Anxiety Therapy

Are Feelings of Fear, Worry, And Anxiety Stealing Your Joy?

On the outside, you may seem put-together, secure, and accomplished. But inside, there’s a battle going on with your anxious emotions filled with so much stress, fear and worry.

Others might know you as being dependable, responsible, and always able to get things done at work, school, or in your community. And you may even be skillful at covering up your anxiety with a chill vibe, sprinkled with kindness and a good sense of humor. But, at the end of the day, you feel exhausted, worn out, and like an imposter because the anxiety that fuels your inner alarm system reminds you of all the worst-case scenarios that could happen.

Anxiety Can Be Debilitating

Maybe you experience anxiety intermittently or on a daily basis. Your fear-based emotions often vary in intensity but always lead you to the same outcome: you feel on edge, want to leave situations, or have a sense of being stuck. This fight, flight or freeze tendency is a common anxiety symptom.

You may have tried to fix things through self-help books or motivational podcasts, but nothing has helped you identify the steps you need to take to get control of your anxiety. It may feel like it is impossible to have a life free from anxiety, dread, worry, and fear.

Have you ever wondered if anxiety counseling could be right for you? A counselor who gets your struggles can teach you evidence-based techniques to decrease anxiety and help you understand why you’re having anxious thoughts. They can support you in silencing the alarms and quieting the inner critic that keeps pulling you into the endless cycle of anxiety.

How Do You Know If You Need To Speak With An Anxiety Therapist?

We all experience occasional anxiety—an uneasy state of mind, usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or problem. There is a strong sense that something will go wrong, or is wrong about a person, place, or thing that will have a negative effect on our lives. Sometimes, occasional anxiety can be helpful, as it can help us complete tasks with a deadline.

While occasional anxiety can be an annoyance at times, it’s not always necessary to address it in counseling, as long as it doesn’t keep you up most nights or stop you from doing what you want or need to do. However, anxiety that lasts at least six months is generally considered to be an anxiety disorder. 

Common Symptoms Of Anxiety

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms of anxiety, it may be time to consider therapy:

• Restlessness, and a feeling of being “on-edge”

• Uncontrollable feelings of worry

• Increased irritability

• Concentration difficulties

• Sleep difficulties, such as problems falling or staying asleep

• Nauseousness or decreased appetite

• Feelings of danger, panic, or dread

• Rapid breathing or hyperventilation

• Difficulty focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than the thing you’re worried about

• Insomnia

Even when you experience persistent anxiety, you can learn healthier ways of thinking and problem solving through therapy. Through counseling, you can gain research-backed techniques and coping skills to reduce your anxiety, build a stronger sense of control over your life, and foster a more positive perspective.

Anxiety Therapy Can Give You The Tools To Feel A Measure Of Control

Anxiety disorder symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships.

Therapy can be beneficial in helping you decrease the occurrence of anxiety and know what to do when you experience anxiety by giving you tools to help you work through an anxiety attack and getting you to feel more in control.

With proper treatment, many people with anxiety disorders can lead normal, fulfilling lives. If you think you may have an anxiety disorder, or if anxiety is interfering with your emotional peace and well-being, please contact my practice. 

What To Expect From Anxiety Therapy

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, understanding you, as a whole person, and your life’s story is important to me. Part of my work is to assess how anxiety has been serving you both positively and negatively. 

In therapy, the goal is to learn how to be in control of your anxiety. First, we will review what you have already tried in dealing with anxiety and build upon your skills. 

We will have you learn and practice coping skills that you can apply in and outside of your sessions. These skills are to be used when you are experiencing anxiety. We will build an individualized list of ways to quickly quiet your anxiety, based on which methods you find most effective. This list might include:

• Deep breathing exercises

• Emotional freedom tapping (EFT)

• Grounding techniques

• Noticing your surroundings

• Journaling

• Mindfulness practices for anxiety relief

• Guided meditation

• And more…

In sessions we will also explore messages of self-identity, self-worth, shame-based thinking, and triggers linked to your anxiety. Counseling for anxiety will help you uncover what is behind the anxiety, what keeps it going, and how to create positive changes in your life to take back control of your emotions. 

Therapy for anxiety will help you feel calmer, peaceful, and more confident by creating a life that aligns with your life purpose and your values. We will work together to get you back on your feet and enjoying life again.

The Most Effective Approaches For Calming Anxiety

In order to help you find powerful relief, I stay up to date on modalities like:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – can help change the story that you’ve been telling about yourself, enabling you to rewrite negative thought patterns that drive your anxiety.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – can teach you to handle challenges by focusing on factors within your control, rather than experiencing anxiety over things you cannot change.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – can be a powerful way to regulate your emotions and cope with distress without feeling trapped by anxiety.

• Somatic Therapy – can help you determine where you’ve been holding on to anxiety in your body and release this physical tension. 

I have successfully provided therapy for many people who have experienced generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Clients have reported that they are more fulfilled and feel more in control over their lives with a plan to work through anxiety attacks. Although everyone is different, I have yet to meet someone who has not benefited from anxiety counseling that I provide. 

Still Have Some Questions About Anxiety Therapy?

Will counseling work for me?

Anxiety therapy is not a guarantee that someone will never have anxiety or an anxiety attack. But the anxiety reduction tools and techniques I teach are known to decrease anxiety when used regularly, especially before the anxiety starts. The tools you will gain through counseling also work when someone has an anxiety or panic attack. Together, we’ll identify which techniques work best for you and have you take your techniques with you wherever you go. I will have you keep your notes in your cell phone, so they are easily accessible to you when needed.

How long does someone need counseling for anxiety?

First, we explore where the anxiety is coming from (i.e. upbringing, life experiences, faulty thinking, or triggers). Then, we identify and practice individualized tools to reduce anxiety, helping you get your symptoms under control.  If you’ve experienced anxiety for a short while, time in counseling tends to be shorter. If anxiety has been part of your life for a long time, it may take longer to address the core issues. It really depends on the individual. Overall, my goal is to get you to feel more comfortable as soon as possible.

How is your approach to anxiety counseling different from other counselors?

I incorporate techniques based on your ethnic background, spirituality, roles in growing up, and other factors that encourage an anxiety-based way of living and thinking. I’m an out-of-the-box thinker with a whole tool kit to personalize your care. This allows me to create an individualized approach to address anxiety.  I genuinely care about everyone I work with and aim to help you feel more comfortable in life. I have a great rapport with clients who know that I truly care, and I want to see you succeed. 

Learn More About Anxiety Therapy

If you’re ready to try working with an anxiety counselor, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. You can contact me at (631) 406-3139.