When Worry Takes Over, You Don’t Have to Struggle Alone
When anxiety and stress are high, everything feels more difficult. Simple daily tasks can feel draining, and moments that used to bring you joy may now cause stress.
You’re not alone. More than 42 million adults in the U.S. report experiencing anxiety, making it the most common mental health concern today.
At Authentic Care Counseling, we understand that anxiety and stress don’t follow a one-size-fits-all pattern, which is why our personalized, evidence-based approach creates space for healing and growth.
Why Anxiety and Stress Feel So Overwhelming
Anxiety and stress aren’t actually wrong. They’re your body’s natural alarm systems – designed to protect you from danger. But for many, these systems get stuck in “on” mode, leaving you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and trapped in cycles of worry.
- Physical symptoms — Racing heart, sweating, muscle tension, headaches, or digestive issues that seem to come out of nowhere
- Mental patterns — Constant worry, racing thoughts, catastrophic thinking, or difficulty concentrating
- Behavioral changes — Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, procrastination, or seeking excessive reassurance from others
- Emotional overwhelm — Feeling irritable, restless, or on edge, with moments of panic that feel impossible to control
The stress you’re feeling isn’t a character flaw or a sign of weakness. It’s your mind and body responding to pressures in a way that made sense once but may not be serving you now.
Anxiety affects millions, yet fewer than 40% of those struggling ever receive treatment. The good news? Around 70% of people who do seek therapy experience significant improvement in their symptoms.
Our therapists are trained to help you understand these patterns and develop healthier ways of managing life’s challenges.
Our Evidence-Based Approach to Anxiety and Stress
At Authentic Care Counseling, we use proven therapeutic methods that are effective for anxiety and stress management. Our approach is both evidence-based and personalized to your unique experience.
Step 1: Understanding Your Anxiety Patterns
First, we work with you to identify your triggers, physical symptoms, and thought patterns. Knowing the ways that anxiety shows up in your life is the first step toward managing it effectively.
Step 2: Building Immediate Coping Skills
We start by teaching you practical techniques you can use right away. This includes breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and mindfulness practices that help you feel more in control during difficult moments.
Step 3: Implementing Proven Therapeutic Techniques
Our practice draws on several evidence-based approaches, chosen based on what research shows works best:
CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) identifies and changes thought patterns that fuel anxiety and stress. Together, we examine how your thoughts influence your emotions and behaviors, and we practice tools to challenge unhelpful beliefs, reduce reactivity, and build healthier coping responses.
ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you develop a different relationship with anxious thoughts and feelings. Instead of fighting or avoiding discomfort, we help you make space for it while staying focused on your values and long-term goals. This approach supports meaningful action even in the presence of anxiety.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness teaches present-moment awareness to interrupt worry cycles. By building awareness of your thoughts, sensations, and emotions without judgment, you can respond with greater clarity and calm. We integrate mindfulness into therapy to help reduce overwhelm and increase your sense of control.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy helps you explore how anxiety has shaped the story you tell about yourself. In therapy, we work together to identify and reframe unhelpful narratives so you can reconnect with your strengths and create space for new possibilities.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy emphasizes your existing strengths and what is already working. Rather than focusing only on problems, we help you set clear goals and take practical steps toward change, one small success at a time.
Step 4: Developing Long-Term Resilience
Beyond managing immediate symptoms, we help you build lasting skills for navigating life’s inevitable stresses. This includes improving your relationship with uncertainty, developing healthy boundaries, and creating sustainable self-care practices.
Our goal is to equip you with tools that extend far beyond our sessions together.
We Create A Safe Space for Healing and Growth
The most effective anxiety therapy happens in an environment where you feel genuinely safe and understood. Our inclusive practice welcomes clients from all backgrounds, recognizing that cultural factors, life experiences, and personal history influence how anxiety and stress occur.
We understand that reaching out for help can itself feel anxiety-provoking. That’s why we’ve created a welcoming process designed to ease your concerns from the very first contact.
When you begin therapy with us, here’s what you can expect:
- A thorough but gentle initial assessment to understand your specific anxiety patterns and goals
- Collaborative development of a treatment plan that fits your life and comfort level
- Regular check-ins to track your progress and adjust our approach as needed
- Practical homework and exercises to help you practice new skills between sessions
- Respect for your pace—we never rush your healing process or push you beyond your comfort zone
We believe healing happens in relationship. Our role is to provide expert guidance, teach you proven strategies, and create a space where you can safely explore and transform your relationship with anxiety and stress.
Take Your First Step Toward Relief
Calling a therapist when you’re already feeling anxious can feel impossible. We’ve made our intake process as simple and stress-free as possible.
You don’t have to wait for anxiety to completely take over your life. Small steps toward getting support can lead to significant changes in how you feel and function day to day.
