- 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.
I have found it important for clients to know that some level of anxiety is perfectly normal to experience. Worry and fear are emotions that are essential for navigating stressful environments and for moving through difficult tasks. However, a closer look needs to be taken when you start to notice that these reactions are not matching the situation. If you start to feel on alert even when everything looks fine, or an anxiety attack comes on when you are not doing anything stressful, then it might be more important to evaluate it professionally.
Often these patterns start early in life as a mechanism to feel more safe and in control. But when we are in situations where our sheer will is not able to create the control and change we are used to, the body and mind can react in some frightening and destabilizing ways. Over time, this way of organizing yourself around protection that was familiar, and even comforting, becomes damaging.
In our work together, we get to understand how your unique experience developed these responses that narrow your experience, and make you feel more removed from what you actually desire.
To understand anxiety, it is helpful to first know what it’s like to feel good. When we experience pleasure or safety, the parasympathetic nervous system activates. Warmth moves through the body, pores open, blood flow increases, blood pressure decreases, the heart rate slows, and people generally can describe a real sense of joy and calm, and people become more curious and playful.
But when anxiety takes hold, the sympathetic nervous system reacts. Pores close, heart rate and blood pressure increase, skin cools, breathing becomes shallow and rapid, and muscles become tense. Some are very familiar with a tight jaw, or shoulders, or chest when this occurs. The mind begins to race as well as someone prepares to either run, hide, or freeze.
In therapy, learning to sense the difference between these two states, feeling expansive vs contractive, is powerful. We get to understand what your cues are, and it actually takes place in the therapeutic relationship. Together we will recognize what its like for you to feel open or closed, and how you can begin to tolerate these polarities more and more.
The goal of therapy isn’t to eliminate anxiety, but to shift your relationship with it. Like I said earlier, anxiety is a normal reaction for us to have in the face of a stressful situation. But when it becomes chronic or unmanageable that is when we should intervene.
Together we explore not only what you’re thinking, but how your body responds to those thoughts, and what their origins might be. Sessions might include structured conversation, reflection on your history, or use of somatic interventions that help you learn new ways to respond to those bodily and emotional reactions.
Therapy offers an opportunity to reflect in more impactful ways. We have a simple goal of becoming 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 most in their lives.
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.
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.
