Katie McLaughlin, MA LPC
Waybridge Counseling
Waybridge Counseling
Anxiety |
Counseling is a unique experience where counselor and client work together to identify strengths and deepen the understanding of self, others and the world. Professional counselors typically see clients with a variety of struggles, spanning from acute stress to severe trauma. My primary focus is helping young adults and adults gain more control of how to manage anxiety and to understand it at a deeper level. I work with individuals experiencing a variety of anxieties, including Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive tendencies.
Anxiety comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Often times, it presents with physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, accelerated heart rate, sweating, and nausea. Throughout counseling, I will work with clients to understand their unique presentation of anxiety and how to manage it appropriately by using the science of Neurocounseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the power of Mindful awareness. |
While my primary focus is helping clients with various types of anxiety, I also have experience with helping individuals with depression, trauma, stress, self-esteem, anger and life transitions. I believe that our life is only as good as our perception and that our thoughts can greatly impact our moods; for better or for worse. Similarly to my approach to anxiety, I utilize a Strengths-Based, Cognitive-Behavioral approach to empower clients in taking control over their thoughts, behaviors and lives.
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Extensive research has been done on the brain and what has been found is truly revolutionary. This research has shown that our brains have an ability to change and adapt based on our experiences. Now, if we have any power over our behaviors (which we do) then we also have the power to quite literally change the way our brain functions.
Let's take anxiety for instance. Have you ever wondered why anxiety occurs? Well, anxiety is a natural response to a threat - really it's our body's way of protecting us. Over time, the brain learns that some environments, events and people are safe and others are dangerous. As we find ourselves in a 'dangerous' situation (whether real or perceived) then it only makes sense that our body would attempt to protect us, which is where the anxiety/fear response comes into play. Just as the brain learns that some situations are dangerous, it can also learn that they are safe. When we experience situations, events or people and we remain safe, the brain learns to ease up with the fear response. Understanding and using this knowledge empowers us with the ability to make lasting changes to the way we think, act and feel. |