Therapy Format
Individual Therapy in Seattle
Get clear about what you want for the future, understand what from the past keeps clouding it, and grow the confidence to go after it.
What We Work Toward
I work with individuals to help them be clear about what they want for the future; to understand how past experiences can cloud or discourage those hopes; to resolve issues and grow confidence in their aspirations; and to encourage the steps needed to reach their goals. I have extensive experience helping people find great capacity for resilience, even after the most discouraging life experiences have made that seem impossible.
What People Often Bring
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Relationship frustrations
- Parenting issues
- Disappointment in work and career possibilities
- Grief over the diminishment or loss of a relationship
- Despair, and sometimes suicidal thoughts
If you are in danger right now, call or text 988 or call 911.
Pages That May Fit
AnxietyWorry that lives in the future and will not let you rest in the present.
DepressionLow mood, heaviness, and a mind that keeps returning to what went wrong.
Trauma and PTSDOld wounds that still shape your reactions, your sleep and your sense of safety.
Self-Esteem and the Inner CriticA harsh inner voice built from old experiences, and a quieter sense of your real strengths.
Life TransitionsNew relationships, parenting, a changing career, midlife and later life.
We look at the past to understand it, not to live there.
We look closely at the conclusions you drew from difficult experiences, including conclusions that no longer fit who you are. Then we return to the present, where you can notice your strengths and decide what to do with them.
What Can Change
- Insight
- You may begin to recognize old conclusions before they steer your choices. We question them with care, rather than blaming you for having learned them.
- Confidence
- I encourage a more accurate view of your strengths. Confidence can grow through noticing what you can do, not simply telling yourself to feel differently.
- Direction
- We put your aspirations into words and consider steps that fit your life. You do not have to settle every question about the future before beginning.
How Sessions Work
Sessions are a conversation with practical work in it. Here is what that usually looks like.
How I WorkA Regular Time
We usually meet weekly for a 50-minute session at $190. A 30-minute session is available at $110. I see clients in person or by telehealth within Washington.
Goals That Stay Yours
We set goals in the first session and amend them as needed. You can tell me when something feels more pressing, or when your hopes have changed.
Strengths First
I listen for what has helped you get through hard times. We build on those capacities rather than treating your struggles as the whole picture of you.
Methods That Fit the Work
I draw on cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, insight-oriented psychotherapy and skills for calming yourself. We choose an approach together, with room to adjust.
Who This Fits
I work with adults from their twenties into their nineties who are willing to let go of misperceptions hardened by the past. You can bring uncertainty, disappointment or a sense that something needs to change.
You do not need a polished explanation. We can start with a situation that troubles you and work toward understanding what you want instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often will we meet?
Usually weekly, for 50 minutes. We discuss the rhythm of our work together and revisit it when needed.
Do I need a diagnosis to start?
No. You can start with what you are noticing, what feels difficult, or what you want to be different.
Can we meet by video?
Yes. Telehealth is available to Washington State residents, including while you are traveling out of state.
Related Pages
Related Reading
Why Do I Keep Replaying the Past?
When old moments keep returning, I look at what your mind is trying to solve and what you have come to believe about yourself.
Read the GuideMore to Explore
- Strengths-Based Therapy
Explore a strengths-based approach with David Johnson in Seattle: noticing existing capacities, clarifying values and choosing practical goals.
- Choosing a Therapy Format
Consider the different purposes of individual, couples and adult family therapy before deciding where to begin with David Johnson.
- Setting Therapy Goals
Explore how to turn broad hopes into useful therapy priorities with David Johnson and revisit those goals as your understanding changes.
- Withdrawal and Low Mood
Explore what pulling away means in your life and how to discuss connection, demands and discouragement with David Johnson.
- Supporting Someone in Grief
Explore listening, practical offers and your own limits when someone you care about is grieving.
- Career Change and Identity
Explore what a career change means for your sense of self, relationships and hopes without reducing the decision to a job title.