Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural response to perceived threat or uncertainty — it’s your nervous system’s way of keeping you alert and safe. In small amounts, anxiety can help you prepare, plan, or stay vigilant. But when it becomes chronic or excessive, it can interfere with daily life and limit your ability to engage in things that matter to you. Anxiety can feel like living with an alarm that never stops ringing. Your mind jumps to worst-case scenarios, your body feels tense, and even small decisions can feel overwhelming. You might replay conversations in your head, worry about things that haven’t happened, or avoid situations that once felt manageable. On the outside, you try to keep it together, but inside you’re exhausted by the constant hum of worry and doubt.

Anxiety becomes particularly challenging when natural coping strategies, like avoidance or over-preparing, temporarily reduce distress but ultimately strengthen the anxiety over time. Together, we’ll identify the patterns that maintain your anxiety and develop practical, personalized strategies to manage symptoms, reduce distress, and regain control.

How therapy can help

Effective anxiety treatment begins with understanding your unique experience and how anxiety shows up in your life. I will teach you skills specifically matched to your personal experience so you can effectively navigate and cope with strong and intense inner experiences. This includes strategies for managing physical sensations, racing thoughts, and overwhelming emotions. You’ll learn to respond with confidence rather than avoidance, gradually reclaiming the aspects of life that anxiety may have limited.

In therapy, we will work towards:

  • Regaining a sense of control so anxiety doesn’t dictate your choices

  • Calming racing thoughts and approaching decisions with clarity and confidence

  • Reconnecting with relationships and activities you may have been avoiding

  • Experiencing moments of joy and presence that once felt overwhelming

  • Viewing yourself with greater self-compassion and inner freedom

Let’s work together