Understanding high-functioning anxiety and how therapy can support you
You may be someone who seems to have everything under control — managing your job, family, and daily responsibilities. Yet beneath the surface, you might feel persistent tension, restlessness, or difficulty fully relaxing. These are common experiences for those living with what is often called high-functioning anxiety.
While not a formal diagnosis, high-functioning anxiety describes ongoing anxious feelings that coexist with the ability to carry out everyday tasks. You might find yourself overthinking decisions, struggling to set boundaries, or feeling driven by perfectionism and fear of making mistakes. Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, or trouble sleeping can also accompany these experiences.
What Does High-Functioning Anxiety Look Like?
High-functioning anxiety can be hard to recognize because it often blends into your routine. You may:
Feel a persistent need to be “on” or prepared
Experience racing thoughts or worry about the future
Have difficulty saying no or prioritizing your own needs
Be self-critical or have a harsh inner voice
Notice physical tension, restlessness, or fatigue
These patterns often develop over years and can be influenced by early experiences or familial/societal expecations. Because they feel familiar, it can be challenging to identify how deeply anxiety is affecting your well-being.
Therapy as a Space to Slow Down and Understand Yourself
In my practice, I work with clients navigating anxiety, trauma, and perfectionism. Many have relied on over-functioning as a way to stay safe or manage pressures. Therapy offers a different kind of space — one where you can slow down, become more aware of what you need, and begin to build internal safety.
Rather than focusing solely on managing symptoms, my approach integrates two main modalities:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A structured therapy that helps process difficult or unresolved experiences that contribute to anxiety.
Mindfulness-Based Somatic Therapy: This helps you tune into your body and nervous system, noticing physical sensations and learning ways to regulate stress responses.
Together, these approaches help address anxiety at its root and support lasting change.
What to Expect When You Reach Out
Intake Process
When you contact me, we begin with a free 15-minute phone consultation. This gives us a chance to talk about what’s bringing you to therapy and whether my approach might be a good fit.
If we decide to work together, the first few sessions focus on building safety and understanding your story. We explore how anxiety shows up in your thoughts, feelings, and body. We’ll also set collaborative goals tailored to your unique situation.
After Care Has Been Established
As care progresses, we move deeper into exploring underlying experiences and beliefs that have shaped your anxiety. EMDR sessions help process past memories or events that still carry emotional charge. Somatic therapy techniques help regulate your nervous system and build awareness of your internal cues.
Sessions are paced to your comfort and needs — you won’t be pushed to “fix” anything. We work together to develop skills like self-compassion, clear boundaries, and emotional regulation to support your day-to-day life.
Who I Work With
Many of my clients juggle multiple roles — as professionals, parents, partners, or adult children of immigrants. Some are the first in their families to pursue therapy, while others are navigating transitions like postpartum, career changes, or life after trauma.
Clients often come wanting to feel less reactive and self-critical, and more connected to themselves and others. Therapy provides a space to make sense of what’s happening and begin shifting long-held patterns.
Why Choose My Practice?
As a therapist based in Irvine, California, I bring a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach. I specialize in anxiety, trauma, infertility and reproductive challenges, postpartum support, and working with adult children of immigrants.
I combine EMDR and mindfulness-based somatic therapy to address both the mind and body’s role in anxiety. This personalized, integrative approach is tailored to your unique background and goals.
You can choose between in-person sessions at my Irvine office or virtual sessions throughout California — whichever feels safest and most convenient for you.
Taking the First Step
If you’re ready to explore what’s beneath your anxiety and begin to reconnect with yourself in a new way, I invite you to reach out.
We’ll start with a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your needs and see if my approach feels like a good fit. From there, we’ll move forward together at a pace that honors your process.
