Alan Barclay

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Washington working with adults and couples who feel stuck in emotional disconnection or repeating patterns in their relationships. Many of my clients are thoughtful and self-aware, and have often done therapy before, but still find themselves caught in the same dynamics.

My work is attachment-focused and depth-oriented. Rather than focusing only on surface communication or coping strategies, we look at the underlying emotional patterns that keep things stuck and work to shift them in a lasting way.

I bring a grounded, direct, and collaborative style to therapy. Clients often appreciate having a space where they can be challenged while also feeling understood, especially when working through complex relationship or identity issues.

My approach is attachment-focused and grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy. I work at the level of the emotional and relational patterns that shape how you connect with yourself and others.

Rather than focusing primarily on tools or surface-level communication strategies, we pay attention to what’s happening underneath — the ways you protect, react, or shut down — and work to create new, more secure ways of relating.

I take a collaborative, experiential approach. We don’t just talk about patterns — we work with them as they show up in the moment, so change can happen in a more immediate and lasting way.

I start with a brief consultation call so we can get a sense of whether it feels like a good fit. In our first full session, we’ll look at what’s bringing you in and begin mapping the patterns that feel stuck — especially in how you relate to yourself or others.

I’ll ask questions to understand both the current challenges and the underlying dynamics driving them. There’s no pressure to share more than you’re ready for, but I do take an active role in helping us get to what matters.

Most clients leave the first session feeling clearer about their patterns and with a better sense of how our work can help create meaningful change.