You're exhausted from feeling like you're always on
You have some insight into your anxiety and where it comes from. Maybe you recognize your thought patterns, see the connection to your past, and probably even know what to do when you start to feel overwhelmed.
But knowing why you feel anxious doesn't necessarily make the anxiety stop.
You still find yourself anticipating worst-case scenarios, overthinking conversations, managing everyone else's emotions, or pushing yourself to keep going even when you're exhausted. Sometimes that looks like feeling continually activated; other times, you swing between constant worry and shutting down completely.
When anxiety is a familiar state for your nervous system, changing the pattern often requires more than talking about it. Therapy that helps your brain and body process what's underneath, outside of traditional talk therapy, can open up change no matter how many years you've felt stuck.
Anxiety isn't just in your head
You can be in a safe environment and still feel like something is wrong. Your body might stay tense, your heart race, or your mind keep preparing for something to go wrong. Maybe you feel uneasy, hypervigilant, overwhelmed, or unable to rest.
For some people, stress shows up differently. Instead of feeling constantly on edge, you might shut down, go numb, or become disconnected from your emotions or surroundings.
However your body is reacting, it's not evidence that you're doing something wrong. These reactions are ways your nervous system has learned to respond to stress, uncertainty, and perceived threats.
In therapy, we slow down to notice these responses as they happen. Instead of trying to override them, we get curious about what they're communicating and what they may be protecting. You deserve more than just getting through the day.
Brain and body-based therapy for anxiety
You may already understand your perfectionism, people-pleasing, relationship patterns, or where your anxiety comes from. Maybe you've done talk therapy and gained plenty of insight, but still feel stuck.
You still freeze when someone is upset with you, feel anxious even when you know you're safe, or notice repeating patterns you thought you'd already worked through. This is where brain and body-based therapies offer something different.
I use EMDR, Brainspotting, and somatic approaches to work with experiences that remain emotionally or physically activated, even when you've made sense of them intellectually. Instead of only talking through a pattern, we can work with the brain and body in ways that support deeper processing.
We'll move at a pace that respects your capacity while helping you develop more flexibility in how you respond to stress, relationships, and your own emotions.
A holistic and personalized approach
The way you think, feel, relate, and respond to stress is connected to your nervous system, relationships, and experiences.
Depending on your needs, therapy may include somatic and polyvagal-informed practices, EMDR, Brainspotting, IFS and parts work, mindfulness, and DBT skills. Some sessions may focus on building a greater sense of safety and capacity in your body. Other times, we may work with a protective pattern or experience that continues to affect you.
There isn't one right way to do this work. I'll pay attention to your history, goals, emotional capacity, preferences, and what comes up in the room so we can shape therapy around you, rather than forcing you into a particular treatment model.
Healing through nervous system regulation
Life will still be stressful. You'll still get angry, anxious, overwhelmed, excited, disappointed, and hurt. The goal is greater flexibility and a stronger sense of connection to yourself.
You may begin to notice when you're becoming activated before you're completely overwhelmed, or find it easier to stay present during a difficult conversation instead of automatically shutting down or becoming reactive. You might become more aware of what you need and more comfortable responding to those needs.
Therapy isn't about trying to control your nervous system. It's about becoming more connected to yourself, so your choices aren't always being shaped by old survival patterns.
Is this type of anxiety therapy a good fit for me?
This approach might be a great fit if you:
- Feel constantly anxious or overwhelmed
- Spend energy overthinking, people-pleasing, or trying to maintain control
- Understand your patterns but still find yourself repeating them
- Have difficulty slowing down or resting
- Feel disconnected from your body, emotions, or needs
- Notice anxiety affecting your relationships, well-being, or ability to be present
- Have tried traditional talk therapy and want something different
Ready to feel more like yourself?
You don't have to wait until anxiety becomes unbearable to look for support. Therapy helps you understand what's happening beneath the surface and begin creating change that you can actually feel.
I offer in-person anxiety therapy at my Asheville office and online therapy throughout North Carolina. Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation.
