Anxiety Therapy in Long Beach & Lakewood, CA
We provide anxiety therapy in Long Beach and Lakewood, with in-person and virtual sessions available throughout California.
If you find yourself lying awake at 3 AM replaying conversations in your head, or if your heart starts racing at the thought of social situations, or if worry has become your constant companion—you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep living this way.
Anxiety doesn’t have to run your life. Whether you’re dealing with constant worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, or overwhelming stress, you deserve support that helps you breathe easier and feel more like yourself again.
At Hygieia Behavioral Health Foundation, our licensed therapists provide compassionate, evidence-based anxiety treatment for adults, teens, and children throughout Long Beach, Lakewood, and California. Led by Dr. Sade Thompson, Doctor of Psychology and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, we understand that anxiety affects everyone differently—and we tailor our approach to fit your unique experience. We offer both in-person sessions at our Long Beach and Lakewood offices, and virtual therapy throughout California.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress, but when worry becomes constant or overwhelming, it can interfere with daily life, relationships, and your sense of peace. You might be experiencing anxiety if you notice:
- Emotional Symptoms:
- Your mind racing with “what if” thoughts you can’t turn off
- Feeling on edge or restless even when nothing specific is wrong
- Irritability with people you care about
- An overwhelming sense that something bad is about to happen
- Difficulty controlling worried thoughts even when you know they’re not helping
- Physical Symptoms:
- Rapid heartbeat or feeling like your heart is pounding
- Tightness in your chest or trouble taking deep breaths
- Muscle tension, especially in your shoulders and jaw
- Exhaustion even when you haven’t done much
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because your mind won’t quiet down
- Digestive issues or stomach problems with no clear medical cause
- Common Types of Anxiety We Treat:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (constant worry about multiple things)
- Social Anxiety (fear of judgment or embarrassment in social situations)
- Panic Disorder (sudden, intense episodes of fear with physical symptoms)
- Health Anxiety (excessive worry about illness or medical issues)
- Performance Anxiety (fear around work presentations, tests, or being evaluated)
- Specific Phobias (intense fear of particular situations or objects)
If anxiety is keeping you from work, affecting your relationships, or stopping you from doing things you used to enjoy, therapy can help.
How Anxiety Therapy Helps
Anxiety therapy provides you with practical tools to manage worry, challenge anxious thoughts, and reclaim control over your life. Through therapy with our experienced clinicians, you’ll:
✓ Identify triggers - Understand what activates your anxiety and why it happens
✓ Challenge unhelpful thoughts - Learn to question and reframe the anxious thinking patterns that keep you stuck
✓ Develop coping strategies - Build a personalized toolbox of techniques that actually work for you
✓ Process underlying issues - Address past experiences that may fuel current anxiety
✓ Build resilience - Strengthen your ability to handle stress and uncertainty
✓ Improve quality of life - Reduce symptoms and reconnect with activities and people you enjoy
You don’t just have to “manage” anxiety—you can learn to reduce it significantly and take back your peace of mind.
Our Approach to Anxiety Treatment
We use evidence-based approaches proven to help with anxiety:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The gold standard for anxiety treatment, backed by decades of research. CBT helps you identify and change thought patterns that fuel anxiety, giving you practical skills to challenge worry and fear. You’ll learn specific techniques you can use immediately in your daily life.
Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Learn to stay present rather than getting lost in anxious thoughts about the future. Mindfulness techniques help you observe anxiety without judgment and reduce its power over you.
Exposure Therapy
For specific phobias or avoidance behaviors, we use gradual exposure in a safe, supportive environment to help you face fears and build confidence. This is done at your pace, never forced.
Culturally Responsive Care
We recognize that anxiety can be shaped by experiences of discrimination, intergenerational trauma, and cultural stress. Our BIPOC and LGBTQ+ affirming therapists, under the clinical leadership of Dr. Sade Thompson, understand these unique factors and how they impact mental health.
Insurance & Accessibility
We accept many major insurance plans, making anxiety therapy accessible and affordable.
Affordable anxiety therapy in Long Beach, Lakewood, and throughout California.
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross & Anthem L.A. Care
- Blue Shield of California & Blue Shield Promise Plan
- Carelon
- L.A. Care (Medi-Cal, Commercial, Medicare)
- United Health Care / Optum
- Tricare West
Out of network? We offer sliding scale fees to make therapy accessible.
What to Expect in Anxiety Therapy
Locations & Virtual Services
Lakewood Office
5150 Candlewood Street, Ste. 18J Lakewood, CA 90712
Long Beach Office (Bixby Knolls)
3811 Long Beach Blvd, Ste. C Long Beach, CA 90807
Convenient for residents of: Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, Bellflower, Paramount, Downey, Cerritos, and surrounding communities.
Virtual Therapy Throughout California: Can’t make it to our offices? We offer secure online therapy sessions for clients anywhere in California.
Take the First Step
You don’t have to live with constant anxiety. Our therapists in Long Beach, Lakewood, and throughout California are here to help you find relief and reclaim your peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have anxiety or just normal stress?
Everyone experiences stress, but anxiety becomes a concern when worry feels constant, interferes with daily activities, or causes physical symptoms that impact your quality of life. If you’re asking yourself this question, that’s often a sign that talking to a therapist could be helpful. You don’t have to wait until it’s “bad enough”—getting support early often makes treatment more effective.
How long does anxiety therapy take?
It varies by person. Some people experience significant relief in 8-12 sessions using approaches like CBT, while others benefit from longer-term therapy to address deeper patterns. We’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your goals and needs, and we’ll check in regularly about your progress.
What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t help?
Not all therapy is the same, and not all therapists are the right fit. Our culturally responsive approach may resonate differently than past experiences. We also use evidence-based methods specifically proven to treat anxiety, including CBT and mindfulness-based techniques. If something isn’t working, we’ll adjust our approach.
Do you offer therapy for children with anxiety?
Yes! Anxiety is one of the most common issues we see in children and teens. We use age-appropriate approaches, including play therapy for younger children, to help young people build emotional regulation skills and reduce worry.
Can therapy really help with panic attacks?
Absolutely. Therapy can teach you to understand what triggers panic, challenge catastrophic thoughts, and use grounding techniques when panic strikes. Many people significantly reduce or eliminate panic attacks through treatment. You can learn to recognize the early signs and interrupt the panic cycle.
Do you accept Medi-Cal for anxiety therapy?
Yes, we accept Medi-Cal through L.A. Care. We believe quality mental health care should be accessible regardless of insurance type. Contact us to verify your specific benefits and coverage.
Can I do therapy virtually if I live outside Long Beach or Lakewood?
Yes! We offer secure virtual therapy sessions for clients anywhere in California. You’ll get the same quality care from our licensed therapists, just from the comfort of your own space.