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Ian McDonald LCSWA, (he/him) specializes in working with adolescents and adults. He treats:
- addiction and substance use;
- self harm and suicidal behaviors;
- anxiety;
- depression;
- emotion regulation difficulties;
- attachments and relationships struggles;
- grief;
Ian also works with adolescents and adults on existential questions about meaning and purpose. He is particularly passionate about helping individuals navigate transitions and find deeper purpose in their lives.
As an athlete himself, Ian has a special interest in working with clients interested in sports performance to build mental resilience, focus and to optimize emotional well-being for top achievement.
IanI uses an integrative approach that draws from multiple therapeutic modalities. This approach allows him to tailor treatment to the individual, ensuring that each client receives care that best suits their needs and preferences. The approaches include:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT);
- Internal Family Systems (IFS);
- Relational Life Therapy (RLT);
- mindfulness-based therapies;
- psychodynamic therapy;
- Person-Centered Therapy;
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT);
- and Solution-Focused Therapy.
People seek therapy for so many reasons. Whether it is anxiety, depression, a desire to better understand and respond to difficult emotions, the hope of building healthier relationships, an interest in better understanding yourself, or wanting support through life transitions, your experience of these and your path through them will be your own, as you bring your own unique combination of strengths, challenges, experiences, and perspectives to them. Ian hopes to provide a foundation of structure, consistency, and compassion to help you explore these and move through them.
Ian’s approach to therapy is flexible, empathetic, and collaborative. He understands that change is rarely simple—growth and healing often unfold in unexpected ways. Ian will work with you to embrace this complexity, allowing you the freedom to explore whatever arises while staying focused on your personal goals, using processes tailored to your needs.
It takes courage to embrace change in therapy. Ian wants to honor that by providing a nonjudgmental, empathetic, and curious perspective for you as you do this work. If you’re ready to see what that looks like, he’d love to hear from you and get started.
Ian holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of North Carolina. Ian states “I understand that the path to change can be challenging, and it often requires courage and perseverance. My role as a therapist is to provide a safe, supportive space for clients to explore the many facets of their experiences, empowering them to move toward the change they seek. Prior to joining Ilex Counseling I was an attorney assisting folks in accessing health care. I also worked in substance abuse recovery and student health clinics.”
