- 1817 Queen Anne Ave, Suite 202, Seattle, WA
- 707-440-9288
- ian@ianmackelvie.com
- 707-440-9288
- ian@ianmackelvie.com
Adolescence can be confusing, intense, and full of change. I offer therapy for teenagers and their families in Seattle to help navigate this time with clarity, connection, and support.
Every parent and every past teen (meaning basically everyone) knows about the energetic time that is adolescence. Hormones, crushes, staying out late, adventures with friends, and the unruly emotional swings that go from sweetness to rude gestures.
Sometimes though you might notice a more disturbing shift in your teen, like them pulling away, engaging in more risky behaviors, or reacting in a way that frightens you. The common tropes of being a teen get replaced with a baffling sense of being completely lost and not knowing what to do.
We want to avoid internalizing these feelings as blame or guilt. The reality is that adolescence is a period where we try to figure out how to grow into ourselves in a world that often feels very confusing .
And that’s exactly where therapy can help.
Teenagers need more than individual support. They need a network that can hold space for growth and change—including you. That’s why I involve parents right from the start. You won’t be shut out of the process or left guessing. We’ll work together to support your teen while also giving them room to develop in their own way. Therapy gives teens a space that’s honest and open, without pressure or performance. And it gives parents a chance to feel connected, informed, and supported in one of the most important roles they’ll ever have.
We all experience our own version of adolescence. I have lived it, and I have worked with teens for over a decade. I don’t talk down to teenagers. I also don’t expect them to come in fully trusting or ready to talk. We build that together. My approach is direct, but comfortable. I offer teens a space to explore who they are, what they care about, and how they relate to themselves and others. We pay attention not just to thoughts and feelings, but also to what’s happening in their environment.
It’s not necessarily about change. It’s about helping them feel more like themselves without the acting out behaviors that we fear, but instead with the tools to move through life with more clarity and choice.
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 will provide informational sessions to parents to keep them informed of progress and where things are headed, or will provide individual sessions to parents interested in a collaborative systems approach. But teens need safety, privacy and space in order to develop during this period of transition. That doesn’t mean excluding parents or caregivers. I work with both the adolescent and the family system to support change that lasts.
This is common. At first it may be me meeting with a parent to provide support and give clarity about dynamics they are seeing. This can build it’s own trust with a teen, them knowing that there parent is willing to show up to get their own support.
I’ve also had a lot of experience working with teens, from group homes, schools, and now my own cozy office. And they are quick to sniff out an adult that doesn’t really care. Or they are already built to be guarded for one reason or another. When people typically work with me, they notice I use a direct, down-to-earth approach that helps them feel more at ease. Therapy becomes more engaging when it feels real and connected to their actual concerns.
Yes, but only to the extent where safety is not a major concern. This is evaluated constantly when working with someone, but parents should know from the beginning that as a private practitioner I have far less resources at my disposal then say a clinic. But those referrals are only made if something is beyond my scope.
I work teens that feel completely lost and stuck in their patterns and are looking for an environment that can help embrace their differences and shed light on what’s happening to them.
I have 16 years of direct experience working with teenagers. I began in a voluntary group home for at-risk youth facing challenges with family conflict, school completion, and substance use. During graduate school, I received a Mental Health Grant that supported my clinical work with teens across multiple settings, which I continued after graduation. A colleague later connected me with a local high school seeking academic counseling and therapy support, where I worked for six years while also teaching part-time at a university. Following that, I transitioned into private practice, where I continued to provide support to teens and families.
Yes. Virtual sessions can be effective for teens, especially when paired with occasional parent sessions. Some teens open up more easily in familiar surroundings.
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.
