what if things were easier?
Plano Anxiety Therapy
Escape the relentless cycle of anxiety and panic by learning how to manage triggers and build resilience.
Request a Free 15-Minute Consultation
Goldfinch Counseling
Let’s expand your world.
Generalized Anxiety
We all struggle with anxiety and worry, but some of us struggle a lot more than others. Anxiety is a concern about something that may happen in the future. It might be related to health, finances, relationships, social interactions, or any number of other concerns.
Do you worry intensely about something that might happen? Does it feel like the worst outcome is the more likely outcome? Is it hard to stop the mental doom-scrolling once you start? Do these thoughts keep you up at night?
We treat anxiety in a variety of ways, using evidenced-based therapy that includes:
Psychoeducation
Knowing how anxiety works in the brain helps you understand how and why this evidence-based treatment works so well.
Challenging Beliefs
Thoughts are not facts, and you can learn how to change your relationship with fear.
Living in the Present
Learn how to stop ruminating and respond to emotions with compassion and acceptance rather than avoidance.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Face your fears (there are lots of ways to do this, and it’s really not as bad as it sounds). We start slow and only do what you feel comfortable with.
So, bring your worries and anxieties and let’s get you feeling better!
Social Anxiety
Do you have an intense fear of social situations? Maybe you avoid certain activities or events, even if part of you wishes you could participate. Does your fear of what people will think of you hold you back? Is your world shrinking and more and more social situations feel uncomfortable?
What are you missing out on that you could do if you didn’t have social anxiety? How would your life look different?
Maybe we can make that happen? Would you be willing to try?
The evidence-based treatment for social anxiety involves making a list of goals, figuring out your triggers, identifying your values (and what you are missing out on), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), comfort zone challenges, gently letting go of safety behaviors, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and social skills training.
It might feel scary and overwhelming, but we’ll take it as slowly, and you’ll be in control the whole time.
Are you ready to do the hard work and make your life better?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD has a huge impact on your life (and those around you), but it doesn’t have to be this way. There are good evidence-based treatments for OCD, including Exposure Response Therapy (ERP).
Does the idea of Exposure Response Therapy scare you? It’s okay if it does. Sometimes you have to get to a really bad place before you are willing to do the hard work to get better.
It’s hard work, but you can do hard things. We’ll start with some psychoeducation so you know how OCD works in the brain and why this treatment is the gold standard.
You’ll have a therapy notebook (physical or on your phone), and we’ll work together to understand your story, your worry, obsessive thoughts, and compulsions. You’ll learn how OCD works in the brain (and how to stop feeding the cycle).
Once we figure out what you are avoiding, we’ll help you change/challenge your emotions and brainstorm potential exposures (of varying levels).
There are different levels and types of exposures, so you don’t have to face your biggest fear immediately. You will be in control the whole time, and we will only do what you feel is doable. You may surprise yourself!
This is hard work, but it can be incredibly freeing. Are you ready to get started?
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder can be completely debilitating and creates a cycle that feeds itself. Do you avoid certain situations because you’re worried about having a panic attack? Does each panic attack make your world smaller and scarier? Do you have agoraphobia (fear of leaving home)?
The surprising truth about panic attacks is that the flood of chemicals that lead to somatic (body) and cognitive (brain) symptoms are extremely uncomfortable, even debilitating in the moment, but they are not dangerous (life-threatening).
The flood of chemicals that causes a panic attack can make you feel like you are literally going to die (or be so embarrassing that you almost wish for death).
We treat panic disorders by helping you understand how your brain works so that together, we can rewire your brain using a variety of proven therapies, including a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) called Exposure Response Prevention (ERP).
You won’t be alone in this journey. We’ll guide you through it, and hopefully, together, we can greatly reduce or even stop your panic attacks.
Feeling brave (or just tired of living like this)? Take the first step and schedule an appointment. We see clients in person in the Plano, Richardson, Frisco, Allen, and McKinney areas or online anywhere in Texas.
Specific Phobias
Fear of something specific, such as snakes, spiders, tight spaces, vomit, etc., is extremely common. Sometimes phobias have a minimal impact on our lives, but other times this fear prevents us from living a full life.
Maybe you know the origin of your fear, or maybe it’s a fear you’ve always had. Has it grown over time? Does it impact multiple areas of your life?
For example, do your fears prevent you from fully enjoying and experiencing life?
Common Phobias:
- Acrophobia: Fear of Heights
- Trypanophobia: Fear of Needles
- Claustrophobia: Fear of Closed Spaces (including elevators)
- Arachnophobia: Fear of Spiders
- Spheksophobia: Fear of Bees & Wasps
- Ophidiophobia: Fear of Snakes
- Entomophobia: Fear of Insects
- Cynophobia: Fear of Dogs
- Emetophobia: Fear of Vomit
- And many more
The gold standard for treating Specific Phobias is exposure therapy. It’s okay if that sounds absolutely terrifying! It’s so scary to imagine being exposed to the very thing that causes you great distress.
Exposure therapy can be a slow process, where we only do what you feel is doable. You make all the decisions and are not forced into anything.
Ready to overcome your fears? Let’s get started.
In-person or Online
Plano Texas Therapy
We see therapy clients in-person and online from our Plano, Texas office.
Most of our clients are from:
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Schedule an appointment, and let’s get you on a better path.