If you struggle with constant worry or feeling like you're always on alert, you're in the right place. The way we respond to the feeling of anxiety is to create short-term relief from the discomfort: we try to control things that are ultimately beyond our control. This leads to exhaustion, frustration, and often, self-criticism.
Your relationship with anxiety can limit you in many ways. Here are a few-
Feeling unable to relax or "shut off" thoughts
Trouble falling asleep or waking up feeling unrested
Muscle tension
Headaches, stomachaches, and other GI symptoms with no clear medical cause
Avoiding responsibilities or procrastinating
Difficulty concentrating
Fear of making the "wrong decision"
Feeling the need to be prepared for everything; excessive researching or list-making
Work burnout or over-functioning
Feeling guilty when trying to relax
I use a blend of strategies, particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), to help you break free from the stuckness. You’ll learn how to accept the presence of anxiety without letting it run the show, while focusing on what truly matters to you.
Together, we’ll explore your values, shift your relationship with fear, and build practical strategies to handle stress and uncertainty. You'll be able to experience your body more peacefully.
You can start living a more meaningful, grounded life—one that’s not directed by worry. For more of my thoughts on anxiety, I'd recommend you read this blog post.
When grappling with social anxiety, you may find that you make yourself smaller, engage less meaningfully with others, and don't always speak up for your legitimate needs. Some people with social anxiety find it is limited to a particular area (e.g. work).
Your experience of social anxiety might show up as:
Reliving and overanalyzing social interactions after they've happened- sometimes years after
Holding back opinions or needs; struggling to self-advocate in relationships
Imposter syndrome, despite evidence of your competence
Fear of judgment even in routine social situations
Struggling to perceive self accurately in social situations
Feeling like others are watching or judging more than they probably are
Avoiding particular social situations (e.g. phone calls, presentations)
Being very highly attuned to others' social cues
Struggling with friendships or dating
The fear of embarrassment or not measuring up often leads us to avoid or over-prepare for interactions, which only reinforces the pattern. To help you step out of that cycle, you'll learn how to accept uncomfortable feelings without letting them control your behavior. We'll try some values-consistent exposures (using ACT + ERP) and focus on building confidence.
You'll find you can show up around other people in a way that feels true to you, even in the presence of nerves. By shifting your relationship with fear, you'll gain the freedom to engage with others, enjoy meaningful connections, and reduce the grip that social anxiety has on your choices.
If you're experiencing panic attacks or living with panic disorder, it can feel like a relentless cycle. Panic can shake our confidence in our relationship to our body. For many, severe anxiety can impact our willingness to keep plodding through life.
Difficulty with panic might look like:
Thoughts that you're going crazy, losing control, or dying
Constant fear of having another panic attack
Scanning your body for signs of having another panic attack
Trying to understand exactly what causes panic, and prevent it
Scanning for exit or escape plans
Always carrying anxiety meds or ice packs
ER visits that reveal no physical cause
Trouble sleeping; panic at night
Avoiding things that affect heart rate (e.g. exercise, sex, drinking caffeine)
Missing school or work because of fear of having an attack
Feeling exhausted from being in a constant state of alarm
The usual advice you hear is to avoid panic or cope with it, but unfortunately these “solutions” fuel future panic attacks, even if they create short term relief. The real challenge is how we respond to panic when it shows up.
Using evidence-based strategies, I can teach you to think about and respond to panic differently than you have. Instead of avoiding or fighting it, you’ll learn to face it with specific strategies, many of which feel paradoxical, yet ultimately create tremendous change. These tools are transformative for people who have been fighting against anxiety and panic.
Panic is a special clinical focus of mine. I hope you'll reach out for support!