Anxiety comes in many forms. Our licensed therapists use evidence-based treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) to help adults, kids, and teens experiencing the following:

Stress/Difficult life Transitions

When life inevitably throws a curveball in the form of job losses, breakups/divorces, medical diagnoses, or even welcome events like buying a home, getting married, or starting college, significant stress or anxiety may arise. When stress causes interference with optimal daily functioning, therapy can help you live your best life while providing tools to manage stressors.

Panic attacks/panic disorder

Panic disorder is diagnosed in people with recurring panic attacks that seem to happen randomly causing persistent worry about having additional panic attacks and the consequences of attacks. Individuals who have panic attacks often experience a change in behavior due to the attacks like eliminating sex, exercise, or caffeine.

You may also feel physical symptoms, such as:

• Fast heartbeat

• Chest pain

• Breathing difficulty

• Dizziness or lightheadness

• Numbness or tingling

• Fear of ‘going crazy,’ fear of a heart attack, fear of losing control

Agoraphobia

People experiencing agoraphobia have an intense fear of being overwhelmed by anxiety and not being able to escape or receive help. They may avoid places or situations that they feel immediate escape might be hard, like shopping malls or theaters. The fear may be worse when a place is crowded.

Other common situations that may activate agoraphobic fears include:

• public transportation

• traffic

• bridges

• tunnels

• airplanes

• enclosed spaces

Social Anxiety Disorder/social phobia/extreme shyness

Social anxiety disorder is an intense fear of being judged, evaluated in a negative manner, or even rejected in a social situation. People experiencing this may worry about appearing anxious or being viewed as boring, awkward, or stupid. People may avoid social situations and experience significant distress when a situation cannot be avoided, sometimes including physical symptoms like rapid heart rate, nausea, sweating, or full-blown attacks. Social phobia can be limited to one situation (such as talking to people, eating or drinking, or writing on a blackboard in front of others). Or, it may be so broad that the person experiences anxiety in most social situations.

Some of the most common fears of people with social phobia include:

• Attending parties and other social occasions

• Eating, drinking, and writing in public

• Meeting new people

• Speaking in public

• Using public restroom

Specific phobia (flying, heights, animals, blood, needles, enclosed spaces, etc)

People who experience specific phobias have excessive fears in the presence of or in anticipation of a specific object, place, or situation. Common phobias involve heights, water, flying, animals, and blood.

People with phobias try to avoid what they are afraid of. If they cannot, they may experience:

• Panic and fear

• Rapid heartbeat

• Shortness of breath

• Trembling

• A strong desire to get away

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)/excessive, uncontrollable worry

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is marked by persistent and excessive worry about several things. People may anticipate disaster or become overly concerned about money, health, work, family, or other issues. These people find it challenging to control their worry and may worry more than seems warranted about events. They may also expect the worst outcome to arise even when there is no obvious reason for concern.

Other symptoms may include:

• Difficulty concentrating

• Fatigue

• Irritability

• Problems falling or staying asleep, and sleep that is often restless and unsatisfying

• Restlessness, and often becoming startled very easily

• Muscle tension (shakiness, headaches)

• GI issues

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

OCD is made up of obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are undesired thoughts, images, and urges that cause a person anxiety, disgust, and/or distress. In trying to reduce the discomfort, a person may engage in compulsions, which are mental or physical behaviors. These compulsions may or may not be repetitive and the person may avoid triggers altogether, all of which bring short-term relief, but ultimately continue the OCD cycle.

There are many types of obsessions and compulsions. Examples include:

• Checking and rechecking actions (such as turning out the lights and locking the door)

• Excessive counting

• Excessive fear of germs and washing/cleaning rituals

• Fear of harming the self or others

• Sexual or religious obsessions and/or compulsions

The person usually recognizes that the behavior is excessive or unreasonable.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event like a serious accident, sudden death of a loved one, violent assault, or other life-threatening situation. People with PTSD may have flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories related to the traumatic event.

Some other common PTSD symptoms include:

• Trouble sleeping or nightmares

• Startling more easily

• Being extra aware of one’s surroundings (hypervigilance)

• Angry outbursts

• Feeling worried, guilty or sad

Signs of PTSD may start soon after a frightening event and then continue. Other people develop new or more severe signs months or even years later.

Health Anxiety

People with health anxiety worry excessively about bodily functions, like heartbeat or breathing, physical blemishes, and physical discomfort, like a headache, stomachache, or lightheadedness. They might worry about a specific organ or a disease and become consumed with the belief that they are in danger of contracting a serious illness. They may seek repeated medical tests for reassurance to bring temporary relief, or may avoid doctors and tests out of fear.

Psychosomatic symptoms/Somatic Symptom Disorders

Some people experience physical symptoms that result in a high focus on the symptoms, emotional distress, and problems functioning. Sometimes this includes high healthcare utilization. These symptoms may or may not co-occur with a diagnosed medical condition. If you suffer from this, you may have been told (overtly or covertly) that it’s “all in your head,” but these physical symptoms do exist and are not feigned nor purposely created.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety occurs in children who experience distress at separation or in anticipation of separation and may include some of the following: excessive crying, protests, difficulty sleeping alone, worry about something happening to the caretaker or child, body aches, or trouble attending school. Along with the above symptoms, we might see “functional impairment,” meaning it is challenging for a child to fully be a child (i.e. attend school, interact socially, and engage in activities).

School Refusal

School refusal is a regular refusal to attend school or consistent problems staying at school. Children might avoid school to cope with stress or fear for any number of reasons. School refusal is considered a symptom and might be linked with diagnoses such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or separation anxiety.

Mild Depression/Low Mood

While we do not treat severe depression that includes safety concerns (i.e., self-injurious behavior or suicidal thoughts or behavior), many people struggling with anxiety or stress also experience co-occuring low mood. This may include things like lower energy than usual, less interest or pleasure in activities, or difficulties sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

We offer both individual and group therapy in-person and via telehealth for kids, teens, and adults residing in California.