Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response to stress—but when it becomes persistent, intense, or difficult to manage, it can affect your ability to function and enjoy life.

Anxiety can show up in many forms, including:

• Constant worrying about the future
• Difficulty concentrating or shutting off your thoughts
• Feeling restless, tense, or hyper-alert
• Trouble sleeping
• Panic attacks or sudden fear
• Physical symptoms like chest tightness, stomach discomfort, or a fast heartbeat
• Avoiding places or situations that trigger fear

Anxiety isn’t a weakness—it’s a signal. Therapy helps you understand what your anxiety is trying to tell you and teaches you how to respond to it in healthier, more empowering ways.

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What Causes Anxiety?

Anxiety can come from many sources, such as:

• High stress or burnout
• Relationship or family conflict
• Traumatic experiences
• Genetic or biological factors
• Pressure at work or school
• Identity-related stress (including LGBTQ+ experiences)
• Life transitions or uncertainty
• Low self-esteem or fear of judgment

Our therapists help you identify the patterns, triggers, and beliefs that feed your anxiety—so you can break free from cycles of fear and overwhelm.

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Our Approach to Anxiety Therapy

Anxiety therapy at PS It’s Counseling combines evidence-based techniques with compassionate, individualized care. We tailor therapy to your unique needs, symptoms, and emotional patterns using approaches such as:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Breaks the cycle of worry by helping you challenge anxious thoughts.
  
  
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Builds emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness.
  
  
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Helps you accept what you cannot control while taking meaningful action.
  
  
• Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Teaches grounding, breathwork, and present-moment awareness.
  
  
• Somatic and Holistic Approaches: Helps calm the body’s fight-or-flight response through sensory grounding and body connection.
  
  
• Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP): For clients with OCD-related anxiety patterns.

You’ll learn tools that help you understand your anxiety, soothe your body, and take back control of your thoughts and decisions.

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What to Expect in Therapy

1. Initial Assessment: You’ll explore your symptoms, triggers, and goals for therapy.
2. Building Awareness: Understand how your mind and body respond to stress.
3. Developing Coping Tools: Learn strategies to challenge anxiety, calm the nervous system, and regain control.
4. Step-by-Step Progress: Gradually face fears and build emotional resilience with ongoing support.
5. Long-Term Growth: Strengthen confidence, self-understanding, and emotional balance.

Therapy becomes a place where you can breathe deeply, think clearly, and finally feel like yourself again.

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Common Types of Anxiety We Treat

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Social Anxiety
• Panic Disorder & Panic Attacks
• Health Anxiety
• Performance Anxiety
• Trauma-related anxiety
• Work or academic anxiety
• Relationship and attachment anxiety
• OCD-related anxiety patterns

No matter how your anxiety shows up, you’re not alone—and your symptoms are manageable with the right support.

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Benefits of Anxiety Therapy

• Reduced worry and racing thoughts
• Increased calm and emotional balance
• Better sleep and improved focus
• Relief from physical symptoms of anxiety
• Clearer thinking and decision-making
• Greater confidence and self-awareness
• Ability to face stress without feeling overwhelmed
• Stronger boundaries and emotional resilience

Over time, anxiety becomes less controlling—and you become more grounded, empowered, and at peace.

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Related Services and Specialties

Anxiety therapy is often complemented by additional services such as:

Together, these services provide comprehensive care for emotional and nervous system regulation.

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Our Therapists

Our therapists specialize in anxiety disorders and understand how overwhelming and isolating anxiety can feel. They walk with you through each step, teaching tools that bring relief, confidence, and long-term emotional stability.

Meet Our Team →