Anxiety Therapy in Seattle

Your mind won't stop. You're running worst-case scenarios at 2 a.m., bracing for things that haven't happened, and carrying a tension in your body that never fully lets go. Some days it's constant low-grade worry; other days it's panic out of nowhere, or the dread that builds before every social situation. Whatever shape it takes, you're tired of managing it alone.

I'm Dr. Elissa Hurand, and I provide anxiety therapy in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. I hold a PhD and am licensed as both an LMHC and LPCC, with over 15 years of clinical experience. I work with teens and adults whose anxiety has stopped being something they can think their way out of, the kind that disrupts your sleep, your focus, your relationships, and your sense of being at ease in your own life.

If you're looking for an anxiety therapist in Seattle who treats this as real, specialized work rather than one line on a long list of services, I'd like to talk with you.

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Types of Anxiety I Work With

Anxiety isn't one thing, and it doesn't show up the same way for everyone. I work with clients across Seattle dealing with:

Generalized Anxiety (GAD)

Persistent, hard-to-control worry that attaches to everything — work, health, money, the people you love — even when you know it's out of proportion.

Social Anxiety

Intense self-consciousness and fear of judgment that makes meetings, dating, calls, or simply being seen feel overwhelming, and that quietly shrinks your life through avoidance.

Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder

Sudden surges of fear with a racing heart, tight chest, and the conviction that something is very wrong — followed by the dread of when the next one will hit.

Health Anxiety

A preoccupation with your body and your health that keeps you checking, googling, and seeking reassurance that never quite lasts.

Anxiety with Depression

When anxiety and depression travel together — the worry and the heaviness feeding each other. I treat both, and you can read more on my therapy for depression page.

Postpartum & Perinatal Anxiety

The intrusive worry, racing thoughts, and hyper vigilance that can arrive in pregnancy and new parenthood. I offer specialized prenatal and postpartum therapy for this stage.

Trauma-Related Anxiety

When anxiety is rooted in past trauma, the two are tangled together. I also work with trauma and PTSD, and can treat both layers at once.

Anxiety in Teens

Adolescence and anxiety are a hard combination. I work with teens whose worry is showing up as school stress, perfectionism, social withdrawal, or physical symptoms.

The common thread isn't the label. It's that the anxiety has grown louder than the life you're trying to live, and willpower and reassurance from the people around you aren't enough anymore.

When Anxiety Starts Running Your Life

Anxiety is the most common mental health concern in the country, but common doesn't mean you have to live with it. A certain amount of anxiety is normal and even useful. The problem is when it stops being an occasional signal and starts running everything, making your decisions for you, shrinking your world, and wearing you down.

You might notice it in your mind: racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, always anticipating the worst. You might feel it in your body: muscle tension, restlessness, a pounding heart, trouble sleeping, a stomach that's always unsettled. And you might see it in your behavior: avoiding the things that set it off, over-preparing, seeking reassurance, or organizing your days around not feeling anxious.

What I pay attention to isn't just the symptoms, but what's keeping them going. That's where real, lasting change comes from.

How I Approach Anxiety Therapy

Most anxiety treatment is built around managing symptoms. I work further down — at the patterns, history, and unmet needs underneath the anxiety — so the change actually holds instead of wearing off. I don't run a one-size-fits-all protocol; I draw on several approaches and tailor them to you and what's driving yours.

Psychodynamic therapy. Anxiety often has roots we're not fully aware of — old conflicts, early experiences, and the defenses we built to cope. Bringing those into the light gives you real insight into your triggers instead of just fighting symptoms.

Masterson approach. When anxiety is tangled up with identity and relationship patterns, this work helps you build a steadier sense of self and healthier boundaries, so anxiety has less to grip onto.

EMDR. When anxiety is fueled by trauma or specific distressing experiences, EMDR helps your nervous system reprocess them so they stop driving the present. I'm trained through an EMDRIA-approved program.

Somatic experiencing. Anxiety lives in the body, not just the mind. Somatic work helps you regulate your nervous system and release the tension and activation you've been carrying.

Mindfulness & meditation. These practices build the ability to notice anxious thoughts without being swept away by them — steadying you in the moment and over time.

In practice, I integrate these rather than picking one. The goal is a personalized approach that helps you understand your anxiety and build the skills to live with far more ease.

Anxiety Therapy for Teens

If you're a parent searching for a teen therapist near me, anxiety in adolescence deserves real care, not dismissal. I work with teens whose anxiety is showing up as school avoidance, perfectionism, irritability, social withdrawal, or physical complaints with no medical cause. I create a space where they feel taken seriously, and I partner with parents in a way that respects a teen's growing need for privacy and autonomy. (I work with teens and adults; I don't provide therapy for younger children.)

What to Expect in Your First Session

We start with a conversation, no pressure and no clinical checklist. I want to understand how your anxiety shows up, how it's affecting your life right now, and what you're hoping will be different. I'll be honest with you about what I think will help and how I'd approach your specific situation.

Most clients meet with me weekly, especially early on. Anxiety therapy isn't about white-knuckling your way through — it's about understanding what's driving the worry and steadily building a different relationship with it.

Practical Details

Location: 5306 Ballard Ave NW, in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood — easy to reach from Fremont, Magnolia, Greenwood, and North Seattle. Telehealth: Available for all Washington and California residents, so we can also work together online anywhere in the state. Insurance: I'm an out-of-network provider and provide superbills for reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits. Credentials: PhD, LMHC, LPCC. EMDR trained through an EMDRIA-approved program. Over 15 years of clinical experience.

Anxiety Therapy FAQs

How do I know if I should see a therapist for anxiety?
- If anxiety is affecting your sleep, your relationships, your work, or your ability to enjoy your life — and the usual advice to relax hasn't helped — it's worth talking to someone. You don't have to wait until it's unbearable to get support.
Do you prescribe medication for anxiety?
- No. I'm a therapist, not a prescriber. Therapy helps many people without medication, but if medication might be part of your care, I'll coordinate with your doctor or refer you to a trusted psychiatrist.
Do you offer online anxiety therapy?
- Yes. I see clients in person at my Ballard office and offer secure telehealth sessions for anyone in Washington or California.
Do you take insurance?
- I'm an out-of-network provider. I provide superbills you can submit to your insurer for possible reimbursement if you have out-of-network benefits. You can find details on my fees page.
How long does anxiety therapy take?
- It depends on what's driving your anxiety and your goals. Most clients meet weekly, especially early on. Some feel real relief within a couple of months; deeper, longer-standing patterns take longer. We'll talk openly about what's realistic for you.
Do you work with teens?
- Yes. I work with teens and adults. I don't provide therapy for younger children.

You Don't Have to Manage Anxiety Alone

You've probably been told to just relax, breathe, or not worry so much. If it were that simple, you'd have done it already. Anxiety at this level needs more than tips — it needs someone who understands what's underneath it and knows how to help you change it.

Anxiety is one of several areas I specialize in. If you're looking for an anxiety therapist in Seattle who takes this work seriously, I'm here.