WiseMind Counseling
Anxiety
Therapist in Denver, CO
Anxiety is a common mental health issue that affects millions of people around the globe, including teens and young adults in Denver. Anxiety is not limited to any particular age group, and teens and young adults in the area are no exception. It is essential to understand that anxiety can take many forms and manifest itself differently in individuals, requiring a unique approach to develop the right coping skills.
At WiseMind Counseling, Rachel Brown offers effective, evidence-based counseling services to help you manage the anxiety / depression symptoms your teenager may be facing.
Reasons to Work with an Anxiety Counselor
One of the common symptoms of anxiety is racing thoughts, which makes it difficult for individuals to focus on anything. They may also experience nervousness, which makes them feel uneasy and restless. Rapid breathing, another common symptom of anxiety, can lead to difficulty breathing and a feeling of suffocation. In some cases, people with anxiety may display obsessive thought patterns, wherein they keep thinking about the same thing over and over again. The most severe symptom of anxiety is often associated with feelings of panic, which can be overwhelming and may result in physical symptoms such as dizziness or heart palpitations.
The good news is that anxiety is treatable, and learning effective coping mechanisms can help individuals manage it. WiseMind Counseling believes in a holistic approach to mental health and I will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs and goals.
Stop Dealing with Anxiety On Your Own. Get Anxiety Therapy in Denver Today.
How Does Anxiety Affect Teens in Denver?
In Denver, where expectations around academics, sports, and future plans can weigh heavily on adolescents, it’s important to recognize when anxiety becomes more than just temporary stress. Seeking support from a professional—especially one who understands the unique experiences of teens in this area—can make a significant difference. With the right tools and a supportive environment, teens can learn to manage anxiety and feel more in control of their lives.
Getting Support
from an Anxiety Therapist Near You
Therapy is an effective tool that enables individuals to acknowledge and manage challenging emotions in a secure and non-judgmental environment with the aid of a trained therapist. Therapy promotes self-awareness, allowing individuals to identify and address physical symptoms associated with their emotions. Therapy also teaches individuals to recognize and challenge negative thought patterns using techniques such as dialectical behavioral therapy, thereby improving their mental and emotional well-being.
Located in Denver, Colorado, WiseMind Counseling offers confidential, affordable, and accessible counseling services to support teenagers and adults in prioritizing their mental health by properly dealing with symptoms of anxiety. I am Rachel Brown, and clients can receive personalized care, evidence-based therapy techniques, and guidance in promoting healthy self-care habits to cope with life’s challenges.
Contact me today to take the first step towards achieving emotional well-being and a brighter future.
Understanding More About Anxiety
Anxiety isn’t always easy to define—it’s a broad, layered experience that affects each person differently. On one hand, it’s a normal human response to stress or uncertainty. But when it starts to interfere with daily routines, relationships, or the ability to feel at ease in your own body, it becomes more than just occasional worry. For many, anxiety feels overwhelming, like it’s taken over both the mind and body.
It doesn’t present the same way in everyone. Some people experience anxiety in subtle, lingering ways, while others feel it hit all at once like a wave. It can show up in thoughts, emotions, and physical symptoms—sometimes all three at once. Here’s what that can look like:
Mental Signs
Anxiety often hijacks your thinking. You might find yourself stuck in cycles of worry that feel impossible to shut off, even when you know the thoughts aren’t helpful. That constant overthinking—what-if scenarios, self-doubt, or worst-case assumptions—can make it hard to focus or even fall asleep. Thoughts may race or loop endlessly, pulling you further away from the present moment.
Emotional Signs
Emotionally, anxiety can make you feel restless or uneasy, like something bad is about to happen even when there’s no clear reason why. Some people describe it as a looming sense of dread or the need to be on high alert. Others may find themselves more irritable than usual or constantly on edge, feeling like they’re just one small stressor away from snapping.
Physical Signs
The body often reacts just as intensely. Your heart may beat faster, your muscles may feel tight or sore, and your breathing may become shallow without you even realizing it. Some people feel shaky, sweaty, or dizzy. These symptoms are the body’s way of responding to what it perceives as danger—even when there’s no actual threat.
These experiences don’t always happen the same way every time. Some people only deal with a few symptoms. Others might feel them all at once. And depending on the situation, the intensity can shift—from a low buzz in the background to something that stops you in your tracks.
No matter how anxiety shows up for you, your experience is valid. If it’s interfering with your ability to live the life you want, it’s worth seeking support. Therapy can help you understand where the anxiety is coming from and offer tools that make it more manageable. You don’t have to push through it alone. There’s space for healing, and support is available.
Treating Anxiety with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has evolved into a trusted and flexible treatment for many mental health conditions, including anxiety. What sets DBT apart is its dual focus: it encourages individuals to accept their emotions while also teaching concrete strategies to change unhelpful behaviors. This balance between acceptance and change is particularly effective for managing anxiety, where distressing thoughts and physical symptoms can feel all-consuming.
DBT integrates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy with mindfulness, emotional regulation, and communication skills. Here’s how its core tools can support those living with anxiety:
Mindfulness: Staying Present Without Judgment
At the heart of DBT is mindfulness—the practice of tuning into the present moment with awareness and compassion. For people living with anxiety, the ability to stay grounded in the here and now can provide relief from spiraling thoughts. Mindfulness doesn’t try to eliminate anxiety, but it helps create some distance from it. This space allows for a more balanced, less reactive relationship with those anxious feelings.
Distress Tolerance: Riding Out the Storm
When anxiety peaks, it can be tempting to avoid the discomfort or reach for quick fixes that don’t truly help. DBT’s distress tolerance skills are designed for these exact moments. They offer immediate, practical tools to manage emotional overwhelm without slipping into unhealthy habits. These tools don’t make anxiety vanish, but they make it easier to move through it with greater control and less panic.
Emotion Regulation: Understanding What You Feel
Emotion regulation is another core pillar of DBT, and it plays a powerful role in managing anxiety. Many people with anxiety struggle to name what they’re feeling or know how to respond to those emotions. DBT offers guidance for identifying emotional states, understanding how they impact behavior, and using healthier strategies to respond—like opposite action or building up resilience through positive experiences.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Navigating Relationships with Confidence
Anxiety doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it often shows up in relationships, especially for those who experience social anxiety or struggle with assertiveness. DBT’s interpersonal effectiveness module offers tools like the DEAR MAN technique, which helps people learn how to communicate clearly and respectfully while standing up for their needs. These skills are especially useful in building stronger, more confident connections with others.
Cognitive Restructuring: Challenging the Fear Story
While DBT is not primarily a cognitive therapy, it incorporates elements that challenge distorted thinking. Skills like “check the facts” help individuals pause and evaluate their anxious thoughts. Are they supported by evidence? Are they based on assumptions or worst-case thinking? This kind of questioning helps reframe anxious thinking patterns and reduce their intensity over time.
Radical Acceptance: Letting Go of the Fight
One of the more transformative DBT concepts for anxiety is radical acceptance. Rather than resisting or trying to eliminate anxiety entirely, this practice encourages individuals to acknowledge it without judgment. Accepting what is—without resignation—can reduce emotional suffering and make room for compassion, patience, and clarity. It doesn’t mean giving in to anxiety; it means learning to work with it, not against it.
DBT offers a toolkit that can be adapted to the unique experiences of each person. For individuals dealing with anxiety, this therapy provides both immediate relief strategies and long-term growth. With the guidance of a skilled DBT therapist, these techniques can help your loved one move toward a calmer, more balanced life—one step at a time.
Contact WiseMind Counseling