- 1817 Queen Anne Ave, Suite 202, Seattle, WA
- 707-440-9288
- ian@ianmackelvie.com
- 707-440-9288
- ian@ianmackelvie.com
Anxiety is a common experience amongst my clients. Culturally, it almost seems ubiquitous with being a high functioning individual, but on the flip side can be an experience that leaves people feeling like they cannot function at all. Being in a city like Seattle also comes with its own pressures, which makes this complaint more normal, but there are ways we can feel in control without becoming overwhelmed.
To understand anxiety, I find it helpful to first think about the feeling of pleasure. When we feel good in our body the parasympathetic nervous system activates, warmth is felt, pores open, and you can actually witness energy in the form of heat go to the periphery of the body.
When we feel anxiety, the sympathetic nervous system reacts, pores close, the skin feels cold, and energy in terms of heat retracts inward.
As a therapist, being able to know the difference between those two states is incredibly important. Helping clients understand what those differences are like in a session is equally important, as it makes therapy more easy.
This energetic response pattern often starts early. Maybe you had to stay in control to feel safe. Maybe you were praised for your precision and effort. Maybe something happened that left you braced for the worst, even if things look fine from the outside now.
Chronic anxiety can become part of how you relate to the world. It feels like protection, and it most definitely served a purpose. But over time, it can narrow your experience of life and disconnect you from the very things you long for.
In therapy, we explore not just what you’re thinking but how you’re relating to your thoughts, and what that’s like for you physically. We may use structured conversation, a review of your history, teaching breathing techniques and specific interventions to shift how your system responds. The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety but to change your relationship with it, so that you can move from contraction toward something more open, sustainable, and most importantly enjoyable!
Therapy gives you a chance to pause and notice. To become aware of the loops you get caught in and develop more choice around how you respond. With consistency and commitment, many clients begin to feel less reactive and more connected to what matters.
I check my emails and office line Monday thru Friday, and typically reach out within 24 hours to let you know if I have availability. You won’t be left wondering.
After a brief conversation, and an explanation of my process, we can find a time that works for both of us.
Whether in person or remote, making a commitment to therapy takes guts. Together, we will explore your wants and find the path to get there.
I work with a wide range of presentations, from chronic stress to obsessive thought patterns and burnout. You don’t need a diagnosis to benefit. But a diagnosis is necessary for those wanting to have their insurance pay a portion of their bill.
Many clients report better sleep, digestion, and relaxation as they gain more awareness and learn how to regulate their nervous systems. Patients with chronic conditions over the course of therapy have reported a decrease in those symptoms.
Insight is useful, but it can also be a sign of over analysis and may require something more. My approach helps bridge the gap between what you know and what you experience.
Yes. I offer virtual therapy for clients throughout Washington and California, as well as in-person sessions at my Queen Anne office.
Yes. Many of my clients are outwardly successful but internally struggling. Therapy can help you find steadiness that isn’t based on constant effort.
Use the Contact Form to give me some brief details of what you’re experiencing. You can also call or email me. I try to respond to all contacts and inquiries within 24 hours, Monday thru Thursday.
