Anxiety & Stress Therapy Online | Florida & Pennsylvania
Your Body Never Got the Memo That You're Safe
The racing heart, the tight shoulders, the mind that won't stop — there's a reason relaxation techniques haven't been enough.
Does This Sound Like You?
You don't have to relate to all of these — many people recognize just a few patterns and still benefit from this work.
You know you're "supposed" to relax. You've tried the apps, the breathing exercises, maybe even therapy before. But your body isn't cooperating — and no one has fully explained why.
You can never fully relax, even when nothing is actively wrong — there's always a low hum of tension in the background
Your mind races, especially at night, replaying conversations or anticipating problems that may never happen
You've been told it's "just stress" or "just anxiety" — but it doesn't feel like "just" anything when you're living it
You have physical symptoms that seem connected to stress: tension headaches, stomach issues, jaw clenching, trouble sleeping
You've tried meditation apps, breathing techniques, or talk therapy — they help a little, but nothing has really shifted the underlying pattern
You push through everything because stopping feels impossible — and then crash when you finally have downtime
If you're nodding along, you're in the right place.
Why Anxiety Treatment Hasn't Been Enough
Most anxiety treatment focuses on managing symptoms in the moment — calming techniques, thought reframing, medication. These approaches can provide relief, and they're valuable tools. But for many people, something keeps the pattern going underneath.
Sometimes the missing piece is your nervous system.
When your nervous system learns to stay on high alert — constantly scanning for danger, even when you're safe — it keeps generating stress responses no matter how many deep breaths you take.
This isn't a character flaw. It's not that you're not trying hard enough. It's a learned pattern in your brain and body. And learned patterns can be unlearned.
To be clear: I'm not saying anxiety isn't real, or that you can just "think positive." Nervous system dysregulation is a physiological state with measurable effects — and it responds to specific, evidence-based approaches that work with your body, not against it.
Does More Than One of These Sound Familiar?
When anxiety has a nervous system component, you often see patterns like these — multiple symptoms, physical manifestations, and coping strategies that help in the moment but don't resolve the underlying state. The more of these you recognize, the more this approach may help.
Anxiety Patterns:
Generalized worry that jumps from topic to topic
Social anxiety or fear of judgment
Panic symptoms (racing heart, shortness of breath, chest tightness)
Health anxiety — constantly monitoring your body for something wrong
Performance anxiety or fear of failure
Stress-Related Physical Symptoms:
Tension headaches or migraines
IBS, nausea, or digestive issues
Jaw clenching or TMJ
Muscle tension (especially neck, shoulders, back)
Insomnia or unrefreshing sleep
Patterns That Keep You Stuck:
Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes
Difficulty saying no or setting boundaries
People-pleasing that leaves you depleted
Pushing through instead of resting
Chronic overwhelm despite being "high-functioning"
How I Help You Change the Pattern
I don't just help you manage anxiety. I help your nervous system learn that it's safe to come out of high alert — by working with it instead of against it. You don't need to understand the science or know which of these fits your situation. That's what we figure out together. Every choice we make — about approach, pace, and focus — follows what feels right and safe for you.
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Many people carry anxiety that's rooted in past experiences — times when they felt unsafe, overwhelmed, or powerless. These experiences can leave the nervous system stuck on high alert, even years later.
EMDR helps your brain reprocess these stuck experiences so they stop driving your anxiety in the present. Current research suggests EMDR works by engaging working memory with a dual attention task while you hold a distressing memory in mind — this reduces the memory's emotional intensity and allows it to be stored in a less distressing form.¹ It's particularly effective when anxiety is connected to specific memories, patterns from childhood, or overwhelming experiences.
EMDR is recognized by the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association as an effective treatment for trauma-related conditions. I'm trained in both standard EMDR and specialized protocols, with attention to how the nervous system's sense of safety affects the processing.
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Have you ever noticed that part of you wants to relax while another part is convinced you can't afford to let your guard down? Or that part of you knows you're overreacting, but another part can't stop the worry spiral?
We all have different parts — different aspects of our personality that sometimes conflict with each other. Parts work (drawing from approaches like Internal Family Systems and Ego State Therapy) helps you understand these internal dynamics: the part that's hypervigilant, the part that catastrophizes, the part that pushes through no matter what.
These parts developed for good reasons. They're trying to protect you. But when they work against each other — or get stuck in overdrive — they can keep your nervous system on high alert. Internal Family Systems (IFS), one of the key parts-based approaches I draw from, has been recognized as an evidence-based practice by SAMHSA's National Registry, rated "effective" for improving general functioning and well-being, and "promising" for phobias, panic, and generalized anxiety.² When these protective parts feel understood, they can start to relax and let go.
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Anxiety and sleep problems often feed each other. Racing thoughts make it hard to fall asleep; poor sleep makes anxiety worse the next day. Research shows that sleep deprivation significantly increases emotional reactivity — one study found a 60% increase in amygdala reactivity to negative stimuli after sleep deprivation, along with reduced connectivity to the brain regions responsible for emotional regulation.³
If sleep issues are contributing to your anxiety, we can address them as part of our work together using CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) — the approach recommended as first-line treatment by the American College of Physicians.⁴
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Anxiety lives in the body as much as the mind. The racing heart, the tight chest, the shallow breathing — these aren't just symptoms to push through. They're information about what your nervous system is doing.
I'll help you develop awareness of your body's signals and learn to work with them rather than fight against them. This isn't about forcing relaxation — it's about understanding what your body needs to feel safe enough to calm down.
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Your nervous system doesn't exist in a vacuum. Sleep, nutrition, gut health, and inflammation all affect how your brain processes stress and anxiety. I'm certified in integrative mental health (CIMHP) — which means I'm trained to understand these connections, identify what might be contributing to your symptoms, and help you make changes that support your nervous system. When appropriate, I may suggest labs or supplements to explore with your doctor. I work alongside your medical providers, not in place of them.
Research can’t predict your individual outcome — but it helps explain why this approach makes sense for many people who feel stuck.
Why This Approach Is Different
If you’ve had helpful therapy before, this isn’t replacing that work — it’s building on it.
I focus on the nervous system piece. Many excellent providers address the cognitive, behavioral, or biochemical aspects of anxiety. I focus specifically on the nervous system — how it processes threat signals, generates stress responses, and can learn to do things differently. This often complements the work you're doing with other providers.
I address what's underneath, not just what's on top. Coping strategies help you get through the day. This work aims to change the underlying pattern — so your nervous system doesn't generate as much distress in the first place.
I see the connection between mind and body. Your stomach issues, your tension headaches, your jaw clenching — these aren't separate problems. They're all expressions of a nervous system that doesn't feel safe. Treating them in isolation misses the bigger picture.
I help you make sense of what's happening. You won't just get techniques. You'll develop an understanding of why your body does what it does — and why that understanding can be part of what helps it shift.
I look at the whole picture. Sleep, gut health, inflammation, and nutrition all affect your nervous system. I'm trained to see how these pieces connect and help you address them — working alongside your medical providers when needed.
Is This Right For You?
This Approach May Help If:
You can never fully relax, even when nothing is "wrong"
Your body is stuck in fight-or-flight — racing heart, tight shoulders, restless mind
You have physical symptoms connected to stress (digestive issues, tension headaches, trouble sleeping)
You've tried meditation or breathing exercises but they don't stick or don't feel like enough
You want to feel actually calm, not just distracted from the anxiety
You're open to approaches that work with the body, not just the mind
You suspect past experiences or patterns may be driving your current anxiety
I May Not Be the Best Fit If
You're looking for someone to prescribe medication (I'm a therapist, not a prescriber — though I'm happy to collaborate with your prescriber)
You want traditional talk therapy without a focus on the body or nervous system
You're seeking treatment specifically for OCD — this requires specialized approaches that aren't my focus
You're currently struggling with alcohol or drug use — the nervous system work we do requires a stable foundation, so I ask that clients be in recovery for at least a year before we begin this type of work (this isn't a moral judgment — it's about setting you up for success)
You need in-person sessions (I practice online only)
You're looking for therapy for a child or teen — I work with adults only
Still Not Sure?
Book a free consultation. There's no pressure — it's just a chance for us to talk through what you're experiencing and whether this approach makes sense for you. If I'm not the right fit, I'll point you toward someone who might be.
What Treatment Looks Lik
Initial Phase (First 1-3 Sessions)
We start by understanding your full picture — not just your anxiety symptoms, but your history, your physical symptoms, your patterns, what you've already tried, and what your nervous system needs. I'll explain how I think about what's happening and we'll map out a direction together.
Active Treatment Phase
This is where the change happens. Depending on what you need, we might:
Process past experiences that keep your nervous system on high alert (EMDR)
Work with protective parts that are stuck in overdrive (Parts Work)
Build skills for working with your body's stress response (somatic awareness)
Address sleep patterns that are fueling anxiety (CBT-I)
Sessions are active — we're not just talking about your anxiety, we're working to change the pattern that creates it.
As Things Shift
As your nervous system learns it's safe to come out of high alert, people often notice changes beyond just feeling less anxious: better sleep, fewer physical symptoms, more capacity for enjoyment, less reactivity. We'll track these shifts and adjust our focus as you progress.
What Results Can You Expect?
Every person is different, and I won't promise specific outcomes or timelines. What I can say:
Many people notice shifts within the first few sessions — moments of genuine calm, reduced physical symptoms, less grip of the worry spiral
Some people need considerably more time, especially if anxiety is connected to complex patterns or extensive history
The changes tend to be lasting because we're addressing the root pattern, not just managing symptoms
The goal isn't to never feel anxious again — anxiety is a normal human experience. The goal is for your nervous system to be able to regulate itself, so anxiety doesn't run your life.
If progress feels slower than you hoped, that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. We adjust together at a pace your nervous system can handle.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Different therapy approaches work at different levels. Some focus primarily on changing thought patterns (cognitive therapy), others on developing coping skills, and others on talking through experiences. These approaches can all be valuable. What I do works at a different level — directly with the nervous system and the patterns that keep it stuck on high alert. Rather than just managing anxiety, we're addressing what's driving the nervous system to generate so much of it. Many people find these approaches complement each other.
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EMDR uses dual attention tasks (eye movements, tapping, or audio tones) while you hold a memory or experience in mind. Current research suggests this works by engaging working memory — when your brain is occupied with the dual task, it has less capacity to hold onto the emotional intensity of the memory, allowing it to be reprocessed in a less distressing form.¹ You stay fully conscious and in control the whole time — it's not hypnosis, and you won't be "re-living" trauma. Most people find it much easier than they expected.
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No. While EMDR is often associated with big "T" trauma (accidents, abuse, violence), the nervous system can get stuck in high alert for many reasons. These might include: growing up with high expectations or criticism, invalidating or emotionally unavailable caregivers, demanding or toxic work environments, medical procedures or chronic illness, immigration or cultural adjustment, periods of prolonged stress or overwhelm, or simply accumulating too much for too long without support. We don't need to find a specific traumatic event to address what's happening in your body now.
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Many therapy approaches work primarily with thoughts and talk. If your anxiety is rooted in your nervous system and body, talking about it may not be enough. The approaches I use work directly with the body's stress response, which often reaches patterns that talk therapy alone doesn't address. That said, previous therapy may have been exactly right for what it was designed to address — if it didn't specifically target the nervous system, there may still be an important piece to address.
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This varies significantly. Some people notice meaningful shifts in several sessions. Others with more complex patterns or extensive history need longer. For those who want accelerated progress, I also offer therapy intensives — concentrated sessions that can create significant shifts in a day or weekend. We can explore what approach makes sense during our consultation, though I won't be able to give you an exact timeline upfront since everyone's path is different.
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Medication and this approach can work together. Some people find they need less medication as their nervous system becomes better regulated; others continue medication throughout. I'm happy to collaborate with your prescriber. The only consideration is that certain medications (particularly benzodiazepines taken regularly) can sometimes make nervous system-focused work less effective — this is something we can discuss.
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I'm a private-pay practice. Sessions are $200 for 50 minutes. I don't bill insurance directly, but I provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement — many PPO plans cover a meaningful portion. [See my Investment page for a full breakdown and step-by-step guide →]
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It means I look at more than just your thoughts and emotions — I look at the whole picture. Sleep, nutrition, gut health, inflammation, and your nervous system all connect. I'm certified in integrative mental health (CIMHP), which means I'm trained to understand these connections and help you address them. I don't prescribe supplements or replace your doctor, but I can help you understand what might be contributing to your symptoms and coordinate with your other providers.
Ready to Feel Genuinely Calm?
If you're tired of just managing anxiety and ready to address what's keeping your nervous system stuck, let's talk.
I work with clients throughout Florida — including the Orlando and Tampa Bay areas — and across Pennsylvania, all via telehealth. Sessions available in Mandarin (普通话)