Anxiety Counseling

Do You Feel Stressed Out, Stuck and Overwhelmed?

Are you struggling with persistent worries, fear and self-doubt? Does it feel like you can’t do anything right, and you’ll never have the job, relationship or life that you crave? Perhaps you frequently feel as though you aren’t good enough and you don’t fit in with the successful, vibrant people around you. Or maybe you’re struggling with racing, obsessive thoughts about keeping up at work, maintaining a healthy relationship, raising happy children and meeting all of the other expectations that others have for you. It may be that you watch other people move through life with apparent ease and wonder what is wrong with you. Perhaps you find it difficult to attend or engage in social situations because you worry that others will judge, criticize or reject you. Maybe you procrastinate at work because you’re sure that you’ll make the wrong choice or, alternately, you work non-stop because you worry about what might happen if you slow down. Do you feel as though you can never relax and be comfortable in your own skin? Do you wish you could feel calm, accepted and able to trust your decisions and live as your authentic self?

Navigating anxiety symptoms can be an exhausting, isolating and frustrating experience. You may wake up each morning feeling unrested and immediately overwhelmed by your daily to-do list. Whether you rush off to work, hurry to prepare the kids for school or attempt to balance both at once, you might start each day stressed and on-edge. Maybe you feel anxious throughout the day, never feel fully focused, confident or satisfied with what you’re doing or where you are in life. You might spin in a loop of negative, self-critical thoughts about your appearance, parenting skills, work performance and general worth. Or, perhaps you stress over little things, such as whether or not you’ve locked the front door, and you find yourself unable to focus on anything else. It may be that you’ve experienced panic attack symptoms, such as a racing heart, upset stomach, excessive sweating or difficulty breathing, and now, worried that you’ll have an attack again, you avoid situations, places or people that make you feel nervous and uncomfortable. Perhaps you are finding it more and more difficult to have conversations or leave the house at all. You may feel as though your world is shrinking, but don’t know how to stop the fear and self-judgment that is keeping you stuck and/or spinning.

Many People Struggle With Anxiety

If you are plagued by feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt and worry, you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, roughly 30 percent of American adults will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. And, this statistic does not include the millions of undiagnosed Americans who struggle with anxiety symptoms.

Our therapists, with experience ranging from six to 35 years, are trained in a variety of modalities and techniques, allowing you to find the therapist and approach that best fits your personality and needs. The therapeutic relationship is a key part of your journey to lasting relief, and we are dedicated to offering you the best possible fit. We know that you are a unique person, and your emotions, thoughts and experiences will likely shift and flow from session to session. Your therapist will collaborate with you to offer the individualized support you need, drawing from a range of effective anxiety counseling modalities, such as Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure Therapy for panic disorder, Mindfulness, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

We know how overwhelming anxiety can be. We also know that you need not be alone in your suffering, and you don’t have to be alone on your path to lasting relief. We can walk through this together. With help, there is hope for a more engaged, fulfilled life.

You still may have questions or concerns about anxiety therapy…

I’m afraid of going to a new place and a telling stranger about my problems.

We understand how frightening it can be to share your fears, doubts and challenges, which is one reason we’d made the Pathways to Wellness office an inviting, comfortable and nonjudgmental space. In addition to our knowledgeable therapists, we also have friendly therapy dogs who can, if you wish, join you in your sessions.

You have already made a huge step by searching for help. It’s completely normal to feel afraid, but we invite you to question whether or not those fears are anxiety talking. Anxiety counseling can help you stop listening to anxiety and start discovering your own voice.

I don’t have the time or money for anxiety counseling.

It can sometimes feel impossible to dedicate time and money to your own self-care. But, consider how much anxiety is already costing you. How much time and energy get swallowed up by worry and rumination? Anxiety treatment is an investment in your long-term wellbeing. As you learn to cope with stress, you can feel more clear-minded, productive and capable. You can begin to actually engage in the present moment and make the most of your time.

If I talk about my anxious thoughts and feelings, I’m worried that they’ll only get worse.

If you are suffering and finding it difficult to get through your day, anxious thoughts and feelings already have too much power over your life. And, ignoring them won’t make them go away. (Have you ever tried not to think of a pink elephant?). While working through worry may be difficult at times, our therapists are trained to help you get to the other side. Imagine taking whatever it is that’s weighing on you and leaving it in the therapy office. Acknowledging distress and pain is the first step toward letting them go.