Understanding Anxiety
You don’t have to stay stuck in worry. Therapy can help you find relief—and reclaim your peace.
Anxiety is more than just feeling nervous. It can show up in your body, your thoughts, your relationships, and your daily choices. Sometimes, it can take over—making life feel overwhelming, unpredictable, or exhausting.
The good news? Anxiety is treatable. And you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
How Anxiety Might Show Up
Everyone experiences anxiety a little differently. Some signs include:
• Racing thoughts or constant overthinking
• Trouble sleeping or relaxing
• Avoiding situations or people
• Physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, or muscle tension
• Difficulty focusing or making decisions
• Feeling restless, irritable, or on edge
• Panic attacks or fear that something bad is going to happen
Whether your anxiety is mild but persistent, or it feels like it’s taking over, therapy can help you get to the root of it—and begin building tools to manage it.
How Anxiety Can Show Up — and How We Might Work With It
Anxiety doesn’t look the same for everyone. Below are some common ways it can show up—and how we might approach it together in therapy.
Generalized Anxiety
Do you feel like your mind is always running—worrying about everything and nothing at the same time?
Generalized anxiety can feel like a constant undercurrent of stress, what-ifs, or fear that something might go wrong—even when things seem okay. It can be mentally exhausting and hard to turn off. In therapy, we’ll work on identifying patterns of anxious thinking, building tools to calm your nervous system, and creating space for peace, clarity, and balance in your everyday life.
Health Anxiety
Do you often worry about your health or fear that something is wrong—even after reassurance?
Health anxiety can lead to frequent checking, online searching, or difficulty trusting your body. In therapy, we’ll work on calming the fear response, grounding in the present, and learning to navigate uncertainty with more ease.
Intrusive Thoughts & OCD-Like Symptoms
Do you experience upsetting or unwanted thoughts you can’t seem to shake? Or feel like you have to repeat certain actions (like counting, checking, or arranging) to feel “just right”?
These can be signs of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or related anxiety. You’re not alone, and therapy can help reduce the power these thoughts and behaviors hold over you.
Food-Related Anxiety & Body Concerns
Does food feel stressful, or do you spend a lot of time thinking about what you eat or how your body looks?
For many teens and young adults, anxiety can show up around food, eating habits, or body image—even if it doesn’t meet the criteria for an eating disorder. Therapy offers a safe space to explore those feelings and build a healthier, more balanced relationship with food and self.
Perfectionism
Are you constantly feeling not good enough—even when you’re doing your best?
Perfectionism is often rooted in anxiety and can lead to burnout, procrastination, or self-criticism. Together, we can challenge all-or-nothing thinking, shift rigid expectations, and build a more compassionate, balanced mindset.
Performance Anxiety
Do you feel intense pressure to succeed—and panic at the thought of making a mistake?
Performance anxiety often shows up in situations where you’re expected to “do well,” like public speaking, test-taking, interviews, or performing in sports, music, or theater. Even in everyday conversations, you might worry about saying the wrong thing or being judged.
This type of anxiety can lead to racing thoughts, self-doubt, physical tension, or avoiding situations altogether. In therapy, we’ll work on managing pressure, building self-trust, and using calming strategies to help you show up with more confidence—even when the stakes feel high.
Social Anxiety
Do you find yourself replaying conversations in your head? Worrying about how you’re perceived? Avoiding social situations altogether?
Social anxiety can make it hard to connect with others and feel comfortable in your own skin. In therapy, we work on building self-trust, reducing fear of judgment, and practicing small, manageable steps toward more confident connection.
How CBT Helps with Anxiety
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective, evidence-based treatments for anxiety. It helps you identify the thought patterns, behaviors, and beliefs that fuel anxious feelings—and teaches you how to work with them in a healthier, more empowering way.
In therapy, we may explore:
• What triggers your anxiety and how it shows up
• How your thoughts affect your emotions and behavior
• Ways to respond to anxious thoughts with more balance and clarity
• Tools for calming your nervous system and staying grounded
• Steps to gently face fears, instead of avoiding them
CBT offers both insight and action—so you don’t just understand your anxiety, you gain tools to move through it.
You’re Not Alone—And You Don’t Have to “Push Through” Anymore
Many people live with anxiety for a long time before reaching out. But relief is possible—and change can begin with just one step.
I offer a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can show up exactly as you are, and we’ll work together to build a life that feels calmer, more connected, and more manageable.