Violence - Counseling, Education, Treatment and Advocacy Those who come to us seeking refuge from a violent home are frightened and confused.

Their spirits are paralyzed. They feel disoriented, lost and often disconnected from their faith. They are women whose lives are devastated by the terror of violence at the hands of their husbands and intimate partners. They are children who are traumatized by seeing and hearing too much. They are men who are bewildered by their own emotions and actions. WE REACH OUT TO THEM, offering understandin

g, an end to isolation, resources, an escape plan or ways to maximize their safety in the midst of ongoing danger. Our advocates provide information and support to survivors of domestic violence, those currently dealing with an abusive situation, or those still healing from past abuse. WE GIVE THEM A PLACE TO HEAL. We meet them in painful places, giving them the courage to deepen their faith, heal their paralyzed hearts and guide them to emotional recovery through God’s faithfulness and transformational healing.We create an environment where decent men can come forward to confront the norms of violence against women and children. WE TEACH FAMILY AND FRIENDS HOW TO SUPPORT THEM, AND ABUSERS HOW TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, recognizing the milestones of their recovery. The Northwest Family Life team offers education and training locally, nationally, and internationally. Through speaking, teaching, and presentations, we provide awareness and education on domestic violence and many related issues. Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) are available for many of our trainings through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). To schedule a presentation or training for your organization, church, workplace, or community, please contact us at [email protected]

Northwest Family Life conducts a State Certified Batterers Treatment Program for perpetrators of domestic violence. This Intervention program meets the WAC 388-60 for Batterers Treatment and provides an opportunity for individuals to understand the affects of abuse, take responsibility for behavior, remain accountable, change attitudes of power and control in relationships, learn anger management skills, and heal from anger and abuse. WE PROVIDE A NETWORK OF COUNSELORS FOR INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES AND FAMILIES.

June is PTSD awareness month and we wanted to highlight the reality of PTSD for caregivers and helping professionals in ...
06/08/2026

June is PTSD awareness month and we wanted to highlight the reality of PTSD for caregivers and helping professionals in the form of secondary trauma.

There are a lot of other great posts describing what PTSD is, this does not do that, but more encourages those of you who are therapists, DV advocates, coaches, medical workers, caregivers, teachers, and other helping professionals to consider the toll of your work on you and what PTSD might look like for you.

Deep breaths.
You are not alone, nor weak for being impacted.
You are human, which can be exhausting sometimes, and yes requires community.
Reach out for support. There are various options for treating PTSD.
And while reaching out, try to up your daily practice.

See post for daily practice ideas and let us know yours!

A couple of recommended books to listen to, or read:
Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burke
The Compassion Fatigue Workbook by Francois Mathieu
and From Burned out to Beloved, by Bethany Dearborn Hiser, our Soul Care Director.


We wanted to share this poignant interview with a former NWFL affiliate, Bethany Foelber. We often expect change to be ...
06/03/2026

We wanted to share this poignant interview with a former NWFL affiliate, Bethany Foelber.

We often expect change to be quick, and yet in therapy....

"Change is quiet and slow. We have been taught and shown how to survive in the world and how to receive what we need. When we notice we want to change something about ourselves, it may mean we are at odds or have dis-ease with part(s) of ourselves.

Often this can lead to shame or guilt, and the idea of change can immediately relieve the shame experience. I believe that shame is very helpful in offering a place to notice where we both want more and where were not given enough. This starting place begins the process of small shifts as we begin to explore the stories where shame was experienced."

"DV and abuse can be very quiet and/or loud. The quietness of harm is a piece of the work I do with clients through exploring and offering a place to name the violence they encountered that had been normalized.

I believe in finding our truth. Many of us have childhoods and adulthoods where our experiences were not validated and accepted. Or, we had to abandon ourselves to receive what we needed. This leaves us unable to recognize reality and claim our truth. When we can grieve our relational disruptions and severing, we get closer to seeing our truth and honoring the impact we feel today. When we find our inner integrity, we get choice in our stories and we can begin to craft our ever shifting ground into something sturdy to stand on. ~Bethany Foelber, former NWFL affiliate therapist

Read the full interview on our blog: http://northwestfamilylife.org/bethany-foelber-on-hope-for-change/

We have counselors with availability!
Go to https://northwestfamilylife.org/counselors/

Northwest Family Life friends, let's join the effort in collaboration with our nationwide partners and protect resources...
05/28/2026

Northwest Family Life friends, let's join the effort in collaboration with our nationwide partners and protect resources for survivors !

Repost from
Federal funding is critical to ensuring survivors of domestic violence and s*xual assault can access lifesaving services and support. Funding delays have real and immediate consequences for survivors and the programs they depend on.

☎️ Contact your representatives through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to call on the DOJ and HHS to immediately publish NOFOs and expedite the release of congressionally appropriated funds. Survivors can’t wait!

Foundation work is hard work. As is Soul care, cultivating contemplative presence for others and to ourselves, a non-anx...
05/14/2026

Foundation work is hard work. As is Soul care, cultivating contemplative presence for others and to ourselves, a non-anxious presence that helps us to stay grounded amidst all going on around us.
Like tending to the foundations of a house, it is not glamorous. It is not a makeover or manicure. It is digging down and down to expose the problem, to uncover the wounds. Yet inner work is vital to the health of the organism. If you are looking for a therapist check out the link in our bio, we have many excellent therapists! And for those of you who are helping professionals, you too need care and listening ear.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Northwest Family Life! For those of you for whom this day is difficult, we are send...
05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Northwest Family Life! For those of you for whom this day is difficult, we are sending you our love and prayers. 🙏 ❤️🌷

Tuesday NWFL Affiliate Feature: Anna Tolf! Are there parts of life that are coming apart? Anna offers therapy that sup...
04/28/2026

Tuesday NWFL Affiliate Feature: Anna Tolf!

Are there parts of life that are coming apart? Anna offers therapy that supports your journey toward wholeness. Her specialty is in treating individuals and couples grappling with betrayal trauma, infidelity, and s*x addiction. She approaches the work with specialized training and genuine empathy.

Additionally, she partner with clients to find a path forward through relationship issues, life transition, s*xual abuse, religious trauma, anxiety, and depression. She's deeply committed to hold your story with compassionate curiosity and collaborate with you to navigate the journey towards resiliency as well as a sense of healing and wholeness.

Anna is a gifted therapist who can has done her own work and can hold space for what you are going through.

Reach out to her for a free 15-min consult www.cultivatingconnectioncounseling.com
https://northwestfamilylife.org/anna-tolf/

Denim Day is this Wednesday April 29th. This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, ....You can support the movement to end s...
04/27/2026

Denim Day is this Wednesday April 29th. This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, ....

You can support the movement to end s*xual violence by making the Pledge:
https://denimday.org/pledge

I pledge to
☑ make a social statement with my fashion statement and wear denim on Denim Day

☑ educate myself and others

☑ support survivors

☑ challenge misconceptions about s*xual violence

☑ be an ally in solidarity with other violence prevention movements

more ideas here: https://denimday.org/use-your-voice

04/22/2026

Denim Day is next Wednesday April 29th, "a global call to speak out against victim-blaming and stand with survivors. Denim Day began after an Italian court dismissed a s*xual assault case because of what a survivor was wearing. In response, people around the world wore denim in protest—and in solidarity."

This 2026 Sexual Assault Awareness Month, ....we’re asking you to . Speak up, challenge harmful narratives, support survivors, and amplify stories that deserve to be heard. Every conversation and every action helps create change.
You can support the movement to end s*xual violence by making the Pledge:
https://denimday.org/pledge

I pledge to
☑ make a social statement with my fashion statement and wear denim on Denim Day

☑ educate myself and others

☑ support survivors

☑ challenge misconceptions about s*xual violence

☑ be an ally in solidarity with other violence prevention movements

more ideas here: https://denimday.org/use-your-voice

Learn more and get involved at denimday.org 👖

We will not remain silent.

NWFL Affiliate Therapist Feature: Sarah Kardelen!Sarah has some limited openings for specialized Somatic Therapy with Li...
04/14/2026

NWFL Affiliate Therapist Feature: Sarah Kardelen!

Sarah has some limited openings for specialized Somatic Therapy with Lifespan Integration, in Turkish and English! Reach out to her .therapy.pllc for more info and to make referrals. She is the leader of our Lifespan Integration consult group and training, and is highly gifted and a gentle, caring presence. We highly recommend!

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12360 Lake City Way NE Suite 420
Seattle, WA
98125

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