online anxiety therapy in california
Anxiety is exhausting in a way that can be difficult to explain to people who have not experienced it. It is not only the racing heart or tight chest. It is the hours spent rehearsing conversations that may never happen, the decisions postponed because every option feels risky, and the fatigue that comes from running a threat-detection system all day.
Many people have already tried to reason their way out of anxiety before seeking therapy. They have read the books, challenged their thoughts, or been told to take a deep breath. Some of these strategies may provide temporary relief, but the anxiety returns—and often brings a second layer of worry with it: the fear that this is simply who they are.
Anxiety is not a fixed part of your identity. It responds well to evidence-based treatment, and the methods that help are more specific than simply trying to relax or think positively.
What anxiety looks like day to day
Worry that feels difficult to turn off, even when part of you recognizes that it may be out of proportion
Physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shallow breathing, or tension in your jaw, shoulders, or stomach
Difficulty concentrating or a mind that goes blank under pressure
Avoiding places, conversations, or decisions and feeling your world gradually become smaller
Panic attacks that feel sudden or difficult to predict
Difficulty falling asleep because your mind speeds up as soon as everything becomes quiet
Seeking reassurance, overpreparing, or repeatedly checking without ever feeling completely settled
You do not need to know whether you meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder before reaching out. If anxiety is interfering with your time, sleep, relationships, decisions, or opportunities, an initial assessment can help clarify what you are experiencing and whether treatment is appropriate.
How I treat anxiety
I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), an evidence-based treatment that examines the connections among thoughts, emotions, physical responses, and behavior.
In treatment, we identify the situations that trigger anxiety and the automatic thoughts and predictions that follow. We examine these thoughts carefully—not by arguing with them or replacing them with positive thinking, but by evaluating the evidence, considering alternative explanations, and developing more balanced and useful ways of responding.
We also identify behavioral patterns that may be maintaining the anxiety, such as avoidance, reassurance-seeking, over-preparing, procrastination, or repeated checking. These behaviors can reduce anxiety temporarily while making it more persistent over time. Together, we develop practical strategies for responding differently, tolerating uncertainty, making decisions, and managing the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety.
The goal is not to eliminate every anxious thought or feeling. It is to help you understand the pattern, respond to anxiety more effectively, and prevent it from continuing to control your choices.
What the work actually looks like
We begin with a comprehensive intake to understand what you are experiencing, what you have already tried, and what you want to be different. From there, we develop a treatment plan together and identify how we will evaluate whether therapy is helping.
Sessions are typically weekly, structured, and collaborative. We set an agenda together while leaving room for important concerns that arise. You will usually leave with something specific to practice before the next session, because much of the change happens in your daily life—not only during our appointments.
CBT for anxiety is often time-limited, but the length of treatment varies depending on your symptoms, goals, and progress. The aim is for you to finish therapy with a clear understanding of your anxiety and a set of strategies you can continue using independently—not to remain in therapy indefinitely.
Working together
I am a licensed clinical psychologist providing online therapy to adults throughout California. I offer a free 15-minute consultation before we begin so that you can ask questions and we can determine whether working together may be a good fit. There is no obligation. If your needs fall outside the scope of my practice, I will let you know and discuss appropriate next steps.
