Business Details
Challenges in our adult lives are often caused by challenges in our relationships. A specialist can help you navigate emotions, hurts, communicate better and create a new positive cycle of love and security around you. Children's stages of development can be confusing. Is it developmentally normal or a behavior I should worry about? Adolescence is a time to explore identity.
Therapy helps to identify healthy coping strategies and encourages an active role in problem-solving. Behavior issues, developmental issues, learning issues, all these can make being a parent incredibly challenging. Parent Coaching can help you gain insight into your child's behavior, your own parenting style and to develop useful tools that create effective solutions.
Bellevue Family Counseling, since 2008, is ready to support your vision of creating your best self. With us, you will see a highly trained and licensed professional ready to give you their best. Play-based strategies, art or expressive therapies help young clients learn about their feelings and grow.
Therapy helps to identify healthy coping strategies and encourages an active role in problem-solving. Behavior issues, developmental issues, learning issues, all these can make being a parent incredibly challenging. Parent Coaching can help you gain insight into your child's behavior, your own parenting style and to develop useful tools that create effective solutions.
Bellevue Family Counseling, since 2008, is ready to support your vision of creating your best self. With us, you will see a highly trained and licensed professional ready to give you their best. Play-based strategies, art or expressive therapies help young clients learn about their feelings and grow.
Services
Our Team
Marlon Familton opened Collaborative Couples & Family Counseling, LLC in 2008 after graduating from Bastyr University / LIOS with an MA in Applied Behavioral Science.
Now at Bellevue Family Counseling, he specializes in working with adults on relationship issues, driven by the belief that the desire to feel safe and secure in a loving relationship is one of our primary purposes in life.
Marlon, author of "Fix Your Partner in 10 Easy Steps or Less", supports couples who want to create a more happy and secure relationship as well as individuals working to overcome life's challenges, using the latest effective types of therapies for the best results.
Now at Bellevue Family Counseling, he specializes in working with adults on relationship issues, driven by the belief that the desire to feel safe and secure in a loving relationship is one of our primary purposes in life.
Marlon, author of "Fix Your Partner in 10 Easy Steps or Less", supports couples who want to create a more happy and secure relationship as well as individuals working to overcome life's challenges, using the latest effective types of therapies for the best results.
About
At Bellevue Family Counseling, we come to work every day because we love what we do.
Our clients trust us with some of the most important parts of their lives: their marriages, children, their hopes and dreams.
We are grateful for and value this trust.
If you decide to become a Bellevue Family Counseling client, we promise to bring compassion without judgment, support, and guidance to point you in the right direction.
We promise to bring our best self to each session, so you can leave a step closer to yours.
Our clients trust us with some of the most important parts of their lives: their marriages, children, their hopes and dreams.
We are grateful for and value this trust.
If you decide to become a Bellevue Family Counseling client, we promise to bring compassion without judgment, support, and guidance to point you in the right direction.
We promise to bring our best self to each session, so you can leave a step closer to yours.
Teletherapy / Online Counseling
Teletherapy or online counseling is simply having a session with your counselor over the phone or video.
You receive the same type of service in teletherapy or online counseling as you would in person.
Bellevue Family Counseling can provide teletherapy or online counseling and coaching no matter where you live in Washington State.
Children, teens, parent coaching, individuals, and couples are all services we provide as teletherapy or online counseling.
The Journal of Psychological Disorders published a study in 2018 that found online cognitive behavioral therapy is "effective, acceptable, and practical health care."
You receive the same type of service in teletherapy or online counseling as you would in person.
Bellevue Family Counseling can provide teletherapy or online counseling and coaching no matter where you live in Washington State.
Children, teens, parent coaching, individuals, and couples are all services we provide as teletherapy or online counseling.
The Journal of Psychological Disorders published a study in 2018 that found online cognitive behavioral therapy is "effective, acceptable, and practical health care."
Couples
If so then the deal is, I will consider and care how you feel and make decisions with you, so we both feel good.
If you do the same for me, then we'll be great!
When things don't go well, and you end up feeling hurt, alone or rejected.
These hurt feelings must be repaired quickly.
If there is no repair, the hurt can fester into "you don't care how I feel, I don't trust you to have my back."
This hurt becomes resentment.
Resentment is a toxic poison to relationships.
If what you've been doing and trying hasn't worked, if you're relationship feels broken, then you need some expert help and support.
If you do the same for me, then we'll be great!
When things don't go well, and you end up feeling hurt, alone or rejected.
These hurt feelings must be repaired quickly.
If there is no repair, the hurt can fester into "you don't care how I feel, I don't trust you to have my back."
This hurt becomes resentment.
Resentment is a toxic poison to relationships.
If what you've been doing and trying hasn't worked, if you're relationship feels broken, then you need some expert help and support.
Adults
If this weren't true, you would meet people who are actively seeking more sadness or anger in their life.
Unfortunately, happiness can be quite elusive and even seem far beyond what is possible or what we deserve.
This is where it becomes difficult and life can spiral.
Navigating life means managing what we need to do in order to survive with what we want to do to be happy, assuming we even know.
All the emotions that push and pull us in different directions make this hard.
Emotions we want to avoid such as guilt or shame, nudge us off our path.
Unfortunately, happiness can be quite elusive and even seem far beyond what is possible or what we deserve.
This is where it becomes difficult and life can spiral.
Navigating life means managing what we need to do in order to survive with what we want to do to be happy, assuming we even know.
All the emotions that push and pull us in different directions make this hard.
Emotions we want to avoid such as guilt or shame, nudge us off our path.
Anxiety & Trauma
Trauma is defined as a "deeply distressing or disturbing experience."
This painful experience imprints on your brain and body so any future thought or reminder of that experience leads to an excessive physiological and emotional response, often showing up as intense anxiety or panic.
It becomes like a wound or scar you can't heal from or escape.
Trauma can be from a single event, a prolonged or repeated series of events which can include abuse or neglect.
Trauma is also a uniquely personal experience.
This painful experience imprints on your brain and body so any future thought or reminder of that experience leads to an excessive physiological and emotional response, often showing up as intense anxiety or panic.
It becomes like a wound or scar you can't heal from or escape.
Trauma can be from a single event, a prolonged or repeated series of events which can include abuse or neglect.
Trauma is also a uniquely personal experience.
Teens
It's normal for adolescents to be more self-conscious at the beginning of counseling.
However, they soon find it a safe place to focus on themselves and their problems free from the pressures of family and friends.
This freedom creates the chance to explore and understand all the feelings.
Once we identify the source of difficult emotions and stress, we can work together to practice new skills and try out new solutions to old problems.
Adolescents can become overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions.
However, they soon find it a safe place to focus on themselves and their problems free from the pressures of family and friends.
This freedom creates the chance to explore and understand all the feelings.
Once we identify the source of difficult emotions and stress, we can work together to practice new skills and try out new solutions to old problems.
Adolescents can become overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions.
Parent Coaching
Parenthood feels lonely at times.
Today we know more about healthy child development, so we know how important it is that we are present and engaged with our children.
We also have more demands at work, or our partners do, and they are not available to help.
Maybe we are too far from our own family to get help or a self-care break, or we face the scheduling and emotional challenges of a child living between two households.
All this leads to us feeling overwhelmed, and without someone to share the burden, we feel alone in the responsibility of raising our children well.
Today we know more about healthy child development, so we know how important it is that we are present and engaged with our children.
We also have more demands at work, or our partners do, and they are not available to help.
Maybe we are too far from our own family to get help or a self-care break, or we face the scheduling and emotional challenges of a child living between two households.
All this leads to us feeling overwhelmed, and without someone to share the burden, we feel alone in the responsibility of raising our children well.
Children
Child therapy helps younger children who have fewer coping skills and less control over their environment.
Early in a child's years, they are less able to verbalize emotional problems and don't know how to show their distress.
That distress can come out in ways such as poor behavior.
As parents you often see the "acting out, " or power struggles as the problem.
However, the real issue may be with sleeping, eating, disrespect, or personal safety.
Sometimes children even express emotional difficulties as physical complaints such as "tummy aches."
Early in a child's years, they are less able to verbalize emotional problems and don't know how to show their distress.
That distress can come out in ways such as poor behavior.
As parents you often see the "acting out, " or power struggles as the problem.
However, the real issue may be with sleeping, eating, disrespect, or personal safety.
Sometimes children even express emotional difficulties as physical complaints such as "tummy aches."
Appointments
Be sure and schedule the appointment in the name of the person who will be the client for that session.
When you use the button to "Request Appointment" the system will block the day/time, however, you will not receive a confirmation email until the therapist accepts the appointment.
Email us if you have any difficulty navigating this system.
When you use the button to "Request Appointment" the system will block the day/time, however, you will not receive a confirmation email until the therapist accepts the appointment.
Email us if you have any difficulty navigating this system.
Fees & Insurance
If your counselor is in-network with your insurance company, we will submit the claim and collect any out-of-pocket amount once the claim has been processed.
Our entire group is in-network with Premera, Lifewise, and companies affiliated with Premera.
In addition, only Marlon, Leah, and Chelsea are in-network with First Choice Health Network.
We are out-of-network with all other companies.
If we are out-of-network for your insurance company, including but not limited to Regence, Asuris, Cigna, Aetna, UMR, UnitedHealthCare, Optum, First Choice Health, Meritain, and HMA, upon your request we may be able to submit claims on your behalf.
Our entire group is in-network with Premera, Lifewise, and companies affiliated with Premera.
In addition, only Marlon, Leah, and Chelsea are in-network with First Choice Health Network.
We are out-of-network with all other companies.
If we are out-of-network for your insurance company, including but not limited to Regence, Asuris, Cigna, Aetna, UMR, UnitedHealthCare, Optum, First Choice Health, Meritain, and HMA, upon your request we may be able to submit claims on your behalf.
Marlon Familton
I can relate to the immense courage it takes to pause, take a breath, simmer in all the uncomfortable learning after the chaos, and figure out how to move forward.
It started off bumpy.
I sputtered into adult life with a BA in business and a passion for entrepreneurship - which really meant making risky (aka bad) choices.
When married life morphed into fatherhood, it came frosted with the delight of being a stay-at-home dad for a time.
Yet, I wasn't blind.
Divorce was looming, but I didn't know how to stop the train.
It started off bumpy.
I sputtered into adult life with a BA in business and a passion for entrepreneurship - which really meant making risky (aka bad) choices.
When married life morphed into fatherhood, it came frosted with the delight of being a stay-at-home dad for a time.
Yet, I wasn't blind.
Divorce was looming, but I didn't know how to stop the train.
Leah Koenig
Children's behavior delights me!
It is both a subtle and undeniably flamboyant language filled with meaning.
My whole working life has been a journey to understand this language.
It helps that I love to connect with people playfully and imaginatively.
A desire to learn this language has been the magic that opens the door to a child's world and allows me to get close, be trusted, and eventually understand.
An immense love of learning tempers my playful attitude.
With a master's degree in education and teaching certificates in Montessori education, I started my career as a teacher and eventually a school counselor.
It is both a subtle and undeniably flamboyant language filled with meaning.
My whole working life has been a journey to understand this language.
It helps that I love to connect with people playfully and imaginatively.
A desire to learn this language has been the magic that opens the door to a child's world and allows me to get close, be trusted, and eventually understand.
An immense love of learning tempers my playful attitude.
With a master's degree in education and teaching certificates in Montessori education, I started my career as a teacher and eventually a school counselor.
Erin Manhardt
Shifting our thinking and trying out new skills is not easy, yet just on the other side of that hard work are some rather unexpected and amazing experiences, at least that has been my life lesson so far.
My life path took an unexpectedly painful turn when my athletic career was sidelined after an injury.
Thankfully I had a great group of professionals around me to help me both physically and emotionally recover and ultimately shift my direction.
I decided I wanted to be on that team of professionals helping others emotionally recover when injury, mental illness, or the unexpected, sidelines plans.
My life path took an unexpectedly painful turn when my athletic career was sidelined after an injury.
Thankfully I had a great group of professionals around me to help me both physically and emotionally recover and ultimately shift my direction.
I decided I wanted to be on that team of professionals helping others emotionally recover when injury, mental illness, or the unexpected, sidelines plans.
Alina Olaru
Starting with my career as a teacher for young children, with my own children as they've grown and expanding to also support teenagers working through the social and academic challenges high school brings, I have been continually amazed at the nonstop stream of developmental phases.
Just when our children or teens seem to balance their feet underneath themselves in one moment, their brain and body grow or something in their environment changes sending them off balance in the next.
Watching the resilience of youth as they stumble, gain their balance, and try again despite their inexperience with the world is inspiring.
Just when our children or teens seem to balance their feet underneath themselves in one moment, their brain and body grow or something in their environment changes sending them off balance in the next.
Watching the resilience of youth as they stumble, gain their balance, and try again despite their inexperience with the world is inspiring.
Dr. Francine B. Baffa
I became a therapist because I believe in the power of relationships.
Moved by my own experiences, I wanted to guide others to push past perceived limitations, obstacles, and fear in order to live a full and meaningful life.
We all have the ability to grow and change.
In our work together, I will help you heal and move forward.
In my role at Bellevue Family Counseling, I bring more than 20 years of experience.
My clinical experience has taken place in hospitals, inpatient treatment centers, residential treatment facilities, and outpatient clinics.
Moved by my own experiences, I wanted to guide others to push past perceived limitations, obstacles, and fear in order to live a full and meaningful life.
We all have the ability to grow and change.
In our work together, I will help you heal and move forward.
In my role at Bellevue Family Counseling, I bring more than 20 years of experience.
My clinical experience has taken place in hospitals, inpatient treatment centers, residential treatment facilities, and outpatient clinics.
Chelsea Haining
My childhood and adolescence were like many of my clients; filled with lots of big emotions that proved overwhelming for me to manage.
Happily, at a young age, I found that counseling really helped me grow.
It was here I discovered balance, comfort, and courage.
Once I learned the skills to manage my emotions, I began to trust in myself once again.
I was able to set challenging goals without feeling I would be sidelined by my emotions.
These emotional skills learned in my youth have grown with me and have given me tremendous freedom to pursue my passions, take on exhilarating experiences and land exactly where I want to be right now - as a therapist at Bellevue Family Counseling helping youth master their own emotional wellbeing.
Happily, at a young age, I found that counseling really helped me grow.
It was here I discovered balance, comfort, and courage.
Once I learned the skills to manage my emotions, I began to trust in myself once again.
I was able to set challenging goals without feeling I would be sidelined by my emotions.
These emotional skills learned in my youth have grown with me and have given me tremendous freedom to pursue my passions, take on exhilarating experiences and land exactly where I want to be right now - as a therapist at Bellevue Family Counseling helping youth master their own emotional wellbeing.
Joon Lee
My career as a therapist has been exploring the different avenues where I can best help youth gain skills of positive and healthy self-identity.
Understanding our identity is one of the primary drives of adolescence and certainly one where I stumbled.
Some of the emotional dis-regulation we see in adolescence is the teen figuring out how to express themselves, in their own unique way, with their peers, their family, and in terms of social justice.
This is important work for me personally so connecting and mentoring youth in how to find their voice and share it meaningfully is rewarding.
Understanding our identity is one of the primary drives of adolescence and certainly one where I stumbled.
Some of the emotional dis-regulation we see in adolescence is the teen figuring out how to express themselves, in their own unique way, with their peers, their family, and in terms of social justice.
This is important work for me personally so connecting and mentoring youth in how to find their voice and share it meaningfully is rewarding.
