Anxiety Therapy for When Coping Isn’t Enough, in Fair Oaks & Online in California

For adults who feel stuck in anxious patterns, despite years of insight and coping

Free 20-minute video consultation available.

Anxiety as a Nervous System Pattern, Not a Personal Failure

Anxiety often develops as a way of coping, not a sign that something is wrong.
People arrive in therapy feeling tense, restless, or worn down after spending years managing anxiety in ways that once helped but no longer feel sustainable.

Anxiety disorders are explored with curiosity rather than labels.
Whether an anxiety disorder has been named or simply feels present in your body and thoughts, the focus is on understanding how these patterns formed as a way to protect you and what your system needs now.

There are ways to treat anxiety that don’t involve pushing yourself past your limits.
Therapy emphasizes steadiness and understanding, allowing relief to emerge naturally instead of forcing symptoms away.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps create more space around anxiety.
This approach supports noticing anxious thoughts and sensations without getting pulled into them, so you can move toward deeper nervous system work and meaningful change with greater flexibility.

Exposure therapy is introduced gently and with care.
Rather than confronting fears all at once, exposure therapy is often integrated through EMDR or IFS in a paced, nervous-system-informed way that helps anxiety soften without overwhelming you.

The pace of therapy adapts to your nervous system.
Sessions are collaborative and responsive, offering space to slow down, build capacity, and move forward in a way that feels manageable and lasting.

Hi, I'm Suzanne Cross, LCSW

BOOK A CONSULTATION

I work as an anxiety therapist with adults who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or worn down by long-standing patterns of anxiety, often after trying therapy before without lasting relief. My approach to anxiety treatment integrates evidence-based, trauma-informed therapies such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), helping you understand how anxiety developed and how it can soften over time.

Rather than focusing on symptom control alone, anxiety therapy here emphasizes nervous system awareness, self-understanding, and meaningful change. Our work is collaborative and carefully paced, offering a supportive space to explore your experiences, reconnect with yourself, and feel more present and grounded in daily life.

Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Education: Master of Social Work, University of Southern California

Additional areas of focus: Relational trauma, attachment issues, developmental trauma, post-traumatic stress, codependency and people-pleasing patterns, childhood emotional neglect, and somatic awareness. I offer personalized treatment plans for clients with diverse backgrounds and needs, addressing a variety of mental health conditions.

Location: Anxiety Treatment Fair Oaks, CA and virtual therapy

How to start anxiety therapy

Reach out in the way that feels easiest

Starting anxiety therapy often begins with a simple point of contact. You’re welcome to send a message through my contact form to share what’s been bringing you here, whether that’s ongoing worry, panic attacks, or a general sense that anxiety is affecting your everyday life. You don’t need to know exactly what to say or have a clear diagnosis - reaching out is enough.

Schedule a free consultation

If it feels supportive, you can schedule a free consultation. This brief conversation allows us to talk about what you’re experiencing, your mental health concerns, and what you’re hoping for from anxiety treatment. It’s also a chance to see whether working together feels like a good fit before committing to therapy.

Get oriented to what therapy could look like

If we decide to move forward, we’ll talk through what anxiety therapy might involve and which evidence-based interventions could be most helpful. This may include a variety of approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and meditation. Evidence-based care commonly includes providers using CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness, with CBT being a common treatment for anxiety. DBT is used to help patients with emotion regulation, and exposure therapy is effective for people dealing with fears and phobias. I use various evidence-based therapies with a mindfulness focus. This may include approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, along with other strategies designed to help you relate differently to anxiety rather than simply trying to stop worrying.

Begin therapy at a steady, supportive pace

From there, therapy becomes a place to slow down, build understanding, and work with anxiety in a way that supports lasting change. Therapy provides a safe and confidential space for individuals to share their experiences and work through anxiety. Treatment unfolds gradually, respecting your nervous system and helping you with developing effective coping strategies and navigating the challenges of anxiety. With the support of a therapist who can lead you through the process, these strategies translate into greater ease and flexibility in daily life.

Why Work with Suzanne

I look beyond symptoms to understand anxiety

As an anxiety therapist, I work with anxiety disorders by looking at the larger context of your life, history, and nervous system — not just the symptoms that show up on the surface. Anxiety is approached as a meaningful response rather than something that needs to be fixed or pushed away, which allows therapy to feel more compassionate and grounded.

I offer anxiety treatment that’s structured, but not rigid

My approach to anxiety treatment draws from evidence-based therapies while staying flexible and responsive to what you need. Therapy is collaborative and paced, helping you relate differently to anxious thoughts, physical sensations, and patterns that interfere with everyday life, without forcing change before you’re ready.

I focus on changes that carry into everyday life

The goal of our work isn’t just insight during sessions, but meaningful change you can feel outside of them. Over time, many people notice anxiety becoming less consuming, with more capacity for choice, connection, and ease in daily life.

UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY DISORDERS

The more you try to control it, the worse it often gets.

The paradox of anxiety is that the more we strive to control it, the more power it seems to gain over us. Attempting to suppress or manage every anxious thought or sensation often backfires, leading to increased tension and distress. This constant battle for control can amplify anxiety, creating a cycle of fear and apprehension that feels impossible to break.

Physical symptoms such as sweating and dizziness can also occur during anxiety or panic attacks. These symptoms may indicate the need for medical attention, especially if they are severe or persistent.

Anxiety is there for a reason.

Anxiety, at its core, is a natural survival mechanism designed to keep us safe. It's our brain's way of alerting us to potential threats and preparing us to respond to danger. In essence, it's like an internal alarm system that activates when it perceives a risk to our well-being.

You might even feel a sense of attachment to your anxiety, because it helps motivate you to "get stuff done". Perhaps it only becomes a problem when the anxiety seems bigger than what's called for, or it takes ahold of you in way that makes you feel out of control or unable to relax.

How can anxiety therapy help?

Therapy provides a safe and confidential space to explore the underlying causes of anxiety and develop coping mechanisms to manage its effects. Mindfulness and meditation are often incorporated into therapy to help manage anxiety by promoting relaxation, emotional balance, and present-focused awareness. You might be guided in challenging negative thought patterns, confronting fears in a gradual and controlled manner, and learning relaxation techniques to soothe an overactive nervous system. Additionally, therapy offers invaluable support and validation, helping you feel understood and empowered as you navigate your journey towards healing. By providing tools to navigate through anxious moments and addressing the root causes of anxiety, therapy equips you with the resources you need to reclaim control over your life and foster a greater sense of calm and resilience.

When another practice might be a better fit for your needs

Seeking Specialized Care for Substance Abuse, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Eating Disorders, and Severe Mood Conditions

If you are experiencing substance abuse, bipolar disorder, severe obsessive compulsive disorder, an eating disorder, or severe mood conditions, you may benefit from specialized programs designed to address these complex conditions. Intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization (PHP) programs in Fair Oaks offer structured, daily support for individuals with significant needs. Residential treatment centers provide 24/7 care for severe cases, ensuring comprehensive support and safety.

When reaching out to providers, it is best to contact them briefly to confirm if they are accepting new clients and your insurance.

FAQ'S About Anxiety Treatment

There are many evidence-based approaches used in anxiety treatment, and different people respond to different methods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-known treatments for anxiety and has strong research support, with outcomes comparable to medication for many people. Other approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based therapies, and behavioral strategies are also commonly used to help people manage anxiety symptoms and build coping skills. In some cases, therapy may be combined with medication, which can be helpful depending on the severity and presentation of anxiety. Exposure therapy is often used for phobias, panic, or social anxiety, supporting gradual engagement with feared situations. Research consistently shows that anxiety disorders are treatable, and that evidence-based care can lead to meaningful improvement in everyday life. My work often builds on this foundation by focusing not only on symptom management, but on how anxiety became organized in the nervous system in the first place. Using approaches like EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS), we can explore the underlying experiences, patterns, and protective responses that drive anxiety, allowing change to happen at a deeper level - often without requiring you to push yourself through techniques that feel overwhelming or disconnected from your lived experience.

When seeking anxiety treatment in Fair Oaks, you can choose from a variety of mental health professionals, each with unique backgrounds and areas in which they specialize. Many therapists in Fair Oaks offer personalized treatment plans for anxiety, ensuring care is tailored to your individual needs. When choosing a therapist, consider their professional background, areas of specialization, and experience with anxiety treatment, in addition to their specific license. This ensures you find a provider whose expertise and approach align with your needs.

Anxiety can show up in many ways, and everyone’s experience is unique. Common symptoms include excessive worry, restlessness, trouble sleeping, irritability, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, sweating, and dizziness. You might also notice physical symptoms like a racing heart, headaches, or stomach issues. Anxiety can impact your daily life, self-esteem, relationships, and interactions with loved ones, sometimes making it hard to trust, connect, or feel safe with those closest to you. If you find that anxiety is interfering with your well-being or affecting your relationships and loved ones, it’s important to seek help. Remember, this list isn’t exhaustive. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms or have concerns about your mental health, reaching out for support is a strong and positive step. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 to provide confidential support whenever you need it.