Counseling for Anxiety
a collaborative space to work through your fears and regain your freedom
Some signs that you may be experiencing anxiety……….
Physical discomfort such as tightness in your chest, jaw, and shoulders
Pervasive worry that is difficult to control
Difficulty breathing or taking deep breaths
Insomnia, unpleasant dreams
Nervousness, dizziness, sweating
Difficulty focusing due to worry
Sense of danger and/or fearfulness
Avoidance due to worry
Panic, heart racing, or feeling like you may be having a heart attack
Anxiety can be a painful, confusing, and limiting experience. Part of the nature of anxiety itself is the urge to move away from those aspects of our lives that frighten us and cause us to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome sensations. However, the more we move away from anxiety, the larger it often becomes. With the help of a skilled therapist, it’s possible to slowly confront and address what’s making you anxious at a pace that works for you. Relief is possible. We’ll do it together, one step at a time.
You deserve to feel heard and understood in a safe space without judgment.
Sometimes anxiety feels unmanageable. We can change that!
You may feel physical pain when you experience anxiety, and this is not uncommon. You may have tightness in your body, such as in your jaw, neck, or shoulders. You might have difficulty breathing freely. In addition to these uncomfortable physical sensations, you may have racing thoughts, pervasive worry, and a sense of never-ending dread. You may find sleep elusive. All of this can be exhausting, frightening, and isolating. Anxiety is a beast, and your experience is valid.
Working with Anxiety
If it feels right to you, we’ll begin by addressing your immediate symptoms so you have a game plan for when anxiety shows up. We’ll work to connect with your emotions and listen to how your body speaks to you through worry. We’ll strive to understand how parts of your mind might have naturally adapted to protect themselves in ways that manifest as anxiety and that may no longer be useful to you. We may use mindfulness and breath-work techniques to calm your anxiety initially, if this feels comfortable. Our work together will always be trauma-informed, and the pace will be yours. You can feel better, and we’ll do it together!
how therapy works
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If you think we may be a good fit, please reach out to me for a free 20-minute consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!
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In our first session, we’ll just be getting to know one another. This can sometimes feel a bit awkward, but don’t worry! This is normal and we’ll become more comfortable together over the next few sessions. Initially I’ll actively listen to your concerns and learn about what brings you to therapy. We’ll get an idea of what you’re looking for in counseling and how we can best work together to help you feel better.
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Once we’re clear on what brings you to therapy, we may decide that it’s useful to come up with some goals for our work together. These goals may be fluid, but they’ll provide us with an initial map upon which to base our valuable sessions.
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As our sessions continue, you may find that new ideas come to light, and/or that your attention shifts. You may discover new areas of focus that you hadn’t previously thought about. Our work together will take shape naturally based on your needs and how you’re feeling as treatment moves forward.
questions you may have
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Many people feel anxious about starting therapy, and this is actually quite common. It’s ok not to know what to say sometimes….that’s part of the process!
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Absolutely. While breath-work functions to calm your nervous system and fight or flight response and is often used to help manage anxiety, it can sometimes make people feel uncomfortable. This may be particularly true if you’ve experienced trauma. It’s entirely up to you to choose if breath-work is something that you find helpful. Some people notice that keeping their eyes open can be useful while initially working with the breath. If you’re interested in breath- work but feel unsure about it, we can explore what does and what doesn’t work for you and your nervous system.
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Absolutely! People are multi-faceted and many clients find it useful to share their experiences and inner landscapes through their creative work. I look forward to getting to know you in all of your human complexity!
If you have a question that I haven’t answered yet or would like to see if you think we’re a good fit, please reach out!