A Nervous System-Informed, Integrative Approach
Anxiety doesn’t show up the same way for everyone. For some people, it’s a constant stream of worries or rumination. For others, it’s physical symptoms like panic attacks, chest tightness, nausea, or feeling on edge. And for many high-functioning adults, anxiety lives mostly inside: hidden behind competence, productivity, and emotional control.
I work with adults who want to understand what’s driving their anxiety beneath the surface and find relief that goes beyond short-term coping.
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Anxiety therapy in my practice is never one-size-fits-all because your experience of anxiety is unique to you, shaped by your history, your nervous system, and the demands of your daily life. I work through a trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming lens, which means I tailor every session to meet you exactly where you are. Whether you need practical coping tools to manage overwhelming moments or deeper work to understand the roots of your anxiety, I combine evidence-based approaches with genuine attunement to help you move forward at a pace that feels right for you.
How Anxiety Can Show Up
Anxiety can look very different from person to person. In my work, I commonly see:
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Cognitive anxiety
Persistent worry, rumination, overthinking, “what if” spirals, difficulty shutting your mind off, and mental exhaustion. -
Physical anxiety & panic
Panic attacks, heart racing, shortness of breath, dizziness, gastrointestinal distress, muscle tension, or feeling constantly keyed up or on alert. -
Behavioral anxiety
Avoidance, reassurance-seeking, perfectionism, overpreparing, difficulty making decisions, or needing certainty before taking action.
Often, these overlap and many clients experience anxiety in all three domains.
High Functioning Anxiety
Many of the adults I work with would not be described as “anxious” by people around them. They are capable, reliable, and outwardly successful. Internally, though, anxiety may show up as:
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Constant mental pressure to stay on top of everything
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Difficulty resting or slowing down without guilt
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Over-responsibility or fear of letting others down
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Perfectionism and harsh self-criticism
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Feeling driven by urgency rather than choice
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Replaying social interactions in their mind on repeat
High-functioning anxiety is often overlooked because it doesn’t disrupt performance, but it does take a toll on your nervous system, relationships, and sense of ease.
Anxiety, Neurodivergence & Masking
Anxiety and neurodivergence frequently overlap, especially in adults who have learned to mask or internalize their struggles.
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For some people, what looks like anxiety is actually:
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Internalized hyperactivity (mental restlessness, racing thoughts)
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Executive functioning overload
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Chronic masking and overcompensation
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Sensory or nervous system sensitivity
In high-masking adults, ADHD or other neurodivergent traits may never be identified because outward hyperactivity is absent. Instead, the nervous system stays in a state of chronic activation, which often gets labeled as anxiety alone.
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Part of my role is helping you sort out what’s actually happening, so treatment targets the right mechanisms rather than just managing symptoms.
How I Approach Anxiety Therapy
I take a thorough, integrative approach that begins with understanding your patterns, not applying a one-size-fits-all protocol.
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A Thoughtful, In-Depth Intake
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Our work begins with a comprehensive intake that functions more like a mini-assessment. I review questionnaires ahead of time so we can focus on what’s most relevant for you, rather than spending sessions on generic questions.
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Together, we map:
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What your anxiety looks like (cognitive, physical, behavioral)
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What tends to trigger or maintain it
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How your nervous system responds under stress
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Any overlapping factors (burnout, trauma, neurodivergence, OCD patterns)
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What feels most urgent to target for relief
From there, we create a clear plan for where to start.
Treatment: Regulating First, then Changing Patterns
Therapy is not about pushing harder through anxiety. Often, meaningful change requires supporting the nervous system first so you actually have the capacity to do deeper cognitive and emotional work.
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My approach is integrative and may include the following evidence-based modalities, tailored to what your system needs most at any given point:
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that maintain anxiety. We work on reducing avoidance, loosening rigid thinking, and building more flexible, effective responses to anxious thoughts rather than getting pulled into endless mental loops.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT emphasizes changing your relationship to anxiety rather than trying to eliminate it. We focus on increasing psychological flexibility, learning to make room for discomfort, and taking values-based action even when anxiety is present.
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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT combines mindfulness practices with cognitive therapy to help you notice anxious patterns without judgment. The goal is to shift from automatic reactivity into more intentional, grounded responses, especially helpful for rumination and worry cycles.
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Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
MSC is an evidence-based approach that helps reduce shame, self-criticism, and emotional reactivity by cultivating a kinder, more supportive internal stance. For many people with anxiety, learning how to respond to themselves with compassion, not pressure, is a key part of nervous system regulation and long-term change.
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Somatic & Nervous System–Informed Work
This includes body-based and polyvagal-informed strategies that support regulation when anxiety shows up physically. We pay attention to cues of activation or shutdown and work with the body to restore a sense of safety and grounding, especially when thinking alone isn’t enough.
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Skills + Insight Integration
Throughout our work, we integrate practical tools (for coping, communication, boundaries, and daily functioning) with deeper emotional insight. This ensures changes aren’t just understood intellectually, but felt and practiced in real life.
We move at a pace that respects your capacity, adjusting week to week based on what’s coming up, while staying oriented toward your larger goals for relief, stability, and sustainable change.
OCD & Anxiety: When Thoughts Feel Sticky or Distressing
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) doesn’t always look like what people expect. In adults, it often shows up as:
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Intrusive thoughts that feel disturbing or unwanted
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Mental checking, reviewing, or reassurance-seeking
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Fear of causing harm or missing something important
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Repetitive behaviors or mental rituals aimed at reducing anxiety
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A strong need for certainty or “just right” feelings
Many people don’t realize these patterns are OCD; they just feel ashamed, confused, or trapped by their thoughts.
OCD Treatment: Exposure & Response Prevention
I use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for OCD. ERP focuses on:
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Reducing compulsions and reassurance-seeking
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Learning to tolerate uncertainty and distress
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Changing the relationship to intrusive thoughts
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Helping your nervous system learn that anxiety can rise and fall without needing to “fix” it
ERP is done collaboratively, thoughtfully, and at a pace that feels manageable, not forced or overwhelming.
A Final Note
Anxiety and OCD are not signs that you’re broken or weak. They are patterns, shaped by your nervous system, experiences, and environment, and they are highly treatable with the right approach.
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If you’re feeling stuck, depleted, or trapped in cycles that insight alone hasn’t shifted, therapy can help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface and build a more grounded, sustainable way forward.
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If you’d like to explore whether working together feels like a good fit, I invite you to schedule a free consultation or reach out with questions.
