Anxiety Therapy in Seattle
Is A Sudden Change In Your Life Causing Stress And Worry?
Anxiety has a way of affecting every aspect of life, from how we feel in our bodies to how we interact with those around us. When anxiety is high, it can be very difficult to relax. Coping can feel impossible without adequate rest and healthy emotional outlets, only worsening the cycle of anxiety.
When circumstances change in ways that are sudden or unexpected, it’s easy to lose the feeling of control. Soon, worries may spiral to the point that work performance, daily routines, and sleep schedules are impacted. Living this way is exhausting, and over time, the stress of it all can greatly impact our emotional, physical, spiritual, and psychological health.
Anxiety is common, and most of us will experience some form of it at some point in our lives—likely during a period of change or transition. That’s why therapy can be helpful: new skills can be learned, practiced, and implemented in ways that can foster more hope, confidence, and serenity.
Anxiety Can Worsen With Age And Changes In Health
As a therapist, I specialize in working with individuals of all backgrounds who may be struggling with aspects of anxiety, including disruptive thought patterns, unmanageable worries, and sleep issues. Though anxiety varies from person to person, these symptoms are common.
Most of us have a few tricks up our sleeves for managing intense or stressful situations as is. The older we get, the more we learn about how to move through life’s challenges. Yet, there are some changes or circumstances that almost always increase anxiety.
If you’re living with an illness or caring for someone who is, stress tends to get intensified more quickly than normal. There are so many questions and unknowns when facing a life-altering diagnosis, creating a sense of overwhelm that keeps you from effectively coping, focusing, or processing your feelings.
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Effective Mental And Emotional Health Support Can Improve Health Outcomes
My therapy practice focuses on the impact of stress and anxiety on those facing a life-changing medical diagnosis, including patients themselves and their caregivers. For many of my clients, therapy was never necessary—until a sudden shift in circumstances threw their lives into a tailspin. Now, even the most “normal” parts of life feel challenging, and they’re left wondering if recovery is even possible and what it will take to achieve it.
While it’s important to nurture autonomy and resilience as you navigate these challenges, a strong support system is equally vital. Friends and families may have their own ideas and feelings about a diagnosis, but a therapist is specially trained to understand your specific and unique experience of anxiety.
By creating a gentle, safe therapy space where you can come to feel supported and get away from the noise of anxiety, I want to help you establish a sense of healing and recovery in your life. Through counseling, you can learn to take back some of the power that anxiety has deprived you of.
Anxiety Therapy at Resilient Journeys Therapy
I specialize in counseling for individuals who have anxiety due to a major life change. While I work with clients of all backgrounds in therapy, my approach is especially well-suited for:
Adults 40 and older who may be struggling with aspects of aging and other life transitions
Patients undergoing care or treatment for cancer, memory loss, and other medical issues (including Parkinson’s, ALS, COPD, etc.)
Caregivers of those with chronic or terminal illnesses who may be experiencing acute anxiety or panic attacks
This process is individualized to your unique goals and values as we explore the effects that stress and anxiety are having on your life.
What To Expect
I use a holistic, empathic, and integrative approach in therapy, drawing from a range of proven methods to guide you in developing your skills and resilience. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you connect your thoughts and emotions so that you can better cope with anxiety, while Narrative Therapy gives you an opportunity to change the story of your stress in a way that empowers and encourages you. When used together, these approaches can facilitate deep healing.
That said, the therapeutic relationship itself is really what I rely on in anxiety treatment, as establishing a strong rapport is the most important key to healing. Talking about your anxiety is an essential part of this process, and my aim is to help you see yourself as the expert on your life. I have an extensive background in geriatrics and palliative care, and I am very familiar with the kinds of anxieties and stressors that are faced by this population.
While I can’t change the circumstances causing you worry, I am confident my therapy approach can help you develop the strength you need to manage stress related to aging and illness. As we strengthen your support network through the cultivation of skills, insights, and connections, you can determine what a comfortable, manageable path forward looks like for you.
Common Concerns About Counseling For Anxiety…
Is therapy proven to be an effective treatment for illness-related anxiety?
Yes, therapy has been shown to help alleviate fear, worry, and stress in a lasting way. While medication can also be beneficial in anxiety treatment, counseling teaches skills and fosters insights that can be used for life.
Each of us could benefit from a safe, supportive space where we can go to explore and get our needs met. With therapy, you’ll learn valuable coping mechanisms and regulation skills so that you can navigate illness and other challenges that come your way.
I already have the support of friends and family—how can a therapist help me alleviate my anxiety?
It’s wonderful that you have a good support system! That is especially vital when you are navigating illness and stress. However, if you’re like my other clients, you may worry that you’re becoming a burden to others.
Therapy is your time, and it’s done in a warm, safe place where you are encouraged to focus on yourself and your needs. As a therapist, my job is to devote dedicated attention to your feelings and emotions as we sort out your story together. Plus, with the exception of rare instances that we will discuss in your first session, therapy is entirely confidential.
Won’t talking about my anxiety with a therapist just make me feel worse?
If you’re suffering from sleepless nights, a lack of focus, and anxious, restless thoughts, then you may think that the only way to manage is by not talking about or engaging with your fears at all—but the truth is that talking about your challenges is an important part of overcoming them.
Therapy teaches you how to confront your anxiety in a healthy, effective way. As you process and work through your feelings, your anxiety will have less of a hold over your life.
Healing Begins Here
Resilient Journeys Therapy specializes in anxiety therapy for individuals suffering from chronic or terminal illness and those caring for them. For more information or to schedule a session, contact me.