Exploring Therapy Specialties: Anxiety
by Patricia McGuire, LPC-MHSP
9/17/2025
Anxiety is a common (and uncomfortable!) experience we all encounter in our lives. Anxiety is not just one thing; it represents a myriad of responses in the human experience and it’s important to pay attention when it shows up. It can feel like fear, stress, sadness, embarrassment, or doubt. Anxiety can also cause physical problems like headaches, stomach pain, and tiredness.
Exploring and understanding the different parts of your anxiety is the first step to reducing its power. Here are some questions we may use to identify and understand your anxiety:
How do you know when you’re anxious?
Does anything in your environment trigger anxiety?
How do you feel in your body when you’re anxious?
Our work in therapy often begins with identifying the specific triggers and patterns that contribute to your anxiety symptoms. Together, we will explore coping skills such as mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation techniques to help you feel more aware and regulated when you’re anxious.
Managing your anxiety is tailored to your unique needs and is an ongoing, fluid process. Anxiety is often connected to deep suffering in your life and needs to be approached with self-compassion and kindness. In therapy, we will create a safe space where you can explore your worries and concerns.
It is impossible to eliminate anxiety completely from our lives, so our goal is to change your response to anxiety when it shows up. By shifting your relationship with anxiety through compassion and awareness, anxiety loses its intensity and frequency, allowing you to move through life with more ease and face life’s challenges with confidence.
If you’d like to explore these ideas further, connect with Patricia McGuire here
