What does anxiety counseling look like? How do you know if it is time to seek help? How do you find a therapist in your area? How do you know if someone will be a good fit? What should you expect? Does therapy really work? There are so many questions and things to sort through when trying to set up a first counseling session. This is going to be a comprehensive guide to help you sort through as many of these questions as possible.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural feeling that we all have sometime. Some people experience anxiety more than others and some individuals experience so much anxiety that is starts to have a negative impact on their life.
Anxiety can often prevent individuals from going out and experiencing the world. New people and places can feel overwhelming . Often individuals who struggle with anxiety find it easier to stay home than to try to navigate social settings. It is not uncommon for someone with anxiety to agree to a social event and back out last minute due to feeling overwhelmed when it comes time to get ready.
Symptoms of anxiety
Heart beating fast
Knots in stomach
Hands sweaty or shaky
Dizziness or feeling light headed
Feeling that you can’t relax
Anxiety disorders and diagnosis
There are a number of different diagnosis that are housed under the umbrella of anxiety disorders. These include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobias, and Panic Disorders. Often times when people are talking about an anxiety disorder they are referring to Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) so that is what we will talk about here.
The DSM is an exhaustive list of mental health disorders. Any time you see a therapist, especially if they are billing insurance for you, they will be consulting this book to see where your symptoms fit. We are currently on the fifth edition of the DSM.
Generalized anxiety disorder is described in the DSM as
-having excessive anxiety and worry most days
-difficulty controlling the worry
-Experiencing three or more of the following
-feeling keyed up or restless
-tiring easily
-trouble concentrating
-feeling irritable
- muscle tightness
-difficulty sleeping
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is shown to be the most effective in treating and managing symptoms of anxiety. In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) we look at both your thoughts and behaviors. Sometimes we have thoughts that are not serving us. CBT will give you the tools to identify unhelpful thoughts and come up with replacement thoughts. In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) we also look at how your actions are either increasing or decreasing your anxiety levels. An example of this is drinking coffee; drinking caffeine can often lead to more anxiety.
How to Find a Therapist
There are several options for finding a good therapist. You may have a friend who has worked with a therapist they found helpful. Or maybe you have a friend who is a therapist. Due to ethics your friend would not be able to work with you, but they likely have some colleagues they trust. If you are looking to use insurance, you can reach out to your insurance for a list of names of providers. The Internet is also a great resource. Psychology Today has many profiles of local therapists. You can also refine your search by area, specialty, insurance, or type of therapy. You can read through several profiles to find which ones resonate with you! Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with and have a connection with is most important!
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS)?
When you start your search you will notice there are a number of different letters behind the counselors names. These letters are also state specific, some states have slightly different letters, since I am in North Carolina that is the ones I will talk about here. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), Licensed Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) are all Licensed professionals who have at least a Masters Degree. They are all trained be able to help you! If you are looking for a marriage therapist you may choose to go with an LMFT. Or if you struggle with drug dependence or abuse you may choose to seek out a LADC. Again I will say the most important thing will be finding someone you connect with and can trust. (Note: Life coaches are not licensed and there are currently no educational requirements for someone to be a life coach. You will likely want to work with someone who is well trained to be able to help you. So be on the look out for the above mentioned letters!)
Medication for Anxiety
Does medication work? Research shows that counseling is effective. Medication is also shown to be effective. Together individuals get the best results. The question of if medication is right for you is a great conversation for you to have with your doctor. It is a very personal question with many things to consider.
Does counseling work?
Research shows that it does! And I see the power of therapy everyday in my office. One of the great things about therapy is that you will learn skills that you will take with you. Skills that will be there even after you complete therapy. Medication is effective but only for as long as you are on it. It is not uncommon for individuals to come to therapy to avoid taking medication.
What to expect
Your first counseling session is an “intake session”. In that session your therapist will be gathering all sorts of information from you. Such as what brings you to therapy, symptoms, and any other relevant information. In the first session or couple of sessions you will likely work with your therapist to set goals for treatment. These goals serve as a type of roadmap for therapy. The goal of therapy is to work toward discharge! So it helps to begin with the end in mind to use as a compass during treatment. This may look like communicating to your therapist how you imagine your life when you are done with therapy. You may not always be able to see the end in sight but that is what your therapist is for!
Therapy in Charlotte, NC
If you are in Charlotte, NC and looking for a therapist I would be happy to see if you and I might be a good fit. I provide a free 15 minute consultation. If we are not a good fit, I can try to give you a name of someone who I trust that I think would be! Schedule your free consultation today. I would love to hear how I can support you.
About the author:
An anxiety therapist
Theresa Leskowat MS LPC is a local Charlotte therapist who specializes in anxiety treatment. Theresa’s Dilworth Counseling Practice is located on East Blvd. Theresa also provides therapy for stress management, divorce counseling, and therapy for perfectionists.