Therapy for Anxiety
in Atlanta and surrounding Georgia
Anxiety doesn't have to cancel your plans.
You find yourself predicting the future, but it is never very good.
“This is going to be so awkward.”
“I’ll probably say something stupid.”
You attempt to read other people’s minds, and that does not work well either.
“ I don’t think they want me here.”
“ He is not interested in me.”
It’s possible that your anxiety is relieved temporarily when you avoid social situations, but now you are starting to fear them even more. Perhaps, you sweep your emotions under the rug because you don’t want to upset anybody, but they reappear in the form of anxiety. You lie awake at night going over details that most people would never imagine. A lot of your thoughts begin with “What if….” The anxiety is out of proportion to what is going on in your life and it seems to only be getting bigger.
Together, let’s help you to engage in the life you imagine.
Therapy for anxiety allows you to …
Go to social events, because your thinking is more realistic
Sleep better, because anxiety keeps you awake
Discuss problems at work, because you have learned assertive communication
Problem solve a situation instead of wasting time worrying about it
Become more present with important people in your life, because your thoughts are not constantly in the future
You can learn skills to help you ….
Trust when anxiety is helpful and when it is not
Approach the things you fear instead of avoiding them
Identify how you feel and not sweep your emotions under the rug
Recognize the types of thoughts that lead to anxiety and adjust your thinking
Incorporate breathing techniques and other methods to relax your physical body
Accept what you can and cannot control
The good news
It has been said that most people who deal with anxiety are very nice people. I totally agree! That is why it is so rewarding to help nice people like you become more engaged in your life. You are needed more than ever.
Treatment for anxiety can be very effective. The approaches include the cognitive model (how you think and how it impacts the way you feel and act), the exposure model (how you slowly approach what you fear), and the emotion model (looking at how you feel). Tuning into emotions can be challenging for nice people who pay more attention to how others feel, often disregarding their own inner state.
We will begin to pay attention to how you are feeling in your body. When your body is tense, your thinking can be too. You will learn from progressive muscle relaxation how your body feels when it is totally relaxed.
We will look at your beliefs about worry and the role those beliefs play in keeping your anxiety going. You will work on problem solving for solvable worries and learn acceptance of worries that are not solvable.
Anxiety usually results in avoidance, so we will look at ways you may be avoiding certain areas of your life to help you approach the life you want to lead.
And last but not least, we will work on mindfulness, because anxiety would like you to hang out in the future. The practice of mindfulness will help you be where your feet are planted, in your life.
Working with:
Social anxiety
Chronic worrying
People pleasing
Using methods that work:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) CBT is considered the gold standard in the treatment of all forms of anxiety. CBT is based on the idea that it is our thoughts that cause our feelings and then our behavior.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) DBT is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy but also includes a mindfulness component that is helpful for anxiety.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most therapists want to meet weekly in the beginning of therapy. Later, when some progress has been made, every other week can be discussed.
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Yes, therapy for anxiety is very effective. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard in the treatment of all forms of anxiety.
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Contact me via the button below, and we can set up a free phone consultation.