Anxiety Treatment

Is Stress Or Anxiety Making Life Harder Than It Should Be?

Are you stressed out or overwhelmed by the demands of work, relationships, or life in general? Do you go go go all the time but still feel like you’re never doing enough? Are you constantly second-guessing your words or actions, often wondering: Is that person mad at me? Did I do something wrong?

Perhaps a pervasive sense of fear or low-self worth keeps you frozen in place—unable to make important decisions that could lead to positive changes in your career or relationship. Or maybe you are so busy tending to everyone else’s needs that you don’t know where their interests end and yours begin.

Living with anxiety means constantly having to fight for your ability to be at ease with yourself and the world around you. You may be so worried about making mistakes or being judged by others that you’ve developed perfectionist tendencies. You’re likely sacrificing personal needs and desires in order to please and take care of everyone else.

If you are creative or artistic, you may feel misunderstood or unique in a way that makes you question your self-worth. Similarly, maybe you’ve chosen your own path in life—one that is contrary to the expectation of parents or family—and it makes you feel guilty as if you’re letting everyone down.

At this point, you’re probably exhausted, looking for a way to relax and just stop worrying, but that’s exactly what I am here for. With a little work, I can help you calm down, find your voice, and own who you are with confidence.

Stress And Anxiety Are Common In Our Overly-Critical Society

Stress is a normal part of life, and to some extent, so is anxiety. However, when stress and anxiety start to affect your relationships, work, or your ability to voice your needs, it can have a dramatic impact on your well-being. That doesn’t mean that you have to suffer panic attacks to benefit from anxiety treatment. Many people who struggle with anxiety are high-functioning individuals who merely feel that something is off in their lives and need healthier coping mechanisms for dealing with the stress.

So why is anxiety so common? Stress is certainly a factor, but things like genetics, trauma, loss, prolonged distress, and adverse life experiences are often at the core of anxiety issues. And if you didn’t have anxiety before Covid, the constant worrying and endless waiting for a return to normalcy may have changed all that. However, one of the biggest reasons why anxiety is so prevalent is because somewhere along the way, we, as a culture, fell into the trap of comparing our lives to everyone else’s.

We embrace unrealistic expectations for happiness and success then internalize our flaws, our “failures” when we don’t meet those unrealistic expectations. Social media, entertainment, advertising, pop culture—they all feed a cruel inner critic that convinces us that we are not doing enough, that we are not good enough.

But the reality is that you are good enough. You are valued. And you deserve to live without fear or shame. Life doesn’t have to be this hard, and with my help, I am confident you can silence that inner critic and learn to live in accordance with what makes you happy and whole.

Anxiety Treatment Can Help You Discover Your Voice And Who You Are

If you are dealing with anxiety, you probably wish you could turn to family and friends for support but worry that you’ll be misunderstood or judged. Thankfully, counseling provides a validating experience that allows you to explore your emotions without judgment or bias.

Rather than trying to fix your problems—like friends and family naturally tend to do—I want to help you understand and mitigate the underlying forces that make you feel the way you do. With my help, you can find your voice, tap into your inner resources for healing, and learn how to love and accept yourself for who you are.

To get started, I’ll have you fill out some preliminary paperwork before our first session. If you wish to attend in-person sessions we can take care of everything in our office. If you prefer online anxiety counseling sessions, we can set up everything virtually. It’s completely up to you.

Once we have the paperwork squared away, we’ll begin by discussing your experience with anxiety, how you’ve been coping with symptoms, and what you ultimately hope to achieve through therapy. In subsequent sessions, we can look at your personal beliefs, your background, or any past experiences that may help us better understand the way you think and feel. My goal is to get to the core of the issue and help you break down, reframe, and change any negative mental processes or flawed self-perceptions into something more flexible and positive.

To accomplish that, I use a person-centered approach to treating anxiety. That’s just a fancy way of saying that I help people look inward and tap into their longing for change and their innate capacity for growth to facilitate healing. That also means that you’re at the center of the therapeutic process rather than me. You get to decide the pace, direction, and nature of sessions. If you feel more comfortable pacing around or swearing to get everything out, that’s completely fine. I’m not here to judge; I’m here to help you heal in whatever way works for you.

For the most part, our sessions will involve us simply “flying by the seat of our pants,” using talk therapy to work on whatever is most important to you at the moment. That might involve learning how to self-advocate, manage anxiety symptoms, overcome problems, or cultivate self-compassion and acceptance.

If, however, it turns out your anxiety is related to an unresolved traumatic experience, I’m also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is a non-invasive, multisensory technique that focuses on eliminating the emotional impact of a traumatic memory so that it no longer fuels anxiety symptoms.

I’ve been providing clients a safe, non-judgmental space in which to heal and express themselves since 2010. And I know that the relationship models, communication patterns, and the sense of security you experience in anxiety counseling can truly change the way you think about yourself and the world around you. In time, you can feel calmer, more accepting of yourself, and completely capable of solving problems on your own.

Perhaps you are considering anxiety treatment but still have some concerns…

I don’t know if I can afford counseling for my anxiety.

two men having conversation across table

Stress and anxiety can manifest over time, gradually affecting relationships, jobs, and friendships in ways that aren’t always obvious. For instance, you may be spending money you don’t have on shopping, alcohol, or comfort foods to compensate for the stress and worry. So let me help you save money and emotional energy by getting to the source of your anxiety. With a temporary, short-term investment in anxiety treatment, you can protect your relationships and improve your well-being indefinitely.

I feel like going to therapy will actually make my anxiety worse.

Trying new things can be scary; it’s just how we are wired. And nervousness before a session is completely understandable. After all, you’re about to talk to a stranger about your feelings. But it is in sharing your story and exploring your emotions that you are able to unload the stress, fear, and self-doubt that has been holding you back. Instead of making your anxiety worse, counseling gives you a space to contain your pain and consciously minimize its impact without getting overwhelmed.

I really can’t miss any more work.

If you are like most people, it’s hard to find time or money for anything right now. But that also means that you are probably stressing out, trying to take care of work, kids, and everyone else but yourself. That’s why online anxiety counseling sessions can be so convenient. Whether you live too far away, the traffic is a hassle, or you just don’t have time in the day, working online can meet you whenever and wherever you are. All you need to do is give yourself permission to be happier, and then give me a call.

Your Life Can Be Easier And More Fulfilling

If you are ready to stop worrying and doubting yourself all the time, I can help. Please call 229-686-6449 for your free, 10 to 15-minute phone consultation to see how my down-to-earth approach to anxiety treatment can help you see yourself and the world in a different light.