Understory Therapy

Therapy for teens & adults rooted in skills.

We work with teens and adults living with anxiety, depression, trauma, and suicidal thinking.

Need help right now?

Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. We are not a crisis service and cannot respond to emergencies.

Where to start

Finding the right therapist is harder than it should be.

We believe compassionate, collaborative therapy, grounded in science, can help you build the life you want to live.

Therapy is built on the foundation of trust. If we are not the right fit, we will help you find someone who is.

What we help with

Our providers offer evidence-based behavioral therapy for a range of needs.

Anxiety

Exposure therapy to help you overcome fears and tolerate worry thoughts.

Depression

Behavioral activation to build social connection and rediscover a sense of meaning.

Suicidal thinking

Manage moments of crisis by safety planning and learning skills to tolerate distress and manage intense emotions.

Posttraumatic Stress

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and exposure therapy to safely process traumatic events and become unstuck.

DBT

A structured, skills-based approach for people who feel emotions intensely. The most extensively researched treatment for self-harm and suicidal behavior. How we offer DBT.

Teens & young adults

Our clinical focus is the years between early adolescence and the late twenties. More on our work with teens.

Clinicians

Patrick Phelan, LMHC

Patrick Phelan, LMHC

Founder · Approved Clinical Supervisor

Intensively trained in DBT, with a clinical focus on teens, young adults, and high-risk presentations. Read more.

Fees & insurance

We are in network with several plans and are happy to talk through options if yours is not listed. Out-of-network reimbursement may also be available.

  • Regence
  • Premera
  • LifeWise
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield

$180 per 60-minute session, self-pay

Full fees, insurance, and telehealth details

Getting started

Start with a free 30-minute consultation.

It is a chance to meet, ask questions, and work out whether we are the right fit — no commitment either way.

Please do not send clinical details, symptoms, or health history by email or through this website.

Office
17223 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA 98070
Hours
By appointment
Telehealth
Available to anyone located in Washington state, including Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area