Anxiety Treatment

In Person and Online Therapy Available for Anxiety

Is Anxiety Making Your Life Feel Out of Control?

• Do you find yourself worrying more often than you should?
• Are you having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because your mind just won’t stop?
• Have you noticed feeling irritable, agitated or “on edge” a lot?
• Are you having distressing body symptoms such as an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, shaky hands, or nausea?

The psychological symptoms of anxiety can be very challenging to cope with. You may feel that your mind is busy with too many negative thoughts, making it difficult to concentrate on tasks you are trying to complete. Playing out worst-case scenarios in your mind can be mentally exhausting.

Also, the physical symptoms that often go along with anxiety can cause you to feel worn out. Body sensations such as stomach upset, muscle tension, headaches and difficulty sleeping can be very distressing and could even make you wonder if you have a serious health condition.

You might attempt to soothe yourself with unhealthy behaviors to calm your anxious thoughts and feelings. These coping behaviors include overeating or undereating, shopping too much online or in stores, watching a lot of TV, spending too much time online, drinking excess alcohol and smoking or taking drugs. While engaging in these behaviors may help you feel better temporarily by relieving some of the pressure, they don’t address the underlying problem and frequently have negative consequences.

Alternately, you may try to cope with fear or anxiety by avoiding situations, places and people that feel stressful. This type of isolation doesn’t resolve the underlying anxiety and often creates additional problems.

Do you wish that you could find more positive, effective ways to relieve your anxiety so that you can feel in control of your life again?

Anxiety is Very Common

If you feel that you are struggling with anxiety, you’re not alone! Anxiety disorders are very common. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders affect 40 million American adults every year, which is 18.1% of our population.

It’s normal to feel anxious or fearful sometimes. Fear is a natural response designed to protect us from danger. For example, when you’re crossing the road and you see a car that isn’t going to stop for you, your brain will send a signal of fear so you can quickly respond by getting out of harm’s way.

Most people feel nervous or tense thinking about stressful events such as being interviewed for a job, going to the hospital, moving to a new home, or getting married. For a short period, you may find yourself feeling worried, having difficulty concentrating, or having trouble sleeping. But once the stressful situation has passed, those anxious feelings go away.

But when anxiety becomes too intense or lasts for a long time, it can feel overwhelming and really interfere with your work, family and social life. It’s easy to turn to strategies that seem to work to help you calm down, such as having a drink or avoiding stressful situations. But these can make you feel more isolated or ashamed.

There are several complex factors that can lead to anxiety disorders, including personality, life events, genetics and brain chemistry. Whatever the root causes of your anxiety, the good news is that anxiety disorders are very treatable. However, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, less than 37% of people struggling with anxiety seek any treatment and continue to suffer with uncomfortable symptoms.

Thankfully, with the guidance of an experienced anxiety therapist, you can find more positive and effective ways relieve your feelings of worry, fear and anxiety.

Anxiety Treatment Can Help You Feel Better

If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, counseling with a trained and experience therapist could be the answer you’ve been looking for. With extensive experience successfully treating clients with anxiety, I am a firm believer that getting the right counseling can make all the difference.

During our first session, we’ll talk about what has been troubling you and what you would like to change. Together, we’ll develop a unique treatment plan so that we can work together to accomplish your treatment goals. Our treatment plan will likely include one or more of these effective treatment methods:

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

CBT is an evidence-based treatment that has been proven to be very effective in changing unhealthy habits as well as reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

With CBT, we’ll first work together to identify the unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that are keeping you stuck. Then you’ll learn how to challenge those sabotaging thoughts and change them to more beneficial thoughts. We’ll also create some positive action steps that you can take in between sessions that can help you to move forward in reaching your goals.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)

Many anxiety disorders are rooted in the past. For example, a person who was bitten by a dog as a child may develop a phobia of dogs.

With EMDR, we identify the fearful traumatic memory and help the brain to reprocess the event. After EMDR, the disturbing feelings about the old event are healed and therefore the old fear response no longer gets triggered.

EMDR is a very effective treatment modality. The National Institute for Health reported that scientific studies demonstrated that nearly 80% of clients with anxiety disorders who worked with a trained EMDR therapist found significant relief.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis gets a bad rap because of what is portrayed in movies and stage shows. Approved by the American Medical Association now for decades, hypnotherapy can be especially helpful in treating mood disorders and bad habits.

Hypnotherapy is very similar to guided visualization. As you relax, your mind becomes more open to positive suggestions. It works by helping the deeper part of brain to think about things in a more helpful way. If you decide to try hypnotherapy, you’ll likely find the experience very peaceful and relaxing.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a skill to help you reduce stress and relax with whatever is happening around you. You’ll learn to stay in the present moment in order to observe your thoughts, feelings and body sensations without judgment.

Studies have shown that mindfulness can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. By learning and practicing relaxation techniques, you’ll be able to keep yourself calmer and more centered even in stressful situations.

I’ve been helping individuals understand and manage anxiety for over 20 years and I’ve seen firsthand how effective these methods can be in making positive, lasting changes. Counseling may be the solution you’ve been looking for to finally regain a sense of control and freedom.

You May Have Questions About Getting Started with Anxiety Treatment

How do I know if anxiety counseling can really help me?

It’s understandable to feel skeptical. With my years of experience, I can assure you that no matter how severe or how long you have been feeling anxious, healing is possible. As we will be developing a customized treatment plan based on your unique needs and goals, you can feel confident that you’ll be receiving the best treatment for your specific situation.

What about medication?

Most of my clients find relief from their anxiety without needing any medication. In certain cases where the root of the anxiety is caused by a chemical imbalance, medication can be very helpful. If you are already taking a medication for your anxiety, adding counseling support can be very beneficial.

Is it worth the investment?

Most clients tell me that the investment in treatment is totally worth it. They say that investing in themselves was one of the best decisions they’ve ever made because of the lasting changes of having a happier life. Are you worth the investment? Of course!

What if I feel too anxious to get started?

If you’re struggling with anxiety, the idea of reaching out to a therapist can trigger feelings of worry and fear. However, the longer you wait, the longer you’re likely to suffer.

I understand that the thought of reaching out for support may feel a little scary. I hold a safe, non-judgmental space where you can just be yourself. Imagine getting the guidance that you need to finally feel free to enjoy your life the fullest.

Anxiety Doesn’t Have to Control Your Life

Are you ready to discover how to feel calmer and more confident? The sooner you get started; the sooner you’ll feel better. With the right counseling, anxiety is very treatable.

You deserve to feel happier, and I would love to show you how! If you are in the Phoenix, Scottsdale or Paradise Valley area and would like to set up a complimentary phone consult to discuss anxiety counseling, simply call 602-992-4318.

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