Progress is shifting the “what ifs” to “even ifs”.
We’re Doing Something Different. It’s Going to Feel Uncomfortable and That’s Okay.
This work isn't easy, and I want to be honest with you.
You've probably already tried the usual advice - breathe through it, distract yourself, talk yourself out of the worry, or avoid it. You've noticed the relief never lasts and that’s why you’re here.
Anxiety isn't a problem to manage with more control, it's a pattern that gets stronger every time we avoid what scares us. Avoidance can look like reassurance-seeking, over-preparing, and checking until things feel certain. It looks like a false sense of safety in the moment and over time, it teaches your brain that the fear was right all along.
My approach combines Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to change your relationship with your anxiety. Together, we'll identify where you've been avoiding, gently and intentionally lean into that discomfort, and build your ability to tolerate uncertainty without needing to control every outcome.
It’s going to feel genuinely challenging at first as ERP asks you to move toward what you've spent a long time trying to avoid. It's the gold standard and most effective treatment available for anxiety, OCD, and panic disorder. It's also demanding and requires homework between sessions.
Not everyone is ready for it right away, and that's okay. Part of what we'll figure out together in our first conversation is whether now is the right time. I look forward to having that conversation with you.
The Power of Avoidance: What is the function?
Avoidance tells us a lot along the way:
Once we begin, when you notice the urge to avoid, to cancel, to reassure yourself one more time, to put it off - that's not a sign to stop. It's often the clearest sign of exactly where the work is. We'll learn to treat avoidance as information: a cue pointing us toward what matters most to address next.
What this asks of you:
This work is active, not passive. Meaningful progress depends on your engagement both in session and in the values-based practices and exposures we build for homework between sessions. This means:
Showing up consistently, even when it's tempting to cancel, since the urge to pull away is often a sign we're close to something important
Bringing honesty and vulnerability to what you’re really experiencing
A willingness to experiment by trying new approaches and stepping outside familiar patterns, especially when it's uncomfortable
Staying engaged with the work between sessions, since real change happens outside of sessions