Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in San Diego, CA.

In addressing Anxiety & Stress Treatment and Counseling, my approach centers on understanding the unique triggers and stressors each individual faces, combined with evidence-based therapeutic techniques. By delving deep into the root causes of anxiety and stress, clients can better comprehend their reactions and develop coping mechanisms. I incorporate mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and personalized strategies to empower clients in managing their anxiety. As they journey through this process, clients not only learn to mitigate their symptoms but also build resilience, allowing them to face future challenges with increased confidence and a sense of mastery.

Anxiety and stress are addressed by exploring sources of anxiety and stress, sorting out that which can be altered or controlled, and managing thoughts and feelings. Cognitive Behavioral therapy is utilized alone with stress and anxiety management skills such as progressive relaxation, meditation, mindfulness, etc. In elevated symptoms, referral for medication may be utilized in order to maximize the benefits of non-medication interventions.

Like most issues that people experience today, anxiety and stress can be caused by un-resolved trauma in one's past. Trauma can leave a wound when it has not been processed and resolved. This wound, when not delt with, can lead to other issues including anxiety and stress. An effective way to treat anxiety and stress is to look at and deal with unresolved trauma in the individuals past and present. An effective way to deal with trauma is through the technique called EMDR. I am trained through the EMDR Institute and have helped individuals heal the wounds left by their trauma experiences. When this occurs, the stress and anxiety can subside and the individual feels better.

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.

Anxiety falls along a continuum from acceptable to crippling, debilitating anxiety requiring professional intervention. The major forms that anxiety takes are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Phobic Disorders, Social Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD). A variety of proven therapeutic interventions are well established now, eg., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Yoga, Tai Chi, Breathwork. By diving into therapy clients regain a sense of optimism, courage and confidence in relationships, workplace and career, driving, aging, life transitions and more.

If you suffer from unmanageable stress, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, a difficulty to relax or release your worries, you may experiencing stress and anxiety. You can live free of distress, anxiety or fear. When it comes to treating anxiety disorders or stress-management, research shows that therapy is the most effective option. Therapy can help you uncover the underlying causes of your stress, worries and fears; learn how to relax; look at situations in new, less frightening ways; and develop better coping and problem-solving skills. Therapy gives you the tools to successfully manage stress, overcome anxiety and teaches you how to use them.

Anxiety and stress can be cooled and calmed down, if you know how. As a results-oriented, practical psychologist with 30 years of experience, I can help you more clearly understand the sources your stress and anxiety, know what to do about them, and gain greater control over them. My multi-faceted approach works with your mind, body, actions and relationships. It's possible to be calmer and have greater control. Let's work together to help you have greater control, comfort and calmness.

With the current times, stress and anxiety may be heightened and affecting various aspects of your life such as: work, relationships, sleep, and every day responsibilities. Anxiety can be overwhelming but it can be treated and you will get better. I will help you learn tools to manage and decrease your anxiety by developing an awareness of your triggers.

While mild anxiety is a normal part of our everyday lives, it can sometimes be paralyzing, and undermine your work, your relationships, and your ability to interact in the world. That's when you need help. Psychotherapy for anxiety can take a variety of forms: Psychodynamic Therapy - to vent, release, and understand the highly charged emotions that cause your suffering. Cognitive Therapy - to change irrational thoughts to calming ones. Mindful Awareness - to train you to hold calm while observing uncomfortable feelings. Physiological Interventions - to release stress by increasing serotonin levels in your body. Working together, we will choose the best approach for your situation.

A little anxiety or stress can be good for us. It motivates us to get to our work done, to study for an exam, or to help us recognize we are overwhelmed and need to slow down. When anxiety is problematic, it creates an unhealthy sense of well-being and it interferes with daily living. Because there are different forms of anxiety, and because often anxiety can occur with depression, I work with individuals to assess what kind of anxiety they may be experiencing, and then focus holistically on not only managing the symptoms of anxiety, but also gaining a better awareness of the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of anxiety.

Learn effective ways to observe and manage your anxious thoughts, feelings and behaviors. If you are struggling with overwhelm in your daily life, overthinking seemingly small decisions or have underlying anxious feelings that you're sick of being there, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) can help. I'm unique from others who practice ACT because I don't treat it as simply "learning coping skills." ACT is an approach to living your fullest life and walking, proudly, with your values leading the way.

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.

I provide personalized, accessible, and effective evidence-based psychotherapy to clients struggling to cope with anxiety and stress. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with the right therapist has been found to be effective in relieving a variety of symptoms of anxiety, including excessive worry, nervousness, restlessness, sleep difficulty, muscle tension, and more. Although CBT cannot erase stress from happening, when tailored to your unique needs and goals, it can improve confidence in your ability to cope with a wide range of stressors as they come about.

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.

Free 30 minute zoom call - Anxiety can arise from several places - one is the mind - people can think & imagine scenarios in their minds that create anxiety, when their thoughts and imagination may not even be true. Anxiety is also common in people who did not have a safe & secure experience with caregivers as they were growing up. The brain ends up being wired in a way that reproduces anxiety. Fortunately, due to new research in the field of neuropsychology & neuroplasticity, this can be changed!

We hold our anxiety and stress in our body. We feel tension, gut problems, hot flashes, disrupted sleep and more. I work with anxiety and stress by helping individuals learn and develop tools to re-regulate their nervous system. When we have a coherent and fluid nervous system, we can do difficult things without feeling paralyzed by overwhelming fear.

Much of anxiety and stress are related to the negative messages we send ourselves. We worry about what others think of us, what may happen in the future, and how we acted in the past; just to name a few. Because much of anxiety is based in our thoughts; a large portion of the work we do in this therapy is to challenge our thinking. By challenging our negative thoughts, we can experience a more positive shift in emotions and behaviors. We will also discuss and practice mindfulness strategies as a way to work on being more present in the moment and decrease the focus on negative repetitive thinking. Relief from anxiety is possible with effective skills.

While most treatment approaches for anxiety and stress are effective on the surface, they don’t treat the real problem. Mantras, deep breathing, and rational dialogues about your fear being irrational rarely work---for most people don’t believe it or you! Imagine if you can trick the brain into changing without you telling your conscious mind that you are changing it? Problem with anxiety and stress is that the brain in this state knows you want to change it and it resists. Contact Kevin@kevinfleminphd.com for the ultimate stress and anxiety solution that will literally change your brain's autonomic nervous system patterns while you sit on your butt. 877-606-6161.

One of my unique approaches to anxiety & stress treatment is ensuring that you gain a deeper understanding of the root causes of your symptoms, why you may be feeling anxious or stressed to begin with, or why you may experience panic attacks. By gaining this understanding, we can develop targeted and effective strategies to help you manage and reduce your anxiety and stress. My goal is to empower you with not only insight about your symptoms but also with skills and tools you need to feel more confident, calm, and in control of your life.