Nira Shah

I have extensive experience supporting clients who struggle with anxiety. While anxiety is a normal human emotion, it can become overwhelming when it takes over us. With addressing anxiety, I work with clients to first better understand what the anxiety is saying, it's roots and its connection to core beliefs, as well as it the impact of anxiety on client's behaviors, reactions, and physical sensations. We then work to address the thoughts accompanying anxiety, to restructure the core beliefs and the thought process itself, so that when similar triggering situations arise, you can begin to perceive it differently. I also teach clients mindfulness based techniques, which serve as a strong coping tool for clients to not only manage anxiety levels, but also connect to life in a deeper, more meaningful way.

Therapy is a process of better understanding yourself. It's not always easy, but it is always insight. You will learn so much about yourself and how you perceive the world around you; this helps you develop coping tools, deeper self love, and positively impacts your relationships. It's completely valid that you're hesitant to try therapy, but my advice is take the chance because you'll see the outcome is so valuable.

I typically ask clients at the start of the session what they would like to focus on for that session; this could include a recap of the past week, a continuation of where we left off in the last session, and exploring themes or goals that we are continually working on in therapy. I also lead clients through brief mindfulness meditation and compassion-focused meditations, if relevant and useful, and teach them how to integrate these into life on their own. Finally, I recommend resources (worksheets, books, podcasts, etc) for clients to engage in, in between sessions, which strengthens and supplements our work in session.