Why NW Anxiety?

The NW Anxiety Institute (NWAI) was founded in early 2013 and has been enthusiastically embracing opportunities to support individuals in finding freedom from anxiety and fear ever since.
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On the Cutting Edge of Evidence-Based Treatment

​The NW Anxiety Institute focuses on using the most effective form of therapy for anxiety disorders: Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP). Proven to be significantly more successful than standard coping and relaxing techniques, we’ve designed several programs incorporating Exposure Response Prevention Therapy in a wide variety of settings.

Our Story

Allison Bonifay and Kevin Ashworth began their collaboration during graduate training, quickly developing a shared passion for anxiety disorders. “My desire to focus on anxiety was sparked when meeting our mentor in graduate school,” says Kevin. “He really developed a passion for the idea that if we use the most recent and supported scientific evidence to treat mental illness we will have some success. As my interest and experience progressed it was clear that society and the mental health community was not treating anxiety properly.”

For Allison, it was the opportunity to help people live higher-quality lives that fueled her interest in treating anxiety. “I feel like I’m lucky to be where I’m at,” she says. “So I started my career really focusing on providing care for those who aren’t as fortunate.” Allison honed her skills in the non-profit sector, working in prisons and with the Department of Human Services to help teen moms and families rebuild their lives.

In graduate school, Allison started learning about new ways to treat anxiety and realized it was yet another avenue to help those who are struggling. “I was just really excited and inspired that there’s really effective treatment out there for anxiety that is tried and true,” she says. “As an person with anxiety, there isn’t something ‘wrong’ with you. Your brain and body are doing what they're supposed to do to protect you from a perceived threat. If we work with that, there’s the ability to detach and look at it from a different perspective.”

Together, Kevin and Allison began researching, publishing, and presenting on the etiology, progression and treatment of anxiety disorders. Through evidence-based techniques, they’ve helped hundreds of patients overcome their fear and take their lives back.

​“The most fulfilling thing is witnessing the courage clients have,” says Kevin. “Despite having bizarre thoughts or being terrified to leave their house, they somehow manage to make it to their appointments, share these very personal experiences, and trust us to engage in exceptionally scary things. It’s fulfilling to see a teenager’s posture shift over time to one of confidence as they learn to tackle their fears. Or see parents reconnect emotionally with their teenager after years of struggling to understand their symptoms.”

Facing Fear as a Team

​Kevin and Allison’s passion for learning and sharing evidence-based techniques and therapy continues as they collaborate with other clinicians in treating anxiety disorders at NWAI, each one highly skilled in Exposure Prevention Response Therapy and committed to helping their clients attain freedom from anxiety.

Meet the team!