What is anxiety?
First, I will say at some point in a lifetime everyone experiences some level of anxiety. Second, let us discuss the symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Do you have any of the following? Excessive worry that is experiences most days of the week? Are you having difficulty controlling the worry? Are you feeling any of the following symptoms? Feeling restless, fatigued, or having difficulty concentrating? Are you irritable and experiencing muscle tension? And what about your sleep? Is it difficult to fall or stay asleep? If you are experience some or all of these symptoms, you should reach out to a counselor in your area for assessment and support?
Are there types of Anxiety?
Yes. There are varying types of anxiety with specific criteria. Some examples of types of anxiety are 1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 2. Social Anxiety Disorder, 3. Separation Anxiety Disorder, 4. Selective Mutism 5. Specific Phobia including fears of animals including dogs, cats, spiders, and other insects; fears of the environment including heights, storms, or water; fears of needles or medical procedures; fears of airplanes or flying or closed places; or fears of costumed characters including the fear of clowns or fears of loud noises. 6. Panic Disorder, and 7. Agoraphobia.
How can I find a counselor in my area if I think I might be experiencing Anxiety?
One way is to do a google search. You might include search terms like “anxiety disorder treatment near me,” “anxiety disorder treatment,” or “anxiety treatment.” Another way is to ask your medical professional for a referral. For example, someone in the area where my office is located might search on “anxiety treatment in Montgomery, Texas,” “anxiety treatment in Texas,” “anxiety treatment with EMDR,” “anxiety treatment with neurofeedback,” “anxiety treatment with IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback” or “virtual anxiety treatment in Texas,” “anxiety treatment in South Carolina” and “anxiety treatment in Florida.”
What can I expect when going to a counselor for anxiety treatment?
That depends. Some counselors meet in person and some counselors only hold sessions via telehealth. For me at Authentic Brain Solutions in Montgomery, Texas, I hold sessions via telehealth, or virtually, and in person at my physical location at 15260 Highway 105 W, Suite 260D, Montgomery, Texas 77356. In general, you will complete a series of intake documents so the counselor can better understand what is going on with you. The first session will be focused on hearing about your anxiety symptom history, any anxiety treatment history with the counselor, the counselor will listen and ask questions to better know you and your concerns.
The counselor will then prepare a treatment plan and review it with you at the next sessions. Treatments can include cognitive behavioral therapy, neurofeedback, EDMR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), or other evidenced based treatment options. At Authentic Brain Solutions in Montgomery, Texas we offer EMDR and IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback as the primary treatment options. In addition, we offer CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness interventions, and psychoeducation on coping strategies among other options to ensure a custom treatment plan to help you manage your anxiety symptoms.
The sessions can be weekly, biweekly, or monthly depending on your needs. Some counselors offer sessions that last 45 minutes and some offer sessions that last 60 minutes depending on your needs. You will discuss your concerns with the counselor and they will offer you a custom treatment options with a rhythm that supports your goals. The number of sessions will be determined by you and your counselor.
Overall, the research supports the benefits of engaging in therapy to improve symptoms of anxiety. There are times a combination of therapy and medication are beneficial. The best course of action can vary depending on a person’s age, the severity of the impact of the symptoms and goals of the client.
Here at Authentic Brain Solutions, we provide non-medication options including IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and options based on principles of neuropsychotherapy recognizing the connection between the mind, body, the environment, and the person’s social connections and how this relationship influences the well-being of a person based on the concept of neuroplasticity – the brain can change. Reach out to learn more about neurofeedback or EMDR therapy and how they can help with anxiety.