What to Talk About in Therapy for Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults. If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from anxiety, don't worry-you're not alone. And more importantly, there is help. One of the most effective forms of treatment for anxiety is exposure therapy. This means that your therapist will have a specific plan to help you face the things that trigger your anxiety. But what do you talk about in therapy for anxiety? The good news is you don't have to have that all figured out when you first reach out to a therapist. In fact, your therapist will help guide the discussion.
What to Expect in Your First Few Anxiety Therapy Sessions
The first few counseling sessions you have will be focused on getting to know your therapist. You may even talk about some things that seem unrelated to the anxiety symptoms bringing you in. However, this information is important for your therapist to know in order to provide the best possible care. You can expect your therapist to ask about your medical history, family history, work and school situation, and social life. Your therapist will also want to know about your symptoms-when they started, how often they occur, how long they last, and how severe they are. You'll talk about your anxiety triggers, what's helped in the past, and what you've tried that hasn't helped.
Then....it's time to start treating your anxiety. And the good news? Your therapist has a plan.
You Don't Need to Have a Plan for Your Anxiety Counseling Session Each Week
If you're like most people, you might be wondering what to talk about in therapy for anxiety. The truth is, you don't have to have a plan. Your therapist will help guide the discussion. However, it is important to be honest and open with your therapist. The more open and honest you are, the more helpful therapy will be.
How does therapy for anxiety work?
The focus of therapy for anxiety will be on your anxiety. In general, I highly recommend working with a therapist who specializes in treating anxiety and is using evidence based counseling methods. In most cases, this will mean they're using some form of exposure therapy. However, your therapist may also use some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). All of these have been shown in research to be really effective in treating anxiety.
So what does this mean for you? It means that your therapist will have a specific plan to help you systematically face the things triggering your anxiety. This is done in a very controlled and safe manner so that you can better cope with it and help reduce your overall anxiety symptoms.
In general, anxiety therapy works to treat your anxiety by helping you systematically and carefully face your anxiety. You'll lean in and examine your anxiety with the support of therapist. Then, your relationship with that anxiety overall will change, your thoughts about your anxiety triggers will shift and your overall anxiety will decrease.
However, it's important to know that even if your therapist is well trained in EMDR for instance, they will ultimately individualize your plan for therapy to meet your unique needs and preferences.
So, what will we talk about in therapy sessions for anxiety each week?
That's up to you and your therapist. But know that they'll have a general plan for what to cover each week that will bring you closer and closer to feeling more in control of your own life.
You may experience some discomfort in sessions, because you've probably been avoiding the things that make you anxious for awhile now. But know that your therapist will be there to support you every step of the way. And, as you face your fears and work through them with your therapist, you'll find that your anxiety starts to decrease.
What if I want to talk about something that happened this week in therapy?
Go for it! You absolutely can! If you have a big event that week that's causing you anxiety and you want to talk about it-you can. Your therapist will likely want to talk about it too. And it likely ties into the work you are doing. So, when you first come into the session let your therapist know that you have something specific that happened this week you want to discuss.
What to Talk About in Therapy for Anxiety: The Bottom Line
If you're struggling with anxiety, know that you are not alone. And there is help available. Exposure therapy is an effective form of treatment for anxiety and your therapist will have a specific plan to help you face your anxiety triggers. You don't need to have a plan for your anxiety counseling sessions-your therapist will help guide the discussion. The most important thing is to be open and honest with your therapist. If you do that, therapy can be a very effective way to reduce your anxiety symptoms.
Is Therapy for Anxiety Effective?
Absolutely. Therapy is a proven anxiety treatment. It may or may not be combined with medication management as many people benefit from both counseling and medicine. However, it's also common for people to find significant relief from their anxiety from therapy alone or be able to reduce or go off anxiety medicine after participating in therapy.
Anxiety therapy is an investment in your future. It's a way to learn skills to manage anxiety that will last a lifetime. And it's a way to get relief from anxiety symptoms that may be interfering with your quality of life. If you're struggling with anxiety, know that there is help available. Don't hesitate to reach out for support.
Begin Anxiety Treatment in Missouri
If you're struggling with anxiety and are looking for relief, we can help. The anxiety therapists at our Columbia, MO therapy practice use evidence-based exposure therapy to treat anxiety. We also have therapists trained in CBT and EMDR. This means that we have a specific plan to help you systematically and carefully face your anxiety. You'll learn skills in therapy to better cope with anxiety triggers and manage your overall anxiety. Our therapists can meet with you at our Columbia, MO counseling office or online from anywhere in Missouri.
To get started with anxiety treatment:
1) Contact us today and talk to our client care coordinator and get matched with one of our therapists.
2) Meet for a free initial consultation to see if your therapist is a match
3) Start anxiety treatment and begin feeling better!
Anxiety Doesn't Happen in a Bubble: Other Mental Health Services
As therapists, we understand that anxiety doesn't happen in a bubble. Often, people are struggling with other concerns as well. We're able to offer support for a wide range of mental health concerns. In addition to anxiety counseling, we also offer other services such as:
-Eating disorder counseling
-And more!
What's holding you back? Reach out today & start feeling better!
About the Author
My name is Jessica Tappana. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in anxiety treatment. I've been effectively treating anxiety through individual therapy for years. In fact, it's one of my favorite things to treat. Why? Because I understand counseling can WORK to reduce anxiety if I use the right techniques and you come in willing to do the work. I'm trained in all of the techniques mentioned above (exposure, EMDR & CBT). Additionally, as the owner of Aspire Counseling I make sure that the clinicians I add to our practice are also offering the highest level of evidence based anxiety treatment by asking about their experience with research based methods in the interview process and helping them secure additional training after they begin.
