LAWRENCE S. PELTZ, PH.D., LMFT
ANXIETY
Anxiety is much more common than most people realize. Many suffer without knowing that help might be readily available. Others believe that if they were only tougher, stronger or less sensitive, their anxiety would cease to be a problem. In truth, anxiety has nothing to do with strength of character. It often has a lot to do with identifying ineffective responses to fear and learning new ways to cope.
We know that withdrawal from and avoidance of situations that trigger uncomfortable symptoms simply doesn’t work and in the long run makes things worse. The same is true for gritting it out. Dodging bullets is a miserable way to go through life.
To treat anxiety, worry, panic, fears and phobias successfully, clinicians must be knowledgeable and proficient in specific procedures and techniques that target symptoms and provide alternative ways to cope with uncomfortable situations. General psychotherapy is often insufficient and ineffective in helping clients to manage and ameliorate these conditions.
I specialize in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety (constant worry or rumination), Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety and phobias. The work usually entails helping my patients to identify thoughts, physical sensations and behaviors that lead to discomfort or dysfunction and to help them develop effective coping strategies. My patients and I work in partnership to build competency and strength, starting with significant yet manageable tasks. Upon a base of success using effective tools, increasingly bigger challenges can be addressed. In more complex situations (for example, when trauma is the cause of anxiety) we explore its origins and work to resolve underlying issues.
I encourage you to take the next step to learn more about anxiety. The following links provide a wealth of information.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001915/
Panic Disorder:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/panicdisorder.html
Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder):
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-phobia-social-anxiety-disorder-always-embarrassed/index.shtml