Anxiety Therapy in California for Over-thinkers, Over-doers, and People-Pleasers
Anxiety therapy in California for over-thinkers, over-doers, and people-pleasers who are tired of carrying the weight alone. With the right support, you can release the worry, calm your nervous system, and finally feel at home in yourself again.
You smile in public, hold it all in, and push past the tension in your chest.
From the outside, you look like you’ve got it all together. But inside, your mind is running endless loops you can’t shut off: late-night overthinking, playing out worst-case scenarios, and the constant push to keep everyone else happy. You tell yourself to just stop worrying, but your body doesn’t get the message. The tension in your chest, the tight jaw, the stomach knots, they remind you daily that anxiety isn’t just “in your head.”
Does This Feel True For You?
Anxiety shows up differently for everyone, but these are some of the most common patterns my clients struggle with:
You replay conversations in your head, worrying if you said the wrong thing or upset someone.
You run through five different worst-case scenarios before you even leave the house.
You put off important decisions because you’re afraid of making the wrong choice.
You avoid hard conversations, hoping the discomfort will fade, but it only grows.
Your body is tense most of the day (tight jaw, clenched shoulders, stomach in knots).
You say yes when you really want to say no, and end up feeling resentful or drained.
Even when you finally have a moment to rest, your mind won’t stop running through the to-do list.
If even one of these feels familiar, anxiety is likely running more of your life than you’d like it to.
How Anxiety Therapy Works Here
Anxiety is rarely “just anxiety.” Beneath the constant racing thoughts are deeper layers. Your past experiences taught you to stay hyper-aware, keep performing, or hide your real feelings. Therapy here isn’t about managing surface symptoms with quick tips, it’s about getting curious about what your anxiety is trying to tell you.
Together, we’ll slow things down so you can notice patterns, understand why your body reacts the way it does, and finally give your nervous system the safety it needs to let go of what’s been stored for too long.
I use a mix of body-based calming tools and EMDR therapy for anxiety, which helps you process what’s fueling the worry at its root. EMDR allows us to reach the deeper emotional charge behind the anxious loops, so you’re not just coping, you’re actually releasing what’s been holding you back. Many clients find EMDR therapy and intensives helps them break free from old triggers and build resilience faster than traditional talk therapy alone.
My Approach to Anxiety Therapy
When we work together, our focus isn’t just on coping, it’s on creating lasting shifts in how you feel, think, and show up in the world.
Understand Your Patterns
We’ll spot the thoughts, habits, and triggers that keep your anxiety cycling on repeat. Naming these patterns helps you separate you from the anxious voice.Soften the Nervous System
Your body is the doorway to relief. Through grounding strategies, breath-work, and EMDR resourcing tools, you’ll learn how to calm the tension in your chest, unclench your jaw, and bring your nervous system back to baseline.Release What’s Stuck
Instead of endlessly replaying scenarios, EMDR therapy helps process unresolved experiences that fuel your anxiety. By working through these memories in a safe, contained way, your brain can finally let go of the “what ifs” that never stop running.Integrate the Change
You’ll practice living differently and noticing your calm, setting boundaries without guilt, and trusting yourself to handle what comes. These changes don’t just happen in session; they ripple into your daily life.
Support Between Sessions
Anxiety doesn’t just show up in session, it follows you into the quiet moments: late-night overthinking, and the pressure to hold it all together. That’s why I created guided workbooks and tools you can use in between therapy sessions.
They’re designed to calm your nervous system, help you manage anxiety in real time, and deepen the work we do together whether you’re exploring anxiety therapy in California or preparing for EMDR therapy for anxiety or trauma.
Your emotions aren’t here to control you. They’re here to guide you. Feelings That Speak helps you understand why emotions show up, what they’re trying to tell you, and how to respond differently, instead of pushing them away. Inside, you’ll find gentle prompts, reflections, and practical tools to help you lean in, reframe, and build a calmer relationship with yourself.
Inner glow is a guidebook to emotional intelligence that helps you build, self-awareness, manage emotions, and grow compassion for yourself and others. Through gentle prompts and practical exercises, you’ll learn to understand your feelings, regulate stress, and improve connection both, within and in your relationships.
It’s Not Just Anxiety…
Many of my clients first come to me saying, “I just want to stop feeling anxious.” But once we start working together, they realize the worry is only the surface. Beneath the racing thoughts and tight chest are old patterns of over-functioning, people-pleasing, and self-criticism that often trace back to moments when emotions were dismissed, ignored, or felt “too much” to share.
Anxiety therapy isn’t just about calming your mind in the moment, it’s about helping you understand what’s fueling the pressure underneath. That’s why I take a trauma-informed approach, blending body-based calming strategies with EMDR therapy for anxiety to get to the deeper root of your symptoms—the unresolved experiences that keep your nervous system stuck in high alert.
When we address the deeper layers, clients notice they no longer feel hijacked by overthinking or the constant “what ifs.” Instead of coping with the pressure, you’ll learn to release it. Over time, your nervous system gains the safety it needs to relax, and you begin to trust yourself again—without having to prove your worth through productivity or perfectionism.
If you’re searching for anxiety therapy in California that goes beyond surface-level coping tools, this work is designed for you. Together, we’ll create the kind of steady, compassionate space where both your mind and body can finally exhale.
Curious to dive deeper? Read my blog on anxiety patterns or explore how trauma therapy in California may also support your healing.
With consistent anxiety therapy, clients often share that they begin to feel:
Able to make a decision without spiraling into endless “what ifs.”
Their shoulders relax and their jaw unclenches without even thinking about it.
Present in conversations instead of replaying them afterward.
Confident enough to rest without having to “earn” it through productivity.
More at home in their own body, no longer just a bundle of nerves.
What Changes for Clients
Why People Choose Me
You’re not looking for a therapist who will just nod along while you vent about your week. You want real change. My clients choose to work with me because:
I combine anxiety expertise with trauma-informed EMDR therapy for deeper, lasting relief.
I teach practical tools you can use right when anxiety shows up.
I create a compassionate, no-judgment space where you don’t have to perform or pretend.
Many of my clients come in saying, “I just want to stop feeling anxious.” What they discover is that anxiety therapy isn’t just about calming the mind in the moment—it’s about releasing what’s been fueling the pressure all along, so they can finally feel light, safe, and steady, I share more in my latest blog.
Imagine what it would feel like to wake up without the constant knot in your chest or the noise in your head. To move through your day with more calm, clarity, and confidence. Therapy for anxiety can help you create that reality.
FAQs about Anxiety Therapy
If you have more questions have a look at the FAQ page or reach out.
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I hear this fear pretty often and the truth is, anxiety isn’t who you are, it’s something you’re experiencing. With the right approach, it’s possible to soften the tension, quiet the spirals, and feel more in control of your mind and body. Therapy is a space where you don’t have to tone yourself down or “be less.” You get to bring your whole self, without judgment, and learn how to carry life in a calmer way.
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Many of my clients come to me after other approaches haven’t clicked. The difference here is we’re not just talking about anxiety, we’re getting to the root of it. I use EMDR and trauma-informed strategies that help your body and mind release what’s been stuck, so change feels real and lasting, not just like another set of tips you’ll forget when you’re stressed.
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Absolutely not. You set the pace here. Some women dive right in, others start with what’s happening right now, and we work our way back when you feel ready. I’ll never push you to share more than you’re comfortable with. Safety comes first and that includes emotional safety.
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Anxiety can make patterns like overthinking and people-pleasing feel permanent, but they’re not your personality they’re protective habits you’ve learned over time. In therapy, we work on understanding where those habits came from, gently untangling them, and building new ways of relating to yourself and others that feel authentic and peaceful.
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Everyone’s timeline is different, but most clients notice shifts within the first few sessions even if it’s just feeling a little lighter, sleeping better, or reacting differently to stress. The deeper, lasting changes happen as we work through both the symptoms and the root causes. I’ll check in with you often so we can track your progress together.
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That’s such a common and valid fear. When you’ve been in “go” mode for so long, slowing down can feel unsafe at first. In our work together, we’ll build skills to help you feel grounded and supported so that facing your emotions doesn’t feel like drowning it feels like finally being able to breathe.
