There are several types of therapy that work best for anxiety! Which one will work best for you will depend on your unique anxiety experience. Here are just a few that we offer:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy.

• Acceptance and commitment therapy.

• Exposure therapy.

• Dialectical behavioral therapy.

• Talk therapy.

Talk to us! (We’re a little biased). Seriously though, while most therapists can help with anxiety, we believe that therapists who are understanding, nonjudgmental, and able to help you make peace with your anxiety do the best job. You’ll find that Metamorphosis therapists won’t ever tell you that something is “wrong with you”, or that you’re “being irrational” - anxiety is a normal human emotion, and treating it like “the problem” only makes it worse.

If you’re finding that your anxiety is getting in the way of your life, too hard to handle, or harming your relationships - you should go to therapy. A trained therapist can help you understand your anxiety response better, learn skills to manage it, and help you get back to doing what’s important, without interference from anxiety.

Some signs that anxiety therapy could benefit you right now:

• You can’t seem to stop worrying.

• You’re having trouble getting or staying asleep, especially if your mind is racing.

• You can’t seem to stand up for yourself - in your family, at work, with friends, etc. - out of fear that they’ll be mad at you.

• You’re avoiding taking the leap on something you want to accomplish, such as going back to school or changing jobs, because you doubt you can actually do it.

• Being in public feels scary.

• You find yourself struggling to breathe or slow your heart rate down on a regular basis, but your doctor says there’s nothing medically wrong with you.

• You’re eating a lot more or a lot less than you usually do.

• You can’t seem to focus or be decisive.

• You’re feeling more irritable lately.

• You’re easily overwhelmed.

At Metamorphosis, we first ask you relevant questions to best match you with a great fitting therapist (even if that’s not one of our therapists!). Then, we gather information from you via our easy to use client portal and schedule your first session. Then, you see your therapist and get started feeling better! We know that it helps to know what to expect, so our administration and therapists are happy to answer any questions you may have about the process.

It’s completely understandable to be anxious about your first therapy session. In your first one or two sessions, you will ease into treatment with your therapist, going at your pace. Your therapist will talk you through what to expect from them, and answer any questions you may have. Then, your therapist will review your intake paperwork with you and ask questions about your experiences to help them determine how best to help you. Finally, your therapist will work with you to identify treatment goals that you’re comfortable with!

Anxiety therapy can definitely help with physical symptoms! Learning ways to better manage your thoughts and feelings can help you to recognize the signs of upcoming physical symptoms, as well as feel less anxious about them in general. That way, you may be able to do something so they don’t show up at all - or, if they do show up, you aren’t as bothered by them!

Medication isn’t a requirement of anxiety treatment at Metamorphosis Counseling. Some clients find medication to be helpful - if that’s you, we’d be happy to collaborate with your prescribing doctor to ensure everyone is on the same page for your mental health recovery. While we don’t prescribe medication at Metamorphosis Counseling, if you’re interested in starting medication and don’t have a prescribing provider, we’d be happy to provide you with referrals to providers we know and trust!

We do offer anxiety therapy for teens and young adults in Erie! We have several therapists who specialize in working with teens and young adults, and would be happy to help!

Therapy is one of the best solutions for social anxiety! Our therapists can help you to determine what your social anxiety is limiting you from, and how you can socialize at your pace. Our therapists assist you in finding the delicate balance between doing something that is anxiety-provoking and challenging, but not so challenging that you avoid it or run from it. Our therapists take the time to experiment with you and on your terms - so that you can determine the unique combination of coping strategies that work best for you!

Absolutely! Our therapists can help you to determine what exactly is going on that stresses you out, and how best to manage your stress. Whether it’s time to find a new job or major, or whether you’re committed to your current path and just need to get through the tough days, we’re here to help!

Therapy for anxiety often can be done on a short-term basis over just a few months. However, there are several factors that determine that - for example, how ready you are to make change, how willing you are to dive into your mental health (even when it gets hard), attending your sessions regularly, and how open you are with your therapist, just to name a few.

Clients who attend therapy regularly (usually weekly or biweekly to start), practice their skills outside of session, and keep their therapy work in mind throughout the time between sessions often show the best and fastest outcomes.

Yes! Telehealth treatment (AKA virtual therapy, teletherapy, virtual visits) is every bit as effective as in-person therapy (Bulkes et al, 2022) and often more convenient (don’t have to leave your house, take a ton of time off of work, or worry about transportation to and from appointments). When you have anxiety, it can feel overwhelming to drive to a new place and meet a new person. With telehealth, you can be in your own space and focus solely on getting to know your therapist.

More often than not, yes! Anxiety is a disorder for which therapy is typically covered - ask your insurance provider for more specifics. Metamorphosis Counseling is in network with most commercial, non-Medicaid plans from Anthem, Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Highmark, Meritain, Optum, and United Healthcare.

Click here to fill out our contact form anytime, day or night! If you’d prefer to talk with us directly, call or text 814-273-6270 (option 2) Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.