Anxiety Therapy in Los Angeles
If worry has taken over, there’s a path forward
Anxiety is exhausting. When your mind won't stop running through worst-case scenarios, when your chest feels tight before a meeting, or when you're constantly second-guessing yourself, just getting through the day takes everything you have. Our approach to therapy can help understand what's happening and gives you practical tools to move forward.
You’re not aloneAnxiety is Hard
Many clients come to therapy feeling like they should be able to "just relax" or "stop overthinking." The reality is that anxiety is not something you can simply suppress or will away.
You might be here because:
Your mind races with worries that feel impossible to turn off, even when you know logically they're unlikely
You avoid situations like social events, phone calls, or new experiences because of dread or fear of judgment
You frequently experience physical symptoms like a racing heart, chest tightness, or stomach issues
You're constantly seeking reassurance from others or checking to make sure everything is okay
You feel on edge most of the time as if you're waiting for something bad to happen
You're exhausted from trying to control your thoughts and manage your worry alone
Common Signs & Symptoms
Everyone experiences worry. It's actually a helpful part of being human. Worry alerts us to potential problems and helps keep us safe. But when worry takes over and interferes with your daily life, this is when it can be considered clinical anxiety.
Mental and Emotional Symptoms:Racing thoughts or constant worry about multiple areas of life
Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
Irritability or feeling on edge
Fear of judgment or making mistakes
Physical Symptoms:Muscle tension, headaches, or jaw clenching
Racing heart, chest tightness, or shortness of breath
Stomach issues, nausea, or digestive problems
Fatigue or difficulty sleeping despite being exhausted
The science
Understanding The Roots of Anxiety
Anxiety develops for many reasons. There are biological factors (some people have temperaments or a genetic predisposition that make them more prone to anxiety)), psychological factors (thinking patterns we learned early in life), and environmental factors (stress from work, relationships, major life changes, or past experiences).
Here's what's important: Anxiety is your nervous system's way of trying to protect you, even when that protection has become overactive. Understanding where your anxiety comes from and how it has kept you safe in the past can help us work together to address it in a way that makes sense for your unique experiences.
Our Method
Our Approach to Anxiety Treatment
Anxiety is maintained by the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. When you have an anxious thought, it creates uncomfortable feelings, which lead to behaviors that provide short-term relief but keep anxiety going long-term. We use evidence-based methods to break this cycle and build practical skills so anxiety doesn't control your decisions or take over your day.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPYCBT focuses on the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. When you have an anxious thought like "What if I embarrass myself?", it creates uncomfortable feelings and leads to behaviors like avoidance or reassurance-seeking that provide short-term relief but keep anxiety going long-term. Together, we identify these patterns and build practical skills so anxious thoughts don't control your decisions. Most people notice improvement within 10-20 sessions.
Exposure therapy Exposure therapy gradually exposes you to feared situations (social events, phone calls, crowded spaces) in a structured, collaborative way. Avoidance feels protective, but it keeps you from learning your true tolerance and prevents you from becoming desensitized to what feels overwhelming. We move at your pace, building confidence that you can handle difficult feelings. Over time, what once felt impossible becomes manageable.
the difference
What Makes Our Approach Different
While CBT is highly structured and focused on skill-building, we also operate from a relational, attachment-informed lens. This means I'm not just teaching you techniques or coaching you through exposures. I'm here to understand your whole experience and to create a safe space where you feel truly seen.
We believe therapy isn't just about managing behavior or changing thoughts. It's about fostering a tolerance of uncertainty, emotional intelligence, and building self-compassion. We'll work together to understand not just what you're anxious about, but why these particular worries have taken root.
beyond symptom management
Building Lasting Resilience
Our goal is not just to help you feel less anxious in the short term, but to build lasting resilience. You'll learn how to recognize when your thoughts are pulling you into worst-case scenarios. You'll develop skills for calming your nervous system in moments of overwhelm. You'll gain insight into the patterns that have kept you stuck.
This work builds a foundation for long-term well-being. Not just relief from anxiety, but greater confidence, clearer decision-making, and the ability to fully engage in your life.
the process
What to Expect
Getting Started
We'll start with a free 15-minute consultation call to see if we're a good fit. During this call,we’ll ask about what's bringing you to therapy, and you'll have a chance to ask questions about our approach. There's no pressure to commit to a first session. This is just a conversation to see if we’re the right fit for you.
The work
Most sessions are 50 minutes and happen weekly, though we can adjust frequency based on your needs. In each session, we'll focus on specific skills like identifying thought patterns, practicing grounding techniques, or planning exposure exercises.
Timeline
Anxiety treatment with CBT can be as short as 12-20 sessions, though everyone's timeline is different. Some people notice shifts in the first few weeks. More significant changes usually develop over a few months as you practice new skills consistently.
FAQ
Common Questions about Anxiety
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If anxiety is interfering with your daily life (your work, relationships, sleep, or ability to do things you want to do), therapy can help. You don't need to be in crisis or have a formal diagnosis. If you're reading this and thinking "This sounds like me," that's enough.
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This is so common. Therapy isn't one-size-fits-all, and sometimes the approach or the fit with the therapist wasn't right. CBT for anxiety is highly structured and skills-focused, which can be a different experience from talk therapy. We'll also discuss what worked and what didn't in past therapy so we can tailor our approach.
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Most people see noticeable improvement within 12-20 sessions when working with CBT for anxiety. It depends on the severity of your anxiety, how long you've been dealing with it, and how much practice you're able to do between sessions. We'll set goals together and check in regularly.
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No, and that's actually not the goal. Some worry is normal and even helpful. The goal is to reduce excessive, unhelpful worry that's taking over your life and to give you tools to manage anxious thoughts when they show up. You'll learn when to listen to worry and when to recognize it's your anxiety talking.
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That's perfectly fine, and you're not alone in feeling that way. Many clients share that this kept them from starting therapy soonerYou don't need to have everything figured out or be "ready enough" to reach out. Our consultation call is just a conversation. I'll guide it, and your only job is to show up and be honest about where you are.