Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy — and one of the most treatable. Whether you're dealing with generalized worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, or that persistent feeling that something bad is about to happen, therapy can help you understand what's driving it and build real tools to manage it.
What It Can Look Like
- check_circle Constant worry that's hard to turn off, even about small things
- check_circle Physical symptoms: racing heart, tight chest, shortness of breath, tension
- check_circle Panic attacks or fear of having panic attacks
- check_circle Avoidance of situations or people that feel threatening
- check_circle Difficulty sleeping due to racing thoughts
- check_circle Irritability, restlessness, or a sense of being constantly on edge
- check_circle Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Anxiety is your nervous system's attempt to protect you. The problem is that protection system can get stuck in overdrive — perceiving threats where there are none, or firing responses that are disproportionate to the actual situation. Understanding this isn't just reassuring; it's the beginning of change.
In therapy, we work to identify the specific thought patterns and triggers that fuel your anxiety, examine the beliefs underneath them, and build practical strategies for interrupting the cycle before it escalates. This isn't about eliminating anxiety (which isn't possible or even desirable) — it's about getting your nervous system back in proportion with reality.
Many clients notice significant shifts within the first several sessions. Anxiety responds well to therapy, particularly approaches that combine cognitive work (what you think) with somatic and mindfulness practices (what you feel in your body).
My Approach
I draw primarily on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based approaches for anxiety. We'll identify automatic thought patterns, examine the evidence behind your fears, and practice interrupting the anxiety cycle. For panic or phobia-related anxiety, we may also incorporate gradual exposure work at a pace that feels manageable.