Claire Carey

Hi, I'm Claire Carey, MSW, LSWAIC, an associate licensed clinical social worker. After stepping away from my first career as a partner dance instructor, I took the advice of the people who encouraged me to take the jump and become a therapist so I could support my community as a clinician! I knew immediately that I wanted to specialize in LGBTQ+ mental health, and my research looked at the unique difficulties that trans and gender diverse folks experience when accessing healthcare. Being able to support people through their challenges and growth is, without a doubt, the coolest thing I've ever done, and I'm honored to get to do this work.

I want our time together to feel as safe, comfortable, easygoing, and fun as possible, and you'll find that I'm as enthusiastically encouraging as I am nonjudgmental. I'm always looking for moments where we can breathe, laugh, connect, or nerd out together, and to make the (sometimes rocky!) process of self exploration feel nourishing and valuable. I see myself as a supportive consultant, and you as the expert of your experience. We'll collaborate and build our therapeutic relationship and approach together, and customize the experience to your specific needs and goals, whatever your path looks like.

While I'm always looking to broaden my scope, I specialize in working with the LGBTQ+ community, neurodivergent folks, and people experiencing disability, chronic health issues, and chronic pain. I've got a lot of comfort with helping people who are trying to heal from relational trauma, such as abuse, childhood neglect, and domestic violence, and I do especially well with people who have a preoccupied/anxious attachment style. I also love working with older adults, both as a dance teacher and therapist!

I earned my bachelor's and master's in social work from Seattle University in a social-justice focused program. My education focused on understanding the ways in which oppressive structures can impact every aspect of a person's life, and how to utilize therapy to heal from and reframe our place in the world. I spent over three years working in community mental health, which taught me how to support people from diverse backgrounds handling every challenge life could throw at them.

Our work together will always be strengths-based, person centered, trauma informed, and with a disability justice lens, and will center on helping you find genuine acceptance and compassion for every part of yourself. We'll look deeply at each area of your life to best understand your needs, and discover new ways of navigating life that let you prioritize what brings you joy and fulfillment. While I love using an eclectic blend of modalities, my favorites are Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and narrative, existential, humanistic, and somatic therapies.

In my spare time, I'm usually spending time with my partner, reading, playing video games, dancing, or tinkering with a DIY project. I love creating visual art, and I've dabbled in photography, painting, collage, graphic design, and interior design. I'm looking forward to getting to know you and supporting you as you do this courageous work!