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Anxiety Therapy

Overcome fear, worry, and avoidance with expert support designed to help you live the life you want

I specialize in effective anxiety treatment, helping clients learn to understand and manage their anxiety. Through compassionate and tailored counseling, I provide the tools and support you need to regain control and improve your quality of life.

John Edwards, Certified Gottman  Method Therapist

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is the feeling of fear, worry, or unease that arises when we believe something bad or negative will happen in a situation. It’s a natural and essential part of life, designed to help protect us. Anxiety is both a physiological and emotional response, built into the central nervous system of all living organisms for survival.

While anxiety is often instinctive, it can also develop through life experiences. These learned patterns of anxiety can influence how we approach situations, make decisions, or react to perceived threats.

In small doses, anxiety can motivate and protect us, but when it becomes chronic or overwhelming, it can significantly impact our quality of life, relationships, and ability to function effectively.

Woman with green sweater and jeans next to a plant sitting in a chair with arm over hair a

Helpful vs. Problematic Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response designed to protect us from danger and help us make safer decisions. It can either serve as a helpful survival mechanism or become problematic, interfering with our ability to function effectively in daily life.

woman holding her blonde hair showing anxiety on her face and holding her head
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Helpful Anxiety

Helpful anxiety operates as a built-in warning system, keeping us safe and guiding us toward better choices. Here are examples of helpful anxiety:

  • Stopping at the sight of a snake: You instinctively halt to assess the situation and ensure you’re not in danger.

  • Pausing at a curb when a car speeds toward you: Anxiety triggers quick action to step back to safety.

Learned Helpful Anxiety

Life experiences can teach us to manage anxiety in productive ways:

  • Recognizing a dog on a leash: You might initially feel afraid of a barking dog but learn it is securely restrained and poses no real danger.

  • Checking item prices while shopping: Worrying you might not afford an item, you use a price scanner to confirm it fits your budget, addressing your concern constructively.

Price scanner with a red background
Black woman with hands on her temples showing face of dealing with anxiety

Problematic Anxiety

When anxiety becomes chronic or overwhelming, it can interfere with your life in ways that feel unmanageable. This type of anxiety leads to:

  • Avoidance: Staying away from activities or situations you want or need to engage in.

  • Overthinking: Feeling stuck in “analysis paralysis,” unable to make decisions.

  • Disrupted Functioning: Struggling to navigate relationships, work, or daily activities because of constant worry or fear.

Problematic anxiety may cause your nervous system to go “offline,” preventing it from working as intended and leaving you feeling stuck, unproductive, or unable to enjoy life.

Woman struggle with anxiety shows a close up on her hands scratching her nails

How do I Know if I Have Anxiety

Anxiety can manifest in both emotional and physical ways, often making it difficult to function in daily life. Recognizing these symptoms is the first step toward understanding and managing your anxiety.

Emotional Symptoms

  • Persistent feelings of dread or fear that something bad will happen.

  • A tendency to constantly scan your environment for potential danger.

  • Irritability or unexplained outbursts of anger.

  • A general sense of nervousness or unease.

Physical Symptoms

  • Dizziness or feeling lightheaded.

  • Sweating, shaking, or trembling.

  • A racing heartbeat or heart palpitations.

  • Knots in the stomach, nausea, or indigestion.

  • Sudden episodes of diarrhea or the urge to urinate.

Anxiety symptoms can range from mild to severe, but when they become frequent or overwhelming, they can disrupt your ability to enjoy life and accomplish daily tasks

Responses to Anxiety

Many people think anxiety only triggers the “fight or flight” response, but there’s actually a third built-in survival mechanism: freeze. Together, these three responses make up our nervous system’s natural way of reacting to danger, helping us navigate threatening situations and stay safe.

Freeze

Staying completely still in an attempt to go unnoticed by the threat.


Example: Think of the scene in Jurassic Park where a character says, “Don’t move. If you don’t move, he can’t see us.”

Flight

Escaping the danger as quickly as possible.


Example: Like a gazelle running from a lion in a wildlife documentary, this instinct pushes you to flee to safety.

Fight

Facing the threat head-on in an attempt to defend yourself.


Example: A zebra kicking and making noise to ward off a predator.

Man with head on jeans in dark background showing what happens when anxiety takes over

When Anxiety Overtakes Fight, Flight or Freeze Responses

When anxiety becomes chronic or overwhelming, it can interfere with your life in ways that feel unmanageable. This type of anxiety leads to:

 

  • Avoidance: Staying away from activities or situations you want or need to engage in.

  • Overthinking: Feeling stuck in “analysis paralysis,” unable to make decisions.

  • Disrupted Functioning: Struggling to navigate relationships, work, or daily activities because of constant worry or fear.

Anxiety Therapy

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety can manifest in different ways, affecting people in unique and specific ways. Understanding the type of anxiety you’re experiencing is an important step toward effective treatment. Below are some of the most common anxiety disorders:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves excessive worry about everyday life, including work, health, finances, family, or school. This worry is often persistent and disproportionate, meaning there’s little to no evidence that something bad will happen. People with GAD may find it difficult to relax or focus, constantly imagining worst-case scenarios. This ongoing worry can lead to physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or muscle tension, making daily tasks feel overwhelming.

black woman feeling the pressure of generalized anxiety from multiple expectations at work
black man sitting alone seeing people having fun in background - social anxiety disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder, or social phobia, is an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in social situations. It goes beyond typical shyness, causing avoidance of gatherings, meetings, or any event where scrutiny might occur. Those with social anxiety often replay conversations in their heads, worrying they said or did something wrong. This fear can lead to isolation, difficulty forming relationships, and a significant impact on quality of life.

Specific Phobias

Specific phobias are irrational fears of particular objects, situations, or experiences. These fears are more than simple discomfort; they trigger extreme anxiety or even panic attacks.

  • Examples include: Fear of heights (acrophobia), fear of feathers (pteronophobia), or fear of dentists (dental phobia).

People with specific phobias often go to great lengths to avoid their triggers, which can interfere with daily life. For example, a person afraid of flying may avoid travel altogether, even if it means missing important opportunities.

Woman feeling a phobia of going to the dentist looks scared with dental tools in front of
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - showing excessive organization levels with pencils, paperc

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that cause distress, paired with repetitive behaviors (compulsions) intended to reduce anxiety. These rituals, such as excessive handwashing, checking, or counting, may seem irrational or unrelated to the fear but feel impossible to stop. Over time, these compulsions can consume hours of the day, affecting work, relationships, and overall well-being.

Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder involves sudden, unexpected panic attacks that bring intense feelings of fear or impending doom. These attacks often peak within minutes but leave lasting emotional and physical effects.

  • Symptoms include: Hyperventilation, shaking, heart palpitations, sweating, chills, or dizziness.

People with panic disorder often live in fear of their next attack, which can lead to avoidance of places or situations where attacks have occurred, significantly restricting their lives.

Asian woman with hand on chest wearing white showing signs of panic disorder (anxiety ther
Slight cracked door showing partial of face symbolizing agoraphobia - specific anxiety

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia often develops as a result of panic disorder and involves avoiding places or situations where escaping might feel difficult or embarrassing. Crowded spaces like malls, movie theaters, or public transportation become overwhelming, causing individuals to limit their movement to a small, "safe" zone. Over time, agoraphobia can become debilitating, leaving individuals isolated and struggling to navigate daily life.

PTSD written on a head silhouette next to a man with his hands on his head experience post

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as physical or sexual abuse, war, natural disasters, or the sudden loss of a loved one. Symptoms include flashbacks, intrusive memories, nightmares, or feelings of emotional numbness. PTSD can disrupt relationships and daily functioning, with the central nervous system stuck in a heightened state of alert. Chronic or complex PTSD, which stems from ongoing trauma, requires expert care to help the nervous system heal and restore emotional balance. Learn more about PTSD on our Trauma Counseling page.

Counseling for Anxiety Disorders

Part 1: Reducing Anxiety Symptoms

The first step in anxiety counseling is learning to manage the symptoms that interfere with daily life. This phase includes:

  • Identifying Your Anxiety Symptoms: Understanding the physical and emotional signs of anxiety specific to you.

  • Recognizing Triggers: Identifying situations, environments, or thoughts that intensify your anxiety.

  • Learning Concrete Techniques: I will teach you specific skills designed to reduce anxiety, such as breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or mindfulness practices.

  • Practicing Daily: You’ll practice and integrate these skills into your daily life to build confidence and reduce the impact of anxiety outside of counseling sessions.

Black man on the floor with white shirt on practicing breathing exercises to reduce anxiet
Part 2: Addressing Underlying Emotional Processes

The second phase focuses on understanding and healing the root causes of anxiety. This includes:

  • Exploring the History of Your Anxiety: Together, we’ll look at past experiences, particularly those from childhood, to uncover how they shaped your central nervous system and contributed to your anxiety.

  • Healing the Nervous System: Using evidence-based approaches, we’ll work to "bring your nervous system back online," so it functions as intended.

  • Integrating New Skills and Insights: You’ll combine newfound emotional tools, skills, and understanding to create the quality of life you truly want.

How Long Will
Anxiety Therapy Take?

Anxiety Disorders are Highly Treatable

The length of anxiety counseling depends on the complexity of your symptoms and your willingness to engage in the process. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, but they require effort, commitment, and an open mind.

 

One of the unique challenges with anxiety treatment is that anxiety often "fights back." Many people spend their energy battling their anxiety, which can make progress feel slow.

Image of long path going into the mountains symbolizing the length of anxiety therapy
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My Approach is Different

  • Understanding Anxiety’s Role: We’ll explore how anxiety operates in your life and why it’s there.

  • Compassionate Management: You’ll learn to approach anxiety with generosity and compassion instead of fear or resistance.

  • Personal Growth Over Time: Counseling offers the opportunity to develop skills and insights that will help you move beyond anxiety and achieve emotional balance.

Hard Work = Lasting Changes

While counseling is not a “quick fix,” the hard work you put in will lead to lasting changes, giving you the tools to manage anxiety effectively and improve your overall quality of life.

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Managing Your Anxiety is Possible

Anxiety doesn’t have to control your life. With the right support, you can learn to understand and manage it, building the confidence and peace of mind you deserve.
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