Therapy for Anxiety in St. Paul-Minneapolis
Online Therapy Sessions for all of Minnesota
Daily life is difficult, confronting, and stressful. Our minds have natural processes to deal with fear, nervousness, and anxiety in the form of life threatening or dangerous experiences that resolve themselves clearly. For instance, if you’re driving down an icy road, you may feel anxious throughout the process. Then, you arrive safely at your destination, and you experience an overwhelming sense of relief. This is your mind and body resetting and allowing you to move away from the anxious, panicked response. Unfortunately, many of the stressors we have to contend with on a daily basis aren’t clearly resolved. For instance, you missed a deadline at work. Your boss gives you a new due date, but you can tell they’re not happy. This may trigger some anxiety about job security that is not easily resolved. Even if you meet the new due date, what is your boss’ level of anger or disappointment? Is your job at risk? How long should you be worried about this? Your mind and body aren’t given a clear signal that the anxiety-inducing experience is over, so you can hold onto this elevated level of worry. Over time, this may bleed into other areas of your life until you find yourself anxious all the time.
Every person’s experience with anxiety is unique, so you don’t necessarily need to relate to the specifics of this example to be experiencing anxiety. If you’re struggling with pervasive anxiety, worry, or fear, therapy can help. I’m Kathy Johnson, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). I offer in-person therapy for anxiety in the St. Paul-Minneapolis area at Tarriance, my White Bear Lake therapy practice. I also offer online counseling sessions for people across the state of Minnesota. You can learn more on this page or by getting in touch to schedule a consultation with me.
WHAT IS ANXIETY?
Anxiety typically presents itself in one or more of the following ways: thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Everyone gets a bit nervous at times, but those who meet clinical criteria for anxiety find that the troubling thoughts, fearful emotions, or physical symptoms of anxiety interfere with daily living.
DO I HAVE ANXIETY?
There are many different types of anxiety, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder (PD), Social Anxiety Disorder, specific phobias, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Each form of anxiety has unique symptoms, but some common warning signs of anxiety disorder include:
Nervousness, restlessness, or tension
Worrying or feeling anxious about routine events
Fretting about making decisions
Focusing on negative outcomes
Constantly running through the “what if’s”
Feeling panicked or having a constant sense of impending danger
Increased heart rate, palpitation, rapid breathing (hyperventilating)
Sweating, shaking, or trembling
Weakness or exhaustion
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty sleeping
Problems with digestion, lack of appetite, and upset stomach
Avoiding activities or events you would typically enjoy
HOW DOES THERAPY HELP WITH ANXIETY?
During your therapy sessions, we may use a variety of different techniques to help you confront anxiety and take control of your life. Many people who struggle with anxiety feel afraid of situations, people, and events that are beyond their control. Therapy can help you recognize what you can and cannot control and learn to let go of the need to know the outcome of situations or plan for every eventuality.
Anxiety therapy can help you analyze anxious thoughts, discover your anxiety triggers, and plan to handle stressful situations and your physical and emotional responses to them. People who choose therapy for anxiety can look forward to reclaiming their confidence and being able to enjoy their life’s journey.
Get Started
Whether you’re interested in mental health counseling, life coaching, or cross-cultural consulting, you can receive the support and guidance you need at Tarriance. I’m here to support people who want to feel better, do better, and live better – whatever that looks like for you. When you’re ready to begin or you have questions that need answers, I’m here. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me, Kathleen “Kathy” Johnson, a counselor serving St. Paul-Minneapolis residents.
Contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if counseling would be a good fit.