Photo of Valerie Ward, Psychologist in King County, WA
Valerie Ward
Psychologist, PsyD
Verified Verified
Seattle, WA 98101  (Online Only)
Clients who work with me learn to better understand their emotional triggers, work to overcome life’s setbacks, manage stress more productively, communicate with others more effectively, and set healthy boundaries. My approach involves getting to know each of my clients, beyond what has brought them into therapy. I seek to understand what your goals are for this journey, and we together discuss how I can support you in working on what can be changed, and learning to cope with people and situations that we cannot change.
Clients who work with me learn to better understand their emotional triggers, work to overcome life’s setbacks, manage stress more productively, communicate with others more effectively, and set healthy boundaries. My approach involves getting to know each of my clients, beyond what has brought them into therapy. I seek to understand what your goals are for this journey, and we together discuss how I can support you in working on what can be changed, and learning to cope with people and situations that we cannot change.
(703) 215-2169 View (703) 215-2169
Photo of Two Chairs - Seattle, Counselor in King County, WA
Two Chairs - Seattle
Counselor, PhD, PsyD, LCSW, LMFT, LPCC
Verified Verified
Seattle, WA 98121
Two Chairs was founded in 2017 with a mission to build a world where everyone has access to exceptional mental healthcare. We're creating a better experience for both patients and clinicians by starting with an in-depth, research-backed matching process to ensure the ideal patient-therapist fit, offering hybrid care that gives patients and clinicians flexibility between in-person and virtual sessions, and measuring outcomes to ensure patients get better faster.
Two Chairs was founded in 2017 with a mission to build a world where everyone has access to exceptional mental healthcare. We're creating a better experience for both patients and clinicians by starting with an in-depth, research-backed matching process to ensure the ideal patient-therapist fit, offering hybrid care that gives patients and clinicians flexibility between in-person and virtual sessions, and measuring outcomes to ensure patients get better faster.
(650) 405-3805 View (650) 405-3805

Anxiety Therapists

What are the most common treatments for anxiety?

Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, is the most common treatment for anxiety. Studies have shown it is equally effective as medication. Other popular forms of therapy are popular, depending on a patient’s experience. Exposure therapy, for instance, can be useful for people dealing with fears and phobias, or who have experienced traumatic events. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy may be useful for patients who need help with emotion regulation. Anxiolytic medications, like benzodiazepines, can also help with calming a person enough to focus on the skills they’ve learned, and physical exercise has been shown to help symptoms of anxiety across the board.

How long does therapy for anxiety take to work?

The amount of time needed to alleviate symptoms depends on the severity of a person’s condition. Some therapies may take 5-20 weekly sessions to show results. Anti-depressant medications typically take two to four weeks before a benefit is felt. Anti-anxiety medications are felt typically within 20-30 minutes. Medications are best used to offer a patient a better headspace in which to work on techniques learned in therapy. Exercise, improved sleep habits, and meditation are effective, but takes weeks or months to show results.

When should I seek treatment for anxiety?

Everyone feels anxious at times, but when anxiety causes disruption to your daily life, it may be time to seek help. Such disruption can be mental, physical, or both: having fear dominate your thoughts, avoiding situations or objects that bring on feelings of anxiety, or experiencing shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or panic attacks. When these symptoms are recurrent and distressing, it may be time to talk to someone.

How effective is treatment for anxiety?

Treatment for anxiety has been shown to be moderately to highly effective, according to a large body of psychology studies and analyses. For some people, treatment using CBT or exposure therapy alone is effective. Others respond best to a combination of medication and therapy.