CALM STARTS HERE

Frequently Asked Questions - Anxiety, OCD, Chronic Illness

Why does my anxiety feel physical, not just mental?

Anxiety often lives in the body as tension, racing heart, shortness of breath, nausea, or dizziness. These sensations reflect nervous system activation rather than danger. Therapy helps you understand and work with these physical responses rather than fearing them.

Do you use exposure therapy for OCD and anxiety?

I take a nervous-system-informed approach to OCD and anxiety. When working with avoidance or compulsive behaviors, therapy is paced carefully and collaboratively, focusing on safety, choice, and emotional regulation rather than forcing exposure. This is a gentler approach that is as effective without activating the nervous system unnecessarily.

Can therapy help if I feel anxious all the time?

Yes. Many clients live in a near-constant state of stress or vigilance without realizing it. Therapy helps identify these patterns, reduce baseline anxiety, and support your nervous system in finding rest and regulation again.

Can therapy help with health anxiety?

Yes. Therapy for health anxiety focuses on understanding fear of bodily sensations, reducing reassurance-seeking or checking behaviors, and helping your nervous system learn that uncertainty does not equal danger. This can significantly reduce distress and preoccupation with symptoms.

What is the difference between anxiety and OCD?

Anxiety often involves excessive worry or fear about future events, while OCD includes intrusive thoughts and urges to perform behaviors or mental rituals to reduce distress. Both are driven by the nervous system’s attempt to create safety, and therapy focuses on reducing fear-based cycles rather than eliminating thoughts entirely.

What is the difference between health anxiety and OCD?

No. While practical strategies can be helpful, therapy also addresses the emotional and nervous-system impact of living in a world that often feels misaligned. We work with stress, shame, identity, masking, and emotional intensity, not just to-do lists.

How does chronic illness affect anxiety and mental health?

Living with chronic illness places ongoing demands on the nervous system. Unpredictability, pain, fatigue, and medical stress can increase anxiety, low mood, and emotional exhaustion. Therapy offers support for both the psychological and nervous-system impacts of chronic illness.

How can therapy help with anxiety and chronic worry?

Therapy helps you understand how anxiety functions in your body and mind, reduce nervous system hyperarousal, and develop tools to respond differently to worry rather than getting pulled into it. Over time, this can lead to feeling calmer, more grounded, and better able to tolerate uncertainty.

If anxiety, worry, or chronic stress is interfering with your quality of life, therapy can help you feel more grounded, supported, and capable of navigating uncertainty. You are welcome to book a consultation to see whether this approach feels right for you.

What approaches do you use for anxiety, OCD, and chronic illness?

My work integrates polyvagal-informed therapy, ACT, parts work, narrative therapy, and trauma-informed care. Sessions are collaborative and tailored to your specific experiences, nervous system capacity, and goals.

Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy?

No diagnosis or referral is required. You are welcome to begin therapy whether you are formally diagnosed or simply experiencing anxiety, health worries, or stress that feels difficult to manage alone.

Do you offer online therapy for anxiety and OCD?

Yes. I offer secure online therapy for adults experiencing anxiety, health anxiety, chronic illness-related stress, and OCD in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador. Online sessions provide flexibility, comfort, and accessibility.