DEANA TOLSTUNOV
(THEY/THEM)
*Deana is currently wrapping up their internship and no longer taking on new clients.
Everyone deserves the space to heal. Therapy is a unique environment to explore our most intimate emotional worlds, desires, dreams, and fears. I strive to meet you wherever you are in your journey and work together to help you create lasting, positive change.
I am passionate about working with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. I enjoy supporting clients in processing gender and sexuality, intimacy, desire, sex, kink, and relationships, and unpacking the stigma, shame, and vulnerability that can surround such topics. As your therapist, you can expect an authentic, nonjudgmental, compassionate, direct, and resourceful presence. My approach is person-centered, curious, and collaborative. You are the expert on your life, and I am honored to walk alongside you on your path to healing.
I strive to provide social justice-oriented, trauma-informed, HAES and sex worker-aligned, LGBTQ+, kink, polyamory, and culturally-empathetic therapy. Acknowledging the influence of systemic power structures and how our intersecting identities impact our lived experiences is vital to my work. As a white, Jewish, queer, non-binary femme and the child of immigrants, I understand how important cultural identity is. I will work with you to explore what identities are most salient for you.
After years of teaching sex education, my path led me to pursue a Master's in Couple and Family Therapy from Antioch University Seattle. I also hold a Bachelor's degree in Women and Gender Studies from Smith College, all of which inform my therapeutic practice. Additionally, I am pursuing a certificate in Sex Therapy from Antioch University and have completed Level 1 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. In my spare time, I love getting my hands dirty gardening, jumping in the lake in all seasons, and spending time with my community.
Deana’s work at Modern Therapy Seattle is currently being supervised by Haley Krenzke, MS, LMFT, CST LF66180424.