Anxiety / Depression
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns and yet it can often feel highly isolating. Most people feel worry from time to time, anxiety becomes problematic when fear, worry, or nervousness are persistent, overwhelming or interfere with everyday life. Individuals can find it difficult to relax, concentrate, make decisions, sleep, be present, enjoy relationships or activities that once brought joy. Anxiety not only affects the mind but also the body.
Many experience symptoms such as a racing heart, muscle tension, restlessness, upset stomach, shortness of breath, dizziness, or panic. Others may constantly anticipate the worst outcome, overthink situations, seek reassurance, avoid people or places that are overwhelming. Over time, anxiety can make the world feel small and constricting, making life feel limiting.
Anxiety can also develop for a number of reasons, including genetics, stressful life experiences, unresolved trauma, stress, learned patterns of dealing with uncertainty or a loss of control. The good news is that anxiety is highly treatable! We are trained in many evidenced based therapies to treat anxiety, and often see results relatively quickly.
Depression
Depression is more than feeling sad or having a “low day”. It is a mental health condition that can affect the way you think, feel, and interact with life. Individuals with depression often describe feeling numb, hopeless, exhausted, or disconnected from things they once enjoyed. Depression can negatively affect sleep, appetite, concentration, motivation, relationships, and physical health making even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
There are many different reasons depression may develop. It may develop from stressful life events, unresolved trauma, ongoing relational difficulties, unhelpful thought patterns, chronic stress, loss, genetics, and brain chemistry. Sometimes there are clear reasons why depression may have developed while other times it may appear without an obvious cause. Whatever the reason is, depression is not a sign of weakness or failure, it is a treatable condition.
Our Approach to Treating Anxiety and Depression
At Gleason Counseling Services, we see each client as unique, with different backgrounds and stories. We work to understand our client’s symptoms, experiences, beliefs, relationships, and patterns that may be contributing to anxiety and depression.
Evidence-based therapies such as:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
These therapies can all be highly effective, depending on your needs. These approaches can help you identify unhelpful thought patterns, process painful experiences, regulate emotions, reconnect with your values, strengthen relationships, and get you back to a life filled with value and joy.
Healing from anxiety and depression is possible. Whether you’ve experienced these for a short time or for years, you don’t have to face it alone. We would like to support you in your path to enjoy your life again.
What does working with us look like?
At Gleason Counseling Services, we believe in building a trusting relationship first. We’ll move at a pace that feels safe, help you make sense of your symptoms, and walk alongside you as you take back the life and peace that anxiety and depression have been stealing. You don’t have to navigate the exhaustion or the worry alone. For those who want it, we’re glad to integrate faith into that journey—and for those who don’t, you’re just as welcome here.
Take the Next Step
Reach out when you’re ready. We’d be honored to walk alongside you.
