Anxiety & Panic Therapy · Newington, CT
Anxiety is your alarm system stuck on. Let's reset it.
Racing thoughts, a tight chest, dread that arrives before your feet hit the floor. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people reach out to Ladder of Hope, and one of the most treatable, especially when therapy goes after the reasons your nervous system learned to stay on high alert.
Does this resonate?
This may be right for you if…
- Worry is constant and out of proportion, and you cannot switch it off.
- You have panic attacks or live in fear of the next one.
- Social situations, school, or work performance trigger dread.
- You have tried coping skills and they help, but not enough.
- You suspect old experiences are driving your present-day anxiety.
Why anxiety is more than "overthinking"
Anxiety is a body-first experience. Your brain's threat-detection system fires, adrenaline and cortisol flood in, and your thoughts race to explain the feeling. Telling yourself to calm down rarely works because the alarm is not coming from the thinking part of the brain.
Very often the alarm was set by earlier experiences: a chaotic home, a frightening medical event, years of bullying, a parent whose moods were unpredictable, a crisis you had to handle alone. Your nervous system learned that the world is not safe and it has been protecting you ever since. That is why Sarah treats anxiety with the same brain-based modalities she uses for trauma. When the underlying experiences are processed, the alarm quiets on its own.
What anxiety treatment looks like here
Sarah blends practical, skills-based work (cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness, nervous-system regulation, motivational interviewing) with EMDR, Brainspotting and ART to target the roots. You leave early sessions with tools you can use immediately, and the deeper work makes it so you need those tools less and less.
She works with generalized anxiety, panic attacks and panic disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, performance and test anxiety, OCD-related worry, and the anxiety that often travels with ADHD, depression, and life transitions.
Anxiety in teens and young adults
Adolescent anxiety often looks like irritability, school avoidance, stomachaches, perfectionism, or shutting down rather than visible worry. With 15+ years in Connecticut schools, Sarah recognizes those patterns quickly and knows how to help teens and their families without making the teen feel like the problem. Learn more about therapy for teens and young adults.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks are terrifying and exhausting, and the fear of the next one can shrink your life. Sarah helps clients understand what is happening in the body during panic, build a plan for the acute moments, and then use EMDR or ART to process the first or worst attacks, which frequently reduces or eliminates the cycle.
The process
What to expect
- 01
Understand the alarm
We map how anxiety shows up for you, what sets it off, and what may have taught your nervous system to stay on guard.
- 02
Build immediate tools
Regulation, grounding and cognitive strategies you can use this week for the acute moments.
- 03
Process the roots
EMDR, Brainspotting or ART to resolve the experiences underneath the anxiety so the alarm resets.
- 04
Expand your life
Re-engage with the things anxiety took: sleep, friendships, school, driving, travel, ambition.
Common questions
Anxiety Therapy FAQ
Still wondering about something? See all FAQs or reach out directly.
Can EMDR or Brainspotting help with anxiety even if I have no "trauma"?
Yes. These approaches target the experiences that taught your nervous system to over-react, which do not have to be dramatic to be powerful. Many clients with anxiety and no identified trauma respond very well.
Do you offer CBT?
Yes. Sarah uses cognitive behavioral strategies and motivational interviewing alongside brain-based therapies, choosing what fits each client.
How long does anxiety treatment take?
Many clients notice meaningful change within the first couple of months. Deeper, longer-standing anxiety takes longer, and intensives are available if you want to move quickly.
Do you treat panic disorder?
Yes. Panic attacks and panic disorder respond well to the combination of skills and reprocessing that Sarah uses.
Is anxiety therapy covered by insurance?
Yes. Standard sessions are covered by the plans Sarah accepts. Verify your benefits with a quick call, or ask at your consultation.
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Ready when you are
Take the first step on your journey of healing.
Reach out for a free consultation. Sarah will listen, answer your questions, and help you decide whether working together is the right fit.