A Full, Rich, and Meaningful Life—even When Anxiety Shows Up
Anxiety is a normal and sometimes helpful part of life. It is our mind and body’s way of alerting us to potential danger, preparing us for challenges, and helping us respond to important situations. But sometimes anxiety becomes more of an obstacle than a help. Fear, worry, and uncomfortable feelings can begin to influence our choices, limit our experiences, and keep us from living the full, rich, and meaningful lives we desire.
At Chris Webb Counseling Group, we believe the goal is not simply to get rid of anxiety, but to develop the psychological flexibility to respond to it differently. Using principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we help clients learn to handle difficult thoughts and feelings, make choices guided by their values, and move toward what matters most—even when anxiety shows up.
Start Here: Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety can show up in many different ways. For some, it looks like constant worry or fear. For others, it may involve panic, unwanted thoughts, avoidance, or uncomfortable physical sensations. Understanding anxiety is an important first step toward learning how to respond to it. These three short videos explain what anxiety is, why we experience it, and how we can develop a healthier relationship with it.
1. Anxiety Overview
Understanding the Different Types of Anxiety
Anxiety is not the same for everyone. In this video, Dr. Chris Webb introduces the different types of anxiety disorders, how mental health professionals understand and diagnose them, and the common patterns we see in our counseling practice.
2. Anxiety Explained
Understanding Your Body’s Alarm System
Anxiety is more than just worry. It involves a powerful alarm system in our brain and body designed to protect us from danger. This video explains how that system works, why it sometimes activates when we are not in danger, and why anxiety can feel so overwhelming—even when we know we are safe.
3. The Anxiety Answer
Learning to Respond Differently
What if the answer to anxiety isn’t always trying to make it go away? In this video, ACT therapist Dr. Russ Harris introduces the Choice Point, a practical way to understand how our responses to difficult thoughts and feelings can either pull us away from or move us toward the life we want to live. The Choice Point provides the foundation for three important skills: Unhooking, Opening Up, and Valued Living.
We cannot always choose which thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations show up in our lives. But we can learn to choose how we respond.Sometimes anxiety pulls us away from the people, experiences, and activities that matter most. Other times, we can learn to make choices that move us toward the life we want to live—even when anxiety comes along for the ride.
The Choice Point helps us recognize these moments and develop the skills to choose our direction. Click on the Unhooking, Open Up and Valued Living to discover resources!
You Don’t Have to Navigate Anxiety Alone
Anxiety does not have to determine the direction of your life.
At Chris Webb Counseling Group, we help children, teenagers, and adults better understand anxiety, develop practical skills, and build the confidence to move toward what matters most.
A fuller, richer, and more meaningful life is possible—even when anxiety shows up.
The Choice Point: Choosing Your Direction
Concept adapted from Russ Harris / Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.