Anxiety & Stress Counseling in Madison, WI

Let go of tension and worry.

Finally feel like yourself again.

You wish you could just clear your head, but anxiety & stress keep getting in the way.

It may feel like you can’t stop your thoughts from running wild, and it’s affecting your decisions or the ability to make simple choices about your day. Maybe your inner critic is on repeat with phrases like “I’m not good enough,” “no one understands me,” and “what if I’m crazy”—and you can’t seem to shut them out.

You’re feeling exhausted, like you can’t handle the stress of your responsibilities or relationships. At this point, avoiding everything just feels so much easier. Maybe you’re replaying scenarios that happened (or didn’t happen) over and over again, wondering if what you said or did was “okay” or “weird.”

While anxiety and stress are part of being human, they can often grow stronger, quickly changing from run-of-the-mill worry to panic and dread. It can be consistent at times or show up randomly, shifting the course of your entire day, week, and beyond.

Sometimes stress & anxiety looks like…

  • Having difficulty falling asleep or frequently waking up because your mind won’t “shut off”

  • Getting easily frustrated or annoyed by little things

  • Feeling on edge, like something terrible could happen at any moment

  • Overwhelm with all the responsibilities on your plate

  • Difficulty sitting still or taking time to relax

  • A racing heart or tightness in your chest

  • Foggy, unclear thinking and confusion, like a cloud that won’t go away

  • Consistent worry playing on a loop 

  • Sudden changes in your behavior or habits

Your personal well-being matters.

Pretending you’ve got it all together gets exhausting, but this is a place where you can finally take a breath. 

Right now, it may seem impossible to feel ownership of your life again, but we want you to know that it is possible, and we’re here to help. You can feel confident in your decision-making and learn how to take better care of yourself. This may look like deeper exhales, relaxed shoulders, and unclenching your jaw, or even a better night’s sleep. 

Some people think of anxiety or stress as being nervous or worried, and while that’s part of it, they often don't realize that this is a nervous system response that can result in trouble breathing, upset stomachs, body aches, pains, irritability, and low self-esteem. 

It can be challenging to understand what your body is telling you while juggling your different responsibilities. Together we’ll learn the “why” behind your different thoughts or feelings and the “how” of gaining peace and control. We’ll focus on becoming present and grounded in the present moment, so you can quiet your mind and communicate clearly. This process can include identifying triggers, working through root causes, and learning coping techniques to reduce your stress and anxiety levels. 

As we work together, this journey might sometimes feel like an uphill climb. But as we reach new heights and meet your personal milestones, you’ll start to see your new path come into view.

Some methods our therapists use include…

  • Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on reframing negative thought patterns & changing behaviors to improve mental health.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping on parts of the body) to help people process traumatic memories & feel less affected by them in the present. Learn more here.

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages accepting thoughts and feelings, even when they’re unpleasant, while committing to actions aligned with personal values.

  • IFS frames the mind as a system of various parts, each with its own unique qualities and outlook. This process focuses on learning to accept and appreciate every part of yourself, and how to live in harmony with all of them.

Therapy for trauma can help with…

  • Understanding yourself

  • Feeling more in control of emotions

  • More presence in the moment

  • Navigating conflicts

  • Increasing self-esteem

  • Improving relationships

Prioritize peace & reclaim control.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Before we dive into the process, we’ll outline your goals and what brought you here. From there, we’ll provide a space for you to explore what’s troubling you. We might work on things like understanding our emotions, identifying where the stress or anxiety is coming from, and improving communication. Learning different coping strategies is another skill set we focus on to help regain control and find inner peace.

  • We know that everyone feels different kinds of stress and anxiety throughout their life, but when it starts to get in the way of your day-to-day activities, and your ability to function either mentally or physically — that’s when you need some extra help. Another sign is that you start to have thoughts that you might not be able to handle this alone.

  • Yes, they can. When we feel stress and anxiety, we have a harder time connecting with others. This can look like avoiding social situations or retreating into ourselves. In therapy, we help you understand personal boundaries and coping skills so that you can know the limits of what you can offer in relationships and how to protect your peace. This can also include learning how to “relax” and have fun again, so you can reconnect with friends, family, and other loved ones.

  • Yes, you are not alone in this and we can definitely help. Work can put a spotlight on the different stress and anxiety that people are going through, and oftentimes is a big factor in how those feelings are affecting you. We know that this is the case for many people, so we help build grounding skills to cope with your responsibilities both at home and at work while encouraging healthy thought patterns and self-care.