Anxiety Therapy

Anxiety Therapy can help you live a more balanced life

Do you feel anxious and stuck, like something in your life needs to change? This stuck feeling is frustrating, overwhelming, and leaves you feeling like you don't have control over your life. You might find yourself in an endless cycle of worry, avoid trying new things, have trouble with change, will avoid confrontation at all costs, and doubt yourself, wondering if you’re “good enough.”

Things can get better. Everyone experiences anxiety, but it shows up for people in different ways. Read more to learn about my services and treatment approach.

It’s normal for anxiety and stress to cause physical discomfort

psychoeducation for anxiety in Massachusetts

Everyone experiences anxiety and stress. It’s part of being human! It is our body’s way of signaling to us that there is a threat or something to fear, activating our fight or flight response.

Anxiety and stress can also have physical impacts. When people feel anxious, they experience increased heart rate, they might notice that their jaw or muscles feel tense and tight, and their palms get sweaty. Anxiety and stress can also cause gastrointestinal issues, resulting in IBS, heartburn, and tightness in your chest.

Many people seek medical care for these conditions, only to find that there is “nothing wrong” with them, and it's “just anxiety.” I'm here to tell you that those physical symptoms are real. In these instances, people's nervous system go into overdrive and their anxiety is manifesting in physical ways. The physical symptoms ARE real. You can work on ways to bring down your anxiety and experience a reduction in the physical symptoms that are SO uncomfortable, and preventing you from doing the things that you want to do.

Anxiety during life events and transitions is normal

It's not uncommon for people to experience increased anxiety during life events and transitions, even if these events are happy and exciting times.

Maybe you're graduating from college, getting married, buying your first home, or having a child, and things feel totally out of control and you're not enjoying that time in your life. Other times these events are unplanned and bring up new worries that maybe you have never experienced before, such as illness of a loved one, martial strain, loss of a job, or the loss of someone close to you. Whether it’s a time of celebration, or a time of loss, adjustment to these transitions and events can be extremely difficult.

There's a misconception that these events are just part of life, and you need to “deal” with it. They might be part of life, but speaking with a therapist can be helpful to sort out your feelings and to process these events.

My treatment approach

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

EMDR is a powerful and effective therapy focused on helping people alleviate symptoms and heal from disturbing memories and experiences in a safe and effective way. Sometimes difficult experiences get locked in our bodies and mind, and these unprocessed experiences can leave us feeling overwhelmed, distressed and stuck. EMDR therapy works with people to relieve psychological distress frozen in their body and brain. People are then able to adaptively change their emotional responses to past adverse experiences, present situations, and focus on their future with greater outlook and confidence.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is an evidenced based treatment for anxiety. CBT assists people with bringing awareness to their thoughts, emotions, and how they are responding to situations in their life. A major component of CBT is to work on ways to restructure negative thought patterns, also known as negative self-talk, as these negative thoughts produce unpleasant emotions triggering anxiety.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a behavior therapy, similar to CBT. The main principals and concepts of ACT focus on goal setting and making changes that align with your personal values. ACT teaches people how to accept the ups and downs, and the good and bad of life, and teaches people how to accept and tolerate difficult emotions. This is a great approach for people who want to understand and change their internal thought process (perspective), take action, and work through barriers and conditioned responses. ACT is an evidenced based treatment, and is proven to be an effective treatment for anxiety.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

MBSR is a evidenced based program, and has proven to be helpful to reduce stress, anxiety and improve overall well-being. We combine concepts from MBSR with other treatment interventions, and find that MBSR is especially helpful in the treatment of anxiety and stress.

There is hope for improvement, I’m here to support you through life's challenges.

Across the state of Massachusetts, I offer comprehensive anxiety therapy. I specialize in empowering my clients with new coping skills to reduce stress and anxiety. I foster a safe, non-judgmental therapeutic environment where you can openly share your concerns and worries. Together will work collaboratively towards a brighter and more balanced future.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Good question. And it is not uncommon for people to feel hesitant about therapy. Speaking to a therapist who does not have the same emotional pull as a friend or family member, can be affirming and validating. Therapy for anxiety will help you understand your triggers, and how to cope with life’s stressors.
Another common concern is that people think that if they are seeking therapy that is the sign of weakness or that they're doing something wrong in their life. That couldn't be further from the truth. Everyone can benefit from therapy. The same way everyone benefits from seeing their medical doctor, people benefit from prioritizing their mental health as well. Seeking therapy and asking for help is a sign of strength and can lead to improve self-esteem, improvement in relationships, and improved emotional well-being.
Anxiety therapy is a type of counseling designed to help individuals manage and alleviate their anxiety. It works by:
- Understanding Anxiety: Identifying the causes and triggers of anxiety.
- Coping Strategies: Teaching effective techniques to manage anxiety symptoms.
- Thought Pattern Changes: Challenging and modifying negative thought patterns.
- Emotion Regulation: Helping individuals manage intense anxiety-related emotions.
- Behavioral Adjustments: Developing healthier responses and habits.
- Supportive Environment: Providing a safe space for expression and validation.
Anxiety therapy empowers individuals to take control of their anxiety, improve their mental well-being, and lead more fulfilling lives.