ANXIETY THERAPY

Anxiety

Are you feeling cornered? Does your mind tend fixate on worry, fear, anxiety, or troubling thoughts? Do you easily catastrophize and think of worst case scenarios? Are you stuck in a thought loop and you feel paralyzed to take action? Is anxiety inhibiting you from participating in your life in the ways you’d like?

 

Are you constantly worried about things you have to do, and what might go wrong? Do you find yourself replaying things in your mind that have already happened, wondering how badly you messed up?

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Are your thoughts overwhelming at times? Do you have trouble maintaining focus, falling or staying asleep, or remaining present? Do you find yourself reaching for your phone to distract you from your thoughts, or feelings of discomfort in a situation?

 

It might feel like your overactive mind is your worst enemy. Perhaps you feel helpless to control your racing thoughts, spirals of worry, panic, fear, shame, or doubt. Anxiety can cause us to question our words, our actions, our relationships, even our worth; it can cause feelings of powerlessness.

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Do you feel stuck in life? Anxiety might be causing you to feel trapped. Perhaps you’re avoiding social situations, or feeling trapped and unable to take the next step you need to in work, school, relationships, or life. You might struggle with self-doubt, decision paralysis, procrastination, and avoidance of anxiety-activating situations. 

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Do you ever feel like it’s hard to catch your breath, or to take a deep breath? Or like your heart is beating really, really fast? Do you feel reactive, impatient, jittery, exhausted, or on-edge? You might experience headaches, dry mouth, upset stomach or other digestive issues. If so, it’s possible you may be experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety as well.

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Sometimes anxiety shows up as an intense feeling in your chest, tightness around your heart, or discomfort in your abdomen, this could be accompanied by a sense of impending doom. Perhaps your anxiety sometimes gets to the point of panic attacks, and you feel powerless to stop it.

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Does any of this seem familiar? If so, it’s possible you’re dealing with high levels of anxiety. Fortunately, anxiety therapy can dramatically change your quality of life—for the better; and set you up with tools so that you are resourced and prepared to face the unknowns of each day. 

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You are not alone.

Believe it or not, anxiety is incredibly common! Unfortunately, many people mask their experience. It can take some time to recognize and admit to yourself just how much you struggle on the inside. Maybe you think, "it's not that bad, I can figure this out on my own," and nothing has helped. In the back of your mind, you might be thinking that “everyone else” has it all figured out, and that you’re the one who’s inept. Feeling trapped in your own anxiety can be an isolating experience.

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In reality, everyone experiences anxiety. Neuroscience and biology show we are wired to worry. Our brilliant minds evolved the ability to scan and assess for potential dangers. However when that capacity gets out of hand, it can hijack your ability to be present in this moment, to live fully as yourself, to create your life. Anxiety therapy can help you reclaim your life. 

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Anxiety is a valid experience! You are not wrong. It is not wrong. Finances, job, school—health, injury, death—children, parents, pets,—relationships, isolation, conflict—what other people think of us—war, climate change, politics, pandemics, violence—uncertainty—any of the myriad of unfortunate things that might happen—what sane person could live in this world without a modicum of worry? 

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In anxiety therapy, I help clients identify and collate anxious thoughts, feelings, symptoms, and learn ways to cope with them. What hurts, and what helps? I support clients in finding tools and ways of coping that are unique to their experience and needs, helping them find new choice points, allowing them to show up to life with presence, acceptance, and emotional regulation.

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Common questions and concerns:

What does anxiety therapy look like?

Treating anxiety looks different for each person. Everyone experiences anxiety a little differently. And like that, treatment will be different for everyone. What a breakthrough is for one person, might be a 'meh' for someone else. And there are certain treatment approaches to anxiety that have been proven helpful.

My first objective is to create a sense of safety in our relationship, so you feel accepted and permission to be just as you are—with whatever insecurity, doubt, fear, shame, or struggles you might be harboring. Inviting a trusted someone to carry the weight of your anxiety is in itself, healing. And a powerful place to start.

From there, we might take a nuanced look at some of the anxieties, possibly getting a little curious about where they’re coming from. This might involve exploring the stories that often accompany your experience of anxiety. Then, we will see what these stories have to tell us, what is underneath them, how they might be trying to protect, serve, help—and we might discover how that intent, although good, is somewhat outdated. 

I take an embracive and holistic approach, which means compassionately looking at symptoms within the larger context of your life. This 360 view, includes consideration of your physical health, your relationships, family history, traumas, your financial health, and/or other experiences related to your identity (ability, race, gender, sexuality, religion, socioeconomic status...).

With that embracive perspective, we can then identify and work with ways of navigating anxiety that are tailored to your goals, strengths, while taking into consideration your unique life experiences. My goal in anxiety therapy, is to support clients in discovering coping skills that bolster and resonate with their true and authentic self.

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How quickly will I find relief?

When we are in pain, we want instant and permanent relief. Therapy is a process that is unique for everyone. Sometimes clients find some immediate relief during or after the first session. It can be deeply healing to be able to talk about things, to be truly heard in a non-judgmental way. Some clients find that the tendrils of anxiety run deep, and are resistant to change. It is all okay—there is no hard deadline for feelings in therapy. I will not judge you for your cadence, your feelings, or for having your experience—even if you do. Together we will walk on your path towards greater health, connection, and pleasure.

There is no shortage of valid reasons for you to feel anxious! Some degree of anxiety is present for most people, right now. The question is, then what can we do about how you handle anxiety? What are your internal resources  to work with the challenges? Can we cultivate more? What gives relief to your anxiety, and how can we add more of these supports into your life?

Anxiety therapy can help you identify your unconscious or reactive anxiety responses and learn to respond from an intentional, present and regulated state. ​

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If everyone has some level of anxiety, what’s wrong with me?

I should be able to solve this on my own.

Often times people can feel shame around seeking help. As if, needing therapy in some way makes them a failure, wrong, or broken. It is quite the opposite. As a therapist, I am bias towards the benefits of therapy because of my personal experience as a clinician and a client. I have seen a myriad of positive change and success stories working with many different clients and their navigation of anxiety. I am constantly humbled by empowering effect of therapy, specifically as it has helped many clients learn to relate to themselves with courage, curiosity, kindness and compassion. Many clients successfully learn to work with their body and mind in a way that helps them navigate the twists and turns of a life with anxiety. Together we can go on an empowering and transformational experience, we will explore and identify the best ways for you to cope with anxiety—and reclaim your life!

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I am a seasoned clinician utilizing a client-centered and eclectic approach to working with anxiety. My work is informed by embodied relational gestalt, mindfulness traditions and practices, neuroscience, attachment theory, jungian dream work, somatic therapy, indigenous practices, undergirded by feminism and social-justice.

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Paramount to my education is my experience as a human, who has to navigate anxiety. I have learned that the most effective way to support my clients is to be fully myself, as a therapist—which is cushioned by all the personal and professional work I have done. In bringing my whole self to the seat of a therapist, I offer an active ear for listening, heart for empathizing, and humility to honor your embodied wisdom, inherent strength and deep knowing. The profound gift of therapy is the human relational aspect. I am here to be with what is, accept you just as you are, while the weaving of your inner sources of strength, clarity, and health reveal.

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If you’re feeling stuck, paralyzed with anxiety, and would like to explore ways to bloom into a version of yourself and your life that is more creative, nourishing, empowered and playful, get in touch!