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1 therapist available in Williamsburg
My approach to all people is one of curiosity rather than judgment; as a clinician, I aim to listen and respond with objectivity a...
About
My approach to all people is one of curiosity rather than judgment; as a clinician, I aim to listen and respond with objectivity and directness as well as with compassion and understanding.
Lauren Darling is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 8 years of experience in the mental health field. She has worked closely with couples, families, and individuals of all ages. Among adult populations, Lauren primarily works with women and LGBTQ+ individuals. She has worked with a wide variety of diagnoses and challenges including trauma, eating disorders, parenting, psychosis and dissociative disorders, addiction, self-harm, suicidal ideation, gender dysphoria, LGBTQ+ issues, personality and mood disorders, anxiety, and depression, with particular attention to complex childhood trauma including sexual abuse.
Lauren earned a Master's in Social Work at Fordham University. She gravitates most heavily towards cognitive- and acceptance-based therapeutic approaches and understands the value of a strong and trusting therapeutic relationship. Lauren aims to create a safe environment for clients to share openly by listening with curiosity and empathy.
Lauren is a strong believer that the most lasting and impactful change often comes from exploring the negative or unhealthy tendencies in our lives. As your therapist, she helps you identify and uproot your untrue beliefs. Lauren works best with people who, despite the discomfort, are willing to be vulnerable and hear honest feedback in order to grow.
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My go-to approach for helping people in therapy starts with getting to know you as a person and not just a client. I want to know about your life: What’s working, and what could be better? What are your hopes and dreams? What are your strengths? What are you passionate about, what brings you joy, and how can we build more of that for you? I use an integrative approach that explores how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors overlap and works to coax change in all of these areas to bring a better sense of life balance. Everything you share with me will help me provide support and work toward solutions!
I often use a combination of the following tools in anxiety therapy: mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), guided imagery, deep breathing, sleep hygiene, ways to challenge automatic negative thoughts, and many others.
I know a client is making meaningful progress in therapy when they start to recognize they are coping better or feeling less distressed.
Clients can supplement their time in therapy by staying mindful of their therapy and life goals. Sometimes our therapy sessions will have homework such as tracking patterns and trying new skills, and the more invested clients can be in the therapy process, the better their outcomes are likely to be.
To prepare for your first therapy session, you can find a quiet, safe, comfortable space from which to join your telehealth session. The goal of the intake session is to collect information to inform future therapy services, so please be prepared to answer a lot of questions about your current concerns, mental and physical health, personal and family history, etc. I will ask you to tell me about what you are struggling with, but I also want to know the unique strengths and skills you already have! We will also begin to set goals to guide our work together. It's not unusual to feel a little nervous before the first appointment, and I will do my best to help you feel at ease. It is so important to find a therapist who is a good fit for you, and I welcome your feedback in that regard. I'm also happy to answer any questions you may have!
Anxiety therapy helps people better understand and manage their anxiety. Anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Williamsburg, VA can develop a treatment plan that will help you better manage your day-to-day anxiety or your anxiety disorder.
Anxiety therapy involves talking to a therapist about symptoms, potential causes, and more. Thriveworks Williamsburg therapists will then work with you to determine where your anxiety might stem from and teach you effective coping mechanisms.
One of the best ways to deal with anxiety is to learn about your own anxiety: your symptoms, what triggers it, and what coping mechanisms have been effective in the past. When you learn what your anxiety is tied to, it can help you be mindful of what’s really happening as well as prevent and mitigate symptoms by processing and working through the issue in therapy. Other strategies that have been shown to help manage anxiety are meditation, challenging anxious thoughts, exercising, and journaling.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be incredibly effective in treating anxiety and anxiety disorders. Other effective techniques include exposure therapy, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and EMDR therapy.
Anxiety therapy is conducted both in person and online, depending on the individual’s preferences and their therapist’s availability. We suggest choosing the option that best suits your needs.
On average, people can tend to attend 15 to 20 session of anxiety therapy (five or more months). However, this number is heavily dependent on the type of anxiety that’s being treated and its severity, with many choosing to attend anxiety therapy for a longer period of time to ensure its effectiveness long-term.
Yes, it is worth going to therapy for anxiety. If you are struggling with regular anxious thoughts and feelings that are affecting your day-to-day life or you suspect that you have an anxiety disorder, you should seek expert anxiety help.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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