Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety
Is Anxiety Interfering with your capacity to Thrive?
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Do you find yourself worrying more often than you should?
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Experience a general sense of dread even when things are going well?
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Are you having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because your mind just won’t stop?
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Have you noticed feeling irritable, agitated or “on edge” a lot?
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Are you having distressing body symptoms such as an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, shaky hands, or nausea?
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Do you easily feel overwhelmed in social situations, or avoid social interactions?
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Are you struggling with obsessive thoughts and find the need to use self-imposed “Rituals” or irrational behaviors to “feel better”?
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Is your pregnancy filled with worry about your wellness or the wellbeing of your baby?
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Is it challenging for you to enjoy the arrival of your new baby as you experience constant dread or worry during your postpartum period?
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Do you constantly worry about your health or the health of your loved ones?
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Are you struggling to live in the present moment with your child, partner or family because your mind is often racing ahead?
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Do you find yourself often preoccupied with life’s “worst case Scenarios”?
The emotional burdens of anxiety can be very challenging to cope with. You may feel that your mind is greatly overwhelmed by distressing thoughts, making it difficult to concentrate on tasks or remain present during experiences you value. In addition, Anxiety is often transferred to our body, and the physical form it takes can cause you to feel exhausted or worn out. Body sensations such as stomach upset, muscle tension, headaches and difficulty sleeping are distressing and greatly impact your quality of life. If you are experiencing Anxiety it is possible that you are attempting to soothe with unhealthy behaviors to calm anxious thoughts and feelings. These include over-distracting using work or food, avoiding situations, relying on others to convince that “I will feel better”, numbing worry using substances or alcohol, and using irrational rituals to feel better. While these “band Aid” behaviors temporarily relieve the pressure, they are ineffective for coping with and overcoming the ongoing challenges imposed by anxiety.
How Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy help me overcome Anxiety?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an interactive and goal-focused process that combines two Highly Effective Therapies: Cognitive Therapy and Behavioral Therapy.
COGNITIVE THERAPY helps you learn to recognize and change maladaptive or unhelpful thought patterns. For instance, beliefs such as “I will fail,” “No one will ever love me,” “I am a terrible mother”, “I will never feel happy again”, “I can’t sleep until I triple check every door lock in my home”, are examples of inner narratives that elicit or heighten emotional distress. Cognitive therapy is designed to help you recognize and challenge these irrational thoughts, and to develop new adaptive beliefs that are more conducive to your emotional well-being.
The use of BEHAVIOR THERAPY collaboratively engages you to learn and practice adaptive behaviors to replace what may be self-defeating or simply ineffective. This interactive process helps you to identify ways to effectively confront Anxiety- provoking experiences; these may include navigating an interpersonal conflict, social gathering, initial job-interview, caring for a new baby, asserting needs and boundaries, dating, traveling to an unfamiliar city, etc. In doing so, Behavioral Therapy also emphasizes finding ways to enhance opportunities for wellness, effective coping, and overall happiness.
Together, we will learn what works and what does not work for you. In this process, not only will you learn more about you, but we will begin to identify and practice the many techniques that promote healthy, effective, and long-lasting changes.
My Anxiety Expertise:
With over 20 years of specialty and Certification in Anxiety Treatment, I have gained a seasoned expertise in treating Adolescents and Adults burdened by: Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress, Obsessive Compulsive Behavior, Panic, Phobias, Perinatal & Postpartum Anxiety, Relationship Anxiety, Health Anxiety and Insomnia.
I bring my extensive training and specialized practice to our collaborative process and use an array of Research-based methods to help you overcome distress, cope effectively and thrive. Specialized Treatment is personalized to your needs and includes my use of:
Anxiety does not have to take over your life. Let’s explore how CBT can help you attain relief, acquire long-lasting coping strategies and support you to THRIVE.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy REBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy DBT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ACT
Exposure and Response Prevention ERP
Mindfulness-based CBT