Anxiety Therapy

In-person in the Suwanee, Alpharetta & Cumming Area | Online in Georgia

Do you experience any of these common symptoms?

Feeling nervous or restless

Hyperventilation

Sweating

Avoidance of anxiety triggers

Difficulty concentrating

Sense of impending doom

Trembling

Racing thoughts

Gastrointestinal upset

Feeling of “butterflies” in stomach

Rapid heart rate

Trouble falling/staying asleep

Dizziness

Uncontrollable worry

Obsessive thinking

Understanding Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition, affecting nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. It's normal to experience occasional anxiety in response to life’s stressors; in fact, anxiety can be beneficial, alerting us to dangers and helping us prepare or stay focused. However, anxiety disorders go beyond typical anxiety, involving frequent, intense, excessive, and persistent feelings of anxiety and fear. 

These overwhelming emotions can interfere with daily activities, often being out of proportion to the actual threat and difficult to control. People with anxiety disorders might avoid situations that trigger these feelings, which can impact various aspects of life, including job performance, social interactions, and academic work. 

How Can Anxiety Counseling Help You?

The good news is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable. At Paraclete, our counselors are passionate about equipping you with the skills to manage your fears and obsessive thoughts, helping you regain control and function effectively in your daily life.   How we help: 

  • Learn to recognize your physical symptoms of anxiety. 

  • Teach techniques such as abdominal breathing and progressive muscle relaxation to calm your body down. 

  • Invite you to see how mindfulness (being in the present moment) can activate non-anxious neural pathways in your brain. 

  • How to stop anxiety from scaring you about the future. 

  • Identify anxiety-provoking thoughts and how to change them. 

  • Learn how confronting fearful situations will lead to decreased anxiety and increased confidence. 

Anxiety Disorders We Treat In-Person and Online in Georgia

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Are you experiencing excessive and persistent worry that interferes with your daily activities? You may have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This type of anxiety often centers around everyday activities or future events, with worries that are typically out of proportion to the actual circumstances. Many people with GAD find it difficult, if not impossible, to control their thoughts and stop the cycle of worry. 

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by sudden panic attacks, where you experience overwhelming anxiety and fear that typically peak within minutes, though some episodes may last up to an hour. During these attacks, you might encounter symptoms such as: 

  • A sense of impending doom 

  • Shortness of breath 

  • Heart palpitations 

  • Fear of losing control 

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness 

  • Fear of dying 

  • Chest pain 

  • Trembling or shaking 

These symptoms can be intense, often leading people to believe they are having a heart attack, prompting visits to the emergency room. Panic attacks are particularly frightening because they can occur without warning, leaving individuals feeling completely out of control. Panic disorder may also be accompanied by agoraphobia, where a person fears being in situations or places where escape might be difficult or help unavailable during a panic attack. 

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder involves an intense fear or anxiety about social situations. It's more than just shyness; it’s a persistent worry about being embarrassed, humiliated, rejected, or judged by others in social settings. This fear can impact various aspects of life, such as interacting with coworkers, meeting new people, or even having conversations with friends. 

Specific Phobia

A specific phobia is an intense and persistent fear of a particular object, situation, or activity. Although individuals with specific phobias often recognize that their fear is irrational and excessive, they find it difficult to confront it. Instead, they tend to cope by avoiding the feared object or situation altogether. Common examples of specific phobias include fear of flying, public speaking, and fear of spiders. 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive physical or mental behaviors (compulsions) performed to alleviate the distress caused by these obsessions. The obsessions create intense anxiety, driving the individual to engage in compulsive behaviors to find relief. Common compulsions include hand washing, checking, seeking reassurance from others, ensuring things are symmetrical, or performing mental rituals. When a person with OCD is unable to carry out their compulsions, they often experience significant anxiety and distress. 

OCD presents in various subtypes, such as contamination OCD, symmetry OCD, harm OCD, relationship OCD, and scrupulosity, among others. 

The gold standard treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. ERP involves gradually exposing the person to thoughts, images, or situations that trigger anxiety, while preventing the compulsive behavior that usually follows. This practice helps reduce the anxiety over time and diminishes the urge to perform compulsions.  Our therapists have specific training in ERP so contact us to schedule an initial evaluation.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder typically develops in childhood, but it can sometimes persist into adulthood. It is characterized by excessive anxiety or fear when separated from a primary attachment figure, such as a parent. This fear is disproportionate to the child’s developmental level and can interfere with daily functioning. Children with separation anxiety may only feel secure when they know the exact whereabouts of their parents or when they are physically close to them. They may also refuse to sleep away from their parents and frequently seek reassurance when the parent is out of sight. 

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

We understand how overwhelming anxiety disorders can be and the challenges of overcoming them. Living with constant worries or the fear of meeting new people can be exhausting. Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors can leave you feeling stuck and paralyzed. That’s why we use evidence-based treatment strategies to help you confront your fears directly. This approach offers the most effective way to challenge your anxiety and reclaim the life you want to live.  We will assess your symptoms and areas for improvement, then develop a personalized treatment plan to help you face and overcome your fears effectively. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured approach that helps clients identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. In CBT, you learn to self-monitor your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, gaining insight into how they influence your anxiety. The next step is to identify maladaptive or false thoughts and challenge them with more accurate and constructive thinking. Finally, CBT involves exposure therapy, where you intentionally face anxiety-provoking situations instead of avoiding them. Over time, this exposure helps reduce your anxiety and allows you to manage it more effectively. 

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

The gold standard treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. ERP involves gradually exposing the person to thoughts, images, or situations that trigger anxiety, while preventing the compulsive behavior that usually follows. This practice helps reduce the anxiety over time and diminishes the urge to perform compulsions.  Our therapists have specific training in ERP so contact us to schedule an initial evaluation. 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a therapeutic approach that encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings while creating psychological distance from unhelpful thoughts. Unlike traditional therapies like CBT, which focus on changing the way we think, ACT emphasizes not engaging with harmful thoughts. Instead, ACT teaches present-moment awareness (mindfulness) and helps individuals detach from negative thoughts and feelings. 

A key concept in ACT is acceptance—rather than trying to change or fight with your thoughts, you learn to allow them to come and go. This also involves accepting uncomfortable emotions and developing the ability to tolerate discomfort, enabling you to live a more meaningful life despite the presence of challenging thoughts and feelings. 

If you live in Suwanee, Alpharetta or Cumming, our team of dedicated therapists are ready to meet with you to help you learn the skills necessary to live without anxiety controlling your life.  

Reach out to begin your journey toward overcoming anxiety and achieving lasting daily peace.