Anxiety & Stress

Anxiety is a natural response to stress. It is your bodies instinctual way of assessing and perceiving threats. However, our stress responses and anxiety can get out of control and begin to hold us back, impact our day-to-day, and even cause us to shut down. Anxiety looks different for different people. Maybe it's racing thoughts, only seeing the negative and worst-case scenarios, doubting every interaction, or inability to relax and self-care.  Sometimes it presents as a panic attack, uncontrollable anger or sensitivity, or constantly feeling like you are on edge or needing to keep moving.

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It's time to intervene when you notice it impacting your work, your relationships (romantic, familial, social), your self-care, academics, emotional regulation, or daily living.

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How to we treat it?

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Great question! And the answer really depends on what you want out of therapy and how it preseents for you. Anxiety looks different for each person, the source is different, and we can all handle different levels of it. 

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Therapy with me will start with understanding where your anxiety comes from, what triggers it, and how it presents for you. Therapy isn't just in the mind, but in the body. We will understand the overall impact of your anxiety and not just the obvious symptoms that brought you to therapy.

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Depending on those aspects and what you are looking for, I will utilize a blend of modalities to help you achieve your therapeutic goals. These modalities may include:

• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): Learn to become more comfortable with the uncomfortable where appropriate but trying to not control or change your emotions.

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Understand how your thoughts impact your behaviors and impact your anxiety symptoms.

• EMDR: Process and reframe distressing thoughts, feelings, and memories. 

• Mindfulness and self-compassion practices: Connect the mind and body and shift focus to the present moment.

• Somatic work: Identify how your body presents with anxiety and shift your nervous system from "fight or flight" to safe and calm.

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