Anxiety Therapist Philadelphia
Say Goodbye to Overthinking, Panic, & Avoidance with Anxiety Therapy at The Therapy Gal—your trusted partner for personalized healing and growth.
How do I know if I need anxiety therapy?
Do you ever procrastinate on simple tasks like replying to a text from a friend?
Maybe you’ve been putting off scheduling that overdue dentist appointment for months…
Do you immediately think “What’s parking going to be like?” or “what’s the bathroom situation?” when you get invited to a social event?
If so…
You might be one of the 40 million adults in the United States suffering from anxiety according to data from The Anxiety and Depression Association of America. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Like I said, 40 MILLION adults in the US alone suffer from the same thing that brought you to this website. So let’s talk a little bit about anxiety…
Why do we have anxiety?
First things first, it probably makes sense to mention why humans are such anxious creatures. Anxiety is a natural response that has evolved over time to help keep us safe from potential danger. In the early days of human history, anxiety helped us recognize and respond to threats like predators or environmental dangers.
Today, anxiety serves a different purpose. It helps us stay alert and aware of potential threats, even if they aren’t immediately apparent. The not-so-cool part is our anxiety response can become overly sensitive. This leads to excessive worry or fear even in situations where there is no real danger.
Sorry for the science lesson, but trust me this is important. By understanding the biological origins of anxiety, we can better learn to manage and cope with it.
What are YOU afraid of? Maybe a therapist for anxiety can help!
Let’s say you have a fear of flying. Every time you have to take a plane, you feel intense anxiety and fear. Your palms get sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy, v— oh wait. Sorry it just reminded me of that Eminem song as I was typing LOL. Anyway, let’s try this again…
Your heart races, your palms sweat, and your mind races with thoughts of disaster. To cope with this anxiety, you might start avoiding flying altogether. You might turn down job opportunities or vacation plans that involve air travel, and instead opt for alternative transportation methods.
While this might provide some temporary relief, it can actually make your fear of flying worse over time. Avoiding flying reinforces the belief that flying is something to be feared, and it prevents you from developing coping strategies or gaining exposure to the situation. Over time, your fear of flying might grow, and it might start to affect other areas of your life in a negative way. This is what’s known as the Cycle of Avoidance.
Are you trapped in a Cycle of Avoidance?
Let’s dive a bit deeper into the cycle of avoidance. When anxiety takes hold, it can be easy to fall into a cycle of avoidance. This means avoiding situations or activities that make us feel anxious, in the hopes of reducing our anxiety levels. While this might provide some temporary relief, in the long run it can actually make things worse.
Avoidance can reinforce our anxiety, making us feel even more afraid and uncertain about the things we’re avoiding. Over time, this can lead to a decrease in overall life satisfaction and quality of life, as we limit our experiences and miss out on opportunities for growth and enjoyment. Breaking the cycle of avoidance is an important step in managing anxiety, and therapy for anxiety can be a helpful tool in learning to confront and overcome the things that make us feel afraid.
Is anxiety impacting your health?
Remember before when we put our lab coats on and talked about anxiety like we were biologists? It’s because anxiety has a huge impact on our bodies!
When we feel anxious, our body’s natural stress response kicks in, flooding us with hormones that can cause a range of physical symptoms. These symptoms can be unpleasant or even painful, and can interfere with our ability to carry out daily activities or enjoy our lives to the fullest.
It’s important to point out that not everyone experiences anxiety in the same way. Here are some of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Muscle tension and pain
- Digestive issues such as nausea, diarrhea, or constipation
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Headaches or migraines
- Sweating or trembling
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Increased risk of heart disease or other health issues
What does anxiety do to our brains?
Anxiety not only affects our physical health but also our cognitive abilities. When we experience anxiety, our brain perceives it as a threat and triggers our fight-or-flight response. This response can interfere with our ability to think clearly and logically, making it difficult to focus or make decisions.
The cognitive symptoms of anxiety can be subtle, but they can have a significant impact on our daily lives. Here are some of the most common cognitive symptoms of anxiety:
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Racing thoughts or a constant sense of worry
- Memory problems or forgetfulness
- Feeling confused or disoriented
- Negative or self-critical thoughts
- Difficulty with problem-solving or decision-making
How does anxiety surface in our emotions?
Anxiety can also take hold of our emotional state. Have you ever seen that episode of new girl when Jess gets anxious about having to go to Cece’s birthday party with all of her model friends? That’s a great example of how anxiety can show itself in emotional symptoms. That feeling of dread that Jess has stems from her past experiences with Cece’s friends.
Sidenote: if you haven’t already watched New Girl, it’s a fantastic show 😉
Here are some common emotional symptoms of anxiety:
- Feelings of apprehension or dread
- Excessive worry or fear about everyday situations
- Irritability or restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks
- Avoidance of situations that may trigger anxiety
- Feelings of guilt or shame
- Depression or feelings of hopelessness
- Sense of detachment or depersonalization
- Panic attacks or overwhelming feelings of fear or panic
Find an Anxiety Therapist in Philadelphia, PA, NJ, or Online
I promise I didn’t tell you all of that just to make you more anxious about being anxious! If you’re experiencing anxiety, it’s important to know that there are effective anxiety treatments available. Therapy for anxiety is a highly recommended solution that can help you better manage and even overcome your symptoms.
There are various types of therapy for anxiety available, but the most common and effective one is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps you figure out and then change the negative patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to your anxiety. It can also teach you coping strategies and relaxation techniques that you can use in your daily life.
Another type of therapy that can be helpful is exposure therapy for anxiety. This involves gradually exposing yourself to the situations or triggers that cause your anxiety in a safe and controlled environment, to help desensitize you to those triggers over time.
The best form of therapy for anxiety depends on your unique requirements, symptoms, and preferences. It’s important to work with a qualified anxiety therapist who can help you create a treatment plan tailored to your unique situation.
The anxiety specialists at The Therapy Gal are here to help!
The relatable therapists at The Therapy Gal work collaboratively with you to find the best treatment to help you through your anxiety. We understand that one size does not fit all, and make sure to tailor each treatment to the individual. Our techniques include learning about your background, family system, and overall environment to understand how anxiety affects you, or where it stems from.
Our in-person therapists in Philadelphia pull from a variety of different therapeutic approaches, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to Exposure Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Systemic Therapy, in order to better understand how your anxiety uniquely manifests.
We help you develop meaningful insights into your anxiety and help you find ways to cope moving forward.
Our goal is to help you shift your perspective of letting anxiety rule your world, to you having ownership of your own body and your own choices.
With the right type of anxiety treatment, it is possible for you to have control over your life choices, rather than having anxiety forcefully guide you through them. A path towards healing can be an option for you!
Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy for Anxiety
How can I tell if I need therapy for anxiety?
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, how you are able to cope, and to what degree your anxiety is impacting your life, talking to an anxiety specialist might be a helpful step for you. Anxiety causes emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms, and might make dealing with certain situations unbearable. Working with an anxiety therapist can help you better understand your anxiety and develop a treatment plan that works for you.
Can therapy for anxiety be done online or through teletherapy?
Absolutely. While sitting in the comfort of your own home, your anxiety therapist will be able to help you understand your anxiety and develop a treatment plan that works for you.
How do I know if my anxiety therapist is the right fit for me and my anxiety needs?
Finding the right therapist is a very important step to healing through therapy. Here are a few things to look out for when knowing if a therapist is the right fit:
- They make you feel comfortable
- You feel heard and understood with them
- Your therapist has knowledge over the issue you are coming to therapy for
- You feel like you can trust your therapist
- Your anxiety therapist provides you good feedback
How many therapy sessions will I need to see improvement in my anxiety symptoms?
It’s hard to say off the bat. Your anxiety therapist will work with you to come up with a plan that works best for you. Every individual is different, and everyone requires (or wants) a different amount of time in therapy.
I feel shame around getting anxiety treatment, and I’m worried about others judging me
Shame is the hardest thing to deal with since it tends to be hidden and never addressed. This is more common than you think. Perhaps you’ve struggled with this for years and you’ve encountered repeated unsolicited opinions about people seeking help. We want to remind you that anxiety affects millions of people, and you are not alone. Therapy for anxiety is becoming an awesome and acceptable tool for self-care, and we’re always working to humanize the experience. You deserve to take care of yourself!
I’m concerned that my anxiety therapist will pressure me into taking medication
At The Therapy Gal, you will never be pressured or forced into doing anything that you do not want to. This statement is true for anything during your anxiety treatment! We believe that in order for therapy to work, a strong sense of trust and security must be established with your therapist. You will always have the right to make your own decisions and set your own boundaries.
I’m not sure I have the time or finances to start my anxiety treatment
This is a valid concern, and one that you might want to weigh the pros and cons of. Therapy is an investment in ourselves, it’s a choice we make to help ourselves through hardships. You might also want to think about how anxiety has robbed you of time and money up until this point, whereas that time and money can be used in healing yourself!
Do you have anxiety therapists in Philadelphia?
Yes! Our office is located in center city at 255 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Do you have anxiety therapists in NJ?
Yes! We have anxiety therapists who are licensed in New Jersey that can see you online.
Do you offer online anxiety therapy?
Yes! We offer online anxiety therapy as long as you live in PA or NJ.
Find your Anxiety Therapist in Philadelphia, PA, NJ, or Online
Whether you are an adult or teen, and have received an anxiety diagnosis or suspect you might have one, the therapists at The Therapy Gal can help. Please don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know your specific interest in working with an anxiety specialist so we can get you scheduled for a free, 15-minute consultation. Both in person and telehealth appointments are available. Find your therapist in Philadelphiaa, PA, NJ, or Online today!
Our in-person appointments are currently located Philadelphia, PA