Anxiety Counseling
Do You Feel Stuck, Stressed and Overwhelmed?
Are you struggling with looping, racing thoughts and fears that persistently flood your mind? After nights of fitful sleep and distressing dreams, do you jolt awake, worried about your endless to-do list? Perhaps you move through the day distracted by a general sense of forgetfulness or certainty that something will go wrong. As the rush of thoughts and emotions becomes increasingly chaotic, you may doubt your ability to fulfill basic responsibilities. Or, you may feel judged for your shortcomings at work, in your personal life or in small social interactions. Do you struggle to pinpoint exactly why you’re worried? Do you wish you could find a way to slow down thoughts, manage tasks, engage in the present moment and just relax?
Living with anxiety is often an exhausting, overwhelming and even scary experience. It likely seems that you have no way of predicting or controlling when panic sets in, and when it does, everything from work performance to minuscule everyday tasks to personal relationships feels insurmountable. Common anxiety symptoms, such as racing thoughts, insomnia, stomach aches, panic attacks and more, can interrupt your ability to function well, leading to feelings of inadequacy and deep shame. You may even feel completely worthless. The more you criticize yourself, the more impossible positive changes may seem. You might feel incredibly alone and unsure how to move forward.
You Are Not Alone
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 18 percent of US adults are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder every year—that’s 40 million people. In many ways, anxiety is as prevalent as the common cold. And, just like the common cold, it affects everyone differently. Some people struggle with anxiety throughout their lives, while others develop symptoms after a stressful event, such as a job transition or the end of a relationship. For others, anxiety systems are specific to common tasks, such as driving a car or speaking in public.
All humans are susceptible to anxiety. Evolutionarily, our minds haven’t caught up to handle the onslaught of stressors, threats and stimuli that make up the modern world. Consequently, we are prone to circular thinking that’s difficult to shake. For example, unresolved stressors in your mind and body can make you feel that you aren’t good enough to reach your goals, which only increases that sense of stress.
As a therapist, I believe that everyone is doing their absolute best to navigate life’s challenges. But, very few have learned the necessary tools to eradicate circular thoughts. Thankfully, with the right help and support, it is possible to shift perspective and free yourself from patterns that are keeping you stuck.
Anxiety Counseling Can Help You Build Resilience and Confidence
If you are willing to engage in the process, investigate yourself and try something new, therapy can help you find balance and feel empowered to move forward. In sessions, I offer a nonjudgmental, safe, experiential learning environment where you can develop a deep understanding of anxiety and your particular symptoms and triggers. As you put your experience into words and share it with someone who understands, you can begin to feel more equipped to manage challenges.
For the most part, uncomfortable emotions do serve a function. Even fear has its uses—it alerts you to danger, encourages you to meet deadlines and lets you know when something is off. But, when fear becomes persistent and interrupts your life, it ceases to serve you. Throughout anxiety treatment, we won’t try to eliminate fear altogether; instead, we will seek ways to regulate your system and emotions.
Although addressing underlying issues is essential to finding relief, I acknowledge how difficult that can be. The good news is you don’t have to unpack uncomfortable emotions alone. I take an integrative, supportive approach to counseling, and I adapt my skillset to meet your individual needs and goals. Throughout our work together, we can identify unhelpful patterns, heal their root causes and develop new ways of relating to distressing emotions and thoughts so they no longer feel damaging. Instead, you can perceive them as just what they are—thoughts and emotions that don’t define you. As you reduce the power painful thoughts and emotions hold over you, you can create room for joy and new possibilities.
I know how difficult living with anxiety can be. I also know firsthand that anxiety counseling can help you grow and move forward into the life you want. Through building a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship, it’s possible to develop self-compassion, confidence, effective coping skills and positive prospects for the future.
You may have questions or concerns about anxiety treatment…
I don’t think therapy will work. I don’t think anything will work.
As someone struggling with anxiety, you likely feel as though life is out of your control. It might be difficult to believe that your worries and fears could be contained. While this feeling is very real, the sense of helplessness is also a symptom of anxiety itself. In truth, coping with anxiety is possible.
Therapy can help you challenge negative beliefs, break negative thought patterns and look at your life more realistically, making room for more positive thoughts. Therapy won’t force you to adopt a false sense of optimism. Instead, it can help you see strengths and opportunities that were difficult to recognize before.
I’ve tried anxiety counseling before. How will working with you be different?
Effective therapy requires a trusting relationship between therapist and client. Research indicates that the therapeutic relationship is more important than any particular approach. So, if you have worked with other therapists before and didn’t experience your desired results, it’s possible that the therapist simply wasn’t a good fit. I prioritize creating a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship. If it turns out we’re not well matched, I will do my best to help you find someone who can help.
While I draw from a range of therapeutic techniques, I often use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in my practice. While EMDR is known as a highly effective therapy for trauma, it is also extremely beneficial in treating anxiety. EMDR goes beyond talk therapy, engaging the brain to create deep, lasting change. If you feel stuck after attempts at talk therapy, but have not tried EMDR, I encourage you to give it a chance.
I don’t have the time or money for therapy.
Anxiety and low self-worth often go hand-in-hand. Although it may not feel like it, you deserve to feel better. Investing in therapy means investing in yourself, and you are worth it.
If your schedule is tight and money is short, I will work with you to create a therapy schedule that works. We can decide to focus on a singular issue in one block of sessions, and then take a break until you are able to return. No matter what we decide, I am here to help you structure therapy so that it benefits you without draining your resources. In fact, I hope that therapy will renew your resources. You don’t have to spend your time feeling consumed by worry or exhausted from another restless night. With the right guidance, it’s possible to fully engage with and enjoy life.
Relief Is Within Reach
I invite you to call 858-480-1499 to schedule an assessment session. I look forward to learning more about you and answering any questions you may have about anxiety counseling in Del Mar, CA.
