Anxiety Therapy
I provide anxiety therapy for adults who feel stuck in cycles of worry, panic, avoidance, or constant self-monitoring and want an evidence-based, practical approach that helps them live more fully, even when anxiety shows up.
I provide telehealth across California and Virginia, with limited in-person sessions in Folsom by appointment.
What keeps anxiety going?
Anxiety therapy in my practice focuses on the patterns that can keep anxiety going, not just the symptoms it produces. Those patterns often include worry and rumination that loop without resolving, avoidance of situations or sensations that feel threatening, and safety behaviors that quietly shrink daily life. I use an ACT-led approach to help you build more flexibility in how you respond to anxious thoughts, sensations, and urges, so anxiety has less influence over the choices that matter to you.
Am I a good fit for anxiety therapy with Dr. Sheila Vidal?
This service is a good fit if:
Anxiety is interfering with your work, relationships, sleep, or daily functioning
You feel caught in repetitive worry loops or panic cycles
You have insight into your anxiety but still feel stuck changing patterns
You want skills that help you respond differently to anxiety rather than trying to eliminate it
Feeling nervous before something that matters is a normal human response and does not necessarily mean therapy is needed. Therapy may be worth considering when anxiety becomes persistent and starts narrowing what you do, where you go, or what you are willing to try.
This service may not be a good fit if you are looking for a quick fix or purely symptom-suppression strategies.
What kinds of anxiety do I help with?
I work with a wide range of anxiety presentations, including:
Generalized anxiety and chronic worry
Panic attacks and panic disorder
Social anxiety and fear of judgment
Health anxiety and reassurance-seeking cycles
Performance anxiety
Sleep anxiety and nighttime spirals
High-functioning anxiety and burnout-related anxiety
Treatment is guided by how anxiety shows up in your daily life rather than by rigid diagnostic labels.
Related services: PTSD Therapy, Complex PTSD Therapy, Attachment Therapy
How I approach anxiety therapy in my practice
My approach to anxiety therapy is trauma-informed and led by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The focus is on understanding how anxiety operates in your life and helping you develop skills that increase flexibility, choice, and engagement in what matters to you. When useful, I also draw on cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, grounding, and paced exposure, and for trauma-linked anxiety I may incorporate cognitive processing therapy.
Rather than spending sessions only analyzing why anxiety exists, therapy focuses on skills you can practice:
Grounding, to steady attention when the body is on alert
Defusion, to notice anxious thoughts without being pulled along by them
Identifying avoidance patterns and safety behaviors
Values-guided action, so life expands even while anxiety is present
When anxiety keeps your nervous system on alert, we can also work on emotional regulation so you have more room to choose how you respond.
For a detailed explanation of how ACT works for anxiety, you can review the educational guide on ACT therapy for anxiety. This guide explains the ACT skills in depth and how they relate to common anxiety patterns.
How to get started
If you are considering anxiety therapy, the next step is to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
During this process, we will:
Discuss your concerns and goals
Determine whether my approach is a good fit for your needs
Clarify next steps and scheduling options
My practice is insurance-free, and I can provide documentation for potential out-of-network reimbursement if your plan allows.
What to expect in anxiety therapy sessions
Sessions are 50 minutes.
Early sessions focus on understanding your anxiety patterns, history, and goals, and mapping how anxiety currently influences your decisions and behavior.
Ongoing sessions emphasize practicing skills, reviewing real-life experiences, and adjusting strategies based on what is or is not working.
Later sessions focus on strengthening flexibility, maintaining progress, and planning for future stressors without returning to avoidance-based coping.
Sessions are collaborative, structured, and paced to match your needs and readiness.
Online anxiety therapy in California and Virginia, plus in-person sessions in Folsom
I provide online anxiety therapy across California and Virginia, with limited in-person sessions in Folsom, California, available by appointment.
Telehealth sessions are conducted using secure, HIPAA-compliant video platforms and are appropriate for many anxiety concerns.
Anxiety is often rooted in nervous system learning shaped by stress and trauma. I support clients through ACT therapy in Sacramento and online throughout California as they build flexibility and resilience. For those in the DMV region, I also provide trauma counseling in Alexandria VA and secure telehealth across Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I use an ACT-led, trauma-informed approach. Sessions focus on identifying patterns that keep anxiety going and practicing skills that support flexibility, engagement, and daily functioning.
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You may be a good fit if anxiety is affecting work, relationships, sleep, or decision-making and you want a practical approach that does not rely on arguing with thoughts.
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Yes. I provide telehealth therapy for adults located in California and Virginia.
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I offer limited in-person sessions in Folsom, California by appointment.
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Many clients begin with weekly or every-other-week sessions, then adjust based on goals, progress, and support needs.
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I commonly work with chronic worry, panic cycles, avoidance, health anxiety, social anxiety, high-functioning anxiety, and trauma-linked anxiety patterns.
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My practice is insurance-free. I can provide documentation for potential out-of-network reimbursement if your plan allows.
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That is common. I take a trauma-informed approach that considers how anxiety shows up in the nervous system, relationships, and life patterns, not only as symptoms.
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You can get started by contacting me through the website. I’ll follow up with next steps and scheduling options.
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I often suggest small, collaborative exercises to help skills generalize into daily life while keeping them realistic and sustainable.
Have more questions? Visit my frequently asked questions about anxiety therapy.