BASED IN SEATTLE AND SERVING ALL OF WASHINGTON & MASSACHUSETTS
Therapy for Stress & Anxiety
Move through life with more centeredness, control, and confidence
Life is stressful.
These days there seems to be no end to the countless stressors and strains of simply trying to get through the day. No matter how hard you work, your list of responsibilities and things to worry about never seems to get shorter. Whether you’re overthinking a decision, worried about something that happened, anxious about the future, having trouble navigating a big life change, finding yourself stressed out about something seemingly insignificant or even for no clear reason - Your mind is on overdrive.
Sometimes it can feel like you’re on autopilot, and have no control at all, and no matter what you try, it seems like you can’t catch a break. There always seems to be something to think about, and no amount of effort or accomplishment seems to be ever be enough. And when you do have some free time, maybe even when you're doing something you enjoy, it can feel impossible to truly relax, and instead you feel restless, distracted, and preoccupied.
Stress and anxiety can impact every aspect of our lives. At work, you may be having trouble focusing, getting things done, or feeling motivated. Your relationships may be suffering, where you find yourself with less patience, in constant conflict, or feeling disconnected and isolated. Physically, you’re likely exhausted - maybe you’re having trouble with sleep, eating poorly, experiencing body tension, aches and pains, or unable to do the things that usually might help you cope and recharge. However stress and anxiety is showing up for you, it inevitably leaves you depleted at the end of the day, unmotivated and unfulfilled, and dreading tomorrow.
Stress and anxiety don't have to consume your life.
Whether you’re facing extreme stress or persistent anxiety, it can be hard to imagine life being any different. You might even worry if you’ll be able to get things done without the pressure of stress and anxiety coming down on you. In fact, by addressing your stress or anxiety, not only will day to day tasks feel more manageable, but you will find yourself even more productive, motivated, and able to focus on the things that matter most to you. Just as there is a snowball effect with stress and anxiety, moving away and gaining relief from these ways of being will permeate throughout all areas in your life - better sleep, healthier habits, enhanced productivity at work, clearer decision-making, deeper connections in relationships, more joy and fulfillment. In general you’ll begin move through the world with more lightness, confidence, and resilience.
MY APPROACH TO THERAPY FOR STRESS & ANXIETY
You’ve likely already tried many ways to try to get things under control, and while some may have even worked, the effects might have been short-lived or unsustainable. We will address your stress and anxiety holistically, that is, cognitively, emotionally, and somatically. We will look at how stress and anxiety are impacting you today, and explore effective coping strategies, as well as dive deeply into the history of how these pressures have developed and changed over time. We will consider and examine the many contexts in which you experience the world - your work, cultural, societal, familial, and historical environments - and the impacts of each of these. By working concretely and tangibly with stress and anxiety, as well as addressing their root causes, you will experience not only immediate relief, but longer lasting change.
Mindfulness, Meditation & Self-Compassion
In addition to examining cognitions, increasing emotional awareness, and connecting with the body, practicing mindfulness has been shown to be very effective in easing stress and anxiety, as well as in supporting insight, self-discovery and wellbeing in general. I know this personally. As a Buddhist, cultivating mindfulness and self-compassion through formal and informal meditation are integral to my day to day life, and these are practices that I hold dear and am continuously learning from. In therapy, if interested, there are a several ways to integrate these practices to support our work and your goals. Follow the link below to learn more.
Therapy for stress and anxiety can help you:
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Identify, understand, and break free from negative beliefs and unhelpful thinking patterns
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Make decisions with more clarity and energy, and feel more in control of your thoughts, emotions, and actions
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Improve sleep quality and daily habits, and establish routines that are more aligned with your values
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Experience your relationships with more patience, attentiveness, and presence
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Relieve body tensions, aches, pains, and fatigue, and feel more connected with yourself
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Navigate the world with more ease and confidence, and experience more joy and relaxation in your day to day
Some of my areas of expertise are:
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Working with:
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Students and professionals in tech, healthcare, and education
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Fellow healers, therapists, and helping professionals, and those identifying as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
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Asian Americans, immigrants, children of immigrants and refugees, and other racialized groups (learn more >)
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Moving away from perfectionism, striving, overthinking, excessive social comparisons, and burnout
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Helping navigate critical and challenging life transitions (changes in school, career, relationships, location)
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Confronting existential anxiety and questions, eco-anxiety, and finding purpose and meaning
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Exploring values and identifying needs, and establishing boundaries that feel aligned with oneself
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Finding greater daily balance, less strain at performing tasks, and more ease when relaxing and resting
My counseling career and work experience is varied and diverse, spanning many settings and industries. As a therapist, I have worked in an addiction rehabilitation center, high school, university counseling center, and a major hospital, and thus I have an intimate understanding of the often impossible demands and fatigue associated in those settings. In addition to my experience as a therapist, I have also worked as a software engineer. I have a unique perspective on and interest in the particular pressures and expectations that arise with working in tech, the risks of burnout, and the impacts of technology to our everyday lives.
Move away from stress and anxiety, beyond just coping, and towards more clarity, confidence, and calm.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if I have anxiety? What's the difference between stress and anxiety?
There is a fine line between stress and anxiety. They both can lead to very similar symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating, trouble with sleep, fatigue, irritability, and body tensions, as well as similar life consequences - disruptions in work, relationships, and general wellbeing. Stress is typically caused by a clear external trigger (e.g., work deadline, fight with a friend, illness, discrimination), whereas anxiety is defined by persistent and excessive worries that don't go away even in the absence of a stressor. Ultimately, it doesn't really matter what we call it. If it is interfering, inhibiting, and limiting your life, that is what is important, and deserving of attention and care.
How long will I need to be in therapy for? How often will we meet?
Therapy is an entirely unique experience, and how long you're in therapy depends on a multitude of factors - your current life circumstance, goals, your schedule. Ultimately we'll meet at a cadence (weekly, biweekly, monthly) and for a duration (weeks, months, years) that makes the most sense for you and your needs right now and as they, inevitably, change.
How do I get started?
Follow the link below to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. This is an informal, casual conversation, where I'll ask you to share a bit about what brings you to therapy right now, and you'll ask me any questions that you have that are important for you to know.
What is the first session like? How should I prepare?
The only preparation needed for the first session, and all sessions, is to try as much as possible to find a private and comfortable space for yourself where you will be undisturbed. The first session will be pretty representative of what therapy looks like with me. Unlike some other therapists, I do not do a formal intake where I ask you many questions about your history and background, and instead we will start in the present moment with what is most relevant and salient for you right now. Inevitably the most critical and important details will naturally emerge, and over the first few sessions, we will get a sense of how it is to work together, refine your goals and desires for therapy, and ensure that we are on a path that feels supportive and effective to you.