If you’ve been living with anxiety for a while, you might know that it doesn’t always look the same. Some days it’s a racing mind that won’t quiet down. Other days it’s tension in your chest, irritability, or the feeling that you just can’t relax—no matter how hard you try. You might have tried deep breathing, mindfulness apps, or even short-term therapy, only to find the anxiety creeping back when life gets stressful again. Sound familiar?
I know — it can be exhausting. Many people in my Hamilton and surrounding community — including Burlington and Niagara — come to therapy feeling frustrated that their anxiety never fully goes away. Many have worked so hard to manage symptoms but still feel stuck in old patterns that resurface when they least expect it.
Short-Term Anxiety Therapy: Managing the Moment
Short-term anxiety therapy often focuses on building coping tools to get through immediate distress. This can be very effective for helping people stabilize and feel a greater sense of control.
For example, approaches like mindfulness-based CBT can help you recognize anxious thoughts and calm the nervous system through breathing or grounding exercises. Clients often notice they can handle triggers more effectively and recover faster from stressful moments.
But short-term approaches can sometimes focus mostly on “management.” If anxiety returns again and again, it may be a sign that deeper emotional patterns – like perfectionism, shame, or early attachment wounds—haven’t been fully explored or healed.
Long-Term Therapy: Getting to the Roots of Anxiety
Longer-term therapy doesn’t just help you manage anxiety—it helps you understand and transform it. This process often involves exploring the core beliefs and protective parts that drive anxious responses.
For instance, someone’s anxiety might be tied to an inner voice that says, “I can’t make mistakes” or “I have to keep everyone happy.” These beliefs often formed in childhood, where being “good” or “responsible” helped keep them safe or connected. Over time, that once-helpful survival strategy becomes rigid and exhausting.
Through parts work (like IFS), self-compassion practices, and approaches like EMDR or somatic awareness, therapy can help you meet those younger, wounded parts of yourself with understanding rather than criticism. This can lead to shifts that feel more permanent—not just symptom relief, but a deep sense of inner safety.
Integrating the Practical and the Profound
Therapy with me often combines top-down (cognitive and mindfulness-based) and bottom-up (body and emotion-based, attachment based) approaches. You might learn practical tools for calming your body when anxiety spikes, while also slowly uncovering the emotional roots beneath it.
Think of it as a process of finally learning to listen to yourself. It’s about integrating coping skills with deeper emotional work — so that anxiety no longer has to shout to be heard.
In-Person and Online Therapy in Southern Ontario
If you’re located in Hamilton, Burlington, Niagara, or other parts of Southern Ontario, I offer both in-person sessions and secure online therapy. Many people appreciate the flexibility to choose what fits best for their comfort and schedule.
Therapy is a space where you don’t have to keep pushing through alone. Whether you’re looking for short-term support to get through a difficult period, or you’re ready to do the deeper work of long-term healing, we can explore what feels right for you.
If you’re ready to take the next step
If anxiety has been holding you back, therapy can help you build the emotional safety and skills you need to move forward. Get in touch here through my website for a free 15 minutes consultation. I offer in person and online therapy for anxiety.
This post is for general information only and is not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. If you’re struggling, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional in your area.
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