When Anxiety Starts Running the Day
Anxiety therapy is trauma-informed talk therapy that helps you understand what your nervous system is trying to protect you from, so symptoms like racing thoughts and panic can ease and steadier ways of coping can take hold. Katherine Barton, LMFT, an anxiety therapist in Orange County, offers it in person in Mission Viejo and online across California.
Anxiety is more than worry. It can feel like your body is on alert even when nothing is “wrong,” like you’re always scanning for problems or bracing for impact. Sometimes it shows up as panic. Other times it shows up as over-functioning (staying busy, staying productive, staying in control) because slowing down feels unsafe.
In anxiety therapy, we focus on reducing symptoms while also understanding what the anxiety is trying to do for you. When we address anxiety at the nervous-system level, not just the thought level, people often find more lasting relief.
Common Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety can be cognitive, emotional, physical, and relational. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America notes that anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health concerns, affecting millions of adults each year. You might recognize some of the classic signs, or you might just feel "on edge" most of the time.
- Excessive worry or persistent overthinking
- Panic attacks or sudden surges of fear
- Tight chest, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea
- Restlessness, irritability, or feeling keyed up
- Difficulty sleeping or waking up with dread
- Trouble concentrating, racing mind, mental fog
- Avoidance, procrastination, or decision paralysis
- People-pleasing, perfectionism, fear of disappointing others
- Intrusive thoughts or “what if” spirals
- Anxiety alongside low mood or numbness (see Depression Therapy)
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety often makes perfect sense when we look at the nervous system. If your body learned that the world is unpredictable, or that you had to stay vigilant to stay safe, anxiety may be your system's way of trying to protect you.
When anxiety is loud, we usually start with the body, because it is hard to reason with a racing heart. Somatic therapy helps it settle. Then CBT gives you ways to answer the worst-case thoughts, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps us understand the part of you that believes it has to stay on guard, often through control, over-responsibility, or self-criticism.
If anxiety is connected to trauma symptoms, trauma-specific support may be helpful: Trauma & PTSD Therapy.
“I'm so grateful for my therapist, Katherine, and the support I've received. From the very beginning, I felt heard, respected, understood, and comfortable. She creates a safe, judgment-free space where I can be honest and work through things at my own pace. I've learned so much about myself and gained tools that truly help in everyday life. I highly recommend Katherine Barton to anyone looking for a compassionate, patient, and knowledgeable therapist.”
What Anxiety Therapy Can Help With
Therapy can help you feel steadier, not by eliminating all anxiety, but by changing your relationship with it and strengthening your capacity to cope.
- Reduced frequency and intensity of panic and physical anxiety symptoms
- Tools for interrupting spirals and returning to the present
- Nervous-system regulation skills you can use in real time
- Healthier boundaries and less over-functioning (see Life Transitions)
- Support for relationship anxiety and attachment patterns (see Attachment Therapy)
- More confidence with decisions, change, and uncertainty
- A calmer internal voice and less self-criticism
Who I Work With
I provide anxiety therapy for adults and teens. Some clients are dealing with long-term generalized anxiety. Others are navigating panic, social anxiety, health anxiety, relationship anxiety, or anxiety tied to trauma history.
If anxiety is straining your relationship, couples counseling gives the two of you a place to work on it together. When the whole household is feeling it, family therapy brings everyone into the room.
What Sessions Look Like
Sessions are 50–60 minutes. We start by understanding your anxiety patterns: triggers, body signals, thoughts, and behaviors. From there, we build a plan that blends skills and deeper work.
Some sessions focus on practical tools: grounding, breathing, cognitive strategies, boundary scripts, and exposure planning when appropriate. Other sessions focus on underlying drivers: trauma, attachment dynamics, chronic stress, and the parts of you that learned to stay hypervigilant.
“Phenomenal. Life changing.”
Serving Mission Viejo, Orange County, and California
Anxiety therapy is available in-person in Mission Viejo. Clients also come from Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, and Aliso Viejo.
Online sessions are available across California through secure telehealth: Online Therapy.
Fees and Consultation
- Private pay practice
- Superbills available for out-of-network reimbursement
- Free 15-minute phone consultation
Getting Started
A free 15-minute phone consultation is available to explore fit. We’ll talk briefly about what you’ve been experiencing, what tends to trigger anxiety, and what support could look like from here.
If you are in immediate danger or need urgent support, please contact 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you need crisis support, you can also call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
“Working with Katherine has been truly life-changing. She helped me navigate some very difficult and painful chapters of my life with compassion, honesty, and steadiness. I always felt heard, supported, and respected, while also being gently challenged when I needed it. Her thoughtful guidance helped me reconnect with myself and move forward with clarity and confidence. If you're looking for a therapist who is both warm and incredibly effective, I cannot recommend her enough.”