What if anxiety and excitement feel identical in the body — and what shapes the difference is the story we tell ourselves? I learned this at age seven on my first roller coaster: the same pounding heart, the same rushing adrenaline, the same physical sensations — transformed from terror into exhilaration the moment the ride began. That experience never left me.
Anxiety and excitement are two sides of the same coin. Our emotions emerge from the interplay of body sensations and the thoughts, stories, and meanings we attach to them. And there is plenty in this world worth worrying about. But anxiety has a way of amplifying what it touches — making the uncontrollable feel urgent, and the changeable feel impossible. Much of our work together is learning to tell the difference: what can be changed with intention and effort, and what calls for radical acceptance. That wisdom — and it is a practice, not a destination — is where fear begins to soften into something you can actually live with.
I'm Jeff Darcy, a Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) in British Columbia and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Washington State. I have over 25 years of experience helping thoughtful, self-aware adults stop being ambushed by their own minds. My approach centres on curiosity — learning to observe your thoughts and feelings with openness rather than judgment, so anxiety loses its grip, and you can enjoy the roller coaster of life instead of holding on for dear life.
I work with a wide range of concerns: anxiety and depression, life transitions, relationship challenges, and men's sexual health. I'm fully affirming of LGBTQ2S+ identities, consensual non-monogamy, kink, and poly relationships.
I offer in-person sessions in Vancouver and Walk & Talk therapy in Stanley Park. I offer online sessions to clients anywhere in BC and WA — particularly those in smaller communities or rural areas without easy access to affirming therapy.
I particularly welcome gay and queer men outside Metro Vancouver who are looking for a therapist who understands their community from the inside.
North Vancouver, New Westminster, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, Abbotsford, Langley, White Rock, Port Moody, Mission, Maple Ridge, Delta, Squamish, Whistler. Online sessions available province-wide, including rural BC and Vancouver Island. In-person in Vancouver. Walk & Talk in Stanley Park.
