What does a trauma therapist actually believe — and what brought them to this work in the first place? In this interview, Seattle therapist James Nole, LMHC, shares his personal journey from despair and vision loss to finding healing through therapy and ultimately becoming a therapist himself. He talks about his existential and relational approach, what he specializes in (trauma, Complex PTSD, grief, and relationships), and what clients can expect when they walk through his door. A rare, honest look at the person behind the practice.

We're taught to fight depression, fix it, or push through it — but what if that's only part of the story? In this post, Seattle therapist James Nole, LMHC, invites a different kind of curiosity: what if depression is also trying to protect you? Drawing on personal experience and clinical insight, James explores how depression can serve as armor during hardship, a signal that something needs to change, and — when left unexamined — a fortress that keeps growth at bay. This isn't an argument in favor of depression, but an invitation to see it in a more complete light.

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