Does Therapy Help With Anxiety?

If you’re among the millions of Americans struggling with anxiety, you’re far from alone. Anxiety disorders, such as separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, are the most common mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting over 40 million adults each year. At this point, you’ve probably heard that therapy is an effective treatment for various mental health disorders, including anxiety. But you may still be wondering if therapy really does help with anxiety specifically.

The answer is a resounding yes, and this blog post will guide you through the benefits of therapy for an anxiety disorder, the types of therapies that have been proven to help treat anxiety, and some additional coping strategies for your anxiety symptoms. Knowing how therapy can help you is the first step in your journey toward a healthier, more peaceful life. 

Getting that professional help is the second step. On Klarity, you can hand-pick your own mental health therapist on our network who’s trained and experienced in anxiety therapy.

If you’re seeking relief from your anxiety symptoms, don’t wait any longer. Find a licensed therapist on Klarity today.

Benefits of Therapy For Anxiety Treatment

Therapy offers a structured setting where you can explore the roots of your anxiety and learn actionable strategies to manage it. Unlike medications, which may provide quick but temporary relief, therapy can treat anxiety disorders by equipping you with tools to face life’s challenges head-on. This long-term solution can result in a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms and an improvement in your overall quality of life.

Below are the top benefits of therapy as a form of anxiety treatment.

• Improved Coping Mechanisms: Therapy provides you with a set of skills to navigate anxiety stressors and challenges. Techniques like mindfulness, grounding exercises, and thought reframing can offer immediate relief during high-stress moments, ultimately giving you a sense of control over your anxiety.

• Increased Self-Awareness: Through various therapeutic techniques, you’ll start to uncover the underlying causes and triggers of your anxiety. Understanding the “why” behind your anxious thoughts enables you to develop preventative strategies and reduces the power these anxiety triggers hold over you.

• Enhanced Relationships: Anxiety can strain personal relationships by causing you to withdraw or by increasing conflict. Therapy helps you communicate more effectively, manage your expectations, and understand the needs of others, thereby enhancing the quality of both romantic and platonic relationships.

• Better Emotional Regulation: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other approaches can help you identify negative thought patterns that fuel your anxiety. By breaking this cycle, you can more effectively manage your emotional responses, reducing both the frequency and intensity of anxiety symptoms.

Types of Therapy That Treat Anxiety

When it comes to treating anxiety, individual needs vary widely, and multiple types of therapy options are available to address your unique mental health struggles. The variety of therapies allows for a more personalized treatment plan that can better target the specific aspects of anxiety affecting you. Understanding the different types of therapy can guide you in making an informed decision that aligns with your anxiety treatment goals.

Let’s explore some of the most common types of therapy that are effective in treating different types of anxiety, whether it be generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or another type:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the most widely recognized and researched approaches for treating anxiety, especially generalized anxiety disorder. CBT focuses on identifying and challenging distorted thought patterns and beliefs that fuel anxiety. Through a series of cognitive therapy sessions, you will learn to reframe your thoughts and engage in behaviors that help rather than exacerbate your anxiety.

CBT offers both immediate and long-term benefits. Not only will you gain practical coping skills for immediate relief, but you’ll also develop a more rational way of thinking that can help prevent future anxiety episodes.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is designed to help people confront their fears in a safe, controlled environment. By gradually exposing you to the object or situation that triggers your anxiety, this form of therapy aims to reduce fear and emotional distress over time.

With the guidance of your therapist, you’ll learn to desensitize yourself to triggers so they become less intimidating. This type of therapy is particularly effective for phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy stems from the belief that anxiety is the result of unconscious conflicts or repressed feelings. Therapy sessions focus on exploring past experiences, gaining insight into unconscious thoughts, and understanding how those thoughts influence behavior. Through introspection and analytical conversation, you’ll explore unresolved issues that may be manifesting in your body as anxiety.

Over time, you gain insight into your emotional complexities and learn to resolve them, which can lead to a decrease in anxious feelings. While psychodynamic therapy may require more time to see noticeable changes in your anxiety, the results can be transformative.

Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) takes a more focused approach, honing in on the interpersonal relationships and social roles that could be contributing to your anxiety. The premise is that anxiety can be alleviated by enhancing your communication and relational skills.

This therapy type helps you identify patterns in your relationships that may be worsening your condition. Through targeted discussions and behavioral exercises, IPT helps you navigate complex emotional landscapes, improving your relationships and reducing your overall level of anxiety. 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical-behavior therapy (DBT) is an extension of cognitive-behavioral therapy and employs similar principles but places a heavier focus on coping mechanisms like emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. It’s especially effective for managing emotional dysregulation, which often accompanies anxiety disorders. 

DBT can be particularly useful for people who have a hard time managing their emotional responses. It helps you become more aware of your triggers and teaches you coping mechanisms that are effective in the moment and sustainable in the long term.

Forms of Anxiety Therapy

In today’s digital age, therapy is more accessible than ever, offering both online and in-person options to suit different needs. Whether you’re more comfortable in a traditional office setting or prefer the convenience of connecting from your own home, both methods have their unique benefits and can be effective in treating anxiety.

The right choice often depends on your lifestyle, comfort level, and specific therapy goals. Luckily, with Klarity, you can choose a mental health therapist who aligns with your preferred location for a therapy session, either online or in person.

Online vs. In-Person

Online therapy has gained significant popularity in recent years, especially given its convenience and accessibility. You can connect with your therapist from the comfort of your home, which is particularly helpful for those who may be too anxious to travel. Therapy sessions can often be scheduled outside traditional office hours, offering flexibility that’s hard to beat.

On the other hand, in-person therapy offers a different set of advantages. The physical presence of a therapist can be comforting to some, providing a separate, dedicated space for healing. Additionally, therapists may be able to pick up on non-verbal cues more easily in a face-to-face setting. 

As you’re considering whether therapy helps with anxiety, it’s good to know that Klarity offers both online and in-person therapy options for anxiety. This allows you to choose the best format for your therapeutic journey, making it both flexible and accommodating to your needs.

Complementary Coping Strategies For Anxiety

While therapy is a cornerstone of effective anxiety treatment, incorporating complementary coping strategies can help you manage symptoms and improve your overall well-being. These approaches range from physical activities like exercise to mindfulness techniques such as meditation. 

Combined with professional guidance from a therapist, these strategies can offer a more holistic approach to managing your anxiety.

Exercise 3-5 Times a Week

Regular exercise is not just beneficial for your physical health, but it can also be a powerful tool for mental well-being. Activities like running, cycling, or even a simple 30-minute walk can release endorphins, which act as natural mood boosters.

Exercising 3-5 times a week can help reduce symptoms of anxiety by improving your body’s ability to cope with stress, thereby aiding your therapy journey.

Eat a Healthy Diet

What you eat can significantly impact how you feel. Consuming a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can positively influence your mental health. Foods like leafy greens, berries, and omega-3-rich fish can help mitigate symptoms of anxiety. 

By paying attention to your diet, you are creating a supportive environment for your body and mind, giving you an extra edge in your therapy sessions.

Try Meditation

Meditation practices, like mindfulness, have proven to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety. Taking a few minutes each day to center yourself can help you become aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment. 

Consistent meditation practice can improve your focus and reduce the “noise” often associated with anxiety, making it easier to apply the mental health coping strategies you learn in therapy.

Learn About Your Body With Biofeedback Therapy

Biofeedback therapy involves using electronic monitoring to collect information about physiological functions like heart rate and muscle tension. The idea is to gain more awareness and control over these functions to reduce anxiety and stress. 

While not a replacement for traditional therapy, biofeedback can offer valuable insights into how your body responds to stress, helping you and your therapist tailor your mental health treatment plan accordingly.

Combine CBT With Hypnosis

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)  is often considered the gold standard for treating anxiety disorders. However, some individuals find it beneficial to combine CBT with hypnosis to enhance its effectiveness. 

Hypnosis can help you enter a relaxed state where you’re more open to suggestions, making it easier to adopt the behavioral changes encouraged in CBT. This combination has shown promising results in treating various types of anxiety and could be an option worth discussing with your therapist.

Other Forms of Anxiety Treatment

In addition to therapy and complementary coping strategies, there are other avenues of treatment for anxiety that may be worth exploring. Medication is often used in conjunction with therapy for more immediate relief from anxiety symptoms. 

It’s important to note that mental health care providers on Klarity may prescribe medication if they determine it to be appropriate for your specific situation.

Medication

Medication is often used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for anxiety. Types of medications used may include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or beta-blockers, each with its own set of benefits and potential side effects. 

If your mental health care provider on Klarity thinks medication could be beneficial, they will work with you to incorporate a prescription medication into your treatment plan. Providers on Klarity can then send your prescription to a local pharmacy, where you can pick it up at your earliest convenience. 

Find a Provider For Anxiety Therapy on Klarity

Navigating the landscape of anxiety treatment can be overwhelming, but online platforms like Klarity can help make it much easier to access anxiety therapy. Licensed therapists and mental health providers on Klarity have diverse expertise in treating anxiety through various therapeutic approaches. 

Whether you’re considering cognitive-behavioral therapy, prescription medication, or a combination of treatments, Klarity provides flexible and affordable options to meet your specific needs.

Don’t let anxiety continue to control your life. Find a provider on Klarity today for anxiety therapy and begin your journey to a calmer, more balanced life.