Chris Paton
Most people come to therapy carrying something specific: anxiety that won’t settle, a low stretch that has lasted too long, a loss, or a big change, whether they chose it or it chose them. Many also arrive having felt misunderstood or judged somewhere along the way. I’m a Seattle-based psychotherapist with 13 years of clinical experience working with adults of all ages, from young adults to elders. My approach is person-centered, which means you set the direction, and my style is laid-back but engaged. You’ll get a real person in the room, not a blank wall.
You’re the expert on your own life. My job is to understand it the way you live it, not to fit you into a framework.
I commonly work with: ▶︎ Anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout ▶︎ Life transitions: relationships, work, aging, identity ▶︎ Grief and loss ▶︎ Self-esteem and self-worth ▶︎ Relationship challenges (individual therapy) I’m an affirming therapist for LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse clients, and I have long experience with polyamorous, ethically non-monogamous, and kink communities. Whoever you are and however you live, you won’t spend your sessions educating your therapist. All sessions are virtual, anywhere in Washington.
First session
Your first session is a chance to get to know each other. There’s no pressure and no clinical distance. ▶︎ We’ll start with the practical stuff: how I work, confidentiality, insurance, scheduling, and what online sessions look like. ▶︎ Then the time is yours. I’ll ask what’s bringing you in right now, and I want to hear it in your own words, at your own pace. ▶︎ We’ll end with clarity. You’ll know how I work, what ongoing sessions would look like, and how often we might meet. Mostly, it’s about seeing whether we’re a good fit.
Strengths
My background spans community mental health and more than a decade of private practice. I hold a Geriatric Mental Health Specialist credential, so I’m as comfortable with someone navigating retirement, illness, or late-life loss as with a young adult figuring out who they are. Before becoming a therapist, I spent 15 years in tech as a software trainer and instructional designer. I know that world’s pressures firsthand: the pace, the layoffs, the burnout, and the way work can quietly take over the rest of your life. I know the LGBTQIA+, trans, poly/ENM, and kink communities personally and professionally. Those parts of your life are simply part of the conversation, not a topic that needs a primer. They’re also not automatically assumed to be the source of whatever brings you to therapy. Therapy isn’t about fixing you. It’s about helping you become more fully yourself.
Ideal clients
▶︎ Adults at any stage of life, from young adults to elders ▶︎ People dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, or low self-worth ▶︎ Anyone facing a major life transition or a stretch of uncertainty ▶︎ LGBTQIA+, gender-diverse, poly/ENM, and kink-identified clients who want a therapist who already understands their world ▶︎ Clients who value a real, collaborative relationship and consistency over time ▶︎ Clients seeking letters of support for gender-affirming surgery
Treatment methods
Person-centered (Rogerian)
In my practice, person-centered therapy means the relationship comes first. I show up as a real person and build the work on trust, respect, and genuine care rather than a rigid script. ▶︎ Empathy and unconditional positive regard ▶︎ No judgment, and no pressure to justify who you are ▶︎ No forcing your story into a preset framework ▶︎ Sessions that follow what matters most to you, not a checklist
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- WashingtonLicense MHC.LH.60722750