CBT for Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders. Dr. Sarnell has significant training and experience in CBT and its application to the treatment of anxiety. Dr. Sarnell applies CBT to concerns such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, test anxiety, panic attacks, specific phobias, and performance anxiety. Dr. Sarnell can help you understand how your thought and behavior patterns impact your level of anxiety. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful or irrational thoughts into healthier, positive and more balanced thinking patterns. The behavior component of CBT allows you to practice this new way of thinking in your everyday life.  Treatment can also focus on learning new and positive behavior patterns, and gradually approaching a challenging or fearful situation in manageable steps.  Dr. Sarnell can teach you strategies to help you cope with anxiety, decrease reliance on unhealthy or avoidant coping patterns, and improve your overall quality of life.  Dr. Sarnell often integrates mindfulness-based techniques into traditional CBT approaches. Mindfulness is focused on present moment awareness in an open, accepting, non-judgmental way, and mindfulness practice can be very effective in increasing one's ability to cope with anxiety.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness and acceptance based therapy approaches are designed to help you focus your attention on present experiences in an open, accepting, non-judgmental way.  Our mind constantly pulls us away from the present moment, and it takes deliberate practice to improve our ability to stay present.  This type of therapy teaches you how to practice mindfulness, both through formal meditation practice and day-to-day activities.  You will learn psychological skills to effectively cope with painful thoughts and feelings so that they have less influence over you and clarify what is truly important and meaningful, so that you can live a life consistent with your values. Dr. Sarnell has significant experience integrating mindfulness-based techniques into therapy.