If you're here, you probably already know something needs to change.
Anxiety can feel like a constant hum in the background of your life, or it can hit you all at once: racing thoughts, tightness in your chest, the sense that something bad is about to happen even when nothing is wrong. Either way, it's exhausting.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy, and it's one of the most treatable.
How I Work with Anxiety
I don't believe in simply managing symptoms. I want to help you understand where your anxiety comes from and build your body's capacity to regulate itself. This is where somatic psychology is especially powerful. Anxiety lives in the body as much as the mind: the tight shoulders, the shallow breathing, the knot in your stomach. By learning to notice and work with these signals, you develop tools that go deeper than coping strategies.
Mindfulness-based practices help you build the ability to stay present instead of spiraling into "what if" thinking. Over time, you learn to observe anxious thoughts without being hijacked by them.
If your anxiety is rooted in past experiences, such as a difficult childhood, a traumatic event, or chronic stress, EMDR can help reprocess those memories so they stop fueling your present-day anxiety.
What You Can Expect
Many people notice a shift within the first few sessions. That doesn't mean the anxiety is gone, but you start developing a different relationship with it. You feel less controlled by it. Over time, the goal is to build a deep, embodied sense of safety that you carry with you.
Sessions are 50 minutes, and I typically recommend starting with weekly sessions. We'll talk about what makes sense for you during the free consultation.
Why This Approach
Most therapists can talk to you about anxiety. What I do is different. I work with your body, not just your mind. Anxiety doesn’t only live in your thoughts. It lives in your chest, your jaw, your stomach. Somatic psychology, EMDR, and mindfulness aren’t interchangeable tools I rotate through. Each one is chosen for where your anxiety comes from and how it shows up in your body and your life.
Approaches I Use for Anxiety
Somatic Psychology
Anxiety lives in the body as much as the mind. You might notice it as tightness in your chest, shallow breathing, or a low hum of tension you can’t seem to shake. Somatic work helps you develop a direct relationship with these signals, so you can begin to release what your body has been holding rather than just managing symptoms.
Mindfulness Practices
Anxious minds tend to spiral into what-if thinking, rehearsing disasters that haven’t happened yet. Mindfulness builds your capacity to notice those thoughts without being carried away by them. Over time, you develop the ability to stay present even when anxiety tries to pull you somewhere else.
EMDR
When anxiety is rooted in past experiences, talking about it often isn’t enough. EMDR helps your brain reprocess memories that are still generating fear responses in the present. The result is that old experiences lose their charge, and your nervous system can finally settle.
Questions About Anxiety Therapy
How do I know if my anxiety needs therapy?
If anxiety is interfering with your daily life, relationships, sleep, or work, therapy can help. You don't need to wait until it feels unmanageable. Many people seek therapy when they notice anxiety is limiting them, even if they're still functioning.
What therapy approaches work best for anxiety?
Somatic psychology helps you notice and release anxiety held in the body. Mindfulness-based approaches build your ability to stay present rather than spiraling into worry. EMDR can help if your anxiety is rooted in past traumatic experiences. These approaches are often combined based on your needs.
How long does anxiety therapy take?
Many people notice a shift within the first few sessions as they learn new tools for self-regulation. Deeper work on the root causes of anxiety typically takes 3-6 months of weekly sessions, though some people benefit from longer-term support.
Does therapy really help with anxiety?
Yes. Research consistently shows that therapy is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. Somatic approaches, mindfulness, and EMDR all have strong evidence behind them. Many people notice meaningful shifts within the first few months of weekly sessions. The key is finding an approach that fits your specific kind of anxiety and a therapist you feel comfortable with.
How to Get Started
Getting started is simple. Here’s how the process works.
Schedule a Free Call
Book a free 15-minute phone consultation. We’ll talk about what you’re experiencing and whether working together feels right. No obligation.
First Session
We’ll explore your history, what you’re hoping to get from therapy, and what’s worked or hasn’t worked before. You set the pace.
Ongoing Work
Sessions are weekly to start. Over time, you build new ways of relating to anxiety. Not just managing it, but genuinely feeling less controlled by it.
What Clients Say
Aaron changed my life. He always had a way of calming me down. A master at breaking things down, he is truly the best of the best.
Peter F. · Portland, OR
Within 90 seconds of meeting Aaron, I knew there was an impalpable connection. He has this incredible way of making me answer my own questions. He really custom tailors each session in a natural way.
Kylie R. · Portland, OR