What Is Psychotherapy for Anxiety?
- Learn how you are anxious
- Gain new coping mechanisms for worries
- Modify negative thinking patterns
- To practice overcoming your fears in a secure environment
- To develop skills at coping with stress
Types of Psychotherapy for Anxiety
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety
- Recognize self-defeating thoughts
- Reject unrealistic worries
- Alter habits that feed anxiety
- Learn good coping skills
2. Exposure Therapy for Anxiety
- Begin with less intimidating situations
- Work gradually towards larger fears
- Discover feared situations are less frightening than you expected
- Feel secure about managing anxiety
3. Psychodynamic Therapy for Anxiety
- To recognize what is causing your anxiety
- To look at unconscious patterns
- To work out unfinished feelings
- To become aware of yourself
4. Mindfulness Therapy for Anxiety
- Meditation and breathing practices
- Learning to observe thoughts without judgment
- Learning to be here and now
- Less worry about the future
5. Group Therapy for Anxiety
- Reassurance by others who know
- Opportunities to learn social skills
- Learning from other people's experiences
- No longer being so alone with your anxiety
Techniques Used in Psychotherapy
Cognitive Techniques
- Challenge and reframe thinking
- Identify thinking traps
- Reality test of negative thoughts
- Develop balanced thinking habits
Behavioral Techniques
- Gradual exposure to fear
- Relaxation training
- Breathing skills
- Activity pacing and scheduling
Mindfulness Techniques
- Meditation and mindful breathing
- Body awareness exercises
- Present-moment focus
- Acceptance of fearful feelings
Communication Techniques
- Assertiveness training
- Social skills training
- Conflict resolution
- Healthy boundary setting
Benefits of Psychotherapy for Anxiety
Instant Benefits
- Hearing and being heard
- Learning coping skills on time
- Decreasing panic attacks
- Availing assistance when needed most
Long-term Gains
- Increased emotional regulation: Learning to handle anxiety feelings
- Enhanced relationships: Anxiety influences how we handle other individuals
- Increased confidence: Being more confident to face what life throws at you
- Improved bodily health and sleep: Enhanced anxiety often results in improved physical health
- Personal growth: Discovering yourself and growing as a person
Practical Advantages
- Acquiring skills you can use for the rest of your life
- No side effects such as with some medication
- Treating the cause and not symptoms
- Increased overall quality of life
Effectiveness of Psychotherapy
- 70-80% of individuals have been found to exhibit improvement
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety is just as beneficial as medication for most individuals
- Recovery from therapy holds on long after therapy has ended
- When therapy is used along with other treatments, it can be more effective
- 6-12 weeks: For mild to moderate anxiety
- 3-6 months: For severe anxiety disorders
- 6 months to 1 year: For complex anxiety with other problems
Effectiveness depends on:
- Anxiety's severity and type
- Your participation in the process
- Therapeutic relationship quality
- Regularity of attendance
Who Can Benefit from Psychotherapy for Anxiety?
Specific Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Specific Phobias
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Various Life Stages
- Children and teenagers
- College students
- Working adults
- Parents and caregivers
- Older people
Various Situations
- Those who prefer psychotherapy for anxiety over medication
- Those who prefer to know more about anxiety
- Those who prefer to get relief that lasts longer
- Those whose symptoms of anxiety are mild or severe
Tips for Choosing the Right Psychotherapy
Look at Various Approaches
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety for daily, skills-oriented help
- Psychodynamic therapy for anxiety for enhanced self-understanding
- Mindfulness therapy for anxiety for present-moment awareness
- Group therapy for anxiety for others' support
Practical Considerations
- Online therapy for anxiety or traditional office sessions
- Therapist's experience with your type of anxiety
- Insurance coverage and expense
- Ease of scheduling and location
Questions to Ask Potential Therapists
- What methods of psychotherapy for anxiety do you employ?
- Experience with anxiety disorders for how many years?
- What are your standard therapy techniques for anxiety?
Red Flags to Avoid
- Quick fix therapists
- Those with a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy
- Those practitioners you can tell don't have anxiety experience
- Anyone who makes you uncomfortable or puts you down
Conclusion