About Ian
Ian Holloway uses straightforward, skills-based therapy to help people manage anxiety, stress, depression, and relationship concerns. He is a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW - practicing in California with twenty years of experience. Ian keeps sessions practical and focused so people can work toward change without extra jargon.
In the room he helps clients name what feels hard and pick small steps to try. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot thinking patterns that fuel worry and low mood.
Background and approach
He also uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find their own reasons to change and stay motivated. Ian has spent two decades supporting people with LGBT concerns, gender dysphoria, and HIV / AIDS related issues. He also helps those dealing with intimacy problems, polyamory and non-monogamous relationship dynamics, and the emotional impact of infidelity.
Fatherhood issues, parenting strain, and men's issues are among the topics he addresses as well. Other areas Ian focuses on include attachment struggles, communication problems, substance use concerns, guilt and shame, and feelings of isolation. He is familiar with kink, BDSM, and alternative sex culture and how these intersect with relationship and identity questions.
Sessions aim to be direct and collaborative. Ian offers ways to practice new skills between meetings and to measure small changes over time. He wants clients to leave each session with a clear next step.
How CBT and Motivational Interviewing work online
Ian uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try small, practical experiments to shift mood and anxiety. CBT often breaks problems into manageable steps and teaches skills you can practice between sessions.He also draws on Motivational Interviewing to help clients clarify their goals and strengthen their own reasons for change. This approach focuses on listening and guiding rather than giving directives, which can help with substance use, motivation for treatment, and making difficult life changes.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. Ian will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before to decide which methods to emphasize. That collaboration helps tailor the plan to each person’s situation.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls allow for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging are useful for short check-ins, written reflections, or when a person prefers not to be on camera. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep continuity between visits.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Attachment issues
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Communication problems
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Fatherhood issues
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Parenting issues
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English