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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I take a practical approach to treating anxiety and stress. I help you identify the sources of anxiety if you do not already know them. I support you in learning skills to regulate your emotions and increase awareness of body sensations and experiences in order to help you be able to control and reduce feelings of anxiety. I also use a combination of exposure therapy, if appropriate, and adjustment to lifestyle to help you reduce or eliminate sources of anxiety or stress. I know that every experience of anxiety or stress is unique and I will work with you to develop a plan of support tailored to your needs. I will provide a safe environment for you to challenge and overcome your fear/stress

Over the course of time, a client may start to experience increased anxiety and find themselves beginning to become more and more tentative as they approach their relationships and personal and professional goals. I provide a comprehensive assessment, that takes into account biopsychosocial (biological, psychological and social) areas of life, and together we are able to develop a holistic and integrative plan that is adjusted to the client's changing life circumstances. When clients redesign their approach to life, they have greater insight, are transformed, and better skilled to attain a higher degree of life satisfaction.

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.

Anxiety and Stress can be overwhelming and can feel debilitating and make it difficult to work through our daily commitments. Through therapy, we can learn coping skills that will assist you in better handling your anxiety and stress as you navigate through daily stressors. We can work with you on building a toolbox of skills to assist you in making progress.

Anxiety is a very common and devastating condition. Most people who come to my office report feeling excessive worry and that they can not stop the worry. I have worked as a psychologist in my Carlsbad private practice for over 22 years treating anxiety. I educate my clients so they understand their own anxiety and how to reduce their symptoms. My goal is to have you feeling more calm and enjoying your life as soon as possible. Visit my website: Rakefetbenderly.com for education about anxiety and effective strategies you can begin to use today to reduce your symptoms. Call my office at (760) 930-0886 for a free 20 minute phone consultation and to schedule an appointment.

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.