Anxiety

Anxiety

Are worry and fear eclipsing your life?

You may lie wide awake at night, nervous about your next day at work, or dreading a conversation with a loved one.  You might spend your days on edge, restless, and tense around friends and family. 

The terror from specific things or social situations can run so deep that your heart starts racing, and your breath becomes erratic.  You tend to overthink and overdo, yet never feel “good enough.”  And at times, it seems like you can’t escape this sense of doom, as if the worse can happen any second now.

The pain of anxiety is real and does not make you weak or less than anyone around you.  Many people struggle with this uncontrollable force that, if not addressed, can take over their journey.

Therapy can help you regain the control and stability you long for.

Get to the root of your worries to find peace of mind.

My name is Christian Holmes, and I’m an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) Registration #120391 under the supervision of Mark W. Baker, Ph.D. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #MFT19289.  I offer anxiety therapy and other services to help adults and teens throughout California.

Anxiety manifests differently in everyone.  Some people endure persistent worry about different areas of their life, fear of specific objects, places, or social circumstances, or unexpected panic attacks.  Others bear a unique combination of symptoms.

I’m committed to working with you to get to the bottom of your experience so you can transcend it with ease, trust, and hope for the future.

Want to learn more about anxiety therapy?  Read on! 

Ready to get started?  Contact me to book a consultation or schedule an appointment.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is the uneasy response to something that scares us, threatens our safety, or raises our concerns.

Anxiety can be brief and harmless (e.g., feeling nervous about a job interview or a first date).  It can also motivate you to stay alert and act fast when you are under pressure or dealing with an unexpected situation.

These bouts of fleeting anxiety tend to come and go without causing significant issues.  But what happens when that uncontrollable panic becomes severe, recurring, and interferes with your ability to function?

That’s when anxiety can be problematic and unhealthy.  It may permeate your home, job, family, and love life.  Everyday activities like interacting with others, commuting to work, sleeping, and taking care of yourself might seem extremely difficult.

What Causes Anxiety?

Anxiety can come along due to different biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Common causes of anxiety include:

• Family or personal history of anxiety or other mental health challenges
• High stress levels
• Medical conditions (e.g., respiratory problems, heart disease, chronic illness)
• Side effects of medication
• Significant life events
• Trauma

Do I Need Anxiety Therapy?

Feeling occasional and manageable anxiety is natural and may not warrant professional support.  However, persistent anxiety can severely impact your well-being, especially when left untreated.

Many people struggle with anxiety symptoms every day.  But only some are able to recognize the signs and ask for help.

Symptoms of acute anxiety include:

• Difficulty focusing or finding motivation
• Extreme worry or intrusive thoughts
• Fatigue
• Impending danger or uncontrollable fear
• Irritability or constant mood changes
• Racing heartbeat
• Shaking and sweating
• Shortness of breath or hyperventilating
• Tension and restlessness
• Trouble sleeping

If you or your loved one are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you are not alone.  Therapy can help you address your anxiety and find relief.

How Can Therapy Help With Anxiety?

Anxiety can spark a damaging cycle.  You may try to quiet the pain, ignore it, or avoid it at all costs.  Yet, in doing so, you might end up feeling even more anxious than before.

Therapy is not about making your anxiety magically go away.  It seeks to help you understand what’s behind it so you can learn how to navigate these debilitating waves.

While in therapy, you will:

Gain Self-Awareness

We will meet one-on-one in a safe and candid environment to delve into your anxiety—what it feels like, what prompts it, and how it has impacted your life.  Peeling the layers of your experience will help you get to know new aspects of yourself and recognize any thoughts, emotions, or actions that may be causing or perpetuating your symptoms.

Becoming aware of all the different pieces involved will allow you to discover the origin of your anxiety and what you need to heal to move forward.

Ease Symptoms

Reaching the root of your worries provides valuable insight into what you need to do to address them.  As your therapist, I’ll use science-backed knowledge and techniques customized to your specific situation to help you alleviate your symptoms.

With honesty, empathy, and understanding, I will guide you to focus on what you can control and accept what you can’t.  We will also challenge your limiting beliefs and unhelpful habits and look at what changes you can put in place to gain peace.

Develop Sustainable Coping Mechanisms

While treatment starts in the therapy room, most of the work happens outside of this space.  The idea is to teach you actionable steps and tools to manage anxiety when it surfaces and prevent future hardship.  This includes grounding techniques, journaling, mindfulness practices, and breathwork.

I aim to empower you with confidence, compassion, and courage to lead a balanced life during—and particularly—after our time together.  The ultimate goal is to improve and maintain your well-being.

Therapy for Anxiety With Christian Holmes

I’m an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) Registration #120391 under the supervision of Mark W. Baker, Ph.D. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #MFT19289.

I provide therapy for anxiety to adults and teens living in Pasadena, Glendale, San Fernando Valley, Beverly Hills, San Gabriel Valley, and its surrounding areas.  I also offer couples therapy, group therapy, and Christian counseling. 

My therapy specialties include anxiety, depression, anger, ADHD, trauma, and self-esteem issues.

I’m an eclectic therapist.  My anxiety therapy approach incorporates various methodologies, including Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness, adapting to your needs, goals, and expectations.

I understand anxiety can be draining and paralyzing to the point where waking up and seizing the day feels impossible.  The pain and intrusive thoughts can deplete your mind, body, and spirit in such a way that you may not see a path beyond it.

But you have the opportunity and the ability to change.  And I’m here to facilitate that

Need Support?

Anxiety does not need to steer your life.

Let’s work together to help you take ownership of your journey.

Contact me to book a consultation or schedule your first therapy appointment today.