Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Great Falls, VA.

Anxiety and stress is how our body and mind react to the compounding minor stresses of everyday life or major complications. The goal of therapy is to change how the body and mind respond to intense, overwhelming, or uncertain situations. First, you will develop an awareness of your reactions to stress. Next, we will develop and practice strategies that help you feel in control of the present and face the future with courage and strength.

Robyn E. Brickel, M.A., LMFT, LLC uses counseling methods in her therapy practice that are based on research evidence that can help facilitate the rapid resolution of symptoms of anxiety and mood instability, including stress and depression. Robyn incorporates techniques for mind-body integration so insights gained in psychotherapy are internalized and sustained.

Anxiety and stress seem to be everyone's typical standard way of life these days...but that doesn't make them any easier to deal with. Though they can certainly be linked, stress and anxiety can be very different, including the way they are treated. From everyday issues to healing from past traumas and losses, anxiety can steal your quality of life. The good news is that anxiety is one area that is particularly receptive to therapy and counseling - much can change in a short period of time with the right intervention and help.

Anxiety and stress often get in the way of a fulfilling life and I believe therapy can help. I am a marriage and family therapist (MFT), so I have been trained to help clients think about the stress in their lives in the context of their relationships. This type of 'systems thinking' is unique to Licensed MFTs. Clients benefit from this approach because it brings your stress outside of your own self and into the world of your relationships. This is very freeing! We work together to achieve your goals, always reaching toward a more peaceful life.

I like a quote by Stephen King: "Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us and sometimes they win." Anxiety is no more a person than leukemia or diabetes. Anxiety convinces it's victim that safe things are dangerous, and to be avoided; puppies are perceived as alligators, and who wants to get close to those?! Sometimes the danger is perceived to be physical while at other times it is thought to be social; either way, isolation is anxiety's endgame. The treatment of choice for this is usually cognitive behavioral therapy, something that I have been doing, teaching others how to do, and writing about, for decades. The results can be quite life-giving and remarkable.

There are many things that cause us to feel uneasy or uncertain as we move through our daily activities. We may be worried that we will be late for work or may feel anxious about getting a job. Together we will look at ways to reduce stress and make changes to make life less complicated. Sometimes the level of anxiety always is very high and I will help you find interventions to reduce that feeling of being overwhelmed. We may be able to use cognitive behavioral techniques along with meditation and tai chi movements. All sessions will focus on helping you move toward a less stressful life.

Many clients considering psychotherapy are dealing with two levels of anxiety and stress. The idea of consulting with a therapist can be stressful and anxiety provoking. Anxiety and stress can also be experienced when discussing issues of compulsive sexual behaviors, or anger issues, that one has not been successful in managing. I approach my psychotherapy practice with a non-judgmental, compassionate and respectful attitude. You will find a confidential and safe environment in which to discuss the difficult issues that have disrupted your personal and professional lives.

Stress and anxiety have always existed. Our brains encode fear easily as a way to protect us from danger. A small amount of angst can help us feel motivated, but when it grows, it can stop us in our tracks. With the rise of technology, many people feel submersed in stress. Constant emails make us feel like work never ends. We text at meals times instead of having real conversations. Consider the stressful impact of 24/7 access to negative news reports, traffic filled commutes, over-schedulled lives, and its easy to see a recipe for anxiety. Learning to be mindful, taking breaks and truly connecting emotionally can create confidence to face fears and even dissolve them.

Anxiety comes when the situations of life create negative ideas about people or things. Once these negative thoughts become frequent, they can prevent you from finding joy in life. In therapy, we work through the negativity, exploring its causes, and then find coping strategies to get around them. Once you know where the negative ideas come from, you can face the situations with a fresh outlook. And we act as a team to create it.

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@kevinflemingphd.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.

As a normal reaction to stress, mild anxiety is sometimes helpful: you study for a test, or drive within the speed limit. But excessive anxiety and stress make everyday activities much more difficult – they choke the joy out of life. Perhaps you worry way too much about normal things, find it hard to concentrate, or often experience an impending sense of doom or dread. Maybe you’re afraid of having panic attacks you can’t control. Perhaps you avoid social activities because you fear embarrassment or humiliation. Change is possible! With counseling, you can learn to soothe your anxious body, tame your anxious mind, and change your anxious behavior. Please contact me for more info.

Life can present you with difficult situations which are hard to process and move past. These challenges are not on your timeline and affect everything. Having worked in many healthcare settings, I am familiar navigating life-changing events and grief. I understand the territory of encountering loss, coping with trauma, the complexity of the medical system and living with illness. These issues can have ripple effects on your relationships, sense of self and perceptions of the world. I know how complex things can get, and I will support you during this process.

In today's world, we are stressed as never before. Multitasking has become a way of life for many people, and we are all juggling more balls than ever before.Therapy for anxiety and stress can help you to live and enjoy the life you have chosen. You will learn to be an "actor," rather than a "reactor" in your life. I will help you to discern what is within your control and what is not. Then you will be able to make changes, a step at a time, to live anxiety and stress-free.