You Are More Than Your Anxiety, Worry, or Fears
Even though you value your relationships, constant worry has led to misunderstandings and tensions with the people you care so much about.
You strive to do your best, but perfectionism is eroding your confidence, leaving you in a cycle of “not good enough.”
While you value doing the right thing, anxiety has made you TOO cautious, and you’re no longer fully present in the things you want to enjoy.
The Brain and Body Connection
Experiencing anxiety occasionally is a normal and important part of our nervous system supporting our survival.
Emotions play a key role in how the brain and body are interconnected. The nervous system ensures our survival, constantly managing signals of stress and danger.
Think of your nervous system as a car’s engine. When you face stress, it revs up, preparing you to take action.
The vagal brake, part of the parasympathetic nervous system, acts like the brakes, slowing the engine down and helping you relax.
Chronic Anxiety
However, when anxiety becomes chronic, it’s like driving a car with the engine constantly revving, even when you’re not moving.
This constant state of readiness can wear you out, affecting both your mind and body.
Additionally, our nervous system has an innate drive to connect with others, and chronic anxiety can disrupt this connection, making it harder to feel supported and understood.
Therapy that Helps You Tune In and Shift Your Experience
The good news is that with the right therapy, you can change anxiety patterns that no longer serve you.
By choosing a therapy approach that aligns with your goals and builds on your strengths, wonderful shifts can occur along the way.
You’ll have new tools and understanding to help you restore harmony within and rebuild those important connections around you.
As these shifts happen, you’ll notice new insights, feel more present and attuned, and gain confidence in handling anxiety when it shows up.
About Jennifer (Jen) Thomas
LMFT, SEP, RYT
Welcome!
I’m honored that you are considering working with me on your healing journey. When we work together, you will discover that I offer therapies which are nervous system-informed, evidence-based, Internal Family Systems-informed, and person-centered.
I am licensed as a mental health professional (LMFT – Minnesota, Virginia, and Michigan), Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), and Brainspotting Therapist.
Becoming a therapist was a mid-life career progression for me that seemed to naturally flow out of my personal and professional experiences interacting with mental health systems of care, education, special education, and parent advocacy for children with disabilities.
When I’m not working…
Occasionally, I substitute teach Avita Yoga at Yoga Center Retreat in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, because I’m also a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT).
I’m a fan of Great British Bake Off, so I find great satisfaction in preparing my own delicious dishes from online recipes and sharing the food I make with family and friends.
I love spending time with pets – my two dogs motivate me to get outdoors for walks in nature; my two cats counteract that by seeking a cozy lap to settle onto. It’s a bit tricky trying to knit with a kitty captivated by the yarn. 🙂