How Does Therapy for Anxiety Help?: Overcoming Anxiety with Jessica Brady, LCSW
- Jessica Brady
- May 21
- 3 min read
Updated: May 23
How Does Therapy for Anxiety Help—and How Does It Actually Work?
If you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or constantly on edge, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it alone either. Anxiety can show up in so many ways: racing thoughts, tightness in the chest, sleepless nights, avoiding situations that feel “too much.” It is exhausting. The good news? Therapy can help, and not in a vague, “just talk about your feelings” kind of way. There is a real process behind how therapy works for anxiety, and it’s built around helping you feel better.
Let’s break it down.
Therapy Helps You Understand What Anxiety Really Is
Anxiety is not just a mental experience—it is a physical and emotional reaction that affects your whole body. It is your nervous system going into "fight or flight" mode, even when there is no real danger present. This heightened state of alertness can lead to racing thoughts, physical tension, and overwhelming feelings of fear or worry.
In therapy, we work together to explore what anxiety feels like for you. By identifying your unique triggers and understanding the thoughts and physical responses that accompany anxiety, you can start to break down the cycle. This awareness is key to shifting how you respond to anxiety, giving you more control and the ability to manage it more effectively.
Therapy Gives You Coping Tools You Can Use
A big part of anxiety therapy is learning coping strategies that actually work for your brain and body. These might include:
Grounding exercises to bring you back to the present moment
Breathing techniques that calm your nervous system
Cognitive tools to reframe anxious thoughts, using CBT
Mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity over time
Therapy Helps You Change Unhelpful Thought Patterns
One of the core approaches in anxiety treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT teaches us that our thoughts significantly influence how we feel and how we act—and that by identifying and reshaping unhelpful thought patterns, we can improve emotional well-being and behavior. CBT helps you notice, and shift thought patterns that fuel anxiety. Over time, these shifts can reduce the intensity and frequency of your anxiety.
Therapy Builds Self-Compassion and Resilience
Anxiety can come with a lot of self-criticisms. Therapy creates a space where you can explore those beliefs without judgment. You will learn to treat yourself with more kindness, and that alone can be incredibly healing.
As your therapist helps you unpack the deeper roots of your anxiety—past experiences, family dynamics, internalized pressure—you begin to rewrite the story of how you relate to yourself and the world.
Therapy Is a Relationship That Heals
Most importantly, therapy offers you a consistent, supportive relationship with someone who truly listens—without trying to dismiss what you’re feeling. This kind of safe connection can be transformative, especially if anxiety has made you feel isolated or misunderstood.
Is Therapy for Anxiety Right for You?
If you are considering therapy for anxiety, you don’t need to wait until things are “bad enough.” You deserve support now. Whether you’ve been dealing with anxiety for years or it’s something new, therapy can meet you where you are and help you move toward feeling calmer, and more in control.
Interested in starting Therapy for Anxiety?
Jessica Brady, LCSW, is a compassionate licensed clinical social worker providing online therapy for adults in both New Jersey and Florida. Jessica specializes in helping individuals navigate anxiety, overwhelm, and life transitions. Jessica helps clients to reclaim their peace of mind and thrive in their daily lives. Using evidence-based approaches like CBT, Jessica helps clients gain tools to manage their anxiety, reduce stress, and improve their overall quality of life.
Schedule a phone consultation with Jessica Brady, LCSW, and take the first step toward relief from anxiety. Therapy for anxiety is available virtually in New Jersey and Florida—reach out today to begin your journey toward healing.
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