Dr. Will Courtenay, The Men's Doc, of Oakland Anxiety Counseling offers anxiety therapy and treatment for anxiety and panic disorders in Berkeley and the East Bay
Dr. Will Courtenay, Oakland, Berkeley, East Bay psychotherapist offering anxiety counseling and therapy

What Are the Best Treatments for Anxiety?

In terms of getting professional help for anxiety, the good news is that counseling, “talk therapy” and psychotherapy are all effective.

Man considering whether medication is the best treatment for anxiety and panic or whether he should talk with a counselor or psychologist about psychotherapy or talk therapyWe all have preferences and biases, based on our personal experiences – and what we’ve heard from friends or what we’ve read on the web. So the kind of anxiety treatment we seek will likely be influenced by these experiences. The important thing is that you’ve made the decision to get help for your anxiety from someone – a psychologist, social worker, or family therapist.

Often, when we believe a particular anxiety treatment approach will work, it does. That’s because the “placebo effect” is real. Research shows that our beliefs and expectations can significantly influence neurophysiological and neurochemical activity in parts of the brain involved in perception, movement, pain, and emotion processing. So, if you think “psychodynamic psychotherapy” – or talk therapy – is the answer for you to reduce your anxiety, it very well may be the best treatment approach for you.

What research shows matters most in terms of being helped is the effectiveness of the person who’s helping you.

“Talk therapy” – or psychotherapy or counseling – is a proven effective way to reduce anxiety, and to feel better about yourself and your life.