Anxiety Therapy in Seattle, WA
Psychotherapy For Anxiety, Worry, and Stress
Angel Thomson LMFTA #MG60975240 | Licensed in Washington | 9 years of experience
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety affects everyone differently, but when persistent worry, fear, or stress begins interfering with your daily life, relationships, or work, it may be time to seek support. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, and effective treatment is available.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
Constant or excessive worrying that feels difficult to control
Racing thoughts or feeling like your mind won't slow down
Restlessness, irritability, or feeling constantly "on edge"
Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
Trouble falling asleep or waking up feeling exhausted
Panic attacks, including rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest tightness
Muscle tension, headaches, or stomach aches
Avoiding certain places, situations, or social interactions because of fear or anxiety
Overthinking decisions or expecting the worst-case scenario
Feeling overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities
You may notice anxiety showing up at work, in your relationships, in social environments, or after a major life change. Some people experience generalized anxiety throughout the day, while others struggle with anxiety attacks, social anxiety, or anxiety related to traumatic events or perfectionism. I help adults understand the root causes of anxiety and develop practical strategies to regain a sense of calm, confidence, and control.
What is an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety is a normal and natural part of being a human, it's a survival instinct that wants you to be safe. Anxiety becomes "disordered" when it causes significant distress and impairment to your life. In other words, it disrupts your life. It gets in the way of making decisions, going after what you want, or creating intimacy in relationships. It can make every day living incredibly challenging. The overwhelming fear and excessive worry generally causes you to avoid the anxiety-inducing situations. It becomes tremendously difficult to get relief from the anxiety, and the anxious feeling reoccurs over and over. Over time, dealing with anxiety at this heightened level can cause other mental health challenges, physical health problems, bring up existential questions, and hinder your overall personal growth and well-being.
Types of Anxiety Disorders Treated
There are a wide range of anxiety disorders, I work with:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): excessive, uncontrollable worry about many areas of life
Social Anxiety Disorder: intense fear of embarrassment, being judged or humiliated in social situations, which causes avoidance of social situations and parts of daily life
Anxious Attachment Style: the tendency to fear being abandoned or rejected by people, which leads to overthinking interactions, excessively worrying about others, and wanting reassurance repeatedly to try to feel safe and secure in relationships
Avoidant Attachment Style: the tendency to fear being abandoned or rejected by people, which leads to withdrawing from others and keeping people at a distance by avoiding vulnerability, intimacy, and emotional connection
Note: It is not my interest or intention to label you. Diagnosis using the DSM is a tool to understand what you might be experiencing, it does not say something permanent about you. I do not view people as categorized sets of symptoms, this methodology is dehumanizing and in many ways harmful and not helpful. As part of my therapy practices, a diagnosis will not be put in your medical record with me unless you choose to receive superbills to pursue reimbursement from your insurance company as insurance companies require it.
Meet Your Anxiety Therapist in Seattle, WA
Hi, I’m Angel.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate
I’ve been a therapist for 9 years and hold a level 1 certificate in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy. I also have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.
I provide effective anxiety therapy that gets to the root cause, so that you can create real, lasting change. My clients walk away from therapy with me feeling grounded, confident, and more hopeful about the future.
My Approach to Anxiety Treatment in Seattle
It may feel impossible now, but you can get relief from anxiety. You can feel confident in yourself. You can create a life you no longer want to escape from. And I can help you get there.
Evidence-based Treatment, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy
My approach to therapy for anxiety comes from Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), otherwise known as Emotionally Focused Therapy for Individuals. EFIT is an attachment science-based treatment for anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, and relationship problems. It is a compassionate, non-judgemental way to understand and change restrictive emotional patterns, repetitive behaviors, and attachment insecurity with self and others.
Anxiety is a symptom of something else. In other words, anxiety doesn't appear out of nowhere, something causes it. We need to understand what is causing you to feel anxious in order to make a change that will either significantly reduce the anxiety or eliminate it all together. It is far more therapeutic to address the cause of the anxiety rather than just treating the anxiety symptoms. I’ll help through this process, tailoring each step to your unique needs and circumstances. It is my goal to create a therapeutic relationship with you where you feel understood, safe, and supported.
How Anxiety Therapy Can Help
Anxiety therapy is about more than managing symptoms, because anxiety is a symptom of something else. In other words, anxiety doesn't appear out of nowhere, something causes it. We need to understand what is causing you to feel anxious in order to make a change that will either significantly reduce the anxiety or eliminate it all together. It is far more therapeutic to address the cause of the anxiety rather than just treating the anxiety symptoms. I’ll help through this process, tailoring each step to your unique needs and circumstances. It is my goal to create a therapeutic relationship with you where you feel understood, safe, and supported.
Anxiety therapy helps you:
Reduce excessive worry and overthinking
Better manage stress and overwhelming emotions
Develop healthier coping strategies for anxiety-provoking situations
Build emotional resilience and self-confidence
Feel more present and engaged in your relationships
Set healthy boundaries without excessive guilt
Feel more comfortable navigating uncertainty and change
Experience greater calm, balance, and peace of mind
Together, we'll work toward helping you feel more grounded, more confident, and better equipped to navigate everyday life without anxiety taking over.
When to Get Help for Anxiety
It's normal to experience anxiety during stressful periods, but ongoing anxiety shouldn't control your life. If your symptoms have lasted for several weeks or months, are becoming more frequent, or are affecting your ability to function, therapy can help.
You may benefit from anxiety therapy if you:
Feel anxious more days than not
Avoid activities, people, or situations because of fear
Experience recurring panic attacks
Have difficulty managing stress, work, or relationships
Struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or constant self-criticism
Withdrawing, isolating, or wanting constant reassurance in your relationships to feel safe
Notice anxiety affecting your sleep, physical health, or overall quality of life
Feel emotionally exhausted from constantly worrying
If anxiety is interfering with your daily life, relationships, work, or overall well-being, therapy can provide the support and tools needed to create lasting change.
Other Adult Anxiety Treatments in Seattle, WA
Couples Therapy for Anxious Attachment and Avoidant Attachment
Couples therapy can be an effective way to treat anxiety that is causing distress in the relationship. When one or both partners is struggling with anxiety, a tension or "walking on egg shells" dynamic can occur that makes it hard for partners to come together and support each other. A common relationship pattern is for one partner to present anxious and the other to present avoidant. This dynamic can create communication problems, stress, and disconnection. Couples therapy is tailored to your unique circumstances, designed to help you create positive interaction patterns and improve your relationship while reducing anxiety and depression.
Frequently Asked Questions about Seattle Anxiety Therapy
What others have wondered about anxiety psychotherapy in Seattle and Washington State
Do you work with phobias or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
I offer individual and group support for grievers. Individual grief counseling is tailored to your unique circumstances, designed to offer you support throughout every challenge. If you're looking for long-term support or if you'd rather work one-on-one with me, reach out to me to see if individual grief counseling sessions would be a good fit for you.
Do you offer psychiatry?
I do not offer psychiatry. I am a psychotherapist, not a psychiatrist. My goal is to help you reduce anxiety without taking medication. If you are interested in getting evaluated to see if anxiety medication is something you'd like to incorporate into your treatment, I can offer you referrals to a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), a psychiatrist, or a primary care doctor.
How do I get started with psychotherapy for anxiety?
1) Schedule a 20-minute Discovery Call. I will ask you some questions and you can ask me any questions to see if we'd be a good fit for working together. If we are, great! We’ll schedule your first session.
If not, no problem. I’ll refer to you to another talented therapist in my network who can help.
2) I’ll email you a link to your Client Portal where you will complete the intake paperwork before your first session.
3) A few minutes before the start of your session, simply click the link in your reminder email or through your Client Portal. It will ask you to "check in" with your name and to enable video and microphone access. I will greet you shortly after.
More questions? Check out my FAQs page.
If you are in crisis, experiencing an emergency, or if you need immediate support, please call 911 or the Crisis Lifeline at 988.
FEELING BETTER DOESN’T HAVE TO WAIT…
Get relief today, and get back to living!