Anxiety Therapy in Tampa
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is your body’s alarm system—a built-in warning bell that sometimes gets stuck in the “on” position. It shows up as racing thoughts, muscle tension, trouble sleeping, and that constant hum of “what if?” in the background.
Anxiety loves to live in the future, acting like a fortune teller who only predicts doom. It can sneak up on you, too—slowly building until you realize you’ve been simmering for so long that you’re at a full boil, wondering how you got there. (Think lobster in a pot.)
A tight chest or knotted stomach
Restless energy that won’t shut off
A brain that feels like a never-ending highlight reel of all of your worst moments
How anxiety can feel:
There is hope..
Avoidance is a common but costly response to anxiety. As psychologist Michelle Craske explains, it offers short-term relief but teaches the brain that escape equals safety—making anxiety louder over time.
Barlow calls this a vicious cycle: anxiety → avoidance → brief relief → stronger anxiety → extreme coping. The good news? Research shows that with exposure and CBT, approaching anxiety with skill and compassion can break the cycle and restore a sense of control.
What we’ll work on together:
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Richard Schwartz teaches us that the anxious “parts” of us are trying to protect us, even if their methods are clunky or outdated. When we open a dialogue, those parts can set down their shields and work with us, rather than against us.
somatic therapy
Anxiety often lives in the body long after the mind tries to talk it away. Peter Levine’s work shows that tuning into the body’s messages can reset the nervous system and bring relief at a deep level.
art therapy
Cathy Malchiodi reminds us that art can give voice to what words can’t express. Creating allows anxious parts to be seen and understood in a new way.
mindfulness
As Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches, mindfulness anchors us in the present moment. Anxiety thrives on the unknown and the “what ifs.” Mindfulness helps us learn to sit with uncertainty, and that we don’t have to fight uncomfortable feelings to feel calm.
NARRATIVE THERAPY
Goodman uses personification to help clients externalize anxiety, turning it into a character they can observe instead of being overwhelmed by. By giving anxiety a “voice” and identity, clients can interact with it more compassionately and begin to change their relationship to it.
