Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Garfield, NJ.

We all experience stress from time to time. But, when stress or anxiety starts to impact your relationships and functioning, that’s often a sign that it’s time to seek help. I approach anxiety and stress management from a skills-based perspective. I use CBT and DBT frameworks to provide skills that help you to manage symptoms and gain independence.

If you suffer from anxiety or stress then you know how it impacts upon your life. This is such a large topic. It could include ocd, panic attacks, low self esteem, ...poor relationships to numerous other issues. My approach depends upon who you are and what your issues are. I like to think of myself as being non-judgmental, creating an atmosphere where you are comfortable telling me your story. When that happens we can then identify the issue and choose strategic approaches that will fit with your views and personality so in the end you can have a life without the anxiety and stress that you are feeling presently.

Every human being faces some degree of anxiety and stress but there are times when their magnitude can become overwhelming and can rob you of your ability to function and enjoy life. Together we will explore the roots of your stress and anxiety, be they relational, job related, or from some other source. I will give you concrete strategies for dealing with them in the moment as well as helping you understand what changes you can make long term whicht will decrease your levels of stress and anxiety.

Good therapy helps uncover the root causes of anxiety, and finds ways to transcend the specific current issues and deals with the underlying sense of worry that seems to arise from nowhere. Anxiety arises due to one's own natural energies being turned back on oneself. I help you see that the anxiety and circular, repeated thinking are due to deeply-held messages. These restrictive messages cause you to feel that authentic self-expression is dangerous, not wanted, and unhealthy. Gradually discovering old traumas and hidden beliefs so they are fully understood and digested, frees you to live in more peace and more fulfilled.

There is normal stress and anxiety and then there are levels which are far beyond what you imagine to be on that range. We live high-stress and fast-paced lives and it is understandable why we sometimes feel overwhelmed and highly stressed out. There is help available to assist you in calming your nerves and finding productive and safe methods for dealing with the many painful stressors around us.

Everyone knows what it feels like to be anxious and stressed. I have worked with many clients around anxiety issues. I help people to see that "they are not anxiety" but rather, that "anxiety is a visitor." It comes and it goes. Sitting down and taking a close look at your anxiety is a way to begin to have control over it, rather than anxiety controlling you! Mindfulness offers many tools I share with my clients as I help them with troublesome anxiety and panic issues. I also bring in information from modern neuroscience, as well as offering them some cognitive and behavioral techniques. There are things that can help you to manage your anxiety, so you don't have to struggle with it.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) If you feel uncontrollable or excessive anxiety and worry more days than not during any six month period, you may be experiencing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). You may feel constantly on-edge, irritable, tired, unable to concentrate, complain of muscle tenseness or have other physical complaints, or your sleep pattern may be disturbed. If anxiety or worry is creating emotional distress, hindering your life, or causing you a lack of achievement or satisfaction in your life, even if you are not experiencing panic attacks, a psychotherapy consultation for General Anxiety Disorder is recommended and I would welcome your inquiry.

I leverage a solution-based approach to clearly outline your primary challenge, work through an exercise to meditate on and define your future state and then work over 8 sessions to achieve it via homework and 1:1 sessions. Clients have experienced great success with this approach, my goal is to empower you - YOU have the answers and I want to help you find them.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety disorders, particularly OCD. It involves gradually exposing individuals to feared stimuli or situations while preventing the typical compulsive response. Through repeated exposure to these anxiety-provoking triggers, clients learn to tolerate distress without engaging in compulsive behaviors. ERP therapy is based on the principle of habituation, where anxiety decreases over time with repeated exposure. Therapists work collaboratively with clients to develop personalized exposure hierarchies and teach coping skills to manage anxiety. ERP has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms.

Counseling will allow you to identity the things that triggers your feelings of anxiety and stress. It is important to explore current coping strategies whether successful or not. You will learn skills and technique to better manage your feelings and reaction. Some of these skills may involve relaxation, reframing thoughts, prioritizing or delegating tasks.