Anxiety Treatment

The duration of anxiety treatment varies depending on several factors, including the type and severity of your anxiety, how long you've experienced symptoms, and your personal goals. Most clients begin to see improvements within 5-8 sessions, though complete treatment typically requires:

• For mild to moderate anxiety: 8-12 sessions
• For more severe or complex anxiety: 12-20 sessions
• For anxiety with multiple complicating factors: 20+ sessions

Remember that therapy isn't just about symptom reduction—it's also about learning long-term management strategies and addressing the root causes of anxiety. We'll discuss timeframe expectations during your assessment and regularly review progress together.

Not necessarily. Many people with anxiety respond well to therapy alone. Research shows that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other evidence-based approaches can be just as effective as medication for many anxiety disorders, with longer-lasting results.

That said, some people benefit from combining therapy with medication, particularly if:

• Your anxiety is severe and significantly impairs daily functioning
• You have co-occurring conditions like depression
• You've tried therapy alone with limited success
• You need relief from symptoms quickly to engage effectively in therapy

If medication might be helpful, we can discuss referral options to psychiatrists or other medical providers who can evaluate you and prescribe appropriate medication if needed. We'll work collaboratively with your medication provider to ensure comprehensive care.

Your first session, or initial assessment, is primarily focused on understanding your anxiety and beginning to formulate a treatment plan. This session typically includes:

• Discussion of confidentiality and therapy procedures
• Exploration of your current anxiety symptoms and how they impact your life
• Background information relevant to understanding your anxiety
• Questions about previous treatment experiences and what has/hasn't worked
• Setting initial treatment goals
• Brief introduction to anxiety management techniques you can begin using right away

The initial session is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and determine if the therapist is a good fit for you. Feel free to come prepared with any questions or concerns you'd like to discuss. Many clients find it helpful to make notes about their anxiety symptoms before the first appointment.

Gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking situations is an effective component of anxiety treatment, particularly for phobias, social anxiety, and panic disorder. However, we approach this process with several important principles:

• Collaborative: Exposure is always done collaboratively, with your full understanding and consent
• Gradual: We start with less challenging situations and gradually work up to more difficult ones
• Prepared: You'll learn coping skills before facing anxiety-provoking situations
• Supported: You'll have support throughout the process
• Paced appropriately: We move at a pace that challenges you but doesn't overwhelm you

While exposure is a powerful tool for overcoming anxiety, it's just one component of treatment. We also work on understanding the thoughts that drive anxiety, developing coping skills, and addressing any underlying issues contributing to your anxiety.

Yes, confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of all therapy at Hisparadise Therapy. What you share in sessions remains private, with a few limited exceptions required by law and ethics:

• If there is imminent risk of harm to yourself or others
• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or vulnerable adult
• When required by a court order

If you're using insurance, basic information about your diagnosis and treatment may be shared with your insurance provider for billing purposes.

We'll discuss confidentiality in detail during your first session, and you're welcome to ask questions about any concerns you may have regarding privacy.