Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Mission Viejo, CA.

People rarely come to counseling when their anxiety first starts causing them problems. Most people try to handle it on their own and try the “white knuckle” approach until they are exhausted and overwhelmed. Often life becomes unmanageable and depression sets in when anxiety is not dealt with. Anxiety commonly focuses on illogical things that may seem foolish or kind of crazy, so you have kept these to yourself. Don’t keep struggling alone. Call me so I can help you reduce the hold anxiety has on you and restore freedom to live your life fully again. Contact me at 714-751-0888 and I promise I won't think you are crazy.

The modern world we live in is full of amazing technological advancements and organizational wonders, but it is also more complex and demanding than ever before. The myriad competing demands of our lives, how busy we are, the continual pressure to do and be more creates enormous stress for all of us. This stress can escalate into anxiety and the added strain of these issues easily begins to short-circuit our ability to function at our best, to feel good, to maintain relationships and responsibilities. I can help you understand the internal and external forces creating these negative feelings, and together we can find strategies for minimizing stress and anxiety so you can feel better.

I begin by understanding how you experience anxiety/stress because how you experience them is unique for you. Then we begin to increase your tolerance for how you experience anxious/stressful thoughts, feelings, memories, and/or situations. This is necessary so the anxiety/stress stops being an overwhelming experience that interferes and gets in the way of your life. It's crucial to be able to become more comfortable when you experience anxiety/stress because they're a part life. The problem is the distressing and limiting to debilitating effect they have on you. As you learn to be able to do this, you will begin to experience more peacefulness, calm, hope, self-confidence and self-esteem.

I create a transformative experience that emphasizes your personal growth and well-being. My approach to anxiety recovery prioritizes the unique needs and goals of each client, fostering a safe and supportive environment where you can explore and overcome anxiety-related challenges. By focusing on practical strategies and personalized interventions, clients will gain the tools and insights needed to manage anxiety and stress more effectively. This tailored approach of somatic, emotion-focused, and attachment-focused therapeutic techniques will empower you to build resilience, enhance quality of life, and achieve a more balanced and fulfilling existence free from painful anxiety.

You are: - Often overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted - Struggling to keep up with day-to-day tasks -Disconnected from yourself and relationships -“Taking it out” on others or feeling resentful toward people you love -Going numb most of the day (hello, Netflix and mindless scrolling?) -Missing important dates or deadlines -Experiencing increased health issues and poor sleep You are ready to: -Learn new ways to manage stress and enjoy relaxation -Feel a new sense of purpose, balance, and passion in life -Create boundaries that honor your well-being -Explore how your past may have shaped where you are now -Create fulfilling relationships with yourself, your loved ones, and life

Dr. Laura Adams (949) 244-1992 www.SouthOCTherapist.com, is a marriage and family therapist and Psychoanalyst with offices in Newport Beach and Mission Viejo. Dr. Laura Adams specializes in psychodynamic psychotherapy for long-term depression, stress and anxiety issues for individuals, couples and families. Dr. Adams works with patients by listening for unconsious communications that contain understandings that can bring to light the underlying roots of the symptoms. Dr. Adams has been in private practice in South Orange County since 2004 and can be verified on the Psychology Today website.

Anxiety affects your whole being. Physiologically, you may experience rapid heart beat, muscle tension, queasiness, and sweating. Behaviorally, anxiety can sabotage your ability to deal with certain everyday situations. Psychologically, it can cause great apprehension, uneasiness, and fear. In our counseling sessions, we will address all of the way that anxiety is affecting you. I will teach you methods to reduce physical symptoms, eliminate avoidance behaviors, and change the "self talk" that helps to perpetuate the worry. Through the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), we will work towards changing the thought and behavior patterns that add to your distress.

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, anxiety disorders and ongoing chronic stress can appear as repeated episodes of worry & fear, or develop into sudden feelings of intense anxiety with physical sensations, known as panic attacks. Your anxiety may feel related to an event or thought, and other times appear to occur randomly and without cause. Anxiety can develop at any age, when left untreated it may develop into depression. In therapy we will explore how anxiety is affecting your life. You will learn how your physical, emotional and mental health are connected and together create an effective treatment plan specific to your goals to improve your well-being.

Counseling for Anxiety & Stress involves a combination of addressing the external, situational stressors and the client's internal responses to those stressors. I work with my clients to determine where they have control and how they can better exercise that control to reduce anxious feelings, and how to more effectively handle those situations in their lives that are beyond their direct control. I teach clients new stress management skills, practice creating and maintaining healthier boundaries in stressful relationships, and provide new ways of thinking about circumstances to reduce anxiety.