CHRIS RUSSO, LICSW

Washington State Number: LW61088963

Works with: Individuals

Sees clients: 12 and up

Therapeutic Approach

Chris provides counseling and psychotherapy at Seattle Anxiety Specialists and serves as our Director of Clinical Training and Education, overseeing all aspects of our Clinical Internship program as well as providing clinical supervision and support to our clinical intern team. Much of his clinical work focuses on supporting individuals experiencing anxiety, going through life transitions, or feeling like they’re “stuck” somewhere. Chris brings a flexible framework to his therapy sessions that works well with people across the spectrum of OCD and anxiety disorders. He enjoys working with teen clients, as well as those who have a background of trauma.

His therapeutic approach is collaborative, gentle, and goal-oriented – he is intentional about working with his patients on addressing what will lead to positive changes in their life. He sees himself as a guiding figure along the therapeutic journey, helping people to bring what they’ve learned in therapy into their day-to-day lives. Chris has a deep sense of compassion for the human experience, and finds value in supporting people as they navigate difficult chapters in life.

“I love people, and learning about people.”

Chris has also trained extensively in a number of evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). He is an active member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and a graduate of their intensive Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI). Chris has also been a member of the outdoor therapy community for a long time.

More about Chris

Prior to joining Seattle Anxiety Specialists, Chris worked in a variety of care settings designing and facilitating experiential-based therapy programs focused on stress management and resiliency building. Through non-profit community partnerships, he also developed and led LGBTQ+ youth support groups and previously worked for a wilderness therapy program in Hawai’i. He is passionate about organizations that work to create social change.

Chris has taught courses in mental health and ecopsychology for the University of Washington Tacoma and Lewis & Clark College, and he currently teaches at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work. He is active in research related to mental health prevention programming, nature’s impact on mental health, and addressing discriminatory policies within higher education.

If you are interested in signing up with Chris, you can check his availability here.

Provides therapy in:

• English