Garret Patterson

I am a Marriage and Family Therapist based in Seattle, originally from Texas. My journey into therapy began when I was 16 and started attending counseling for my own struggles. What began as a path toward personal healing quickly turned into a deep curiosity about the therapeutic process itself — I became fascinated by how therapy worked and what it could mean to support others in their own growth. From that point on, I was all in. I studied psychology in every way I could, which eventually led me to move to Seattle in 2018 to pursue my undergraduate degree in the field.

Along the way, I developed a strong interest in how people grow and change across their lifespans — especially through the lens of attachment, family dynamics, and the neuroscience behind emotion and behavior. These early interests laid the foundation for my graduate studies in Marriage and Family Therapy, where I deepened my understanding of how relationships and systems shape who we are.

In my work, I integrate Solution-Focused Therapy and Experiential Therapy — two models that complement each other in supporting meaningful, lasting change. Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes clarity and momentum: identifying what’s working and building on your strengths to make tangible progress. Experiential Therapy, on the other hand, creates space to connect with your emotions in real time, uncovering the deeper stories, patterns, and blocks that often live beneath the surface. Together, these approaches help challenge limiting patterns and create new pathways forward.

I work with individuals (ages 13 and up), couples, and families. My areas of focus include anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, family conflict, parenting, men’s issues, and narcissistic relationships (including Narcissistic Personality Disorder). I’m also deeply interested in how early childhood abuse, narcissism in caregivers, and broader social issues like wealth inequality impact mental health. My goal in therapy is always to create a space where you feel seen, challenged, and supported — and where you can move through discomfort toward something more meaningful.

Outside of my practice, I’m committed to expanding access to mental health care by offering pro bono services, supporting community organizations, and engaging in ongoing conversations about how to make therapy more inclusive and accessible to those who need it most.

Your first session is about getting to know each other and setting the stage for meaningful work. We’ll talk about what brought you in, what’s been feeling hard, and what you’re hoping to get out of therapy — but there’s no pressure to have everything figured out. My goal is to create a space that feels real and judgment-free, where you can speak openly and start to feel understood. Together, we’ll slow things down, make sense of what’s going on, and begin shaping a path forward that actually fits you.