Anxiety
Anxiety is basically your brain’s alarm system. It’s designed to protect you from danger, but sometimes it gets a little too enthusiastic and goes off when there’s no real threat. Our nervous system is constantly taking in information through our senses and deciding if it is signalling safety or threat. This concept is called neuroception. Whether it’s an email showing up in your inbox, a siren going off outside, the look on someone’s face, or even your own thought, this information can be interpreted as dangerous, potentially triggering us towards fight or flight, or even shutting down.
Anxiety can show up in a variety of ways, including:
rumination- overthinking, going over past or potential future events, worrying about what if or worst-case scenarios;
body sensations- a tight or heavy sensation most often noticed in your chest, throat or gut. This could also include sweating, nausea, dizzyiness or feeling shaky;
emotions such as fear, dread, anger or irritability;
behaviours like avoidance and procrastination or reassurance seeking
Sometimes anxiety shows up in response to challenging situations, stressful jobs, burnout, life changes, relationship problems, financial strain, or concerns over health. Sometimes, anxiety just seems to show up out of nowhere.
It is important to remember that you are not alone. Anxiety is extremely common, and at its core, is your body doing what it evolved to do in order to protect you and keep you safe, but anxiety can become very unhelpful and create a lot of distress.
You can do something to feel better! Treating anxiety is not a one-size fits all task. By understanding your unique experience, we can work together to create a plan to understand your anxiety, and learn better skills to cope and calm your nervous system.
Erin takes an integrative approach with her clients, drawing from therapies and theories including Polyvagal theory, mindfulness, AIP (adaptive information processing model), EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) ACT (acceptance and Commitment therapy), Somatic therapy and CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy).
Frequently Asked Questions: Anxiety
What types of therapy help anxiety?
There are many effective approaches to treating anxiety including mindfulness, ACT, somatic therapy, polyvagal theory, psychoeducation and EMDR. In many cases, these approaches can also be used together.
How long does therapy take?
Therapy for anxiety varies depending on severity and goals. Many people notice improvement within a few weeks or months. For deeper or long-standing anxiety, therapy may take longer. The pace is tailored to you, and we’ll regularly review progress and adjust as needed.
What happens in the first session?
In the first session, we’ll focus on understanding what’s bringing you to therapy and how anxiety shows up in your life. You’ll be invited to share your history, symptoms, and goals, and we’ll discuss what you’d like to change.
We’ll also review how therapy works, answer any questions you have, and create a plan for treatment. The first session is mainly about building safety, trust, and clarity—there’s no pressure to dive into difficult topics right away.
Will I have homework between sessions?
Generally, you won’t be given formal homework. However, many people find it helpful to practice the skills and resources we explore in session between appointments. This might include short mindfulness exercises, breathing tools, or using a new way of thinking in everyday situations. Anything you do between sessions is meant to feel manageable and supportive—not overwhelming.
How do I know if I need therapy for anxiety?
If anxiety is affecting your daily life, relationships, sleep, or ability to do the things you want, therapy can help. Common signs that therapy may be beneficial include:
You feel on edge or worried most days
Anxiety is getting in the way of work, school, or social life
You avoid situations because of fear or worry
You experience panic attacks or physical symptoms (racing heart, nausea, shortness of breath)
You feel stuck in patterns of worry or overthinking
If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth exploring therapy. You don’t need to be “in crisis” to get support—therapy can help you build lasting tools and confidence.
Can therapy help panic attacks, social anxiety
Yes. Therapy can be very effective for both panic attacks and social anxiety.
For panic, we focus on understanding what triggers the attacks, learning tools to manage symptoms, and reducing avoidance.
For social anxiety, therapy helps you build confidence, challenge self-critical thoughts, and gradually approach feared situations in a supportive way. Many people see significant improvement with consistent therapy and practice.