Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in El Cajon, CA.

Anxiety is usually a signal of danger that can be triggered by a relationship or some other type of social situation, or it can originate from internal thoughts and feelings that we are unaccustomed to coping with. In either case, anxiety can lead us to become immobilized and feel helpless to cope with ourselves and/or our social environment. First, I help my patients regain a sense of control over themselves and their lives. Second, I help them understand the roots of their distress so they will be better equipped to deal with anxiety provoking events in the future.

I have over 17 years of experience helping people manage anxiety and stress. I use a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness and meditation techniques to help you learn how to manage your own anxiety and stress. Learning new tools and skills for managing stress is especially effective and CBT is scientifically proven to help manage anxiety.

I see anxiety conditions as unproductive responses to stress. While there are predisposing factors, the catalyst for triggering anxiety, fears, even phobias is stress. I focus on 4 basic and proven factors: 1) Psychoeducation - understanding what's happening in your mind and body that causes anxiety and stress; 2) Relaxation training - providing you with a wide range of ways to relax and de-stress, not just deep breathing, but many; 3) Cognitive (thought) changes - learning how to change unproductive thinking to productive - Stopping the What ifs and a dozen others; 4) Lifestyle/behavioral changes - balancing life is vital - sleep, nutrition (stop caffeine), exercise, and assertiveness.

Anxiety and stress sometimes seem like they are impossible to escape in today’s world. But when they are your constant companions, therapy can help you find ways to put them back in perspective and restore a sense of peace and calm. I work with you not only to manage the symptoms but also to identify underlying reasons for the anxiety. By employing a “top down and bottom up” approach, you can experience long-lasting relief from your anxiety.

Everyone experiences anxiety at some point, but for some the anxiety is so frequent or intense that it interferes with their lives or even triggers panic attacks. I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help my clients get a sense of control over their own anxiety. We collaborate to learn skills to reduce the frequency or intensity of the anxious feelings, to tolerate the anxiety when it does occur so they can still function through it, and to practice habits that reduce stress and improve general mental health.

Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Acute Stress, and/or Post Traumatic Stress make it difficult to carry on your life. From relationships, to work, to the daily tasks of living, anxiety can be devastating. Family, friends, and coworkers may have difficulty understanding your situation. If fears, intrusive thoughts, worries, or stress are disrupting your life, come find the compassionate support you need. I utilize multiple treatment methods which can be tailored to your situation. Don’t let anxiety, stress, and trauma continue to have power over you. Contact me today.

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.

Stress and anxiety, believe it or not, are a normal part of everyday life. However, for some people, they can become bigger issues. If stress and anxiety begin disrupting your daily life, it may indicate a more serious problem. For example, if you are avoiding situations due to unexplainable fears, constantly anxious, or deeply disturbed about a traumatic event weeks, months or years after it happened, it may be time to seek help. You do not have to suffer alone.

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.

Are you worried about things going out of your control? Do you experience overwhelming anxiety and panic attacks? Are you obsessed about someone or something that is driving you crazy? I can help you find the roots of your fears, worries and anxieties, identify destructive patterns, work through inner conflicts, and move on to peace, and a calm state of mind that you deserve.

When circumstances and demands pile up to the point where you feel overwhelmed, your mind can become flooded with anxious and stressful thoughts and emotions making it even more challenging to manage your life. Learning to manage these thoughts and feelings as well as those stressful circumstances can bring relief and enhance your ability to be peaceful and productive. Of course this is easier said than done. My role is to provide guidance in equipping you with the skills to acquire the perspective and insight to regain control over your mind and emotions so you can focus your attention and energy back on managing the challenges of life.

I have special expertise in working with anxiety and stress. With anxiety, it is important to find ways to calm and soothe the nervous system. I offer a wide variety of tools to help train your body to relax. Finding activities to decompress, have fun and nurture yourself are important in order to cope with a stressful environment. There is usually a good reason that the anxiety, nervousness, fear, or worry is there. Anxiety can be a result of PTSD, and I use special trauma therapies such as EMDR, EFT, and AIT that process and release the negative events and associated feelings and beliefs. It is possible to be free of your anxiety and cope better with your stress.

Anxiety is a very common and devastating condition. As a licensed clinical psychologist, I have successfully treated anxiety for over 20 years. Most people who come to my office report feeling excessive worry and that they can not stop the worry. I educate my clients so they understand their own anxiety and how to manage their stress. I teach various coping skills, using a variety of treatment modalities tailored to my client's unique needs. Feeling anxious and stressed is very difficult. My goal is to have my client's feel more calm and enjoying their life as soon as possible.