Individual Therapy for Anxiety


OVERALL GOAL:
To bring research and experience into a conversation with you so that together we can tailor strategies that will make a difference in your life. My aim is to see meaningful improvement in as short a time period as possible, usually within a matter of several weeks.

TYPE OF ANXIETIES TREATED:
  • Obsessions/Compulsions - distressing thoughts, images, or urges that occupy real estate in your head and often lead you to act in ways that interfere with your life. Please refer to the International OCD Foundation for more information.
  • Panic - those periods of intense anxiety that often comes on suddenly for no apparent reason
  • Phobias - fear of specific things or situations (e.g. snakes, blood, driving, enclosed spaces) 
  • Social Anxiety - nervousness in one or more social situations usually with assumptions that others are judging you.
  • Generalized Anxiety - excessive worrying that stresses the mind and body; unlike obsessions in OCD, the focus of worries in generalized anxiety often change as life circumstances change
  • PTSD - the recurring effects of a traumatic event. However, if PTSD is your primary concern, then you may want to work with someone whose main specialty is the treatment of trauma.
  • Insomnia - difficulty getting to sleep or returning to sleep in the middle of the night (See CBT-I page) 

MY APPROACH:
During initial 2-3 sessions:
  • I will listen to understand your story - both past and present  - and to discover what you want to change in your life and how you hope therapy can help you make those changes. 
  • Together we will develop an initial plan for our work together. I will outline what concrete strategies might be included in treatment and encourage you to tailor them to your unique style and circumstances. 
  • I will estimate how many sessions are needed.  
  • I will be asking you about past successes so that we can build on your strengths.  
  • After a few sessions, there is a small chance that we decide you would be more comfortable or better served working with another therapist. If that happens, I could help find you someone. 

In the next several sessions:
  • Our focus will remain primarily on the present, although we may periodically reflect on your past to shed light on the present.
  • I will ask your permission to coordinate care with your other providers (e.g. psychiatrist, primary care provider, psychotherapist).

 By the end of our work together:
  • You will have learned, practiced, and fine-tuned strategies that will help you manage anxiety in the future.   
  • We may decide that you should continue seeing me once a month or less often to maintain gains made in therapy. 
See New Clients page for insurance, fees, and scheduling an appointment.