You may have always felt a little anxious. Or at least for a while. But now, it’s getting in the way.
Compassionate Anxiety Therapist in Erlanger, KY
If you're feeling anxious more often than not, an anxiety therapist can help you understand what's happening and build practical coping skills. I offer compassionate, evidence-based anxiety therapy using proven approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you feel calmer, more in control, and like yourself again.
Your anxiety is starting to interfere with your day-to-day life more often. It's causing you distress. And, to be honest, anxiety is keeping you from doing things that you know are important. You want to do something about it. But you're not sure what.
You've tried to relax.
You've tried to think positive thoughts.
But the anxiety is still there.
The dread is still looming.
And the same thought loops keep playing on repeat.
That's where an anxiety therapist comes in.
Ready to talk? Call or text me at (859) 212-6609
What Does Anxiety Feel Like? Common Signs to Look For
✺ Often feel tense or on edge
✺ Have difficulty sleeping, including trouble falling asleep or waking frequently
✺ Sweat more than usual
✺ Have a hard time concentrating
✺ Feel like your heart is racing or pounding
✺ Avoid certain situations or people
✺ Experience nausea or other stomach problems
✺ Experiencing panic attacks or a racing heart in situations that didn't use to bother you
Is Some Anxiety Normal?
Yes. Everyone experiences anxiety at times, and some anxiety is a good thing — it helps us stay alert and can motivate us to take action.
When anxiety symptoms begin to interfere with daily life, anxiety may have become a problem that deserves attention. You may have been so excited to get into a great university like Xavier or the University of Cincinnati. But now that you're in school, you are so anxious that you miss class or fail tests.
You may have a job you used to love, but now you live in constant fear of ‘getting in trouble,’ and that fear is affecting your performance. Or you find yourself turning down an invitation to a Cincinnati Reds game because you're worried you'll have a panic attack if you're in a crowd. You may find yourself pulling away from friends or family members without meaning to.
Anxiety treatment can help with these situations and many others.
What Are the Different Types of Anxiety Disorders?
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GAD is characterized by excessive worry about a variety of topics. Common areas of worry include work, school, health, finances, and family. This worry is present more days than not and lasts for at least six months. People with GAD often feel “on edge” or “keyed up.” They may have trouble sleeping or concentrating. They may also startle easily.
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SAD is characterized by feeling intense anxiety or fear in social situations. This anxiety may be triggered by activities such as public speaking, meeting new people, or going on a date. People with SAD often worry about getting embarrassed or judged by others. They may avoid social situations or endure them with extreme distress.
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A phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights, flying, snakes, or needles. People with phobias often go out of their way to avoid the thing they’re afraid of. In some cases, the fear is so severe that it interferes with daily life.
There are many different types of phobias. For example, agoraphobia is a fear of entering open or crowded places, leaving one’s own home, or being in places from which escape is difficult. Claustrophobia is a fear of enclosed spaces, such as elevators.
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Panic disorder is characterized by having panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or anxiety. Physical symptoms often accompany a panic attack. These may include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness. People with panic disorder experience recurrent panic attacks and may develop persistent fear or behavioral changes related to having another attack.
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There are other anxiety disorders as well. Other conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, can also involve significant anxiety, although they are classified separately from anxiety disorders. In general, anxiety disorders involve persistent fear, worry, or avoidance that is difficult to control and interferes with daily life.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, you don’t have to qualify for a specific “anxiety disorder” to seek professional help. But many people do fall into one of these categories.
Does Anxiety Therapy Actually Work?
Yes. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions, and the good news is it's also one of the most treatable. That is one reason I find anxiety treatment so rewarding as a counselor. I'm able to see people make real progress using the coping mechanisms and skills they learn in therapy.
Many people make meaningful progress in reducing anxiety’s impact on their lives, and support is available to help you do the same.
What Does Therapy for Anxiety Look Like?
ACT & CBT: My Approach to Anxiety Counseling
When it comes to anxiety treatment, I like to use a combination of ACT and CBT. Both approaches are supported by research and can be effective in treating anxiety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a more traditional approach. It looks at the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are maintaining the anxiety symptoms and holding you back. It is considered a more traditional approach partly because extensive research supports its effectiveness, particularly in anxiety treatment.
We will often begin treatment with psychoeducation.
This means you’ll learn all about anxiety. You’ll learn what anxiety is and why people experience anxiety. It helps to understand why we experience symptoms of anxiety before we can understand what helps. We’ll discuss how most people avoid anxiety. Plus, how this avoidance can actually maintain your anxiety or even make it worse.
Then, you’ll gradually learn how to approach situations that trigger anxiety rather than automatically avoiding them. We’ll work on behavioral techniques to manage your anxiety, such as slowing down your breath. This might involve cognitive restructuring, which helps you identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, or gradual, structured exposure exercises that help you approach what anxiety makes you want to avoid.
In addition to more traditional CBT and behavioral approaches to treating anxiety, I like to incorporate a lot of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a more contemporary, mindfulness-based approach to anxiety treatment. We work on accepting the thoughts and emotions that are causing the anxiety. And we commit to taking action despite the anxiety. You’ll learn to observe your thoughts and feelings and take a step back from the anxiety. Then, you can move in the direction of your values and goals.
I find all these approaches complement one another. They work together as a whole to treat your anxiety in an effective way.
You don’t have to live with anxiety forever.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, don’t give up hope. There is treatment available, and it does work. I encourage you to reach out for help from a mental health professional. An anxiety therapist can provide you with the tools and support you need to manage your anxiety.
Through anxiety counseling, you’ll find that anxiety interferes less and less with your day-to-day life. Our goal is for anxiety to interfere less with the things that matter to you, so you can move closer to your values and goals. As you become more confident using these skills independently, we can discuss whether you are ready to complete therapy.
The truth is that you’ll never be able to get rid of all your anxiety. But it IS possible to better understand it. You can learn to work with anxiety when it does come up, and often to reduce the frequency or intensity of your anxiety as a whole. Best of all, the skills you learn in counseling can also support you in other areas of your life. This means that, even when you are no longer actively participating in anxiety treatment, you can continue using the skills you learned. You can apply them to better manage other things that come up in your life.
Resources to Ease Anxiety
Discover practical tips, expert insights, and strategies to help you feel calmer and more in control.
Get the Anxiety Treatment You Need. Work with an Anxiety Therapist in KY and OH
If you feel like your anxiety is holding you back in life, I hope you know that there is treatment available that can truly help. Please reach out if you live in Kentucky or Ohio and are interested in counseling services. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about anxiety treatment and help you start moving toward your goals. Follow these steps to get started and reclaim your life:
Follow the steps below to get started.
Let’s connect! Fill out the contact form, give me a call, or send a text to get started.
Begin anxiety treatment.
Start coping with your anxiety and living a fuller, freer life.
Please be aware that communicating by text message, email, or through online forms involves some privacy risks. To help protect your confidentiality, I recommend not sharing personal health details through these channels. For sensitive concerns, feel free to call instead.
Related Services
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Relationship Therapist
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Anger Management Therapist
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Grief Counseling
Frequently Asked Questions
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A therapist helps by providing tools and techniques to reduce anxiety, manage your symptoms, and help you feel more in control. I use evidence-based approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to help you identify and challenge negative thoughts that fuel your anxiety, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to support you in accepting difficult emotions while staying focused on what’s most important to you. Therapy also offers a safe space to explore the root causes of your anxiety, whether they stem from past traumatic experiences, stress, or perfectionism.
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You may want to consider seeing a therapist for anxiety if:
You’re struggling with persistent anxiety symptoms that affect your ability to function
You experience panic attacks, constant worry, or intense emotions
You find it hard to manage anxiety on your own, despite trying relaxation techniques
Your anxiety is affecting your relationships, work, or overall mental health
It’s essential to get professional help for your anxiety if it’s interfering with your daily life. Anxiety counseling can offer relief and help you regain control.
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Contrary to popular belief, anxiety isn’t just about feeling nervous before a big event. You may have an anxiety disorder if you experience persistent, long-lasting anxiety that affects your daily life. Symptoms of an anxiety disorder may include:
Excessive worrying that’s hard to control
Panic attacks or sudden feelings of dread
Avoiding situations or places that trigger your anxiety
Sleep problems, racing thoughts, or physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat
If these symptoms sound familiar, anxiety therapy can help you find the best ways to cope with your symptoms and improve your overall mental health.
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Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health conditions, and it’s possible to experience both at the same time. While anxiety often involves excessive worry and intrusive thoughts, depression tends to cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and low energy. Both conditions can respond to approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based practices. In therapy, we can explore how to manage the symptoms affecting you.
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Absolutely. Anxiety can feel overwhelming not just emotionally, but physically too. When you experience persistent anxiety, it triggers your body’s stress response, which can lead to:
Muscle tension and headaches
Stomach issues or nausea
Increased heart rate or chest tightness
Trouble sleeping and fatigue
Through anxiety counseling, you’ll get access to effective treatment that will help you manage both your mental and physical symptoms caused by anxiety. Working with an anxiety specialist in a compassionate and safe space, you will learn relaxation techniques and other strategies to manage stress and protect your physical health as well as your mental well-being.
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Fit matters most. Look for someone whose approach makes sense to you and whom you feel comfortable being honest with. A therapist who specializes in anxiety and uses evidence-based approaches like ACT is a good sign, but pay attention to how you actually feel after that first session, too. If it doesn't feel right, it's okay to keep looking.
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Your first session is mostly about getting to know each other. We'll talk through what's bringing you in, a bit of your history, and what you're hoping to get out of therapy. I may also ask about your daily life, past experiences with anxiety or treatment, and any specific situations that tend to trigger it. There's no pressure to share everything right away. We'll go at a pace that feels comfortable for you. By the end, you'll have a sense of how I work, and we can start mapping out what treatment might look like together.
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A therapist focuses on talk therapy and coping skills; a psychiatrist can evaluate medication. Many people work with both a therapist and their primary care doctor, especially when anxiety is significantly affecting daily life.