Anxiety Therapy
Feel Grounded Again
Anxiety can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and confusing—especially when you “know” why you feel this way, but your body doesn’t seem to get the message. You may feel constantly on edge, stuck in overthinking loops, emotionally shut down, or hijacked by worry even when things seem “fine” on the outside.
I offer anxiety therapy in Ventura and Santa Barbara that goes beyond symptom management. Using an integrative approach that blends Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic psychotherapy, and depth-oriented talk therapy, we work together to understand what’s beneath the anxiety—and help your nervous system feel safer, calmer, and more regulated over time.
When Anxiety Is Running the Show
Many high-functioning adults feel frustrated that anxiety still has so much power over them, despite years of coping, therapy, or self-help. Anxiety can show up as worry, panic, racing thoughts, or feeling “on edge” even when life seems fine. In therapy, we take a compassionate, trauma-informed approach, helping you notice nervous system patterns, regulate your body and mind, and regain a sense of calm and agency—so anxiety stops running the show and you can engage more fully with life.
Anxiety doesn’t always look like panic attacks. It often shows up as:
Constant worry or racing thoughts
Difficulty relaxing or “turning your brain off”
Tightness in the chest, shallow breathing, or chronic tension
Irritability, overwhelm, or emotional shutdown
Perfectionism, people-pleasing, or fear of making mistakes
Avoidance, procrastination, or difficulty making decisions
Anxiety connected to relationships, trauma, or life transitions
Anxiety Makes Sense (Even When It Feels Miserable)
From an integrative and trauma-informed perspective, anxiety isn’t a flaw—it’s a protective response. Often, anxiety developed early as a way to stay safe, stay connected, or prevent something painful from happening again. Instead of trying to eliminate anxiety, our work focuses on:
Understanding why it’s there
Gently unburdening the nervous system
Addressing the deeper emotional and relational roots
Helping your system learn that it no longer has to stay on high alert
This approach creates change that feels embodied and lasting, not just intellectual.
My Integrative Approach to Anxiety Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS helps us explore the “parts” of you that carry anxiety—without judgment or pathologizing. We get curious about:
What your anxious part is trying to protect you from
When it learned it had to work so hard
How to build trust and internal safety
As your relationship with anxiety changes, its intensity often softens naturally.
Somatic Psychotherapy
Anxiety lives in the body, not just the mind. Somatic therapy helps you:
Tune into nervous system responses
Learn regulation and grounding skills that actually work
Gently release stored stress and trauma
Develop a felt sense of safety and presence
This is especially helpful if you feel stuck in fight-or-flight or freeze.
What You Might Notice Over Time
Progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating more choice, flexibility, and inner safety. Over time, these changes can help you feel more resilient, present, and able to respond to life rather than react to it, fostering a deeper sense of balance and well-being.
Client’s often report:
Feeling calmer and more grounded in their body
Less reactivity and emotional overwhelm
Improved sleep and concentration
Greater self-trust and clarity
More ease in relationships and daily life
A kinder relationship with themselves
FAQ’s
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Yes. I work with generalized anxiety, panic symptoms, social anxiety, and anxiety connected to trauma, relationships, and life transitions.
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While CBT can be helpful for some, my approach is more experiential and nervous-system focused. We don’t just challenge thoughts—we listen to the body and the deeper emotional roots of anxiety.
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No. Many people with anxiety don’t identify with having “big T” trauma. Chronic stress, attachment wounds, or emotional overwhelm are enough for anxiety to take hold.
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Yes. I often work with highly sensitive people and neurodivergent adults, adapting therapy to honor sensory needs and nervous system differences.
Take the First Step Toward Calm
I work with adults across Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, offering therapy that is trauma-informed, collaborative, LGBTQIA+ affirming, culturally sensitive, and tailored to your unique nervous system and history. Whether your anxiety is new or something you’ve lived with for years, you don’t have to navigate it alone—support and relief are possible.