Anxiety Therapy

Is Constant Worry Your Day-To-Day Reality?

Perhaps one of the most prevalent mental illnesses of our time is anxiety. People are worried about their future. They can’t sleep, thinking something bad will happen. They’re afraid that they aren’t good enough. And they live in a constant state of alarm that gets in the way of their physical health and relationships.

Maybe you’re one of those people.

You may find yourself constantly worried about your relationships, career, family and life. Perhaps you’re always waiting on the next shoe to drop, even when things in your life are calm.

If you would like to experience the physical and emotional benefits of feeling calm and at peace, then anxiety therapy is for you!

Anxiety often shows up as:

●      restlessness

●      sleeplessness

●      irritability

●      difficulty concentrating

●      headaches

●      stomach and/or body aches

It may also show up as panic attacks—acute episodes of elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and a sense of impending danger.

The good news is: you can learn to relax, detox your thoughts and synchronize your mind, body and spirit. Counseling can help you achieve those goals and teach you to manage the symptoms of anxiety in a healthy way.

Why So Many People Are Anxious Today

Life gets more complicated as society advances. Years ago, our grandparents had few options—today we have many. We have to choose a single career out of hundreds of options. We select partners from hundreds of compatible people.

The more choices we have to make the more anxious we can become.

Years ago, people in a single community chose similar paths and ways of thinking, allowing them to receive community validation for the path they’ve chosen. Today, everyone is allowed to choose their own path, leaving many people lacking in validation and support. This choosing can make people anxious as they fear leaving important pieces of their community behind.

Society's Messaging Reinforces Anxiety In Women

Women learn from a tender age to be anxious. We are given boxes and molds and made to force ourselves into spaces not created for us. We are told that we should suppress our thoughts and feelings to keep the peace. And we are taught that our communities are more important than us.

Within these boundaries created for us, we try to walk a fine line as opposed to allowing ourselves to create a suitable path for ourselves. We get anxious at the thought of coming out of our boxes and showing up as our bold and beautiful selves.

It doesn’t have to be that way. With the help of an experienced counselor, you can get better insight into the cultural messages that support your anxiety symptoms and learn how to transform them.

Anxiety Therapy Can Help You Feel Like Yourself Again

Sometimes, just the thought of seeking therapy can be scary because you don't want to relive past traumas. I completely understand that. That is why I make every effort to make you feel safe during therapy sessions. I take into account your willingness to delve into your past to discover the root of your anxiety.

What You Can Expect In Sessions

My sessions are solution-oriented—designed to guide you in solving problems, developing self-awareness and improving confidence. I will always invite you to bring your full self into therapy. You can come to sessions with your top concerns.

When working together, I will help you reshape your mindset by shifting perspectives and refocusing on the values most important to you. I can also teach you how to listen to your body and identify how anxiety looks and feels so that you can better manage symptoms before they progress.

As you become more familiar with the treatment process, I can help you identify your anxiety triggers and make decisions that help eliminate them. I’ll also work with you to ensure you learn techniques helpful in managing stress and feelings of overwhelm. 

Anxiety Treatment Methods I Utilize

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and spiritual integration are the most common approaches I use in anxiety treatment.

●      CBT for anxiety is a method I integrate indirectly. It helps you to identify harmful cognitions that are irrational, such as notions that ‘you should have already achieved something by now’ or that ‘you should have already landed a high-paying job.’ These are myths you learned as a child, further reinforcing your anxiety that you are not where you should be in life. Using CBT, you can examine the negative thoughts associated with your anxiety and make them more manageable, leading you to embrace your journey and feel more optimistic about the future.

●      Interpersonal Therapy helps you to identify the factors in your relationships that contribute to your anxiety symptoms. It is useful in teaching proper communication and boundary setting in any relationship you enter.

●      Spiritual Integration Therapy will help you to create a feeling of alignment and peace. It allows you to figure out what thoughts, beliefs, and actions feel right for you and the direction you want to move in. I embrace all spiritual traditions, especially the ones, that encourage us to detach from the world around us and reattach to the spirit within us.

●      EMDR Therapy helps you to address traumatic events that caused your anxiety and develop understanding and clarity. Many women's anxiety stems from trauma—whether that means big “T” trauma or the small “t” trauma. Usually some form of trauma is at the root of the perpetual “fight or flight” state of our nervous systems. Through this approach, simple eye movements and tapping combined with guided talk therapy can help to reduce the burden associated with trauma.

Although you might have dealt with anxiety all your life, you don't have to let it control you anymore. Through anxiety therapy, you can find peace within yourself and live the life you want.

You no longer have to suffer in silence or pretend like you have it all together. You can remove the mask and be free.

Perhaps You Are Considering Anxiety Therapy But Still Have Concerns…

I don't want to pay out of pocket.

An investment in yourself is the best type of investment. As individuals, we spend lots of time and money on other things, yet we put self-care last and pay a minimal amount of attention to our personal growth and development. If you start placing yourself first, you will notice your life begin to change for the better.

Will therapy work for me? I've seen other therapists, and yet I still have anxiety.

It's possible that you haven't found the right therapist yet. I think what makes me unique is that I believe therapy is synonymous with self-care. As women with busy lives, we hardly dedicate time to focusing on ourselves and being the center of attention. When we give ourselves space it creates the right environment for growth.

I've had these issues all my life—anxiety, people-pleasing and self-doubt.

I can help! Your long-suffering from these issues shows the issue’s depth. Therapy is about understanding when and where your experience with anxiety started, learning about initial triggers, and addressing the traumatic experiences or events that cause symptoms. This is not something you must suffer from for the rest of your life. I utilize an effective system ideal for addressing long-term distress.

You Can Learn To Heal Yourself And Feel At Peace

If constant worry is preventing you from becoming the present, empowered woman you long to be, therapy with Dorcas Austin offers you the right tools to heal from your past traumas and anxiety. To discuss further concerns or schedule an appointment, please call (443) 594-2307 or email me for a free, 15-minute consultation to see how my approach to anxiety counseling can best help you.