Anxiety Therapy

If you struggle with anxiety, you have probably asked yourself at some point: why can't I just stop worrying? It never helps. That question often carries a painful edge of self-criticism — as though the anxiety itself were a character flaw rather than a deeply human response.

Here is what I tell my clients: your anxious brain is not failing you. It is doing exactly what it was designed to do — it is trying to protect you. For tens of thousands of years, the individuals who survived were the ones who never stopped scanning the horizon for trouble. The brain that was always anticipating the next threat had a significant survival advantage. That vigilance was passed down through generations. You are, in a very real sense, the descendant of successful worriers. Your anxiety, however uncomfortable, is your brain's attempt to keep you safe.

The problem is not that your brain worries. The problem is that it cannot easily distinguish between a genuine physical threat and a difficult email, between real danger and an uncertain future. The alarm system that evolved to protect your ancestors now activates in response to work stress, relationship difficulties, financial pressure, and the general complexity of modern life — and it stays activated, because modern threats rarely fully resolve.

Understanding this does not make anxiety disappear. But it changes your relationship to it — and that change is where healing begins. There is something genuinely liberating about recognizing the anxious thought for what it is: "There's my brain scanning the horizon for trouble again. I'm catastrophizing about the future. What can I actually do right now, in this moment?" Once you can see the pattern clearly, you cannot unsee it. And from that moment of recognition, choice becomes possible in a way it simply wasn't before.

This is How Your Brain is Actually Trying to Help You

Generalized Anxiety - the Most Common Presentation

Anxiety takes many forms. Some people experience panic attacks. Others struggle with social anxiety or specific fears. There are specialized treatments for these presentations, and therapists who focus on them exclusively.

My work focuses primarily on Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — the most common anxiety presentation, characterized by persistent, wide-ranging worry that is difficult to control and disproportionate to the actual situation. If your mind tends to race through worst-case scenarios, if you find it hard to relax even when nothing specific is wrong, if worry follows you from one concern to the next regardless of what gets resolved — this is the experience I work with most often and most effectively.

GAD and depression are closely related — research suggests a shared neurobiological and genetic vulnerability, which is why so many people can experience both simultaneously. An episode of major depression is often accompanied by a significant increase in anxiety symptoms. My integrated approach addresses both together, which reflects the clinical reality of how these conditions actually present.

What Anxiety Can Look Like

Anxiety is not always dramatic. For many people, it is a persistent background presence — a low hum of worry, vigilance, and tension that never quite lifts. Over time, this becomes exhausting.

Common signs that anxiety may be affecting your quality of life:

Persistent worry that feels impossible to control or turn off
Difficulty relaxing or being present, even in safe or pleasant situations
Racing thoughts that interfere with sleep
Physical tension — tight shoulders, shallow breathing, a racing heart
Catastrophizing — imagining worst-case scenarios as likely or inevitable
Feeling constantly on edge, as though something is about to go wrong
Avoiding situations or conversations that might provoke anxiety

If this feels familiar, you are not alone — and you are not stuck.

My Approach to Anxiety Treatment

I bring over fifteen years of clinical experience to this work, including many years as a Clinician II in the Adult Mood Program at The Scrivener Center for Mental Health at El Camino Health — widely regarded as one of the leading mental health programs in the country. I have worked with hundreds of adults navigating anxiety in all its forms.

My approach is practical, collaborative, and grounded in how the brain actually works. I draw on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practice, and neuroscience-informed techniques to help you:

Understand what is driving your anxiety — identifying the automatic thought patterns and cognitive distortions that amplify worry beyond what the situation warrants
Develop real, usable skills — practical tools you can reach for in the moment, grounded in how the nervous system actually functions
Retrain the brain toward balance — using neuroplasticity to build new, healthier patterns of thought and response over time
Work with the body as well as the mind — because anxiety lives in the nervous system as much as in thought, and calming the body creates the conditions for clearer thinking
Address what is underneath — whether anxiety is rooted in work stress, relationship difficulties, life transitions, or patterns that began much earlier

This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The work is tailored to your specific situation, your particular patterns, and what matters most to you.

Many clients arrive feeling as though anxiety is simply who they are — a fixed feature of their personality rather than a pattern that can change. It is neither. Anxiety is a learned response, often amplified by years of habitual thinking patterns, and it responds well to the right kind of attention and skill-building.

With the right support, people genuinely get better. Not by eliminating worry entirely — some degree of concern and paying attention is healthy — but by developing the capacity to respond to it differently. To observe the anxious thought rather than be consumed by it. To recognize the pattern and ask: what can I do right now? To bring the nervous system back to baseline. To live with uncertainty without being paralyzed by it.

That capacity is buildable. The brain can change. I have watched it happen in client after client over fifteen years. And it can happen for you.

Anxiety is Treatable - and You Can Feel Better

But You May Still Have Questions About Anxiety Therapy…

I take a customized approach that puts my clients at the center of anxiety therapy. Some people find relief after just a couple of sessions, while others need more time to address their issues. There is no set timeline for treatment. You'll be able to work with me for as long (or short) as you personally need to effectively target your anxiety.
I understand that the idea of sharing your fears with a therapist might feel overwhelming. But as you reflect on the roots of your anxiety in therapy, you’ll also focus on actively learning skills and finding solutions for controlling your symptoms. And that’s empowering! As you get the hang of managing your symptoms, you’ll probably find that your quality of life improves.
Even if you’re tired of living with anxiety, you might be one of these people who put off seeking therapy because of the stigma. But there’s nothing shameful about working with a therapist. On the other hand, trying to “tough it out” and grapple with anxiety on your own can prolong your suffering. With the right treatment, you’ll be able to learn the skills to manage your symptoms and finally feel at ease… and at peace.

Ready to Get Started?

Taking the first step towards therapy can feel like a challenge – especially when you are already running low. A free 15-minute consultation is a no-pressure way to ask your questions, get a feel for how I work, and decide if we are a good fit.

Schedule Your Free Consultation