Anxiety and depression treatment

I can help you identify tools to effectively manage anxiety symptoms and to explore the root causes of your emotional discomfort.  Learn powerful, evidence-based coping strategies to improve your mood, sense of well-being, and overall quality of life. I've worked extensively with patients who have agoraphobia, OCD, ADHD, and PTSD, as well as the following anxiety-based conditions:

Panic disorder is diagnosed in people who experience spontaneous panic attacks and are preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack. Panic attacks occur unexpectedly and can be highly debilitating. Sometimes these panic attacks lead to avoidance of an activity or environment which the sufferer has associated with a feeling of panic from their past. This avoidance could potentially lead to more severe and disabling disorders such as agoraphobia.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a disabling condition that until recently has been largely ignored. It has been estimated that 1 to 2 percent of the general population has BDD, which is nearly 5 million people in the United States alone. BDD is aptly described as the disease of imagined ugliness. Most of us pay attention to our appearance, but BDD sufferers worry excessively and unreasonably about some aspects of their appearance. They may be concerned that their nose is too big, cheeks misshapen, eyelids too puffy, breasts too small, etc. Any blemish, such as acne, freckles, or other perceived imperfection, becomes a focal point, constantly drawing their attention and thoughts. 

Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is diagnosed when people become overwhelmingly anxious and excessively self-conscious in everyday social situations. People with social phobia have intense, persistent, and chronic fear of being watched and fear of being judged by others, in addition to being fearful of doing things that will embarrass themselves. They may worry for days or weeks before a dreaded situation. This fear may become so severe that it interferes with work, school, and other ordinary activities and often leads to difficulty in making and/or keeping friends. 

Trichotillomania (TTM) or “trich” is characterized by the repeated urge to pull out scalp hair, eyelashes, facial hair, nose hair, pubic hair, eyebrows, or other body hair, sometimes resulting in noticeable bald patches. Trichotillomania often begins during an individual’s teenage years, and depression or stress can trigger or exacerbate this condition. Trichotillomania is a type of compulsive behavior, and people with this condition often feel an overwhelming urge to pull their hair. Those with trichotillomania may also have other compulsive habits, including nail biting or skin picking. People with trichotillomania often hide their behavior due to embarrassment and shame, resulting in depression and diminished self-esteem. Trichotillomania is a medical condition, but with appropriate treatment, it is a treatable condition.

To help work through your feelings of depression, I utilize a combination of Behavioral Activation and Motivational Interviewing techniques:

Motivational interviewing is a collaborative conversation style used to help you get unstuck and decrease uncertainty about changing by prompting you to think deeply about your personal values. 

Behavioral activation can then be used to break the cycle of stagnation or despair by working on a variety of exercises to increase your self-empathy, build on past strengths and successes, and develop consistent life-altering routines. These strategies are carefully designed to help you achieve mastery and confidence in taking concrete actions to improve your mood and sense of well-being.