INSIGHT. TOOLS. RELIEF. FREEDOM AWAITS.
Anxiety & Depression Therapy
In person therapy for adults, young adults & sensitive persons in Santa Barbara + online therapy across CA
You’re tired of feeling so anxious, stuck, unfulfilled and out of control.
Life doesn’t have to feel this hard.
Your moods feel intense. The little things are really getting under your skin and it seems like you don’t handle stress well anymore. Your body feels so drained and depleted and you feel disconnected from everything around you. Other days you feel restless and jumpy; your brain and body are a constant buzz and you can hardly be in your skin. You may even feel sick sometimes.
You’re losing interest in life: your friends, job, classes, hobbies just don’t seem as fulfilling. Frankly, some days it’s hard to just get out of bed. Your mind won’t stop racing. It’s a jumble of constant thoughts, worries, and self-criticism and you desperately want a break.
Relationships feel strained and you feel worried that you’re not liked, are letting people down, and are just not doing enough, though you’re trying so hard. You’re indecisive, question yourself constantly, and are losing confidence in one, or many areas of your life.
It’s getting harder and harder to hold the mask that says “you’re fine” ….
Sound like you?
Fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and depression are on the rise. You’re isolating more and more and your desire to retreat from life is growing. Self doubt and criticism are a constant inner dialogue, which creates a ton of anxiety when you’re around others. You worry they see through you and your facade.
Tension is rising in your relationships and they feel strained and unsatisfying. Everyday tasks are getting harder and harder and your ability to manage life is slipping. Most everything and everyone feels “off” in some way and you find yourself assuming the worst or seeing the negative side of things much of the time.
Physical symptoms are increasing such as: tension, headaches, digestive issues, restlessness, heart racing, fatigue, brain fog, or difficulty concentrating. Your sleep is often poor and may look like: frequent waking, hard to fall asleep, or too much sleep.
You feel like you’re barely hanging on. And are worried any day now you might just fall apart, snap or totally lose it …
What we’ll work on
Imagine a life where you …
Feel confident in yourself and your ability to handle life’s inevitable ups and downs? You are managing stress, it’s no longer controlling you.
Watch yourself take new strides and expand your life to include more of what’s important to you.
Break free from triggers and patterns that no longer serve you.
Feel content in yourself, no matter what others may think of you, and have the ability to be your own ally when times are tough.
Have energy and enthusiasm for life again, seeing the good around you, and a feeling of abundance.
Believe me …
You can Reclaim your Life, Reconnect to your True Self, & Restore balance, sanity, and energy.
Therapy for Anxiety & Depression can help you…
Regain a sense of control in your mind, energy, moods, and life.
Set healthy boundaries around your time and energy.
Improve sleep, your health and overall well being.
Learn where symptoms come from, the messages they carry, and how to find relief.
Experience greater fulfillment and satisfaction.
Understand and break frustrating patterns that keep you stuck and anxious.
Gain and choose effective coping strategies to manage life’s inevitable stresses and challenges.
Feel joy in life, your relationships, and in yourself.
what to expect:
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We will take time to create a safe, open relationship based on respect, compassion, and empathy. I welcome all parts of you.
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We will build insight into the thoughts, beliefs, patterns, and behaviors that keep you feeling stuck in anxiety, depression or negative & unhealthy cycles.
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You will learn or reconnect with skills, strengths, and practices that provide relief from symptoms and promote inner harmony and well-being. We will use practices to assist the brain and nervous system in rewiring to promote soothing, deep healing and letting go of patterns that no longer serve you.
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We will identify your values, desires, inner knowing, and connect to the deeper purpose of life to restore your sense of faith in yourself, in life, and to reach your highest potential.
Therapy for Anxiety & Depression for …
Trauma
Grief and loss
Perfectionism
Social/dating/relationship anxiety
Seasonal or bipolar II depression
Postpartum and Peri/Menopausal depression or anxiety
Life transitions (going to college, divorce, changes related to work/kids, etc)
Together let’s discover your path toward inner peace and true joy.
Questions?
FAQs
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Anxiety is often a mix of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and body sensations. There are many possible symptoms and each person has a unique combination. Symptoms can include: constant worry; inability to relax; obsessing; racing thoughts; difficulty making decisions or concentrating; trouble sleeping; avoidance of both desirable and undesirable people, places or situations; feeling like you’re going crazy; expecting bad things to happen/fearing the worst; and physical sensations such as sweating, shaking, nausea, headaches, strong startle response, and much more.
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Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, sleep and appetite change, feeling down more often than not, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, indecision, low self-esteem, lack of motivation, questioning life and its value. Symptoms must be present over at least a month to qualify as a true depression. There are brief assessments we can use when appropriate to help you understand your symptoms better.
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They often do, but definitely not always. For those who do experience both, I like to remind people that what goes up, must come down. For many people who are in anxiety for long periods of time, it can be common to then dip into depression/feeling detached. It’s the body’s built in protective mechanism. However, this doesn’t mean it’s a “true depression” (which is a mood disorder). Also, sometimes as we address one symptom in therapy, the other naturally begins to change too.
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Yes, anxiety and depression can both be symptoms related to trauma. Other symptoms of trauma can include: ADD/ADHD, chronic pain, chronic illness (such as autoimmune illness, diabetes, IBS), and much more. These symptoms can be indicators that stress and pain are stuck in the nervous system, which stays over-active, often leading us to perceive even more threats. Which over time can result in increased anxiety or depression.
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Both have an impact on our physiology. For instance both can create sleep and appetite disturbance, from too much or too little, which can also lead to weight changes. Both can create fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and an overall feeling of dis-ease, which may make us prone toward a lower immune response and illness. You might even experience increased muscle or joint pain, headaches, digestive issues, and restlessness.
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They both can change or resolve, and there are many factors that influence this. Therapy is often a blend of gaining understanding, creating shifts in perception, learning or strengthening tools, and actions that promote both a reduction in symptoms as well as possible resolution. The key is to view these symptoms as messengers that can guide us toward what’s needed for healing.
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Absolutely! I’m here to help regardless of whether you have anxiety, depression, or both!