AnxietyTreatment

Do any of these thoughts sound familiar to you?

• I can’t get my thoughts to stop going round and around.
• I wake up with a feeling of dread and I don’t know why.
• I can’t stop worrying about my children, whether they are doing well and questioning myself about whether I am doing enough to help them.
• I have to prepare my paper/document for tomorrow. I keep trying to get it done but I don’t know what to put in and what to leave out. I don’t want to miss anything. What if I don’t do well or if my boss/teacher doesn’t get what I am trying to say? They might think I don’t know what I am doing or talking about”.

Maybe you have similar thoughts that race around your head? What does worry look like to you?

Worry usually involves thoughts about negative events that might happen in the future or sometimes about things that you have done or said in the past that you wish you had handled differently and now are concerned with what other people think.

The Many Faces of Anxiety What Are You Struggling With?

Anxiety is not one thing. It shows up differently depending on who you are, what you have been through, and what is happening in your life right now. The worry that keeps a mother awake at 2am is different from the dread a professional feels before every presentation, and both are different from the relentless physical tension someone with high-functioning anxiety carries through an otherwise successful life.

I provide effective specialized counseling for anxiety issues such as:

• Generalized anxiety and chronic worry
• High-functioning anxiety
• Health anxiety
• Social anxiety
• Anxiety after becoming a parent Anticipatory anxiety
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Perfectionism and people-pleasing driven anxiety
• Anxiety co-occurring with depression
• Anticipatory anxiety

For over 25 years I have helped my clients develop practical tools to feel more in control of their anxiety. We all need a little support sometimes. You don’t need to go through this alone.

Contact Sarah

Why Work With Me?

• I have over 25 years of specialist experience helping people with every form of anxiety, from chronic worry and health anxiety to social anxiety, panic disorder, and high-functioning anxiety.
• My primary approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the most thoroughly researched treatment for anxiety.
• I tailor my approach to each individual: while CBT is my foundation, I draw on other evidence-based methods where they are the right fit for you.
• I have been interviewed as a featured expert in many magazines, newspaper and TV and online media outlets
• I see clients in person at my Northbrook, IL office and remotely throughout Illinois, Florida, and the UK
• I get to the root of what is driving your anxiety and together we will develop the right tools and skills you can use independently in the future.

Below are the most common types of anxiety I work with. You may recognize yourself in one of them, or in several at once.

Generalized Anxiety and Chronic Worry

What does generalized anxiety actually feel like?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive worry that is hard to switch off. Worries can be about many different things at once, often out of proportion to the actual situation. You may recognize some of these experiences:

• Your mind is almost always busy with “what if” thoughts, even when life is going reasonably well
• You worry about your health, your finances, your relationships, your children, your work — often cycling through all of them
• You know intellectually that you worry too much, but knowing that doesn’t make it stop
• You have difficulty relaxing, even when you have the chance to
• You feel a background sense of dread or unease that you can’t always attach to a specific cause
• Sleep is difficult as your mind races when things go quiet
• You feel tired much of the time, and often irritable
• You may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, or stomach problems

Many people with generalized anxiety have felt this way for so long that they assume it is simply part of their personality. It isn’t. It is a very treatable condition, and you do not have to keep living this way.

How is generalized anxiety different from ordinary stress?

Everyone worries sometimes. The difference with generalized anxiety is that the worry is pervasive, difficult to control, and gets in the way of your ability to function and enjoy life even when there is nothing specific to worry about. If worry feels like a constant companion rather than an occasional visitor, that is a signal that reaching out to an anxiety expert is a good idea. You don’t have to go through this alone.

High-Functioning Anxiety

What is high-functioning anxiety?

High-functioning anxiety is not a formal clinical diagnosis, but it describes a very real experience that many of my clients recognize immediately. On the outside, everything looks fine and you everyone else you appear organized, capable, reliable, and often highly successful. On the inside though, you are driven by anxiety rather than confidence. You achieve things despite how you feel, not because you feel well. It is exhausting having to work so hard to control your anxiety.

You may recognize some of these experiences:

• You are busy, productive, and keep everything together but it costs you a great deal, physically and emotionally
• You say yes to things you don’t want to do because the anxiety of saying no feels worse
• You replay conversations and decisions in your mind long after they are over
• You have a persistent inner critic that tells you what you did wrong, what you should have done differently, and what might go wrong next
• Beneath the capable exterior, you feel constantly on edge or braced for something to go wrong
• Relaxation feels uncomfortable because when you stop, the anxiety catches up with you
• Others often describe you as “a worrier” or say they don’t know how you manage everything

Because high-functioning anxiety doesn’t always look like distress from the outside, it often goes unrecognized and untreated for years. Many of my clients have spent a long time wondering why they can’t just relax and enjoy the life they have worked so hard to build. Therapy can help you understand what is driving the anxiety and give you the tools to change it. To read more visit Understanding and Overcoming Social Anxiety.

Health Anxiety

What does health anxiety actually feel like?

Health anxiety involves persistent worry about having a serious illness, or developing one, often in the absence of medical evidence that anything is wrong, or continuing even after doctors have provided reassurance. You may recognize some of these experiences:

• You frequently check your body for symptoms, or find yourself constantly monitoring how you feel physically
• Medical reassurance gives temporary relief but the worry comes back, often about a different symptom
• You spend a significant amount of time researching symptoms online, which usually makes things worse
• You avoid medical appointments because you are frightened of what you might be told or alternatively, you seek them very frequently for the short-lived reassurance
• Physical sensations that most people wouldn’t notice feel alarming to you
• Your worry about health affects your ability to concentrate on other things

Health anxiety is often misunderstood both by the people who experience it and by those around them. It is not about being dramatic, seeking attention or being a hypochondriac. It is a recognized anxiety disorder that responds well to treatment. A particular strength of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is its ability to address both the thought patterns that drive health anxiety and the behavioral patterns such as checking, reassurance-seeking, avoidance, that maintain it. To read more visit Treating Health Anxiety Using CBT.

Social Anxiety

What does social anxiety actually feel like?

Social anxiety goes well beyond shyness. It involves intense fear of social situations where you might be judged, embarrassed, or humiliated and the anticipation of those situations can be as distressing as the situations themselves. You may recognize some of these experiences:

• You dread social events, work situations, or any context where you might be evaluated or observed
• You worry a great deal before social situations and then replay them at length afterwards
• You find it difficult to speak up in groups, make phone calls, or interact with people you don’t know well
• You experience physical symptoms in social situations such as blushing, sweating, a racing heart, or your mind going blank
• You avoid situations that would require you to perform or be the center of attention
• Afterwards, you go over what you said or did, looking for evidence that you embarrassed yourself

Social anxiety can be isolating and limiting. It can affect careers, friendships, and relationships in ways that compound over time. The good news is that it responds well to therapy. With the right support, it is possible to engage with the world in a way that feels very different from how things feel now. I have written a few blog posts about various issues to do with social anxiety. This is a good one to start with Understanding & Overcoming Social Anxiety.

Anxiety After Becoming A Parent

Does being a mother amplify your anxiety?

Many women find that their anxiety either begins or significantly worsens when they become mothers. The responsibility of caring for a child, the loss of sleep, the shift in identity, the relentless decision-making can all intensify worry in ways that feel very different from anxiety before children. You may find some of these experiences familiar:

• You worry constantly about your children’s health, safety, happiness, and development and whether you are doing enough
• You find it very hard to hand responsibility to anyone else, even your partner
• You lie awake running through scenarios of things that might go wrong
• You feel guilty when you take time for yourself, but also depleted when you don’t
• You worry about whether you are a good enough mother, and measure yourself against an impossible standard
• Your anxiety about your children spills into anxiety about everything else

Parenting anxiety is not a sign that you are failing as a parent, it is a sign of quite the opposite and you care deeply and are putting a lot of pressure on yourself. Anxiety has a way of narrowing your world and making it harder to be present and enjoy the moments that matter. Therapy can help you find a way back to a calmer, less stressed version of yourself, as a mother and as a person.

If you are also experiencing anxiety specifically during pregnancy or the postpartum period, please visit my Pregnancy & Postpartum page for more detailed information about that specific time of life.

Effective anxiety treatment can help. You do not need to continue to feel this way.

Some good questions to ask yourself if you think you might have an anxiety disorder include:

• Do I worry a lot more than other people do?
• Do people tell me that I worry too much?
• Do I worry even when everything is OK?
• Do I often try to keep busy or distract myself as a way to avoid worrying?
• Is it very difficult for me to stop worrying once I start?
• Do I worry excessively about things that are unlikely to happen, or feel tense and anxious all day long with no real reason?

Everyone gets anxious sometimes, but if your worries and fears are so frequent that they interfere with your ability to function and relax, you may have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American adults (about 18%) and cause them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders are chronic and can really effect your quality of life.

By using a compassionate, effective problem-solving approach we identify and treat the issues that are causing you to feel overwhelmed and stressed. I will then teach you how to use coping strategies to reduce anxiety for yourself. My goal is for you to not to need me anymore!

Contact Sarah

Why Getting Treatment Matters What the Research Shows

Many people wait far longer than they need to before seeking help for anxiety. Sometimes that is because they hope it will get better on its own. Sometimes it is because anxiety itself makes reaching out feel daunting. And sometimes people have simply lived with it for so long that it feels like it must be just part of who they are.

But the evidence is clear: anxiety responds well to treatment, and the sooner that treatment begins, the fewer sessions are typically needed and the better the long-term outcome.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most thoroughly researched psychological treatment for anxiety disorders. Research consistently shows that people who complete a course of CBT for anxiety maintain and often continue to build on their gains long after therapy ends. This is something that is not typically seen when anxiety is managed with medication alone, which works only for as long as the medication is taken.

None of this means medication is wrong. I have worked with clients where a combination of therapy and medication is the most effective path for them as their anxiety is so severe that it makes engaging with therapy difficult. We can discuss this more once we have had a few sessions. Where we both agree that trying medication might be helpful, I can refer you to psychiatrists for a medication consultation.

What matters most though is that you don’t keep waiting, hoping anxiety will go away on its own. Many people wait far longer than they need to before seeking help for anxiety. Sometimes that is because the anxiety itself makes reaching out feel too daunting and sometimes people have simply lived with it for so long that it feels like it must be just part of who they are.

But the evidence is clear: anxiety responds very well to treatment, and the sooner that treatment begins, the fewer sessions are typically needed and the better the long-term outcome. I have many years of experience working with people whose lives are so affected by the anxiety they carry around with them. I can help.

Why Work With Dr. Sarah Allen for Anxiety?

Any therapist can say they treat anxiety, it is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy, and most mental health practitioners have some training in it. But there is a meaningful difference between general therapy training that includes anxiety and the kind of deep, sustained specialist experience I have built up in the 25 years of working with my clients.

Experience That Goes to the Root Quickly

Over three decades, I have worked with hundreds of people experiencing every form of anxiety; chronic worry, health anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, high-functioning anxiety, and the specific anxiety that comes with being a parent. I keep up to date by reading professional journals, attending conferences and completing Continuing Educations Units (CEUs). I have also learned a lot from my clients along the way as their know themselves better than anyone and I always listen to their goals and individualize therapy for them, not just what a text book says to do. That depth of experience matters in practice, because it means I am able to identify quickly what is actually driving your anxiety, reach the right approach sooner, and avoid wasting your time on things that won’t help.

My goal from the first session is to understand your anxiety and to work with you on the specific thoughts, patterns, and situations that are making your life harder. My approach is collaborative and practical. I won’t just listen; I will actively help you develop tools that make a real difference.

Evidence-Based Approaches, Adapted to You

My primary approach for anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which has the strongest evidence base of any psychological treatment for anxiety disorders. But I also draw on other approaches where they are the right fit for a particular person which can be especially helpful when anxiety is tied to deeper patterns of self-criticism, perfectionism, or people-pleasing. I tailor the approach to the individual, not the other way around.

Recognized Expertise

I have been sought out as an anxiety expert by some of the world’s well known media organizations, including Oprah Magazine, the BBC, and Glamour. These are publications that consult specialists with genuine depth of knowledge and that recognition reflects the expertise I bring to every client I work with. You can read some of the articles I have been interviewed for on my Media Interviews page.

Flexible Access Wherever You Are

I see clients in person at my Northbrook, IL office in the north suburbs of Chicago, and I offer remote therapy via video or phone for clients throughout Illinois, Florida, and the UK. Many of my clients find remote sessions every bit as effective as in-person sessions, with the added benefit of fitting into a busy life without a commute. Read more about my remote therapy sessions.

If you would like to read an article about CBT for Anxiety I have written this post which provides a good summary of what it involves and how it works. CBT For Anxiety: What It Is & How It Works

Having your first counseling appointment can be a bit anxiety provoking if you haven’t had therapy for anxiety before so I have written an article about Common Questions About Anxiety Counseling. Please reach out by phone or on the Contact form if you have any other questions not covered here.

Here Are Some Concerns You May Have About Getting Help

I already feel like I don’t have enough hours in the day to take care of everything I have to do. I just don’t see how I could fit therapy in.

Although you are extremely busy and overwhelmed right now, it’s very important that you make time for yourself and your needs in order to be able to improve your emotional state and begin to enjoy your life more. Specialized therapy will offer you the support you need to get through this and will help you move on with your life. You don’t need to be stuck with these difficult feelings.

I’m a little unsure about what to expect, I’ve never had therapy before

There is nothing scary about meeting with me. At your own pace, you can tell me what has been going on in your life and together we will get to the source of the issues you are facing and between us we will be able figure out the best way to move forward. Although we will talk a little about the past so we know how you have got to the place you are now, our focus will be in the present and how to help you develop the tools you need to worry less and start enjoying your life.

There are many ways we hold ourselves back from happiness. I can empower you with the tools necessary to deal with the stress that life and relationships bring, both in the present and for when they show up again in the future.

I’d like to get help but I’m not sure I can afford therapy without insurance coverage.

I am a self-pay practice, which means I do not bill insurance directly. Many clients find that their insurance plan includes out-of-network (OON) benefits that reimburse a portion of therapy fees and it is worth a quick call to your insurance company to find out what you are entitled to. On my Fees & FAQs page you will find a list of specific questions to ask them.

You may wonder why I choose not to work with insurance. Insurance reimbursement rates for therapists don’t reflect experience as a newly graduated clinician and one with 30 years of specialist expertise are reimbursed at the same rate. Choosing to work outside insurance is how I protect the quality, depth, and continuity of care I offer the clients I work with.

It is also worth remembering that effective therapy has a beginning and an end and is not a commitment that goes on forever. Because I have a lot of experience I am able to get to the root of what is driving your anxiety efficiently. Many of my clients find that focused, effective therapy is more cost-effective both financially and emotionally in the longer term than years of managing anxiety that never fully improves, or cycling through treatments that don’t quite work.

I am happy to talk with you about your situation before you make any commitment. Most of my new clients see me weekly but some come every other week to make therapy more affordable. I am here to help you find a way to feel better.