Specialty · Anxiety
Anxiety Therapy in Santa Monica, CA
That constant hum underneath everything — the worry that never fully turns off — isn’t just “how you are.” It’s something you can actually get relief from.
In person in Santa Monica · Serving Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles and all of California
If you’re reading this, you probably know exactly what I mean when I say “the hum.” It’s the background static of worry that’s always running, even when things are objectively fine. It’s the way your mind jumps to worst-case scenarios before you’ve even finished a sentence — and the exhaustion of trying to function, connect, and succeed with a nervous system that never quite feels safe to rest.
You are not overreacting. You are not “too sensitive” or “too much.” Anxiety is real and treatable — and you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it alone.
I offer anxiety therapy in Santa Monica, CA, for people who are ready to feel less ruled by worry and more grounded in their own lives.
Do any of these feel familiar?
Anxiety rarely looks like one thing. It shows up in your thoughts, your decisions, your relationships and your sleep.
A constant hum of worry
Even in calm moments there’s a low simmer underneath — a sense that something might be wrong, that you should be worried about something, even if you can’t name what.
Fear of the wrong decision
What to order, what to say, which job to take — every choice carries the same “what if I choose wrong?” You replay decisions, or avoid them, and struggle to trust your own judgment.
Overthinking that won’t let go
A conversation from three days ago. A comment you’re not sure landed right. Your mind loops, searching for a resolution that never comes.
Trouble starting — and finishing
Perfectionism makes starting feel like the base of a mountain, and finishing just as hard — endlessly revising and checking because “done” never feels safe.
Worry about the future
Career, relationships, health, money — a persistent fear of choosing the wrong path that makes it hard to move forward with confidence.
Jumping to the worst case
A minor symptom becomes a serious illness; a pause in a text becomes the end of a relationship. Part of you knows it’s unlikely, but the fear feels just as real.
Big changes that destabilize you
A new job, a move, a breakup, even a happy milestone can bring anxiety that feels out of proportion. Uncertainty itself becomes hard to bear.
Hard to be present with people
You replay conversations and wonder how you came across. Part of your mind is always monitoring — present in body, but not quite in the moment.
Sleepless, circling nights
Worries that stayed quiet all day get loud at bedtime. Now you’re tired from anxiety — and tired from not sleeping because of it.
If this all sounds exhausting, it’s because it is. But you don’t have to keep managing it alone — and you don’t have to keep believing this is just “who you are.”
Getting an accurate picture: anxiety vs. OCD, autism, or ADHD
Anxiety can look different depending on what’s driving it, and getting the picture right matters. Part of our work together is carefully differentiating what’s really going on, so treatment targets the root of what you’re experiencing rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
If OCD, autism or ADHD are part of the picture, we’ll incorporate specialized approaches alongside anxiety treatment.
Generalized worry vs. OCD
Ongoing worry is different from the intrusive thoughts and compulsions of OCD. Learn about OCD therapy in Santa Monica
Social anxiety vs. autism
Social anxiety can look similar to — but isn’t the same as — the social overwhelm and sensory overload common in autism. Learn about autism therapy
Racing thoughts vs. ADHD
Anxious, racing thoughts can be mistaken for — or coexist with — the restlessness and overwhelm of ADHD. Learn about ADHD therapy
Understand your anxiety, regulate it, and stop letting it run the show
As an anxiety therapist in Santa Monica and Greater Los Angeles, I draw on evidence-based approaches tailored to what you’re actually experiencing.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Rather than trying to eliminate worry, we make room for anxious thoughts while moving toward what matters. We get clear on your real values — separate from fear-driven “shoulds” — so your choices are guided by what you care about, not by fear of getting it wrong.
Cognitive Behavioral & Dialectical Behavior Therapy
CBT helps you identify and challenge catastrophizing and all-or-nothing thinking. DBT adds concrete skills for calming your nervous system and stopping a spiral before it takes over your day.
Exposure and Response Prevention
For anxiety that involves avoidance or compulsions, ERP helps you gradually and safely face feared situations — teaching your nervous system that you can tolerate discomfort without it controlling you.
Internal Family Systems
IFS sees anxiety not as an enemy but as a part of you trying to protect you. Meeting that part with curiosity instead of criticism often brings less internal suffering and a deeper sense of self-trust.
Curious about my background and approach? Learn more about me
What this can look like for you
Clients I work with often find that, over time:
- The background hum of worry quiets, replaced by calm and trust in themselves.
- Decisions feel less paralyzing, and self-doubt loosens its grip.
- Rumination decreases, freeing up mental space and energy.
- Starting and finishing tasks feels manageable, without perfectionism dictating every step.
- Relationships feel more present and enjoyable, without constant fear of judgment.
- Sleep improves as anxious thoughts lose their grip at night.
- Big life transitions feel navigable, with real tools for tolerating uncertainty.
Specialized anxiety therapy in Santa Monica, CA
Specialized Anxiety Therapy in Santa Monica, CA Whether you're looking for anxiety therapy in Santa Monica, CA, perfectionism therapy in Santa Monica, CA, therapy for panic in Santa Monica, CA, or OCD therapy in Santa Monica, CA, you deserve support that actually understands what you're carrying — and gives you real tools to carry it differently.
If this all sounds exhausting — it’s because it is. Living with anxiety takes real energy, every single day. But you don’t have to keep managing it alone, and you don’t have to keep believing this is just “who you are.”