Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety is a fundamental part of the human experience. It is helpful in alerting us to potential threats and keeping us cautious. However, when anxiety becomes overwhelming and persistent, it can transform into an experience that significantly and negatively impact someone’s life. It manifests in various forms, from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), specific phobias, social anxiety, panic disorder, and more.

Anxiety’s impact extends beyond the emotional realm, affecting mood, motivation, daily functioning, relationships, work, physical health, and general well-being. Individuals struggling with anxiety often face a wide range of symptoms, including:

  • Persistent worry
  • Restlessness
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Intrusive thoughts
  • Muscle tension
  • Sleep disturbances

The sustained state of heightened arousal can exhaust the body, leading to fatigue, digestive issues, and a compromised immune function. It’s gut-wrenching and at the same time exhausting.

Anxiety Therapy in San Diego

Numerous evidence-based therapeutic interventions exist to alleviate the burden of anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a highly effective approach and a theory I often utilize with clients. CBT works by identifying and challenging distorted thought patterns that generate anxiety. Challenging faulty thought patterns restructures neural pathways in the brain which leads to a reduction in anxiety. Through techniques like cognitive restructuring and exposure, individuals can learn to reframe negative thinking and reduce their anxiety response.

I also encourage and utilize mindfulness-based therapies, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). These evidence-based practices cultivate present-moment awareness, allowing individuals to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment. This increased awareness helps in breaking the cycle of anxious thoughts and physical sensations while changing neural pathways in the brain leading to a calming of the sympathetic nervous system.

Additional therapeutic interventions I often use while working with clients who struggle with anxiety include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Person-Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy and Family Systems Therapy. In conjunction with therapy, lifestyle modifications like regular exercise, adequate sleep, a balanced diet, a solid support system and stress management techniques play pivotal roles in anxiety management. Medication can also be beneficial for some individuals, particularly when symptoms are severe or significantly impairing. I typically only suggest this pathway if other methods aren’t working, someone is in crisis, or it’s what my client wants.

Understanding anxiety as multifaceted is important. Tailored interventions that combine therapy and lifestyle changes can empower individuals to manage their anxiety effectively, regain a sense of control, and lead a richer, happier, and more meaningful life.

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I offer individual counseling, couples therapy and premarital counseling. The issues I work with are diverse and range from problems arising from sudden circumstantial changes to long standing and complex struggles. My approach to counseling is varied since individual needs and circumstances inform the methods I use. I don’t approach any two people the same and personalize my methods for each situation and client. Click the button below to book a session and we can begin your journey to rediscovery.

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