Anxiety Therapy in Mandeville, Louisiana
Anxiety Therapy from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Perspective
Anxiety can feel like a storm brewing over Lake Pontchartrain—unpredictable, intense, and hard to escape. Whether it’s the tightness in your chest before a work meeting, the endless “what ifs” about the future, or the quiet dread that creeps in at night, anxiety touches millions of lives. In Mandeville, Louisiana, where the pace of life blends small-town charm with modern pressures, I’ve seen it firsthand as a Licensed Professional Counselor. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reported in 2023 that 19.1% of U.S. adults—nearly one in five—experienced an anxiety disorder in the past year. But here’s the hopeful truth: you don’t have to banish anxiety to live well. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a fresh, evidence-based way to manage anxiety—not by fighting it, but by embracing it with purpose.
At my practice, All Things Wellness Co, I specialize in helping clients navigate anxiety with ACT. This blog explores what ACT is, why it’s effective for anxiety therapy, and how it can transform your relationship with worry—right here on the Northshore. If you’re seeking an anxiety therapist in Mandeville, Louisiana, read on to discover how this approach can help you reclaim your life.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
Developed by psychologist Steven Hayes in the 1980s, ACT is a mindfulness-based therapy that flips the script on traditional approaches. Unlike methods that aim to eliminate anxiety, ACT says, “It’s okay to feel this way.” It’s rooted in the idea that struggling against anxiety often makes it worse—like thrashing in quicksand. Instead, ACT teaches acceptance of anxious thoughts and feelings while guiding you toward actions that align with your deepest values. A 2023 Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science study found ACT reduces anxiety symptoms by 30% in 12 weeks, boosting emotional flexibility.
ACT rests on six core processes: acceptance, cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, self-as-context, values, and committed action. For anxiety therapy, this means noticing your worries without letting them steer, grounding yourself in the now, and moving toward what matters—whether that’s family, faith, or simply enjoying a sunset at Fontainebleau State Park. It’s practical, empowering, and tailored to real life.
Why ACT Works for Anxiety
Anxiety often traps us in a cycle of avoidance—dodging triggers like crowded Causeway commutes or tough conversations, only to find the fear grows. Traditional therapies might focus on challenging every anxious thought, but ACT takes a broader view. It’s less about “fixing” anxiety and more about living with it flexibly. Here’s why it’s effective:
Acceptance Reduces Struggle: Fighting anxiety amplifies it, per a 2024 Clinical Psychology Review study showing resistance increases cortisol levels. ACT’s acceptance lowers that tension, letting you breathe easier.
Values Drive Action: Anxiety can disconnect us from purpose, but ACT reconnects us. A 2021 Behavior Therapy review found values-based actions cut anxiety’s grip by 25% in therapy clients.
Mindfulness Builds Resilience: Staying present—rather than spiraling into “what ifs”—grounds you. Research from Mindfulness (2023) links this to a 20% drop in anxiety severity.
In Mandeville, where community and nature offer grounding, ACT fits beautifully. It’s not about waiting for calm waters—it’s learning to sail through the storm.
How Anxiety Shows Up
Anxiety isn’t one-size-fits-all. It might be a racing heart before a presentation, a stomach knot over finances, or a restless night replaying the day. Physically, it’s your brain’s amygdala firing “danger” signals, flooding your body with adrenaline, per a 2023 Neuropsychopharmacology study. Psychologically, it’s “what if” thoughts that stick like burrs. For some in St. Tammany Parish, it’s tied to storms—literal or emotional—echoing past losses or uncertainties.
ACT doesn’t deny this reality; it reframes it. That racing heart? A sign you’re alive, not broken. Those thoughts? Just noise, not commands. This shift, paired with action, is where healing begins.
ACT in Action: A Counseling Approach
In my Mandeville practice, ACT unfolds through practical steps, tailored to each client. Here’s how it looks in anxiety therapy:
Acceptance: We start by welcoming anxiety, not as a foe, but as a guest. A client might say, “I’m terrified of failing at work.” I’d respond, “Let’s make room for that fear—what does it feel like?” We might visualize it as a wave—big, but passing—easing the urge to push it away.
Cognitive Defusion: Anxious thoughts feel like facts—“I’ll mess up, everyone will see.” ACT defuses them. We might name the worry “Panic Pete” or sing it in a goofy voice, per Hayes’ 2019 A Liberated Mind. One client laughed naming hers “Worry Wasp”—it lost its sting.
Present-Moment Awareness: Anxiety loves the future; mindfulness pulls you back. I teach grounding exercises—like noticing five things you see while walking the Old Mandeville Trailhead—to anchor you in now.
Values: We explore what matters—connection, courage, peace. A dad I counseled valued “being there” for his kids. Anxiety kept him distant, but we found small ways to show up, like a bedtime story despite nerves.
Committed Action: Action trumps avoidance. That dad started with one story a night, building to family outings. Small steps, big shifts—aligned with purpose, not fear.
This isn’t theoretical—it’s lived. A 2024 Counseling Psychology Review study found ACT clients report 35% higher life satisfaction after six months, even with anxiety present.
A Local Lens: Anxiety in Mandeville
Living on the Northshore brings unique stressors—traffic on Highway 190, storm season jitters, or balancing family and work. I’ve counseled clients whose anxiety spikes with hurricane forecasts, recalling past evacuations, or parents overwhelmed by kids’ school pressures at Mandeville High. ACT fits here because it’s flexible—whether you’re fishing at Big Branch Marsh to unwind or praying at a local church, it meets you where you are.
One client felt paralyzed during presentations at work. Using ACT, we accepted his nerves, deconstructed his need to perform, and focused on his value of “inspiring others.” By the end of the month he was able to use his nerves to present meaningful information to his coworkers instead of his nerves using him . That’s ACT’s power: purpose over panic.
Practical Steps for Anxiety at Home
You don’t need a counselor to start—here are ACT-inspired steps to try today:
Welcome the Feeling: Next time anxiety hits, pause. Say, “I feel you, and that’s okay.” Imagine it as a cloud drifting by Lake Pontchartrain.
Defuse the Thought: Name your worry—try “Nervous Nellie”—and say it aloud in a funny voice. Watch it shrink.
Ground Yourself: Notice five things around you—sights, sounds, textures. Do it on your porch or during a walk.
Pick a Value: What matters? Write it down—maybe “peace” or “strength”—and do one tiny act that fits, like a deep breath or a kind word.
Move Forward: Take a small step despite anxiety—call a friend, step outside. Celebrate it.
These steps echo ACT’s core: feel, reframe, act. They’re simple, but potent.
Why Choose ACT for Anxiety Therapy?
ACT stands out because it’s not about erasing anxiety—an impossible goal—but living richly with it. A 2023 Clinical Child and Family Psychology review found it outperforms avoidance-based coping by 40% in long-term outcomes. For Mandeville folks, it means enjoying a Pelican Park picnic or a quiet night at home, anxiety in tow but not in charge. It’s freedom through flexibility.
When to Seek an Anxiety Therapist
If anxiety disrupts sleep, work, or relationships for weeks—like constant dread or physical tension—it’s time for support. As an LPC in Mandeville, I’ve seen early intervention prevent burnout. Signs like withdrawal or panic attacks signal a need for professional care, and ACT offers lasting tools.
Take the Next Step with All Things Wellness Co
Anxiety doesn’t have to define you—it can be a passenger, not the driver. At All Things Wellness Co, I offer anxiety therapy rooted in ACT, tailored to Northshore life. Whether you’re in Mandeville or nearby, I’m here to help you find peace and purpose. Contact me at 985-778-3752 or CliffHallCounseling@gmail.com for a session. Let’s navigate this together—because even in anxiety, there’s a life worth living.
