Therapy for anxiety in Grand Rapids

Stress is a normal part of the human experience. It provides us with the motivation and energy needed to accomplish tasks. It alerts us to problems or danger so we can maintain safety. Without stress, we would not reach our goals or stay alive.

Normal stress fluctuates throughout each day, and does not overwhelm. When we feel chronically stressed without relief, and when the level of our stress is causing us to feel and behave in maladaptive ways, we call this anxiety. It may appear as constant worry, physical symptoms (such as muscle tension, racing heart, or gastrointestinal disturbance), heightened irritability, or difficulty concentrating.

Therapy for anxiety helps you learn how to ride the wave of your stress in a way that it can pass through. The goal is for your nervous system to be calmed - to turn off the “alarm” of anxiety when it is not serving a helpful purpose.

There are many different flavors of anxiety. In my practice, I work with clients experiencing stress, worry, general anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, obsessions/compulsions, and trauma-related fears. Clients I work with are struggling with questions such as:

• What are other people thinking about me?

• Why can’t I stop thinking about something that’s in my past?

• What if everything ends badly?

• Am I a bad person/friend/parent/Christian?

Some diagnoses that are sometimes used to describe these experiences are Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Panic Disorder. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is no longer categorized as a traditional anxiety disorder, but does contain anxiety as a key feature of the experience.

While not everyone finds diagnostic labels helpful, others find them validating and appreciate the opportunity afforded to connect with others who have similar experiences. My approach is to focus on your specific experiences healing more than diagnostic labels.

There are many specific techniques that help to decrease anxiety.

• Mindfulness and prayer practices can increase insight, calm the mind, and help us focus on things outside of ourselves.

• Exercise can lower stress hormones and boost mood-brightening chemicals in the brain.

• Authentic expression of your feelings and thoughts (through talking or writing in a journal) can help gain perspective and strengthen coping mechanisms.

Talk therapy, such as that offered through Dwell Psychological Services, helps to get to the root of what is sparking anxiety and also to customize specific coping strategies for your unique experience.

Therapy can feel like a big investment, especially if you’re already anxious about money or scheduling pressures. And if your anxiety is related to a belief that you’re not worthy of care, it makes it especially challenging to get the care you need.

I encourage clients to think of therapy as work on the foundation of a house. In order to remain structurally sound over time, it is wise (and sometimes essential!) to pay attention to what is holding you up.

Investing time and money into managing your emotions will help you be the best version of you in the different realms of your life - and it will help you feel better and more supported along the way too.

My approach to talk therapy incorporates a somatic approach that draws from the wisdom of the body in finding new pathways to emotional healing. Recognizing where tension, stress, and memories are being held in the body is a critical component to creating freedom. Healing the mind and heart involves a healed relationship with the body as well.

Brainspotting methodology can be incorporated into sessions for clients seeking to process anxiety-producing memories, dreams, or challenges without relying on verbal expression. While Brainspotting developed out of EMDR, the technique provides more flexibility, can be applied to more types of concerns, and is more useful for clients who prefer minimal verbalization.