Signs You May Benefit From Anxiety Therapy:
- Overthink conversations or decisions
- Struggle with sleep due to worry
- Avoid social or professional situations
- Experience panic symptoms
- Feel “on edge” most of the time
- Have difficulty concentrating due to stress
Early treatment prevents anxiety from becoming more severe or chronic.
What Is Anxiety Therapy?
Anxiety therapy is structured, evidence-based counseling designed to reduce excessive worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, and stress-related symptoms.
At Palo Alto Therapy, we primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — the gold standard treatment for anxiety disorders.
Children
Children with anxiety often struggle with worries, school stress, or separation fears. Therapy helps them feel safe expressing their feelings while learning calming and confidence-building skills.
Teens & Young Adults
Anxiety can show up as stress, overthinking, social pressure, or feeling overwhelmed. Therapy gives teens practical tools to manage anxiety, build confidence, and feel more in control.
Adults
Adults often experience anxiety related to work stress, relationships, parenting, and life transitions. Therapy helps reduce overwhelm, quiet racing thoughts, and build healthier coping strategies.
Types of Anxiety We Treat
Our therapists help clients experiencing many forms of anxiety, including:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Social Anxiety
- Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
- Health Anxiety
- School Anxiety
- Separation Anxiety
- Performance Anxiety
- OCD-related anxiety
Our Approach to Anxiety Therapy
We combine evidence-based techniques with a compassionate and collaborative style. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides a strong foundation, we tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs and experiences. Together we work to better understand patterns that contribute to anxiety and develop practical tools that promote confidence, resilience, and lasting change.
You don’t have to manage anxiety alone. Support is available to help you feel calmer, more confident, and back in control. Contact us today to book an in-person or telehealth appointment.
Call (650) 461-9026
Text (650) 461-9026
Book an appointment online
Other therapeutic approaches may be incorporated based on your needs, including:
Mindfulness Practices
Such as breathwork, guided focus exercises, and structured reflection can build awareness and focus.
Play Therapy for Children
Play therapy provides a safe and developmentally appropriate way for children to explore their worries and learn how to manage anxious feelings. Through guided play, children develop coping skills, build confidence, and practice new ways of responding to stress in a supportive environment.
Family Therapy
When anxiety affects a child or teen, it often impacts the entire family. Family therapy helps parents and children learn supportive strategies to reduce anxiety and strengthen communication.
With convenient office locations in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Jose, we proudly serve the entire Silicon Valley community – from Stanford University and the Peninsula to the South Bay, offering easy access for tech professionals, students, and families.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including exposure exercises, is considered the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders.
Many clients see noticeable improvement within 8–12 sessions. Duration varies based on severity and goals.
Yes. We use CBT and exposure techniques specifically designed to reduce panic attacks.
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a research-based treatment that helps parents support children struggling with anxiety.
Rather than focusing on changing the child directly, SPACE works with parents to reduce accommodations that may unintentionally reinforce anxiety while increasing supportive responses that help children build confidence and independence.
We are an out of network provider however we submit claims on your behalf.
- Over 20 years experience providing therapy in the Bay Area
- Highly trained therapists
- Results focused & specialized approach to treating anxiety
- Flexible scheduling including Saturdays and evenings
It is common for children, teens, and even adults to feel unsure or distracted at the beginning of therapy.
Our therapists use developmentally appropriate and engaging approaches to help clients feel comfortable and involved in the process.
For children, this may include play-based techniques, while teens and adults benefit from collaborative and practical strategies.
Therapy moves at a pace that feels supportive so clients can gradually build comfort and engagement.
Anxiety can have a significant impact on relationships with partners, family members, and friends. When someone is struggling with constant worry, overthinking, or feeling overwhelmed, it can affect communication, create misunderstandings, and make it harder to feel connected to others.
Over time, anxiety may lead to reassurance-seeking, avoidance, irritability, or difficulty expressing emotions.
Therapy helps individuals and families better understand how anxiety shows up in relationships and develop healthier communication and coping strategies that strengthen connection and support.
Yes! Many people with anxiety also seek treatment for depression. Therapy provides tools to manage both, helping you feel more in control and resilient.
ADHD and anxiety can sometimes look similar, especially when it comes to restlessness, trouble focusing, and feeling overwhelmed. However, they stem from different causes:
- ADHD is primarily about attention regulation, impulsivity, and executive function challenges. People with ADHD may have difficulty starting or finishing tasks, staying organized, or managing time effectively.
- Anxiety is rooted in excessive worry or fear that often leads to avoidance behaviors. Someone with anxiety might have difficulty focusing because they are preoccupied with anxious thoughts, whereas someone with ADHD may not be able to focus because their attention naturally shifts frequently.
Both conditions can occur together, and therapy can help differentiate between the two while providing strategies to manage each.
Yes! We offer in-person and video therapy sessions to make support accessible and convenient.
Recognizing Good Therapy
Evidence-Based
Specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we provide effective & caring counseling. Our therapists are passionate in delivering high-quality therapy & enhance their skills through the latest trainings.
Strong Relationships
Our relationship with you is valued & of highest importance. We are compassionate, respectful, & honest. Our professional counseling includes working side by side with you towards YOUR goals.
Short-Term & Focused
Our active therapists use tailored homework exercises to help you find relief in a timely manner. By keeping our meetings on track & targeting specific concerns we help you enjoy life again, usually in a matter of months not years.
Client Convenience
Appointments after 5pm & Saturdays, friendly administrative staff, & three locations: Palo Alto, Menlo Park, & San Jose. We help children, teens & adults, couples, & families. Video therapy available!
What Our Clients Are Saying…
Palo Alto Therapy does not just provide talk therapy, but focuses on teaching skills to maintain therapy. You have a genuine interest in the client’s well-being and you offered a new way of thinking about or means of addressing my issues.
What Our Clients Are Saying…
I liked the emphasis on doing concrete things to get results-writing down negative thoughts, trying to say things to counter those thoughts…Thank you for helping me make my life better.
What Our Clients Are Saying…
I found the homework exercises to be very helpful to me. I’ve been able to use techniques I have learned from those exercises to slow down my thoughts when problems arise and work through whatever the issue may be, OCD or otherwise.
Meet Our Team of Therapists in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, & San Jose working with Anxiety
Hong-Ha Vuong, AMFT, APCC
Hannah Bodin, AMFT
Sarah Partridge, ASW
Sarah Chelew, AMFT
Sarah Covert, AMFT
Get Support for Anxiety Today. Our anxiety therapists provide in-person therapy in Palo Alto and work with clients throughout Menlo Park, San Jose, Los Altos, Mountain View, and the surrounding Silicon Valley communities.
Compassionate, evidence-based therapy to help you feel calmer, more confident, and back in control.