Steve Hammil Counseling

My Approach 

Welcome to my page about anxiety and its treatment. I hope you find it useful. Wishing you peace, security and harmony  - Steve 

Anxiety in all its forms is also a special interest of mine. In treating anxiety related issues I work with you to relieve and eliminate panic attacks; reduce your overall level of stress and worry; increase your capacity for managing stress in positive ways; and increase your sense of safety and freedom of movement. In the end you are able to live your life more fully and will have an increased sense of your own resiliency and competence to handle whatever may come your way.

I offer several methods for working with the symptoms of anxiety related distress. I list a few of the more researched informed methods in the treatment section on this page. You may also find help by using the Anxiety and Phobia Workbook that is listed in my books and references section.

My practice is located in the University District in Seattle, WA . You can reach me at 206-661-2854. I offer a no-fee get acquainted session.

The principles that guide my work can be found on the individual counseling page. As always, respect, understanding and caring support combine with research informed practices to hold and guide our work together.

Description 

Anxiety can take many forms ranging from specific phobias (e.g. spiders, snakes, heights, etc..) to generalized anxiety which is often experienced as constant worry that something bad, but not readily identifiable, is about to happen. Here, in broad strokes, are a few:

Panic attacks are brief episodes of sheer terror. Even though brief they may recur frequently. These painful episodes  have been known to lead to a fear of going out. People suffering from panic disorder may only feel safe in one very special location, which many find depressing. Their fear of going out is compounded further by their wish to avoid the potential embarrassment of having an attack in public. You may know this fear of going out as agoraphobia. Panic disorder and agoraphobia often go together.

Social phobia can also be very limiting as well as painful. Social events are experienced as unbearable. For some people what is thought of as simple shyness can become a debilitating condition when, at some point in their lives, the seemingly simple process of interacting with other people and forming relationships can provoke overwhelming stress and intense fear, even panic. Social situations and relationships are then avoided so as not to experience panic or an intense feeling of being exposed and vulnerable.

Performance anxiety is a fear of negative judgment or evaluation. Even going to work becomes a challenge if there is some task or event upcoming that will expose the person to evaluation. Performance anxiety can limit ones ability to achieve professional and personal goals. Just the thought of speaking in public or leading a meeting can trigger intense feelings of fear and panic.

Treatment 

The good news is that the symptoms of anxiety related disorders respond well to treatment for many people. First and foremost I want to help you feel better as quickly as possible. See below for more information on specific disorders.

If you desire to do more, this initial approach can be followed by a second phase that treats the specific emotional basis of your anxiety so that its recurrence, or the occurrence of a different condition like depression, is less likely.

The central premise of this approach is that the entrenched and limiting patterns of anxiety related feelings and behaviors are the result of a hurt to your basic sense of self. For example you may have a deeply held belief that you are unable to take care of your self. By healing this hurt the treatment for the symptoms is made more durable and long lasting.

What follows is general information about the treatment for the symptoms of anxiety disorders.

Panic disorder and agoraphobia represent one of the success stories in the treatment of mental disturbance. Cognitive Behavioral treatment has consistently been shown to be equal to medication in the short term and more durable over the long term(Barlow, p. 1). Treatment is planned for a 16 to 20 week duration with shorter times possible depending on your situation.

Social phobia has also been researched extensively. The good news is that several approaches can be effective. I prefer an initial approach that has the best chance of providing quick relief. Keeping in mind that each method is tailored to your specific needs and desires, this approach focuses on how thinking patterns contribute to maintaining the anxiety and how avoidance of interpersonal situations leads to an even more entrenched condition by limiting your opportunities to learn a different response.

Generalized anxiety has been studied the least and is thought by some to be the more difficult condition to treat. Treatment tends to take longer. My approach combines a focus on how our thinking tends to perpetuate the condition with an investigation of what purpose the worrying serves. By understanding its purpose we can then explore other ways of accomplishing it that are less painful and limiting.

See my depression page for my thoughts on medications.