Therapist for Anxiety in Bend, Oregon
Are you looking for a dedicated and skilled anxiety therapist in Bend, Oregon? I’m Sean Downes, and I specialize in providing compassionate and effective treatment for individuals struggling with anxiety. I offer a unique approach that integrates specialized techniques, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address anxiety, particularly when it is associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
I am also a Certified Yoga Teacher which enables me to offer a unique and integrative approach that combines talk therapy and mind-body awareness, helping each individual balance their own core energy with their unique brain chemistry.
Anxiety is one of the most common causes of despair and loss of satisfaction in our lives. Anxiety is treatable. There’s no need to keep living overwhelmed and unsatisfied.
Psychotherapy Fees:
Rates are $200 per 55 minute session.
Out-of-pocket expenses are determined by insurance or if you are self-pay.
Insurance Accepted:
I accept PacificSource Commercial, First Choice, MODA, PacificSource Community Solutions, OHP and BlueCross / BlueShield. I also do provide Out of Network Billing for other insurance companies. If you are using your insurance benefits, please take the time to understand the nuances of your insurance plan (copays, deductibles, HSA, etc.) on the front end of your psychotherapy treatment.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety happens when our brain/nervous system gets stuck in fight or flight, or freeze/collapse. It often feels like something is wrong or out of control even when rationally we know we ‘should’ be fine. When we are truly anxious, we are unable to turn off that sense of distress even when we look around and see with our own eyes that there is nothing imminently threatening our well being. Anxiety is exhausting and can feel debilitating. Anxiety is like your internal alarm system running in the background, using your energy even when you aren’t paying attention. It quickly drains your energy, leaving you with less energy, creativity, and less access to happier feelings.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety:
Anxiety can look different from person to person because as humans we have unique experiences. Here are some of the more common symptoms:
- Trouble focusing or your mind racing
- Overthinking things or fixating on fears
- Feelings of ‘high stress’ last for several weeks or happens when your life is mostly calm
- Often feeling tired and experiencing sleep difficulties
- Feeling like your brain is going fast most days, but you are not getting much accomplished
- Irritability or sadness is affecting your job, parenting, or relationships
- Feeling like there’s not enough time or you don’t know where to begin
- Commonly feeling defeated, hopeless, or frustrated
- You often feel inadequate or uncertain.
- You’re commonly overwhelmed by everyday life.
What Sets Me Apart: EMDR Therapy for Anxiety
As an experienced therapist for Anxiety, I bring a unique blend of expertise and empathy to every session. With experience and training in EMDR therapy, I’ve successfully helped hundreds of individuals overcome the debilitating effects of anxiety and depression rooted in past traumatic experiences.
EMDR is a specialized therapy technique recognized for its effectiveness in treating trauma-related disorders, including anxiety stemming from PTSD. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR targets the underlying memories and emotions associated with past traumatic events, allowing individuals to process and integrate these experiences in a safe and controlled environment.
There are various forms of therapy we can draw on to create a treatment plan suited to your unique needs including EMDR Therapy, DBT Therapy and Existential Therapy.
What is a panic attack?
There are quite a few ways to explain a panic attack, but for brevity and clarity, let’s think about it in terms of the nervous system. A panic attack happens when something triggers your brain system into an extreme fight, flight, or freeze mode. That’s why you may have a pounding heart, shortness of breath, or excessive sweating. The animal part of your brain is turned on high and the rational part of our brain is turned down or off. So, your brain begins sending out chemical messages that will help you run from or fight a perceived danger. Your brain fully believes you are experiencing a mortal threat even if you are just picking out bread in the grocery store. This process speeds up your heartbeat, it makes your breathing become shallow and your rational brain (prefrontal cortex) turns down/off because it’s too slow for that kind of response. If there was actually a threat, this would be a great response because it would help you survive.
But, the problem is that, by definition, a panic attack means that there isn’t actually a threat, but your whole body is behaving as if there is. Panic attacks can happen during high-stress times or they can appear out of the blue.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF A PANIC ATTACK INCLUDE:
- An intense sense of impending doom or danger
- Fear of losing control or dying
- Rapid or pounding heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling, shaking
- Chills or hot flashes
- Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
- Nausea or abdominal cramps
- Tightness in your chest (feels like a heart attack)
- Headaches, dizziness, or lightheadedness
- Numbness or tingling
- Feeling detached or numb