Anxiety, Panic, Worry Treatment in Philadelphia and Across the US

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Chronic worrying, fearing the worst, bodily tension, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating are common experiences of anxiety, 

Therapy can help you to learn feared situations are relatively safe, develop a new relationship to anxiety, and feel freer to make choices in line with your values instead of anxiety. 

What is anxiety and what does it feel like? 

Anxiety can look and feel different from person to person. For some, it can feel like your mind never slows down especially if you are engaged in constant worry, overthinking, or feeling unable to stop imagining what could go wrong. For others, anxiety shows up physically, with symptoms such as a racing heart, muscle tension, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, or feeling constantly "on edge."

You might find yourself:

  • Replaying conversations or situations long after they've happened

  • Worrying excessively about big things like the future, the well-being of loved ones, your health or small things like completing chores or getting places on time.

  • Struggling to relax, even when there is nothing immediately wrong

  • Feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty or needing reassurance

  • Avoiding situations that feel uncomfortable or unpredictable

  • Experiencing panic, dread, or a sense that something bad is about to happen

  • Having difficulty concentrating because your mind feels constantly occupied

Although everyone experiences anxiety, when it becomes excessive it can be exhausting and at times can feel demoralizing. It often leads people to feel stuck in cycles of worry, avoidance, or self-doubt, and can begin to interfere with daily life, relationships, work, parenting, and the ability to feel present and engaged in the moments that matter most.

In therapy, we will work to better understand your anxiety, develop more effective ways to cope, and build a life that feels less driven by fear and more aligned with your values.

Anxiety in life transitions and adjustment

Life transitions and other experiences often come with uncertainty, and with uncertainty often comes anxiety or worry.  Experiences like starting a new job, navigating changes in relationships or family life, becoming a parent, or adjusting to a new phase of life can be exciting, but they may also be overwhelming or anxiety-inducing.  Together, we can work to better understand anxiety, strengthen coping skills, and help you move through periods of change in a way that feels more manageable and aligned with what matters most to you.  If you are experiencing anxiety in the reproductive process or in the transition to parenthood, please see my approach to perinatal anxiety and reproductive concerns page here. 

Not all anxiety is consistent with an anxiety disorder, and I often work with folks hoping to gain more understanding into their emotional responses and fears, responses to anxiety, and to develop new ways of coping. 

Therapy for Anxiety

  • I work with adults experiencing a range of anxiety-related concerns, including generalized anxiety and chronic worry, social anxiety, panic attacks and panic disorder, health anxiety, anxiety related to major life transitions and adjustments, and anxiety occurring during the perinatal period. Anxiety in these contexts may look like:

    • Fear in social situations, fear of judgment or embarassment, or concerns related to performance

    • Panic attacks or many physical anxiety symptoms that come on all of the sudden and often seem to arise out of the blue or in specific fearful situations like crowds, lines, public transportation, being away from home, or others.

    • Fear of very particular situations or objects (eg spiders, heights, driving)

    • Chronic worry about many everyday situations (health, finances, being on time) that may jump around, are hard to turn off, and leave your body feeling tense or exhausted

    • Worry or anxiety in the context of big life adjustments (eg parenthood, college, job changes, losses)

    Anxiety can affect people in many different ways, and treatment is tailored to your unique experiences, goals, and values. If you are experiencing obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors, you can learn more about my specialized approach to treating OCD and related disorders on my OCD treatment page.‍ ‍

  • Anxiety therapy is a collaborative process that helps you better understand the thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. Together, we identify patterns that may be keeping you stuck and develop practical strategies to help you manage anxiety more effectively, increase flexibility, and engage more fully in the areas of life that matter most to you.

    Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a well-researched and effective treatment for many types of anxiety. It includes cognitive, acceptance-based, or mindfulness techniques to help combat worry and help you think flexibly. It also often involves a behavioral component wherein we approach situations either typically avoided or endured with a lot of anxiety to learn new information that might combat anxiety and fear, such as feared outcomes don’t occur or are actually tolerable. Other times, we may pause to better understand deeper held beliefs about yourself, others, or the world and how these related to experiences of anxiety. Although starting treatment for anxiety can feel challenging, many people find it can bring some relief in a few months, with greater anxiety reduction over time.

  • My approach to treating anxiety is collaborative and grounded in evidence-based practice. Depending on your individual needs and goals, treatment may incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure-based approaches, and other person-centered interventions. I work to create a supportive space to build comfort with therapy, while helping you build the confidence to respond to anxiety differently, enhance strengths, and make positive changes.

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