Our therapists provide anxiety therapy in Colorado Springs, CO

Kayla: Honestly, it all depends on the severity of anxiety. My go-to approach for treating severe anxiety is through exposure-based approaches and mindfulness. Once individuals are more in tune with their bodies, they are able to separate their physical symptoms from their cognitive beliefs. I find the best benefit in these approaches because sometimes, progress can be dramatic with the appropriate safety measures and motivation in place.

Evan: My go-to approach for treating anxiety is grounded in mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and building a trusting therapeutic relationship. I prefer helping clients reconnect with their bodies and learn how to relate to their anxiety in a new way, rather than trying to help them get rid of it. As someone who has lived with anxiety and spent years studying its roots and treatment, including formal mindfulness training at Chiang Mai University in northern Thailand and time spent learning from indigenous healing traditions, I understand how overwhelming it can feel. These experiences have taught me that anxiety is not just a mental state, but something that lives in the body, in the breath, and in our relationship to the world around us. My goal is to help clients develop a sense of steadiness and self-trust so that anxiety no longer runs the show. We slow things down, build awareness, and create a path forward that feels realistic, embodied, and compassionate.

Kayla: I teach the following tools in anxiety therapy: focusing on the 5 senses, practicing challenging anxiety-producing thoughts (such as finding best-case scenarios), and progressive muscle relaxation.

Evan: I teach tools that help clients relate differently to their anxiety, rather than trying to eliminate it. This includes breathwork and nervous system regulation to calm the body during heightened states, and mindfulness and grounding practices that encourage presence and reconnection. We explore cognitive reframing to shift anxious thought patterns and create space for new perspectives. I incorporate values-based goal-setting to help clients take meaningful action even in the presence of fear. Self-compassion is a central part of the process, especially for those whose anxiety is wrapped in shame or self-judgment. I also emphasize the importance of lifestyle support, including movement, nutrition, rest, time in nature, and moments of connection or creative expression, as these simple practices often hold powerful potential for long-term emotional balance.

Kayla: I know a client is making meaningful progress in anxiety therapy when they are able to come back the following session with their own personal successes outside of the therapy room. Sometimes that looks like just going to the grocery store by themself or eating at a restaurant alone and feeling okay about themself.

Evan: I know a client is making meaningful progress in anxiety therapy when they begin responding to their anxiety with less fear and more curiosity. It might show up as a deep breath instead of a shutdown, an act of courage in the face of discomfort, or a simple moment of saying, “I feel anxious, and that is okay.” These shifts often happen gradually and are rooted in a deepening sense of self-awareness and trust. Progress does not always mean that the anxiety disappears. It means the client no longer feels consumed or defined by it.

Kayla: Clients can supplement their time in anxiety therapy by doing their own research like reading about other's anxiety or watching a few short skits about anxiety like “Noise in Your Head” by Reid Wilson.

Evan: Clients can support their healing by integrating daily practices that restore balance to both mind and body. Gentle movement, mindfulness, time in nature, nourishing meals, and creativity can all help regulate the nervous system and reduce the intensity of anxious experiences. Pausing to breathe, check in with the body, or slow down before reacting are small but powerful choices. Community, ritual, and spiritual connection, especially when informed by cultural or ancestral traditions, can also provide a meaningful foundation for inner steadiness.

Kayla: To prepare for your first anxiety therapy session, you can write down all the things that might worry you in counseling and things that you look forward to in counseling.

Evan: To prepare for your first anxiety therapy session, there is no need to have it all figured out. You are welcome to come just as you are. It might help to reflect on what anxiety feels like for you, or what patterns you hope to better understand, but it is perfectly okay if you are unsure where to begin. Therapy is a collaborative process, and we will work through the pieces together. What matters most is showing up with openness and a willingness to explore your experience without judgment.