Anxiety Panic OCD Therapy in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Fayetteville GA, Santa Fe, Providence RI
Anxiety Therapy, Panic Attack Therapy & OCD Therapy
Anxiety is part of being human. It’s the mind’s natural ability to imagine, anticipate, and plan in order to keep us safe. When functioning well, anxiety helps us prepare for challenges, avoid danger, and stay motivated. For example, worrying about an upcoming exam may push someone to study harder and perform better.
When anxiety becomes overwhelming, persistent, or out of proportion to real-life situations, it can interfere with relationships, work, physical health, and overall quality of life.
If anxiety is controlling your life rather than supporting it, therapy can help.
At The Center for Growth, licensed clinicians specialize in evidence-based anxiety therapy for children, teens, and adults. Treatment is tailored to the specific type of anxiety, the age of the client, and the psychological patterns driving symptoms.
When anxiety stops being helpful
You may benefit from anxiety therapy if you notice that:
-
Anxiety interferes with forming or maintaining relationships
-
Worry affects work, school, or decision-making
-
You experience physical symptoms such as stomach pain, headaches, or disrupted sleep
-
You feel constantly on edge or overwhelmed
-
You avoid people, places, or responsibilities due to fear
-
Thoughts feel intrusive, repetitive, or hard to control
Nearly 30% of people experience clinically significant anxiety at some point in their lives. Anxiety disorders are common—and highly treatable.
Anxiety therapy locations
Anxiety therapy is offered in:
-
Philadelphia, PA
-
Ocean City, NJ
-
Mechanicsville, VA
Fayetteville, GA
-
Providence, RI
-
Santa Fe, NM
Teletherapy options may also be available depending on location and clinical needs.
How anxiety therapy works
Our therapists use an integrative, evidence-based approach. Anxiety treatment is never one-size-fits-all.
Therapy approaches we use
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps clients understand how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact to maintain anxiety. Clients learn to challenge catastrophic thinking and change behaviors that reinforce fear.
Exposure Therapy & Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure-based treatments gradually help clients face feared situations, sensations, or thoughts, allowing anxiety to decrease naturally over time.
Mindfulness-Based Therapies
Including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), these approaches help clients relate differently to anxious thoughts rather than trying to eliminate them.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy explores the emotional and relational roots of anxiety. Increased insight often leads to long-term relief and greater emotional flexibility.
Lifestyle support
When appropriate, therapists may support changes related to sleep, exercise, nutrition, caffeine or alcohol use, and stress management.
Types of anxiety we treat
We provide specialized therapy for:
-
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
-
Panic Disorder and panic attacks
-
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
-
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
-
Specific phobias
-
Separation anxiety
-
Agoraphobia
-
Selective mutism
Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose an anxiety disorder. Therapy can still be effective even without a formal diagnosis.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves persistent worry about everyday concerns such as health, finances, relationships, school, or work. Individuals often feel stuck in ongoing dread or anticipation of disaster.
Common features include chronic worry, difficulty controlling anxious thoughts, muscle tension, fatigue, and sleep problems. Therapy focuses on reducing worry and restoring a sense of safety and control.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.
Common OCD themes include contamination, morality or religion, doubt and uncertainty, intrusive aggressive or sexual thoughts, symmetry, checking, and reassurance seeking.
Intrusive thoughts do not reflect intent or character. Specialized OCD therapy—particularly ERP—can significantly reduce symptoms and distress.
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Panic attacks involve sudden surges of intense fear that may include shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or fear of dying or losing control.
Panic Disorder includes ongoing fear of additional attacks and avoidance of triggers. Therapy helps break the fear–panic cycle and restore confidence and independence.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can develop after exposure to trauma and may persist long after the event. Symptoms can be triggered by reminders such as sounds, smells, places, or interpersonal situations.
Trauma-informed therapy helps individuals process experiences safely and regain emotional stability.
Social anxiety (social phobia)
Social anxiety involves fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social situations. Individuals may avoid interactions or replay them repeatedly afterward.
Therapy helps reduce avoidance, self-criticism, and excessive self-monitoring.
Separation anxiety
Separation Anxiety Disorder involves excessive distress when separated from loved ones or familiar environments. It can affect children, adolescents, and adults.
Therapy focuses on emotional security, independence, and age-appropriate coping skills.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia involves fear of situations where escape feels difficult, such as crowds, public transportation, or leaving home.
Therapy helps reduce avoidance and increase freedom through gradual, supported exposure.
Selective mutism
Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder in which a child who is capable of speech is unable to speak in certain settings, such as school.
Treatment focuses on reducing anxiety and supporting gradual, confidence-based communication.
Anxiety therapy can help
Anxiety disorders respond well to appropriate treatment. With the right therapeutic approach, people can reduce symptoms, understand their anxiety, and regain control of their lives.
