- 1817 Queen Anne Ave, Suite 202, Seattle, WA
- 707-440-9288
- ian@ianmackelvie.com
- 707-440-9288
- ian@ianmackelvie.com
In Seattle, folks are already familiar with the long dark days of winter, but what’s even worst is when that feeling exists in your everyday life. On top of that, navigating being withdrawn or collapsed is extra difficult because the very momentum needed to make that change is unavailable. Therapy can can help when you feel like you’re drowning, but the process will require us to explore what led you here.
Depression is depressing to write about. It isn’t always loud and it doesn’t always come with tears or crisis. Sometimes, it’s just a slow fading away. The feeling that nothing can change, and the more you try, the worst it gets.
You might feel disconnected from desire and unsure of what you want, or questioning if therapy can even help. The times you feel momentarily better might be getting more rare, and it’s easier to avoid all of it. Whatever you’re dealing with, it’s important to remember these states are a form of communication, and can immediately help us understand where to go.
Depression affects everything: how we sleep, how we eat, how we act, how we move through the world. It’s not something you can just talk your way out of or think yourself through. So, to understand how to help, we will have you explore the actual experience of your feelings.
Therapy is a place where we can do the uncomfortable work. Not forcing positivity or trying to find a quick fix, but discovering together what your experience is, and what function it provides. This relational approach, can often times be the jump start someone needs.
Therapy is not a magical cure for depression. It is a process, that when does right is one of the most difficult things you can choose to do in your adult life. I use several different methods, but primarily use techniques related to somatic therapy. Whatever approach you desire, remember the primary indicator of success is the relationship you build with your therapist, not only the method. Enjoy the journey.
The Basics: My office is located in Upper Queen Anne. There’s a Trader Joe’s, several coffee shops, parks and free parking! So if you’re coming in person you can get some stuff done too. I also provide remote therapy for anyone currently living in Washington or California. I try and respond directly to messages within 24 hours, Monday thru Thursday.
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.
There are some common experiences, but being able to self identify them can be difficult. Depression makes its presence most known when the things you enjoyed doing in the past currently bring you no sense of joy or satisfaction. The experience can feel like retreating from the world. Knowing whether or not this is mild or something requiring further intervention is something best evaluated with a professional.
Just reading a website like this might be all that you were able to do today. Promises of things getting better and guarantees is not what this work is about. I believe in relational healing and change which requires the key word, relationship. If you want to begin that process I recommend reaching out and going from there.
To be clear, therapy does not make feelings of depression go away. If we acknowledge that emotions are a form of communication, then together we need to learn what that communication is about. That is the uniqueness of your journey, because it will look different for everybody.
When we understand ourselves better, and learn to be able to experience our emotions, not just run from them, we can then move forward. Clients start to notice they feel more alive, active, and engaged in their own lives. The feeling can still be there, but the response to that feeling is entirely different.
I specialize in somatic therapy and have a whole page dedicated to explaining what that means. You will also find that I can be fairly direct about what I notice. From a clinical stand point, my goal is to not entrench you further into collapse, but to reinvigorate your life.
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.
