Anxiety Counselor Explains CBT Therapy

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

You've noticed that your anxiety gets in the way of daily life, making it hard to focus at work, enjoy yourself, or feel fulfilled in relationships. You overthink every decision, replay conversations in your head like a broken record, lie awake at night, and worry constantly about what the future might bring. And it's just… exhausting.

You've heard about cognitive behavioral therapy and wonder if CBT can help with anxiety. It's perfectly reasonable to want to know more before you begin counseling. People often have many questions about CBT when they call our practice, such as how CBT works, what cognitive behavioral therapy does, or why, for some people, CBT doesn't work. In this article, I will answer these questions and more to help you understand what to expect.

Orlando Counselor Providing Anxiety Relief

Does making decisions give you anxiety? No matter what you decide to do, you are plagued with internal distress? Do you feel stuck in the mud because none of the choices you make seem to be exactly right? Do you agonize over decisions because you are afraid you’ll make the wrong decision?

Orlando Therapist Explains Anxiety vs. Intuition: How to Tell the Difference

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

You’re at a crossroads and a feeling washes over you: don’t move forward. You sense it in your body, but you can’t quite explain it. The question starts spinning in your mind, is this my intuition guiding me, or is it fear holding me back?

You don’t want to live a fear-based life. You’re ready to take risks, to expand, to learn, and to grow. You know that living in fear keeps you playing small, and you’re no longer willing to settle for that.

It’s common to wonder what your body is trying to tell you. Is it an intuitive hunch, or is it fear? When you first start leaning into your gut and listening for intuition, it can feel confusing. In the beginning, it’s hard to tell the difference between fear holding you back and the wisdom of your body pointing the way forward.

In this post, we’ll look at what makes intuition different from anxiety and explore practical ways to strengthen your intuition. By the end, you’ll have tools to help you recognize whether it’s fear speaking or your inner wisdom guiding you.

Anxiety Therapist Answers: What is Exposure Therapy?

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

You often decline invitations to birthday parties, family gatherings, or after-work drinks, saying you're too tired or have other plans, just to avoid feeling judged or awkward in social situations. You refuse to go on family vacations that require flying because you are too afraid of it.

You've lived with anxiety for so long that avoiding uncomfortable situations, thoughts, and feelings has become so natural. But deep down, you know that avoiding everything that provokes anxiety will not make things better in the long term. Maybe you've heard about exposure therapy and how effective it can be for treating anxiety, and now you're searching online for "exposure therapy near me." Still, the idea of facing the things you fear can sound scary, or at the very least, uncomfortable. You might be wondering, “What exposure therapy actually treats?” “When is it not recommended?” or “Could it really help with my anxiety or phobia?”

I am an anxiety therapist, and I'll answer these questions and more in this article so you can make an informed and confident decision when choosing the right anxiety treatment in Orlando. Exposure therapy is one of the most researched and effective forms of anxiety treatment in Orlando and beyond.

Anxiety Therapy Orlando Guide to Creating Resilient Teams and Stronger Leaders

If you feel like your team crumbles under stress, or that your own exhaustion is fueling burnout around you, you’re not alone. Resilient teams aren’t built by pushing harder; they’re built by leaders who know how to manage their own anxiety and create safety. This series is your action plan for exactly that.

Throughout this series, we've explored several key strategies to help you foster resilience within yourself and your team. From managing your nervous system to embracing psychological safety, each post has provided tools that empower leaders to navigate stress, build stronger teams, and reduce burnout.

In case you missed any of the posts or need a refresher, here’s a recap of the core strategies and the links to the full articles.

Anxiety Therapy Orlando Shares A Guided Meditation: Presence & Intention

Written and recorded by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

As an Orlando therapist, I often witness how the demands of daily life can pull us away from the present moment and disrupt our inner calm. Whether you're managing stress, processing emotions, or looking for ways to feel more grounded, mindfulness offers a powerful path to healing and self-connection.

To begin, find a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Choose a private, uninterrupted setting that allows you to focus fully on yourself.

Anxiety Therapist Shares A Guided Meditation: Box Breathing

By: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

At Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, we believe in the power of grounding practices to support clients dealing with anxiety and trauma. Guided meditation is one of our favorite tools to help you find calm and clarity in the midst of life’s challenges.

In our previous blog post, Box Breathing: A Tool for Anxiety, we introduced the concept and benefits of box breathing. Now, we’re excited to share this follow-up—a guided meditation designed to help you incorporate this powerful technique into your daily routine. Find a comfortable space, take a deep breath, and let this meditation guide you toward stillness and peace.

How Social Media Fuels Holiday Loneliness—and Ways Anxiety Therapy in Orlando Can Help

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

You’re at home, too worn out to do anything after a long day of juggling your job, personal or family responsibilities, holiday gift shopping, and everything else on your plate. You sink deeper and deeper into your sofa, scrolling through social media, and it feels like you're sinking into your soul, too. Post after post, it all looks the same—happy people who somehow seem to have it all together. Glowing faces, expensive outfits, glasses raised in celebration, and the Eiffel Tower sparkling in the background. The weight in your chest seems to grow heavier. You can’t seem to shake the feeling of unease—that sense of being on the outside, as if all the best things are happening to someone else.

If you've ever caught yourself comparing your real life to those polished posts and feeling like you're falling short, you're not alone. As an anxiety therapist in Orlando, I often seek out helpful resources for my clients who deal with anxiety. Right now, I'm reading a fantastic book called "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt. It discusses how social media can be particularly damaging to teenage girls. I've been thinking about how social media can intensify feelings of anxiety and loneliness, so I wanted to share some ideas on that and what we can do to deal with it.

10 New Year's Resolutions to Help Ease Anxiety: Tips from an Orlando Therapist

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

If you experience anxiety, even thinking about setting a New Year's resolution may add another layer of stress, making you doubt your willpower, persistence, and abilities, wondering whether you're setting yourself up for failure. You may feel overwhelmed by the pressure to “be more” or "do better." You might feel paralyzed by the fear of not living up to your standards, especially if past attempts to meet similar goals didn't go as planned. These thoughts can create a cycle of anxiety. So, you might give up before you've even tried.

But what if you were to reframe your New Year's resolutions so they are not about perfection or drastic changes?

Anxiety Therapist Shares: 4-7-8 Breathing

In our previous blog, we explored the box breathing technique—a simple yet effective tool for managing anxiety and grounding yourself in moments of stress. Now, we’re diving into another transformative breathing technique: 4-7-8 breathing.

Anxiety Therapy Orlando: Setting Boundaries to Manage Holiday Stress 

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

As the holiday season rolls around, you feel a mix of excitement and joy but also a sense of worry - anxiety and stress. You look forward to taking time off work, spending time with loved ones, and celebrating with those who matter most. However, all the shopping, cooking, socializing, and financial strain can leave you too drained to truly enjoy the holidays.

OCD and Anxiety & How They Are Connected: Insights from an Orlando Therapist

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

Do you have this constant need to control your surroundings or your thoughts only to feel powerless and worn out as a result? In your daily routine, you might do the same things repeatedly to try to calm your anxiety or spend ages worrying about whether you forgot to finish, unplug, or left something undone, afraid that even the tiniest mistake could lead to a disaster.

Living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety can feel overwhelming. It can feel like intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are often taking control of your day, your relationships, and your life. At Mindful Living Counseling, Orlando, FL, we understand how discouraging and exhausting this can be. Our anxiety therapist provides a safe environment to break free from these cycles and regain peace of mind.

Understanding the connection between OCD and anxiety is the first step toward finding relief. As an Orlando Therapist, I will guide you in understanding this connection, whether you're seeking anxiety therapy or looking to understand these challenges better.

Anxiety Therapy Orlando: How ERP Can Help with OCD

If you or someone you know is dealing with OCD, you may already know how exhausting it can be. Whether it’s the fear of contamination, the overwhelming need for things to feel “just right,” or intrusive thoughts that overwhelm you with uneasiness, guilt, and shame, these thoughts can become unbearable. When this happens, you engage in endless rituals (compulsions)—wash your hands repeatedly, check locks until it feels “safe,” or mentally review your thoughts, correspondence, or events to ensure you didn’t miss something important. Still, deep down, you know these compulsions won’t stop the anxiety or prevent the worst from happening. Instead, they eat up your time, disrupt your relationships, and leave you feeling stuck.

But there are ways to manage and regain control of your OCD. Working with an Orlando therapist trained in ERP can help you find relief and manage your OCD symptoms.

Anxiety Therapist Orlando: Understanding Different Types of OCD

Frequently when people think of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), they usually think of contamination OCD, which focuses on excessive handwashing and cleanliness. However, OCD encompasses much more than this.

There are different types of OCD such as self-doubt and checking OCD, intrusive forbidden thoughts, and hoarding. Working with a therapist in Orlando can help you understand your OCD and develop personalized strategies to manage symptoms, regain control over your thoughts, and improve your overall quality of life.