Anxiety Therapy
Therapy with Shohreh Schmuecker, LMFT
Does This Sound Like You?
You are stressed out, find it difficult to relax and feel on edge, even when you have downtime
Your stress is affecting your life like sleep, relaxation, work, relationships, or other areas of your life
Your mind is always running, replaying conversations, planning ahead, or imagining worst-case scenarios
You feel pressure and find it difficult to manage it all
You overanalyze decisions and are flooded with worry and conflicting thoughts, that feels exhausting.
You’re overloaded with stress or feel a sense of panic
You are impacted by the world around you and feel overwhelmed
You set high standards for yourself and feel defeated when you can’t consistently meet them
You carry your stress in your body and notice how it is connected to your worries
If these experiences feel familiar, they may be signs of anxiety. Racing thoughts, persistent worry, avoidance, physical tension, sleep disruption, panic attacks, or difficulty concentrating are common reactions to chronic anxiety.
That wired-but-worn-out state can make ordinary tasks can feel heavy, leave you feeling depleted and turn nights into restlessness with racing thoughts. When anxiety keeps your nervous system keyed up, you might notice tight muscles, trouble concentrating, disrupted sleep, or a persistent fog that saps motivation. Therapy for anxiety can be a helpful tool to help you find a ways to calm your system, untangle the cycle of worry, and help you feel more regulated.
Why Anxiety Feels So Intense
Anxiety can feel overwhelming because it is not just happening in your thoughts. It is happening throughout your whole system. Your body reacts as if something is wrong or about to go wrong, even when part of you knows you are okay.
When anxiety ramps up, your body can shift into a kind of survival mode. It can feel confusing, especially when there is no clear reason in the moment. This happens because your nervous system responds based on past experiences and patterns, not only what is happening in the present moment. It can feel like that system is always “on”, even when you’re safe.
These issues are areas that we can work on together in therapy to understand what triggers your anxiety. Below are some ways that I can support you with your anxiety.
Anxiety Treatment - Shohreh Schmuecker, LMFT
Building calm, resilience, and self‑understanding, one session at a time
If the intensity and patterns above feel familiar, I’m here to help. As a licensed, trauma‑informed therapist trained in IFS Therapy (parts oriented therapy) and Somatic Psychotherapy, I blend psychological research, an understanding of the mind-body connection, and a holistic perspective with my experienced and skilled therapeutic approaches.
We will begin where you are and build from there to help you understand how your mental health and nervous system respond to stress. In our work together you can learn gentle tools to calm your system and shift unhelpful patterns, so you can feel more grounded, session by session.
Anxiety Issues I Work With
Worry and persistent anxiety: chronic, broad worry that makes daily decisions feel heavy, saps energy, and reduces enjoyment.
Panic and anxiety episodes: sudden surges of fear that may include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or a sense of impending doom (not medically related).
Interpersonal anxiety: fear of judgment, perfectionism or avoidance of social situations that interferes with relationships, career goals, or daily functioning.
Somatic distress: ongoing or unexplained physical sensations (not medically related): tightness, gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, tremors, or tension, that are connected to stress and anxiety.
Trauma-related anxiety: hypervigilance, flashbacks, startle responses, or intense emotional reactions tied to past experiences or interpersonal harm.
Stress from current events: feeling overwhelmed or hyper-alert to unfolding events in your community and the world and practical impacts on daily life (sleep disruption, difficulty concentrating, increased vigilance, or withdrawal).
Shohreh Schmuecker’s, LMFT’s Approach to Anxiety
I offer trauma-informed, relational psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety that emphasizes the mind-body connection and practical, sustainable interventions. Therapy sessions blend evidence-based methods and experiential practices so work in session feels meaningful and applicable to daily life.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): We treat anxious parts with curiosity and compassion rather than criticism. This type of therapy can help you unblend from the voice of worry so you can hear its concerns without being controlled by them.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction: Simple, accessible practices that can build present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity. Mindfulness teaches you how to notice thoughts and sensations without getting swept away.
Somatic psychotherapy (aka mind-body awareness): Anxiety is often stored in the body. We learn to track bodily sensations, regulate the nervous system through awareness, breath, and grounding that is incorporated with talk therapy.
Attachment-based therapy: As relevant, we can explore how your early attachment experiences shape your expectations, relational patterns, and anxiety responses, and we practice corrective relational experiences in session to build safety and secure connection.
Trauma-informed care: Safety, pacing, and your choice guide our work. We prioritize stabilization and resourcing before moving into more intense processing, supporting your system in a way that works for you.
Relational work: Anxiety often lives in patterns shaped by relationships and attachment. We explore interpersonal dynamics, communication styles, and ways to build secure connections that support healing.
These approaches are integrated flexibly to match your needs. You may benefit from focused somatic regulation, or from parts work with IFS or attachment repair, or we may find that a mix may be helpful.
What this can look like in Session
I am an intuitive and relational therapist who is compassionate and also can support you to challenge old beliefs that no longer serve you.
What that means in practice:
We don’t just stay in your thoughts, we also pay attention to what’s happening in your body and how this impacts your experience
We gently explore the different “parts” of you (like the overthinker, the perfectionist, the worrier) instead of trying to get rid of them
We move at a pace that feels safe and manageable to your system
You’ll learn practical tools, but also deeper ways of understanding yourself
My style is warm, collaborative, and conversational. You don’t need to have the “right words” or a clear starting point. You just show up as you are with your authentic self.
Who Can Benefit
This work tends to help people who are ready to:
Move from reacting to anxiety toward responding with intention.
Learn skills that transfer to everyday settings such as in work, relationships, self growth and parenting.
Work at a pace that honors safety and personal limits, especially when trauma is present.
Repair or strengthen attachment patterns and improve relational functioning.
I work with adults across the lifespan, including those experiencing new anxiety related to life transitions and those navigating chronic anxiety shaped by long-term stress or trauma.
Getting Started
If anxiety is getting in the way of work, relationships, or everyday wellbeing, therapy can help. If you would like to find a therapist near you in California or a therapist near you in the San Francisco Bay Area, and find that anxiety is getting in the way of work, relationships, or everyday wellbeing, reaching out is the first step. I offer a free 15-minute consultation to answer questions about fit, logistics, and next steps. During intake we’ll review history, clarify goals, and co-create a plan that feels safe and achievable.
Finding the right therapist matters.
You can schedule online at a time that works for you.
Things can feel different than they do right now.
Meet the Therapist
Hello and Welcome! My name is Shohreh (pronounced “Sho-ray”) and I am a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am an experienced psychotherapist who enjoys supporting clients in understanding themselves on a deeper level. Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming. That is why I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to get a sense if I am the right fit for your needs. See my About page for more specific information about my skills and training.
Curious about what to expect from therapy or how these services can help you?
Visit the FAQ page for answers to common questions and useful information such as what to expect in your first session, scheduling and fees.
Reach out with your questions!
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Shohreh Schmuecker, LMFT
Psychotherapist, San Francisco Bay Area
Address:
All Sessions Currently Online Only
2211 Post St #300, San Francisco, CA 94115
Hours
By Appointment, please inquire
Phone
(925) 238-8605
shohreh[at]therapywithshohreh.com