Visítanos en Español ~AQUÍ~
Visítanos en Español ~AQUÍ~
Anxiety Therapy
Is Anxiety Holding You Back From Thriving?
Have you been too stressed out to enjoy your life and perform up to the level of your true abilities? Do you constantly:
Overanalyze social interactions and worry that you’ll embarrass yourself?
Feel on edge or on high alert, as if the worst is always about to happen?
Avoid people, places, or things that could trigger your stress or anxiety?
Maybe you tend to overthink routine decisions and anticipate the worst-case scenario in every situation. Perhaps you’re constantly comparing yourself to others and worrying that you don’t measure up. While this may drive you to work harder and accomplish more, it may also leave you burnt out—you might crash into exhaustion each time after your anxiety spikes. As a result, maybe you’re thinking it’s time to see a counselor who treats anxiety.
Anxiety Can Disrupt Your Work, Relationships, And Every Area Of Your Life
If not treated, anxiety can deeply impact your daily functioning—mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically. It can also take many forms, as everyone’s experience with anxiety is different.
If you have social anxiety, you might dread everyday social interactions and continually turn down opportunities to meet new people, try new things or go to new places. If your anxiety is tied to a specific phobia, you may feel extremely anxious navigating routine spaces (elevators, tall buildings, etc.). And if you’re struggling with performance anxiety, your stress could be related to sports, music, or a high-pressure line of work.
Regardless of what form of anxiety you’re dealing with, we encourage you to seek professional support. At Cholula Psychological Services, our therapists specialize in helping clients get to the root causes of their anxiety and teaching them practical skills for managing it more effectively. Our mission is to help you reduce your stress, boost your confidence, and feel more in control of your life.
If You’ve Been Feeling Too Anxious To Enjoy Your Life, You’re Not Alone
Anxiety is a normal human response to stress and danger; it’s a basic part of being human that’s hardwired into our functioning. In many ways, anxiety can actually serve a useful purpose. Feeling anxious before a big test or athletic performance can help you stay alert and awake and give you an extra dose of energy and motivation.
That said, anxiety can quickly become a problem when it stops being a normal response and starts consuming your life. This is the case for roughly one-fifth of Americans today.* For them, anxiety has become a chronic feature of everyday life that affects their work, health, sleep, and relationships.
The good news is that as debilitating as chronic anxiety can be, it’s highly treatable, and many people with anxiety are able to lead healthy and functional lives when they seek therapy.
Many People Don’t Even Know They Have Anxiety—They Think It’s Just Who They Are
Oftentimes, people have struggled with anxiety for so long that they’re not even aware that something’s wrong. They might think: “This is just how I am—I constantly worry about things and don’t know why,” without realizing that it’s because of a deeper mental health condition.
This is very common in the Hispanic community with whom our practice closely works. Many people are not taught about the benefits of mental health counseling and aren’t educated about anxiety, so they don’t seek support. Additionally, the shame and stigma of reaching out can hold people back from getting help, as many fear the judgment of friends and family.
The truth is that there is no shame in seeing a therapist—sometimes we all need extra support. In fact, it’s only through seeking the help of others that we can gain the strength to effectively manage anxiety on our own.
Therapy Available In-Office or Through Video.
Anxiety Therapy Can Help You Feel Calm, Confident, And In Control
Anxiety is part of life, but it doesn’t have to define your life. You may not be able to get rid of it, since it’s a basic human instinct, but you can learn to regulate and maintain it so that it doesn’t overwhelm you. At Cholula Psychological Services, we want to help you understand where your anxiety stems from and what you can do to keep it from negatively impacting your life.
Our practice offers evidence-based, culturally-competent counseling for social anxiety, testing anxiety, performance anxiety, phobias, and many other anxiety disorders. Although therapy looks different from client to client, the first sessions generally focus on identifying symptoms, triggers, and patterns.
Many clients don’t even know why they feel anxious, so we help them explore whether or not their symptoms begin mentally, physically, or socially. As therapy continues, we track their progress using measurable outcomes and give them personalized strategies that they can apply at home, at work, and in high-stress situations.
Tailoring Our Approach To Anxiety Treatment
At our clinic, we use a variety of evidence-based methods and tailor tools so that they feel meaningful and effective for each individual. To treat anxiety, we regularly use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, exposure therapy, solution-focused techniques, mindfulness, and grounding exercises like deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and visualization.
Some people benefit from physical grounding using the five senses; others respond to mental strategies like thought reframing—it’s all about what’s best for each client. Our therapists can also incorporate cultural and faith-based practices such as prayer or rosary meditation if they align with the client’s values.
For those who are struggling with testing anxiety or performance anxiety, we can explore how a deep-rooted fear of failure may be contributing to their inability to execute under pressure. Many people perform well in practice but freeze during competition or testing time. Our goal is to help them feel calmer and more focused before, during, and after their performances.
No matter what form of anxiety you’re struggling with, it’s important to remember that healing is possible. Merely taking that first step—reaching out—is an act of tremendous courage and hope. And with continued help and support, you can get to a place where anxiety is no longer in the driver’s seat of your life.
You May Have Some Questions About Anxiety Counseling…
How long will anxiety therapy take?
The timetable for treatment varies on how severe your anxiety symptoms are and how long they’ve been present. Most clients are able to make significant progress after three to six months of therapy, but many are also able to find relief after just a few sessions. The important thing is to be consistent in applying the tools and strategies that you learn in therapy.
How do I know if I have clinical anxiety or if I’m just feeling anxious?
In the beginning, we can conduct an assessment to evaluate the frequency and intensity of your symptoms. Everyone experiences symptoms of anxiety due to biological or environmental factors, but a key feature is time; if you have experienced anxiety for more than six months, that may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
In the process of the initial evaluation, we’ll go over questions like: Do you feel unable to manage your worries? Are you able to de-stress when you’re anxious? Do you feel consistently irritated and annoyed? This way, you will know if it is clinical anxiety and if your symptoms warrant further treatment.
What if people judge me for seeing a therapist?
It’s normal to fear shame and judgment for seeking support, especially if your family or your culture does not generally acknowledge the reality of mental health. But the truth is that therapy is for anyone—whether you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or just want a listening ear. The first step is finding a provider who makes you feel seen and understood. At our clinic, we will honor your cultural background and give you the opportunity to receive validation, gain new tools, and move toward healing and confidence.