Online Therapy for Anxiety and Trauma in Philadelphia and Beyond
Let’s find more happy.
People tell you to stop worrying so much or just let it go. But if it was that simple, you would have done that already. Your mind is constantly on, replaying bad memories or imagining new bad things happening. You work hard to make sure everything is ok, and you’re positive that there was something you should have done to stop it when it isn’t. It’s not that you don’t want to relax; you just can’t. So you carry on, trying to ignore the thoughts and feelings, but the more you try to distract yourself, the more the thoughts push their way in. Sometimes the anxiety feels out of control, often at the worst times - like when you’re starting an exam or while you’re out in public with friends. And sometimes, when it’s really bad, you’ve tried self-harming to get rid of the feelings.
But that’s not the only problem. At some point you realize that the anxiety is carving into your life and taking away pieces of it.
You decline another party invite because your social anxiety just feels too overwhelming in large groups. But how will you make any friends if you keep saying no?
You make an appointment with your doctor because you’ve had times when you feel like you can’t breathe and your chest hurts, only to have him tell you it’s a panic attack and you need to learn to relax.
You’re spending a lot of time doing things like hand washing and cleaning to avoid germs, and while your roommates tolerate it, you can tell they’re getting frustrated with your expectations of them to do the same things.
You feel guilty because your sister is upset when you won’t come to your nephew’s school play. But all of those kids in one place? You know you’ll get sick and throwing up is truly your worst nightmare.
You really want a relationship but the trauma of that night just makes it seem too scary to date. Sometimes it feels like it’s happening all over again, and it’s definitely impacting your sleep. What if this never goes away?
You’re missing out on things, important things. How can your days feel so full and yet life feel so unfulfilling?
How therapy for anxiety and trauma works
Imagine falling asleep peacefully, your usual torrent of thoughts is just a trickle. You wake up refreshed and although your day is busy, you’re actually looking forward to it! It’s filled with things that feel important to you - breakfast with friends, class and lab, some study time at the coffee shop, a club meeting, a phone call with your mom, followed by dinner and a movie with your partner and some of their friends. As you scan your schedule, you notice that your usual feelings of dread aren’t there and your body is surprisingly relaxed. It almost feels weird to not be tense, stressed, and on overdrive. But it’s a nice weird.
Yes, this is possible! We will help you live better, by working through whatever is holding you back, teaching you new ways to respond to the thoughts and feelings you don’t want, and supporting you in moving toward the things that give your life meaning. Over time, you realize that the more you focus on what’s important and stop trying to get rid of your anxiety, the more the anxiety loosens up its hold and leaves you free to feel other things.
Therapy for anxiety and trauma helps you:
explore how the past has influenced you and work through difficult memories
learn new ways to interact with your thoughts that actually help
practice shifting emotions with coping skills and form strong habits for self-care
challenge specific fears with support and encouragement
identify what’s meaningful to you and set goals to work toward those values
We work with clients who have generalized anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, OCD, and specific phobias. We are trained in using specialized interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP), to help clients achieve notable improvement and feel real relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does therapy for anxiety-based disorders really work?
Yes! In fact, research has shown that cognitive behavioral and exposure-based therapies are highly effective treatments for anxiety, phobias, OCD, and trauma. We combine these interventions with a supportive and compassionate environment to help you feel better and see results.
My trauma happened years ago. Can therapy still help?
Definitely. It’s very common to work on old trauma(s) in therapy; sometimes therapy wasn’t an option right after a trauma, or sometimes you just weren’t ready. We use the same types of treatments and they work with just as much efficacy.
What if I don’t want to talk about my trauma? Do I have to?
You never have to talk about or do anything you don’t want to in therapy. You can always say no. Please know that we won’t ask you to do anything we don’t think you’re ready to do, and our goal is to create a safe space for you to approach difficult topics.
I refuse to get anywhere near a (insert most feared thing here). This isn’t even a question; this is a statement.
That’s ok! We meet you where you’re at. We won’t ask you to do anything that feels way too scary. We take things at your pace and give you the skills and confidence to gradually work toward your goals.
How do I know if I need medication in addition to therapy?
If it feels like you’re always pushing a boulder uphill, medication can sometimes help to level the ground. You’re still pushing the boulder and it’s hard work, but at least it’s more doable. If we believe that medication might be a helpful and appropriate treatment for you, we will recommend connecting with a prescribing physician to discuss the option. If you do start a medication or are already on one, we will work in collaboration with your provider to help assess the medication’s efficacy and monitor for side effects.