Stress and Anxiety Therapy Orlando: Effective Leaders Know How to Manage Their Stress
Stress and Anxiety Therapy Orlando: Effective Leaders Know How to Manage Their Stress
Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC
What if your most powerful leadership move… was to pause?
As a leader, you're constantly in motion, whether it’s making decisions, holding space for others, putting out fires, or navigating pressure from all sides. That kind of constant activation can take a toll. Over time, your nervous system may start to run on overdrive, your clarity clouded by anxiety, and your ability to lead intentionally begins to slip.
As an Anxiety Therapist, I know you don’t need a major overhaul. You need a moment.
That’s where the STOP Method comes in. This simple, effective mindfulness tool is designed to help you pause, reset, and respond with purpose instead of reacting from a place of overwhelm or anxiety. It helps shift you from surviving to leading your team calmly, clearly, and intentionally.
What Is the STOP Method?
The STOP Method is a four-step practice that creates space between what’s happening around you and how you respond to it. It’s not about being perfect or calm all the time. It’s about practicing presence in the moments that matter.
1. Stop
When you feel tension rising—your heart racing, your thoughts spinning, your tone getting sharper—stop. Just pause. You’re not giving up or walking away. You’re giving your nervous system a chance to reset. Even a five-second pause can disrupt anxious autopilot and shift you into a place of awareness.
2. Take a Deep Breath
A deep breath might sound too simple, but it’s a powerful signal to your body that you’re safe. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale gently through your mouth for four. Repeat two or three times. This calms your system, lowers stress hormones like cortisol, and quiets the anxious chatter that clouds decision-making. It brings you back into your body—and into the present.
3. Observe
Take a moment to gently observe what’s happening internally and externally.
Inside: What are you feeling? Is anxiety showing up as tension, irritation, or a flood of what-ifs? What thoughts are spinning?
Outside: What’s the energy in the room? Are others stressed, withdrawn, or reactive? What’s real, and what might your anxious mind be amplifying?
The goal here isn’t to judge or fix—just to notice. Observation brings clarity. It gives you distance from the intensity and invites curiosity instead of criticism.
4. Proceed with Intention
Now, choose your next move mindfully.
Do you need to set a boundary?
Do you need to pause a conversation and return with more clarity?
Do you need to ask for support or delegate something off your plate?
Do you need to challenge a thought that’s rooted in anxiety, not reality?
When you proceed with intention, you’re no longer reacting to the moment—you’re responding from your values, not your nervous system.
Why the STOP Method Works Especially for Leaders
As a leader, you set the tone. Whether you realize it or not, your energy impacts your team. When you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or reactive, that energy ripples outward. But when you take a moment to recalibrate, you invite others to do the same.
The STOP Method supports:
Emotional regulation in real time—so stress doesn’t spill onto others
Clearer thinking—less mental fog, more confident decisions
Calm modeling—your team learns from how you manage tough moments
Burnout prevention—frequent small resets reduce long-term emotional strain
The more you practice, the more natural it becomes. Eventually, this simple tool becomes an internal reflex—one that supports steady leadership through anxious moments.
One Small Thing You Can Try Today: Use the STOP Method
You don’t have to wait for the “right moment” to start. Try the STOP Method the next time you feel pressure building, even in a small way:
S – Stop: Pause. Step back for just a few seconds.
T – Take a Deep Breath: Inhale, hold, exhale slowly. Repeat.
O – Observe: Notice your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings.
P – Proceed with Intention: Choose your next move calmly and consciously.
You don’t need to fix everything, just shift the moment. These small recalibrations add up to lasting change.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
At Mindful Living Counseling, we specialize in supporting professionals and leaders who are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained. Whether you're navigating a difficult season or wanting to lead from a steadier place, we’re here to help.
We offer trauma-informed anxiety therapy in Orlando and online, and we understand the pressure that comes with being in charge. Through therapy, we help you reconnect to your nervous system, rebuild clarity, and lead with resilience—from the inside out.
Fill out our New Client Consultation form here.
Once you complete the form, you’ll be invited to schedule a 15-minute phone consultation with one of our anxiety therapists, who will talk about how to help you lead from a steadier place.
Once you complete the form, you’ll be invited to schedule a 15-minute phone consultation with one of our anxiety therapists, who will talk about how to help you lead from a steadier place.
Get ready to start healing from stress and anxiety!
Need Support for Burnout, Stress, or Leadership Fatigue?
We understand how difficult leadership can be at times. You're not alone. While you're navigating this journey, we invite you to explore the blogs below!
Anxiety Therapist Resources
Stress and Anxiety Therapist Explains What a Resilient Team Looks Like
Stress and Anxiety Therapist Explains The 3 Hidden Layers of Burnout
Stress & Anxiety Therapy Orlando: Burnout Is Preventable
Stress and Anxiety Therapist: Burnout and the Nervous System
An Anxiety Therapist Shares Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety
Anxiety Therapy Orlando Shares A Guided Meditation: Presence & Intention
Other Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando
We offer a variety of therapy services to address various needs! Our therapeutic options include EMDR therapy, Trauma Therapy, Eating Disorder Therapy, Teen Therapy, and Toxic Relationship Therapy. Additionally, we provide Guided Meditations for our clients.
Stress and Anxiety Therapist Lauran Hahn
Lauran Hahn is a therapist based in Orlando who focuses on assisting clients with anxiety and trauma. She holds certifications as a Sensorimotor Psychotherapist and as an EMDR Therapist, and she is recognized as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Lauran's aim is to help people achieve a sense of calm in their bodies, peace in their minds, and connection in their relationships.