Therapy for Anxiety in Eugene, OR and online throughout Oregon and Washington

Anxiety can feel like a constant, unwelcome presence in your life. It might show up as racing thoughts, an overwhelming sense of dread, or physical symptoms like a pounding heart and shortness of breath. For some, it’s an underlying hum of worry that never quite goes away; for others, it’s the sudden, intense grip of a panic attack. When anxiety takes hold, it can make everyday tasks feel insurmountable and strain relationships, work, and self-esteem. If you’ve tried to manage your anxiety on your own or with previous therapies but haven’t found lasting relief, you’re not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges, but the good news is that effective treatment is available.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through what therapy for anxiety looks like, what you can expect from this type of treatment, and why it’s particularly helpful for people who have experienced trauma. I’ll also explain why the approaches I use—Brainspotting, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and IFS (Internal Family Systems)—can provide a deeper level of healing than traditional methods. If you’re looking for a new way to tackle anxiety, this post is for you.

What Is Therapy for Anxiety?

Therapy for anxiety involves working with a trained therapist to explore the underlying causes of your anxiety, understand how it’s affecting your life, and develop tools to manage and reduce it. Unlike quick-fix approaches that only address symptoms on the surface, the therapy I offer goes deeper to get to the root of what’s driving your anxiety.

Anxiety often stems from unresolved trauma, childhood experiences, or patterns of thinking that have developed over time. While it’s normal to experience anxiety from time to time, chronic anxiety that interferes with your quality of life often requires professional support to fully resolve. My approach combines talk therapy with somatic (body-based) and brain-based techniques, helping you heal both the emotional and physical components of anxiety.

What to Expect from Therapy for Anxiety

When you begin therapy for anxiety, the first step is creating a safe, open space where you can express what’s been weighing on you. We’ll explore how anxiety shows up in your life—whether through constant worry, avoidance of certain situations, physical symptoms, or emotional distress. I’ll help you identify patterns in your thoughts and behaviors, and together we’ll start working on strategies to interrupt these patterns.

The therapies I use—Brainspotting, EMDR, and IFS—each provide a unique way to process emotions and memories that might be driving your anxiety.

  • Brainspotting is a powerful brain-body therapy that helps access and release trauma stored in the body. It’s particularly effective for anxiety that feels “stuck” and unresolved, even after other types of therapy.

  • EMDR is a well-established treatment for trauma that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer trigger anxiety. EMDR is especially helpful for people whose anxiety stems from past traumatic experiences.

  • IFS focuses on understanding the different parts of yourself—like the anxious part, the part that avoids conflict, or the part that seeks control—and helping these parts work together in a healthier way. It’s a great approach for those who feel torn between conflicting emotions or behaviors.

You can expect to feel supported throughout the process, and although some sessions may feel intense, the goal is always to move toward healing at a pace that feels right for you.

Who Is Therapy for Anxiety Helpful For?

Therapy for anxiety is helpful for anyone who feels that their anxiety is interfering with their ability to live fully. This might include:

  • People with Trauma Histories: Anxiety is often a result of unresolved trauma, whether from childhood experiences, abusive relationships, or a specific traumatic event. Trauma can leave you feeling hypervigilant, easily triggered, or fearful of the future. These reactions can make it hard to feel safe or calm, even when there’s no immediate threat. Therapy for anxiety can help by allowing you to safely process and work through these painful memories, so they no longer have the same power over your emotions and daily life.

  • High-Functioning Anxiety Sufferers: You might be someone who appears to have it all together on the outside—holding down a job, managing relationships, and meeting responsibilities—but on the inside, anxiety is always present, creating an ongoing sense of worry, unease, or dread. This is known as high-functioning anxiety, where outwardly you seem composed and successful, but inwardly you’re battling intense anxiety that doesn’t let up. Therapy can help you uncover the deep-rooted fears and patterns of thought driving this anxiety, allowing you to feel more relaxed and in control, not just on the outside, but within as well.

  • People Who Struggle with Perfectionism: If you often feel like you’re chasing impossible standards or that nothing you do is ever “good enough,” anxiety can quickly become a constant part of your life. Therapy can help you break free from this cycle by challenging the unrealistic expectations you place on yourself, teaching you how to accept imperfection, and helping you develop a healthier, more compassionate relationship with yourself.

  • Individuals with Panic Attacks or Social Anxiety: Anxiety can take the form of sudden, intense panic attacks that seem to come out of nowhere or a crippling fear of social situations, making it difficult to engage with others. Therapy can help by teaching you practical coping strategies to manage these intense moments, while also addressing the underlying fears and beliefs that contribute to your anxiety, allowing you to feel more at ease in both social situations and everyday life.

Anxiety can take many forms, but no matter how it shows up for you, therapy can provide a path to relief and a more balanced, fulfilling life.

Why This Type of Therapy is More Helpful than Previous Methods

If you’ve tried therapy before or other methods to manage anxiety—such as meditation, mindfulness, or even medication—you might be wondering how this approach is different. Many traditional therapies focus on managing anxiety symptoms but don’t fully resolve the root cause. While learning coping strategies is important, it’s often not enough if the underlying trauma or emotional patterns driving your anxiety haven’t been addressed.

By incorporating Brainspotting, EMDR, and IFS into your therapy, we’re able to go beyond surface-level symptom management and work on deep healing. These approaches tap into your brain’s natural ability to heal itself, helping you release stuck trauma and rewire old thought patterns that have kept you stuck in anxiety.

In my experience, clients who have struggled with anxiety for years—even after trying other forms of therapy—often find that this integrative, mind-body approach provides the relief they’ve been seeking. It’s not about quick fixes, but about creating lasting change.

How to Find a Therapist Specializing in Anxiety Treatment in Oregon or Washington

Finding the right therapist for anxiety treatment can feel overwhelming, but it’s worth taking the time to find someone who specializes in the approaches that resonate with you. Look for therapists who are trained in trauma recovery and integrative techniques like Brainspotting, EMDR, or IFS. You can often find therapists through online directories, local counseling centers, or by asking for recommendations from trusted sources.

I specialize in therapy for anxiety and have seen immense success in helping people move beyond anxiety to live a more worry-free, fulfilling life. I use Brainspotting, EMDR, and IFS in both regular and intensive therapy formats, so you can choose the pace that feels best for you. My goal is to provide a holistic, mind-body approach that helps you heal not just mentally, but physically and emotionally as well.

If you’ve been struggling with anxiety—whether for a short time or for years—know that you don’t have to continue feeling this way. With the right support, it is possible to experience relief and move forward with confidence and peace.

Takeaways

Anxiety doesn’t have to control your life. With the right therapeutic approach, you can reduce your anxiety, heal from past trauma, and create a life that feels more balanced and fulfilling. Therapy for anxiety isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about deep healing, personal growth, and reclaiming your sense of peace.

If you’re ready to take the next step in overcoming anxiety, I’m here to help. Contact me today to schedule a free consultation and see how therapy can make a difference in your life. Together, we can work toward the lasting relief and confidence you deserve.


Looking to connect with a therapist who specializes in treatment for anxiety?

Take your first step towards a more peaceful and grounded way of being.

(Oregon & Washington residents only)


About the author

Amanda Buduris is a licensed psychologist providing virtual Brainspotting sessions in Oregon and Washington. In-person services are available for therapy intensives only. She is trained in multiple modalities of trauma-focused healing to best support clients who are looking to feel better faster.

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