Anxiety Therapy in Downers Grove, IL

Why therapy treats more than the symptoms

When it comes to treating anxiety disorders, research consistently shows that therapy is usually the most effective option. That’s because anxiety therapy, as opposed to anxiety medication alone, treats more than just the symptoms of the problem. Together we uncover the underlying causes of your worries and fears, learn how to relax your body, look at situations in a new and less frightening way, and build better coping and problem-solving skills.

My practice offers the most effective forms of treatment so you can get the relief from anxiety that you deserve. Sessions are never one-size-fits-all. We start with a clear understanding of how anxiety shows up in your life, then build a plan around your goals, your schedule, and the pace that feels manageable for you.

How anxiety treatment works at Affirm Behavioral Health

You won’t just sit and talk. We’ll identify the patterns that keep anxiety running, practice specific skills between sessions, and measure what’s actually changing. Many clients notice a shift in the first several weeks as they learn to interrupt the worry cycle instead of being swept along by it.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and reframe the thought patterns that fuel worry and panic
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to loosen anxiety’s grip and reconnect you with what matters
• Mindfulness and nervous-system regulation skills you can use in the moment
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) distress-tolerance tools for intense spikes
• Solution-focused planning so progress continues outside the therapy room

Health anxiety and anxiety during medical treatment

Before becoming a therapist I worked in ophthalmology providing medical care, and I later completed advanced training in oncology social work. That background gives me a practical understanding of what it feels like to wait for test results, sit with an uncertain diagnosis, or feel anxious inside a complex healthcare system. If your anxiety is tied to your health, a loved one’s illness, or an upcoming procedure, you don’t have to explain the medical side from scratch. We can get right to work.

When anxiety and alcohol feed each other

It’s common to reach for a drink to quiet an anxious mind, only to find the anxiety louder the next day. As a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC), I can address both patterns together in the same treatment plan rather than sending you to two different providers. There is no judgment here, only a clear path forward.