Ian J Nelson-Johnson

Ian Nelson-Johnson is a courageous, compassionate, and creative psychologist based out of Madison, Wisconsin. He practices therapy with curiosity and openness, making space for the most vulnerable parts of people to emerge and heal, while equally challenging them to grow into their best selves. He values the process of co-creating sustainable change with people, rather than putting bandages on problems that inevitably just come back again.

Clients who seek out his private practice are often at a crossroads in life, needing to choose between running from their stories or reclaiming them with grit and courage. Many of his clients want to foster more meaning and purpose in their lives as well as walk alongside a genuine, empathic professional as they wade into discomfort and the unknown.

Ian's therapeutic approach is rooted in three major components: trust, insight, and behavior change. First, It is hard to be vulnerable and open in any relationship when we don’t trust the person sitting across from us. Second, we can’t change what we don’t know, which is why a portion of his work involves exploring how clients' past patterns and experiences affect their present day lives. Once we know better, we have so much more freedom and power to do better. Lastly, Ian uses sessions as a social laboratory to help clients try on new behaviors, express new and uncomfortable feelings, and set reachable goals…all while getting real-time feedback from him in safe and supportive ways.

Ian is deeply committed to maintaining an inclusive practice and providing an affirming environment for the identities his client's hold most important. This part of his work is not lip service, and he regularly invites hard and healthy conversations into the therapeutic space.