Anxiety

In my experience, anxiety in our modern world seems to be quite commonplace, with people experiencing it on a continuum. Most people at some point in their lives experience mild situational stress that is relatively manageable and tends to dissipate once the trigger is removed/adequately managed. Other people tend to experience a mild to moderate level of anxiety that seems to be a constant companion of sorts over the course of any given period of their life; these individuals find it difficult to turn off the incessant worry, fears, and persistent nagging thoughts. And then there are those people who find themselves battling a very high level of anxiety daily, sometimes to the degree of panic. They may also struggle with feeling depressed as a result of their constant fight within themselves/their mind.

Life presents many challenges that may swing one’s anxiety into different places on that anxiety continuum. Perhaps you find yourself at a place presently where your coping mechanisms seem to be failing you and no longer providing the necessary resolve/relief. If your anxiety currently seems to be a consequence of an adjustment phase, I can help you process that change and manage your stress/anxiety accordingly. Perhaps you have struggled in this anxiety bubble for many months or years of your life and are presently ready for a change. If this is more descriptive of your incoming experience, as your therapist, I want to emphasize that I cannot help eliminate your anxiety, as it is likely part of your genetic makeup. However, what I can offer you is help in learning how to more efficiently navigate and manage the anxiety you’re currently experiencing. I can hopefully assist in moving your symptoms along that anxiety continuum to a more comfortable, manageable place.

Treatment:

I primarily utilize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy in the treatment of anxiety disorders, as the empirical research has demonstrated these approaches to be effective and efficacious. In short, CBT techniques help you learn to challenge irrational, maladaptive thoughts and replace them with more realistic cognitive appraisals. Exposure-based techniques are also utilized to help clients gain new learning experiences that will ideally reduce or eliminate avoidance of feared stimuli/situations. Exposure-based techniques are especially suitable for those who experience panic attacks, as well as those struggling with anxiety related to social situations, a specific phobia, obsessive compulsive tendencies, or a response to a traumatic situation.