Therapy for Anxiety
When you struggle with anxiety, you might notice bothersome symptoms of worry, constant "what ifs" and difficulty enjoying things that perhaps should be enjoyable, or are enjoyable to others. Many folks with anxiety feel uncomfortable and agitated, with bodies constantly on edge. It's hard to face life's stressors when you're feeling wound so tightly!
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You might be experiencing a spike of anxiety in pregnancy or in postpartum which feels different, more intense, more urgent but also demoralizing as it saps the joy from early parenthood experiences.
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If you are feeling these things, you are not alone and therapy for anxiety can help.
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Therapy for anxiety often includes:​
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Learning about the type(s) of anxiety you're struggling with and how anxiety impacts your life
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Expanding your coping skills toolbox using evidence-based psychotherapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or a blend of therapies that best fit your needs
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Rewiring your brain and body away from anxiety reactivity, forging a new more resilient nervous system
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Working through problems collaboratively in a safe and supportive space
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Did you know that people living with anxiety often have medical conditions such as chronic pain (including pelvic pain conditions, migraines, and TMJ), gastrointestinal illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as "somatic" or medically unexplained symptoms? Dr. Anna Yam has extensive experience helping people with medical problems that co-occur with anxiety. Get in touch for a consultation to learn how therapy for anxiety can be a great addition to your medical treatment plan.
Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD isn’t just about being orderly or particular. It is a health condition characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that cause a great deal of distress and interfere with the person’s life.
Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) are often scary, disturbing and contrary to how the person views themselves or the world. Compulsions are things the sufferer feels they need to do to prevent something bad from happening. At its core, OCD, much like anxiety, is about trying our best to gain control over things that are scary, hard to understand, and that we cannot fully control.
OCD can be successfully treated with psychotherapy. The treatment with the best evidence for success - the “gold standard” treatment for OCD - is a cognitive-behavioral therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This therapy works best when it’s tailored thoughtfully to the person, their particular symptoms, and their life.
Exposure and Response prevention involves gradually learning to tolerate uncertainty and the lack of control over things we fear happening. This evidence-based psychotherapy is effective for improving symptoms of OCD - obsessions and compulsions, and it helps sufferers become more resilient and flexible in the face of life’s many stressors.
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Therapy for OCD often includes:
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Learning about your specific type(s) of OCD symptoms and how they impact your emotions and your life
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Building a collaborative plan that blends together Exposure and Response Prevention and key aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a gentile approach that builds mindfulness and the ability to be present in our lives
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Exploring how OCD might be related to other anxiety and/or depressive symptoms
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Encountering OCD for the first time (or again) in pregnancy or postpartum
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Dr. Anna Yam is an OCD specialist licensed in California and New York. Get in touch to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Yam and learn how therapy for OCD can help.