Sarah Crane O'Neill, PLLC
Do you ever wish you felt more in “the driver’s seat” directing your life, rather than being overtaken by all its twists, turns, and problems? Trust me, I think we all feel this way at times. We can’t make uncertainty, change or loss go away. And we also can't always stop terrible or worst-case scenario thoughts, or uncomfortable feelings or sensations in our body. But we can choose how we relate to all these things.
I primarily draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Self-Compassion, and Mindfulness in helping my clients better manage stress and anxiety.
Depending on what you're experiencing and what your hopes and goals are, I can help you:
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Notice your own sensations, thoughts, feelings, and actions and how they relate to one another.
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Consider how your habits such as around sleep, exercise, nutrition, substances, and screen/device use support or diminish your ability to manage stress.
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Learn to slow down and self-soothe, or down-regulate your nervous system, when you become stressed or alarmed.
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Adopt a mindset of curiosity and compassion towards yourself, and what's happening around you, rather than fear or judgment.
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Start to talk to yourself (or direct your thoughts) in ways that are both realistic and supportive.
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Gain skills for setting limits and boundaries with yourself, others, and activities, when desired.
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Explore what you care most about, and more intentionally and skillfully act in service of these values, rather than out of a wish to escape discomfort.
By the way -- stress is not in itself a problem in our lives. In fact, research shows it can motivate us to act in helpful and effective ways, remind us of our values, help us let go of what doesn’t matter, and cause us to reach out for help. Stress is a problem when it becomes more severe, or chronic, or starts to affect our ability to function, our primary relationships, or our health. There is often a web of biological, psychological, and social factors at play when we are feeling overwhelmed, which we will get curious about together.
If you are dealing with relatively high anxiety that is more heavily impacting your functioning or relationships, or you are experiencing panic attacks, I typically recommend a more specialized provider. I can provide referrals.
Counseling can help you become more self-aware, compassionate towards yourself, and conscious and effective in your actions. Together we can set you on a path towards feeling your life is workable and rewarding, rather than exhausting and overwhelming. No meditation or yoga required. :-)
Master the management of anxiety and stress.
If you’d like to see if I’m the right fit to help you manage your stress/anxiety, I invite you to book a free consultation. We can discuss your needs and explore how counseling might benefit you. Choose between in-person sessions at my Seattle office or Walk-and-Talk Counseling for a more dynamic approach to stress management.