Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety

When Worry Takes Up Too Much Room

Anxiety rarely announces itself. It settles in quietly: shoulders that never fully drop, a racing heart before an ordinary conversation, a mind that rehearses every way tomorrow could go wrong.

Over time, staying on alert is exhausting, and it can pull you away from the people and activities you used to enjoy. Many people tell us they feel as if they are always bracing for the next thing, with no chance to rest in between.

How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Helps

Our work with anxiety is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Together we look at how your thoughts, your body's reactions, and your daily habits feed one another, so you can break the worry cycle instead of being carried along by it.

You will learn practical ways to calm the physical side of anxiety and to step back toward the situations you have been avoiding, at a pace that feels manageable. Biofeedback is available for relaxation training when it helps, and because worry and low mood often travel together, we can address depression as well.

Your First Sessions

Getting started begins with a conversation with our intake specialist, Alethea Braun-Dunagan, M.A., LPC, who will listen to what you are going through and help you find the right clinician. You can reach the office at (928) 774-7997. Our clinicians also include Dr. Della S. Lusk, a bilingual clinical psychologist who treats anxiety in English and Spanish.

Early sessions are about understanding your history and agreeing on what you want to change. After that, a typical week means looking back at how things went, working on one or two specific challenges, and leaving with a small, practical step to try before we meet again.

Meeting in Person or by Video

You can meet us at our Flagstaff office or by secure video from home. Video sessions are available in more than 40 states, depending on where you are during the appointment, and our state pages explain which clinician can see you where. Since 2003, our practice hosted free anxiety screening days in Flagstaff, as covered by the Arizona Daily Sun.

Questions people ask

How long does anxiety therapy usually take?

Many people meet weekly for roughly 8 to 16 weeks. That is a common path rather than a promise; everyone moves at their own pace, and we review progress together along the way.

Is video therapy as helpful as meeting in the office?

Our secure video sessions follow the same CBT approach as in-person visits. Many people find it easier to talk from a familiar, private space, without the drive.

Can biofeedback help with the physical symptoms of anxiety?

Biofeedback is available as a complement to therapy. It helps you see how your body responds to stress and practice calming those responses, which many people find useful for tension and headaches.

What will I actually learn in CBT for anxiety?

You will learn to notice the thoughts that keep worry going, weigh everyday stresses more evenly, and take gradual steps back toward the things anxiety has led you to avoid.