Expert Anxiety Services in Asheville, NC
Signs You Might Be Struggling with Anxiety
• Persistent worry or fear, even when things seem “fine”
• Difficulty focusing or feeling present
• Avoidance of social situations or responsibilities
• Physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, or stomach discomfort
• Sleep disturbances or fatigue
• Feeling overwhelmed or “on edge”
What Does Anxiety Feel Like?
Your throat tightens. Your hands and feet start to tingle. There’s a flutter in your stomach—but it’s not butterflies. As you walk into a room full of people, it feels like you’re watching yourself from outside your body. Every interaction feels awkward, like you’re an actor who doesn’t know the script. A small slip of the tongue sends your body into a spiral of tension. You find yourself thinking:
“Can everyone tell how anxious I am?”
“Why can’t I just act like a normal person?”
“Am I talking too much? Too little?”
Anxiety looks and feels different for everyone, but one thing is certain—you’re not alone. Since the start of the pandemic, anxiety rates have risen dramatically, affecting people across all walks of life.
The good news? Therapy for anxiety works. With the right support, you can develop tools to manage your symptoms, reconnect with your confidence, and feel more grounded in everyday situations.
My Approach
I am a therapist in Asheville that specializes in providing social anxiety treatment, treatment for anxiety attacks, and therapy for work related stress. Together, we’ll help you develop practical tools for managing anxiety. Through cultivating awareness of your cognitive patterns and implementing new coping skills, you can rewire your brain and deconstruct the habitual loops that result in anxiety.
I provide a warm, nonjudgmental space where we work collaboratively to:
Uncover the root causes of your anxiety
Identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns
Learn practical tools for calming your nervous system
Build self-trust, confidence, and emotional resilience
I draw from approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), always tailoring therapy to fit your unique needs and goals.
Why Seek Anxiety Services in Asheville?
Asheville is a city that values connection, introspection, and growth—but even in a place surrounded by nature and community, anxiety can persist. Whether you’re a local professional, creative, student, or parent, anxiety can impact your quality of life, relationships, and ability to enjoy what matters most.
Therapy offers a path back to clarity, presence, and peace.
What Are the Root Causes of Anxiety?
Anxiety doesn’t come from nowhere—it often has deep and layered roots. For many people, anxiety is a response to stress, unresolved emotions, or environments that feel unsafe or unpredictable. Some common root causes of anxiety include:
• Chronic stress or burnout – Prolonged periods of stress at work, in relationships, or in caregiving roles can overload the nervous system and lead to persistent anxiety.
• Childhood experiences – Growing up in an environment where you felt unsafe, criticized, or emotionally unsupported can shape how you respond to stress later in life.
• Trauma (big or small) – Past experiences of trauma, whether acute or cumulative, can leave the body in a heightened state of alertness or fear.
• Perfectionism and self-criticism – A harsh inner voice or high expectations can create constant pressure to perform or “get it right,” which fuels anxiety.
• Unmet emotional needs – When needs for connection, rest, validation, or self-expression aren’t met, anxiety can emerge as a signal that something is out of alignment.
• Genetics and brain chemistry – Anxiety often runs in families and can be influenced by brain chemistry, though that’s only one piece of the puzzle.
• Life transitions or uncertainty – Major changes—like starting a new job, ending a relationship, or navigating identity—can make the future feel uncertain and provoke anxious thoughts.
Therapy helps you explore how these factors may be affecting you—and more importantly, what you can do to move toward relief and resilience.