Patrick Phelan - Teen and Adult Therapist

Meet Patrick

Finding the right therapist is the most important and often challenging part of counseling. It’s critical to feel trust, connection, and warmth—your relationship with your therapist is the foundation to all of the goals or wishes you might have for therapy.

I work with teens and young adults to overcome their depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, and other mental health challenges. I believe that everyone has the right to therapy that works—I help people develop the skills to challenge negative thoughts, improve their relationships, and build the life they want.

It is the ultimate privilege to witness all of my clients share their gifts and their stories. If you’re interested in starting therapy, I’d love to connect.

My Approach

Sometimes finding a therapist can be overwhelming, navigating an endless variety of treatment acronyms, trying to understand what each of them mean and determine which might be a good fit for you. Because there is a seemingly endless range of therapeutic styles, I wanted to share a bit about what therapy with me typically looks like.

I start by developing trust and building a relationship with you. In our first session, I will ask you what your goals are, what your pain points are, and what you would like to focus on. Together, we will develop a plan to achieve these goals, by reviewing the thoughts, behaviors, and emotions currently preventing you from getting there. I will help you develop the skills to manage intense emotions, cool anxious thoughts, and motivate yourself to change (if you decide you want to change). Sometimes this will require hard work, revisiting intense experiences or doing work outside of our therapy sessions. But I will let you lead this process and determine how much time and energy you would like to invest.

When looking for a therapist, the most important thing to remember is that you need someone who you can trust. If you don’t feel comfortable with your therapist, or you simply don’t see eye-to-eye, it will be impossible to open up and be vulnerable. I acknowledge it can be very difficult develop a trusting, empathetic relationship with someone without actually meeting in person. With this in mind, I recommend a free 30-minute consultation for new clients, in which we can get to know each other and determine if it’s the right fit.

How can I help you?

Treatment Specialties

Depression

Imagine waking up with a ton of bricks sitting on your chest, and the more you try to get out of bed and live your life, the more you realize you simply can’t. Depression can mean different things to different people. Someone might feel like they’re just not enjoying daily activities anymore, and another person may feel incapable of getting out of bed and doing anything.

I help people manage their depression by digging into the behavior patterns and negative thoughts that are causing their depression. A major symptom of depression is when someone feels like they no longer have joy in their life. I start by helping people revisit activities that do bring them joy, and then make time in their schedule to create some joy in their lives.

Anxiety

Everyone feels anxiety caused by certain life events. For example, if you realized a bear was stalking you on your hike, your heart would probably jump! But sometimes people feel so anxious that they are unable to lead their lives as they would like to.

I help people manage their anxiety by determining what makes them feel anxious and breaking down the underlying thoughts causing anxiety. I collaborate with my clients to work through their anxiety triggers and monitor their stress level before, during, and after treatment. I let my clients lead this process, and I create a supportive and safe environment for them to explore their anxieties.

Suicidal Ideation

Suicide is a leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States. Teens often have difficulty reaching out for support if they are experiencing suicidal ideation, because many adults jump immediately into problem-solving, which may or may not be what they’re looking for.

I have received training in both Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicide (CAMS), the two leading treatments of suicidal ideation based on current research. I partner with my clients to examine the thoughts and factors triggering their suicidal thoughts, put together a thorough safety plan, and develop the skills to manage intense emotions and negative thoughts.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment developed for people experiencing suicidal ideation, urges to self-harm, or other dangerous behavior urges. If you have an incredibly difficult time regulating big emotions, making your life feel like a roller coaster, despite what the world may tell you, there is nothing wrong with you. This means you were never given the opportunity to learn the right skills to manage these emotions and urges.

DBT focuses on teaching clients the skills to help you realize the life you want to live, as well as implementing these skills in your life. DBT includes a 6-month or 12-month commitment to both weekly therapy, but also participating in a weekly skills class. I offer DBT for both adult and teen clients, in partnership with Columbia City DBT. You can find information on Columbia City DBT’s skills groups, times, and rates here:

http://www.columbiacitydbt.com/dbt-skills-classes-and-formats.html

Get Started

Schedule a free consultation to meet me and determine if we're the right fit.

Fees & Insurance

I am an in-network provider with Premera, Lifewise, and most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

If you do not have one of these insurance plans, I charge $180 per 60-minute session

Many insurance networks have a shortage of in-network providers. You may be able to use your out-of-network benefits to be reimbursed for a large portion of the cost of therapy, and I would be happy to talk through your options with you.

Contact Info

(253) 242-3072‬

patrick@patrickphelan.com

17141 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA