What's one therapeutic approach that you've found surprisingly effective for anxiety disorders? How has it changed your practice?

In my experience, some of the best results with anxiety have come when I began using integrative functional psychiatry as part of treatment. The surprise was not that therapy or medication mattered less, but that progress accelerated once we also paid attention to underlying factors like disrupted sleep, nutritional gaps, inflammation, or hormonal imbalances. I worked with a patient who had cycled through multiple medications and traditional therapy without meaningful relief. Through a functional assessment, we discovered cortisol irregularities and low vitamin D levels that were worsening the anxiety. By combining targeted supplementation, adjustments in daily routines, and therapy that focused on both coping skills and stress reduction, the patient reported fewer panic episodes, better sleep, and a greater ability to stay engaged in sessions. I think that the shift came from treating the body and mind together rather than relying on one avenue alone. This experience has reshaped how I practice. I now view anxiety not only as a psychological challenge but also as a signal that the whole system needs attention. In my opinion, this model empowers patients because they begin to see concrete steps like nutrition, movement, and rest as part of their healing. Watching patients gain both stability and confidence through this broader approach has reinforced the value of moving beyond a single lens and embracing a whole-person perspective in psychiatric care.

One approach I have found surprisingly effective for anxiety is incorporating vagus nerve based regulation techniques. My learning about the vagus nerve has changed the way I think about anxiety because it highlighted how much the nervous system itself contributes to the maintenance and escalation of symptoms. For many years my work focused mainly on the cognitive and behavioural strategies that most psychologists are trained in. These remain valuable, but understanding the vagus nerve has opened up another pathway that works directly with physiology. In practice I now regularly introduce clients to tools that activate or soothe the vagus nerve. Tapping has been one of the most effective. I often guide clients to gently tap around the eyes, the lip, the chin, just above the collarbone and under the ribs. Clients often describe the rhythm of tapping as grounding and the physical action seems to help their body shift out of states of hyperarousal. I have found it especially helpful with clients who say they feel disconnected from their body or who report that talking alone does not help calm their anxiety. Alongside tapping I sometimes use humming, gargling, or orienting to the environment. These may sound unusual at first, but they target the same system of regulation and provide a very direct way of helping the body find calm. What has been particularly valuable is that these strategies offer an alternative set of skills alongside breathing exercises. Breathing is often the first technique people think of, and it is useful for many, but not everyone benefits from it. Some clients become more anxious when they are asked to focus on their breath. Others feel they are failing if breathing does not immediately make them calm. Having a set of vagus based techniques means I can offer something that bypasses these barriers. Instead of telling a client to keep trying breathing exercises that are not helping, I can show them tapping or humming or simple orienting practices and they often notice relief more quickly. This shift has broadened my toolbox in a meaningful way. I no longer see nervous system regulation as one size fits all. Rather, I see it as a menu of options that can be chosen and combined depending on what resonates with the individual client.

In my experience, one therapeutic approach that has been surprisingly effective for anxiety disorders is integrating trauma-informed care with individualized strategies that support both the mind and the body. This means creating a safe space where clients can explore their experiences while also receiving practical tools that are tailored to their specific needs. I think that what makes this effective is not just the techniques used but the collaborative process that allows the client to feel in control of their healing. I worked with a client who had lived with anxiety for years and felt discouraged by standard approaches that focused only on symptom management. We slowed down and personalized the process, combining talk therapy with practical self-regulation practices and education about how trauma and stress affect the nervous system. In my opinion, the combination of knowledge, emotional processing, and concrete strategies gave her a new sense of clarity. She began to see that anxiety was not a personal flaw but a natural response she could learn to manage differently. Over time, her symptoms decreased, her sleep improved, and she developed greater confidence in handling daily stress. The most surprising part was how quickly her sense of empowerment grew once she had both understanding and tools to support herself. This approach has changed my practice by reinforcing that anxiety treatment is most effective when it is integrative, trauma-informed, and adapted to each individual. I think that meeting clients in this way helps them build resilience and lasting coping skills rather than relying only on short-term relief.

One approach I've found effective in treating anxiety is to help people reconnect and build a relationship with their body's internal signals. It's called interoceptive awareness, and it basically means tuning into what's happening inside your body. These are things like breath, muscle tension, heartbeat and emotional sensations. Many folks with anxiety are living in their minds - looping in their racing thoughts and worried stories. When they begin to drop into the signals and sensations in their body, it helps them to feel more present and connected. There is a two-way street between body and mind, and we find that regulating one often helps regulate the other. Years of practicing this way has shown me the power of the mind-body connection, and sensory-informed mental health care. I regularly guide clients to pause, breathe, check in with their body, visualize, and soothe with their senses. Tending to, and soothing the body often helps calm and quiet the mind in ways that reasoning and talking strategies cannot reach.

Although I primarily treat anxiety disorders using evidence-based practices like CBT and ERP, I've found Brainspotting to be highly effective for some clients with anxiety. This is especially true when the anxiety stems from negative beliefs about the self, such as "People won't like me" or "I don't belong". Incorporating Brainspotting into my practice has allowed these clients to heal in a way that often can't happen with CBT or a relational approach alone. Sometimes those negative core beliefs are really sticky and no matter how much cognitive work we do, they're still holding onto that idea that in some way they're not good enough. Brainspotting lets us examine the memories behind those beliefs and rewire the neural pathways that got them from point A (the original event) to point B (the belief they developed in response to the event).

In my experience as a birth trauma coach, one approach that has been surprisingly effective for anxiety disorders is guiding clients to revisit and reshape the story of their birth experience in a safe and supportive way. This narrative work often becomes the key that unlocks long-held patterns of fear and worry. Many clients carry anxiety because their birth or reproductive stories have never been fully told, and the emotions connected to those events remain unresolved. I once worked with a client who had lived with anxiety for years despite trying several traditional treatments. She had gone through a traumatic birth but avoided speaking about it because it felt too overwhelming. When she finally began sharing the story in small pieces, she was able to give language to feelings she had kept buried. As she worked through the details, she discovered that the anxiety she felt in daily life was connected to unprocessed emotions from that experience. The change was powerful. Her anxiety lessened, and she described feeling lighter and more present in her relationships. For me, this reinforced how important it is to create space for clients to voice their birth story and explore what it means to them. Narrative work not only reduces symptoms but also restores a sense of agency. I think that helping clients reclaim their story allows them to view themselves with more compassion, which in turn supports lasting healing and resilience.

One surprisingly effective approach for anxiety disorders is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). At first, I was skeptical, ACT seems less structured than CBT. But many clients, especially those who feel exhausted by trying to control or eliminate their anxious thoughts, thought ACT provides real relief. Rather than pushing back against the anxiety, clients learn to recognize it, accept the feeling, and can then adjust their focus on living in alignment with their values. In practice, this has shifted a lot of focus away from symptom elimination and towards building psychological flexibility to acknowledge and accept. It's important to use metaphors, mindfulness exercises, and value-based goal setting during this process with clients to help reduce anxiety and significantly increase satisfaction in their lives. Overall, therapy isn't only about reducing distress, it's also about helping people live meaningfully with purpose, even with anxiety, depression or other feelings present.

A helpful therapy strategy I've discovered to be quite effective in treating anxiety disorders is psychoeducation and mindfulness-based techniques. Several patients at first anticipate mere medication change. But once I have a chance to discuss the biological origins of anxiety, typical causes, and the ways the body reacts, it tends to alleviate their fear and make them feel empowered. Pairing these with basic mindfulness techniques—such as guided breath or grounding—gives them real-time tools they can utilize. It has revolutionized my practice by causing me to realize that empowerment is as therapeutically valuable as meds. Patients who comprehend their illness and possess the ability to self-regulate are more invested, less resistant and more optimistic. It reinforced my commitment to whole-person care, with listening, education and skill-building incorporated into treatment and building resilience over the long term versus symptom management.

Anxiety disorders are incredibly common in my line of work. People have an overwhelming amount of fear and stress, and it can be a huge barrier to their recovery. We can talk about the root causes of their anxiety all day long, but they need real tools they can use in the moment. The therapeutic approach that I've found surprisingly effective is to use mindfulness and a connection to the body. A person with anxiety is often living in their head, lost in a a a a a a a spiral of thoughts. My job is to help them get out of their head and into their body. A simple exercise like a deep breathing or stretching can completely change a person's mental state. It has completely changed my practice by making me a more holistic and present professional. I learned that my job is not just to talk to a person about their anxiety. It's to give them tools to manage it in their body. I've seen clients who were able to completely change their life by learning how to be present in their own body. My advice is simple: the most powerful thing you can do for a person is to teach them to be present in their own body and in their own life.

For me, one therapeutic approach that has been surprisingly effective in treating anxiety disorders is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. What makes this approach stand out is how it shifts the focus from trying to eliminate anxious thoughts to changing the way clients relate to them. Instead of battling with their anxiety, clients learn to notice their thoughts, acknowledge them without judgment, and then choose behaviors that align with their deeper values. That shift often brings more relief than the constant effort to suppress or control anxious experiences. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, I have seen how this approach is powerful when working with individuals who also struggle with addiction. Many clients use substances as a way to escape or numb overwhelming anxiety. When they learn through therapy that the goal is not to erase discomfort but to build tolerance for it while still pursuing meaningful actions, they begin to break the cycle of avoidance. Watching clients move from numbing their pain to actively engaging in healthier coping strategies has been one of the most rewarding parts of integrating this model. This approach has changed my practice by reminding me that progress often comes from small, values-based steps rather than dramatic breakthroughs. I think that it has deepened my focus on helping clients reconnect with what matters most to them, whether that is rebuilding relationships, achieving sobriety, or simply finding peace in their daily lives. I combine ACT(Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) with a strong understanding of addiction to support clients in building resilience, reducing relapse risk, and managing anxiety in a way that feels both empowering and sustainable.

My name is Naomi Duffy and I am a Licensed and Certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trauma specialist. I work as a trauma-focused psychotherapist and have almost eight years in the field. I have a background specializing in trauma and substance misuse treatment. My schooling is in Social Work and I currently practice in the state of California. I also hold a New York license as well. Because I am specialized in the EMDR modality I use it as my main modality to treat most symptoms, including anxiety. I have also found utilizing EMDR with mindfulness practices is incredibly beneficial to bring more awareness to the mind-body connection. Often our anxiety happens for a reason, and by utilizing mindfulness, we can bring awareness to the somatic symptoms. It is through this awareness and growing the mind-body connection that can lead to relief with the anxiety.

I've found that exposure therapy can be surprisingly effective for treating anxiety disorders. In my practice, I started incorporating gradual, controlled exposure exercises for clients who struggled with phobias or social anxiety, and the results were striking. By helping them face their fears in a structured and supportive way, I've seen clients build confidence and reduce avoidance behaviors much faster than with traditional talk therapy alone. This approach has changed my practice by shifting the focus from just understanding anxiety to actively confronting it in manageable steps. I now integrate small, measurable exposure tasks into most treatment plans, which allows clients to see tangible progress week by week. It's also reinforced the importance of customizing exercises to each individual, because what feels safe for one person might be overwhelming for another. Overall, exposure therapy has become a cornerstone in how I approach anxiety treatment.

Mindfulness-based practices have proven effective in treating anxiety disorders by promoting present-moment awareness and reducing negative thoughts. This approach has influenced mental health professionals to adopt mindfulness techniques, improving client interactions and outcomes. In business, these principles enhance decision-making and client relationships by encouraging authenticity during negotiations. A wellness company exemplifies this by integrating mindfulness features, like guided meditation, into their mental health apps.

Every morning, I write down the top three things I must get done. It is simple, but that small step forces me to focus on priorities and ignore the endless distractions that pop up throughout the day. I do not aim to list everything, just the three things that truly move the needle. That clarity helps me feel in control instead of overwhelmed, which reduces stress and helps me execute more effectively. Because I am not trying to juggle a hundred small tasks at once, my energy stays higher, and I approach work with more focus and patience. When my team notices, it encourages them to do the same—pick their priorities, manage their time intentionally, and avoid burning out on busywork. It is amazing how something so small can ripple out and improve both personal productivity and the overall work environment.