Anxiety therapy
Therapy That Understands Your Experience
Anxiety therapy can feel incomplete when your experiences as an Asian-American adult aren't truly seen or understood. If you're navigating the unique pressures of being a 1.5 or second generation immigrant—balancing family expectations, cultural identity, and the weight of unspoken histories—I offer support in Oakland and throughout California that honors the full picture of who you are.
Anxiety therapy in my practice goes beyond surface-level strategies to explore the deeper roots of what you're experiencing. I bring my own firsthand understanding of intergenerational patterns, the pull between two cultures, and the pressure to meet high expectations—and I combine this awareness with therapeutic approaches that help you find relief while staying connected to your heritage and values.
Understanding Anxiety in the Asian-American Community
Understanding of how cultural context contributes to anxiety symptoms in the Asian-American community is an essential part of the therapeutic process. Anxiety symptoms don't exist in a vacuum - their root causes often stem from family dynamics, internalized cultural expectations, and patterns of intergenerational trauma. The focus on achievement and hard work - while essential to your success - often results in constant anxiety.
For as long as you can remember, you had to do things the “right” way. But, no matter how hard you worked or how much you achieved, it was never quite good enough. The smallest mistakes could have major negative consequences. You’ve done everything in your power to make your family proud, but they always focused on how you could do better. Now, you are constantly anxious about your performance, and beat yourself up over details that aren’t perfect. External validation of your achievements helps you feel better temporarily, but doesn’t address the root causes of your anxiety.
You are not alone in these struggles with anxiety, and you don’t have to figure this out on your own. Many people struggling with anxiety in our community have tried to manage anxiety symptoms on their own, often feeling that seeking help from a mental health professional conflicts with expectations around achievement and self-reliance. I want to assure you that pursuing anxiety therapy demonstrates strength and wisdom in recognizing that anxiety benefits from professional support.
My approach validates your achievements and hard work, while creating space for you to be kinder to yourself. We will develop tools, resources, and strategies for managing anxiety symptoms while uncovering and healing the root causes of your anxiety.
You honor yourself, your family, and your ancestors when you heal the intergenerational trauma underlying anxiety, and truly take pride in your hard work and achievements.
Why Choose Laura Bai Therapy to Support You with Anxiety
As an Asian-American therapist, I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to my anxiety therapy practice. Clients choose to work with me because I deeply understand the cultural context that often contributes to anxiety in our community - context that many mental health professionals may not fully grasp.
Immigration experiences, family sacrifices, and cultural expectations can create complex patterns that contribute to anxiety, and I'm here to help you address these underlying factors while developing practical tools and resources for managing anxiety symptoms.
I provide a warm, non-judgmental space where you can explore your experiences with anxiety without having to explain cultural context. My clients often express relief at finally working with a therapist who understands concepts like filial piety and the pressure to honor family sacrifice through personal achievement.
Specialized Care for Anxiety
I offer evidence-based therapeutic modalities specifically chosen for their effectiveness in treating anxiety while remaining sensitive to each person’s unique experiences.
Attachment-Focused EMDR for Trauma-Related Anxiety
Anxiety often has roots in past trauma or difficult childhood experiences. Attachment-Focused EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is highly effective for treating anxiety that stems from traumatic experiences, including patterns of intergenerational trauma that affect many Asian-American clients.
This approach recognizes how early attachment relationships - often influenced by immigration stress and cultural adaptation - shape our experience of safety and connection. When anxiety is connected to these experiences, AF-EMDR can help reprocess these memories and significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.
Couples and Family Therapy
Anxiety often impacts family and relationship systems. I work with couples and families to address how anxiety symptoms affect relationships and develop strategies for mutual understanding and support. This is particularly valuable for Asian-American families where anxiety is often connected to cultural and generational gaps, and tensions between familial expectations and personal desires and needs.
My background allows me to understand complex family dynamics, including issues like filial piety and sacrifice, helping families improve their relationships while supporting individual recovery from anxiety.
Somatic Therapy for Mind-Body Healing
Anxiety affects both mind and body, often creating physical symptoms like muscle tension, headaches, and sleep and digestive issues. Somatic therapy addresses the mind-body connection, helping you develop awareness of how anxiety manifests physically and gain tools to regulate your nervous system.
This approach is particularly valuable for Asian-American clients who may have learned to suppress emotional and physical symptoms due to cultural messages about emotional expression. Through somatic work, I help you reconnect with your body's wisdom and develop new ways of managing the physical symptoms associated with anxiety.
I incorporate mindfulness techniques including breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and movement practices that help you manage anxiety symptoms between sessions and prevent anxiety from escalating.
Parts Work for Internal Integration
Many clients who struggle with anxiety experience internal conflict between different aspects of themselves. Parts work helps you understand and integrate these different parts, which is particularly relevant for Asian-American clients who often experience conflict between personal and familial identities, needs, and expectations.
This approach helps reduce the internal tension that contributes to anxiety symptoms and develops healthier ways of managing competing demands and expectations.
Areas of Support I Offer
I specialize in supporting Asian-American adults who are experiencing anxiety in various areas of their lives, including:
Perfectionism and achievement-related anxiety symptoms
Burnout from high-pressure environments
Cultural identity conflicts and related anxiety symptoms
Intergenerational trauma affecting current anxiety symptoms
Relationship conflicts leading to anxiety symptoms
Caretaking patterns and codependency
Guilt and shame contributing to anxiety symptoms
Who I Work With
My practice focuses specifically on Asian-American adults between ages 25-50 who are:
1.5 and second generation immigrants
High-achieving professionals
Seeking culturally-informed anxiety therapy
I provide anxiety therapy for individuals, couples, and families, offering both online in-person sessions in Oakland and more broadly throughout California to accommodate different preferences and needs.
What to Expect: Anxiety Therapy Process
Free Consultation
I offer a complimentary 20-minute consultation where we can discuss your anxiety symptoms and determine if my approach aligns with your needs. This allows us to ensure we're a good fit before beginning anxiety therapy.
First Session
After our consultation, if you decide to move forward, you'll complete documentation through my secure client portal. Whether conducted as online therapy or in-person, your first session will focus on:
Building our therapeutic relationship foundation
Exploring your presenting anxiety symptoms in detail
Establishing clear, individualized therapeutic goals
Reviewing personal and family history
Ongoing Anxiety Therapy
We typically meet weekly or bi-weekly for anxiety therapy sessions. The frequency depends on your needs and the severity of your anxiety symptoms. Each session builds on the previous work to address current anxiety symptoms while healing the root causes of anxiety.
I may suggest homework or between-session practices such as relaxation techniques, journaling, or mindfulness exercises to help you apply what we're learning and continue making progress in reducing anxiety.
Supporting Your Mental Health Journey
Research consistently shows that anxiety therapy with a qualified mental health professional is among the most effective treatments for anxiety. The combination of culturally-informed therapy and evidence-based techniques can help you achieve significant improvement in your anxiety symptoms and overall quality of life.
Beyond individual anxiety therapy, I recognize the importance of support systems in managing anxiety. Family members, partners, and friends play crucial roles in recovery, and I can help you communicate your needs and build stronger support networks.
Environmental Factors and Lifestyle Support
While professional anxiety therapy is essential for reducing anxiety, environmental factors and lifestyle changes can significantly support your recovery. I work with clients to identify environmental factors that may contribute to their anxiety symptoms and address these influences. This can look like improving communication skills to support your relationships or co-creating strategies to manage workplace expectations and dynamics.
Relaxation techniques, mindful movement, proper nutrition, and adequate sleep all play important roles in managing anxiety symptoms. I incorporate these elements into our work together, ensuring you have comprehensive tools and practices for managing anxiety symptoms in your daily life.
Begin Your Healing Journey
If you're tired of letting anxiety impact your life and relationships, and are ready to work with a mental health professional who understands your experience, I'm here to help. My approach to anxiety therapy combines professional expertise with a deep understanding of the Asian-American experience, supporting you to heal the root causes of anxiety while honoring your heritage and values.
Taking the step to seek anxiety therapy is an investment in your future well-being. Reach out today for a free consultation and take the first step toward building a more peaceful, fulfilling life.
Location:
Oakland, CA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Anxiety therapy is a collaborative process where you work with a therapist to understand the roots of your worry, tension, and overwhelm. Together, we explore the patterns that keep anxiety present in your life, whether they stem from family dynamics, cultural pressures, perfectionism, or past experiences. The goal is not just to manage symptoms but to help you feel more grounded, connected to yourself, and free to live according to your own values.
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You might benefit from anxiety therapy if worry frequently interrupts your day, if you struggle to relax even when nothing is "wrong," or if you find yourself caught in cycles of overthinking, people pleasing, or perfectionism. Many of my clients describe feeling like they're constantly bracing for something bad to happen, or carrying a heaviness they can't quite name. If anxiety is getting in the way of your relationships, work, or sense of peace, therapy can help.
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Each session is tailored to what you need in that moment. Sometimes we focus on understanding the origins of your anxiety, exploring how family history or cultural expectations have shaped your nervous system. Other times, we work on building skills to help you feel more regulated and present. I draw from approaches like somatic therapy, parts work, and attachment focused EMDR, always adapting to what feels most supportive for you.
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There is no single timeline that applies to everyone. Some people begin to notice shifts within a few weeks, while others benefit from longer term support to address deeper patterns. The pace of your healing depends on many factors, including your goals, your history, and the roots of your anxiety. I work with you to regularly check in on your progress and adjust our approach as needed.
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Yes, anxiety and perfectionism often go hand in hand, especially for those who grew up with high expectations from family or within cultures that emphasize achievement. In our work together, we explore where these patterns come from and how they may have once served you. From there, we work toward helping you set boundaries, tolerate imperfection, and define success on your own terms rather than by external standards.
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I offer both online and in person sessions for anxiety therapy. Online sessions are available throughout California, making it easier to access support no matter where you are in the state. In person sessions are available in Oakland. Many clients appreciate the flexibility of choosing the format that fits their schedule and comfort level.
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My approach to anxiety therapy is integrative and personalized. I draw from attachment focused EMDR, somatic therapy, parts work, and emotionally focused therapy, depending on what resonates most with you. For some clients, exploring how anxiety lives in the body is most helpful. For others, understanding how family patterns and early experiences shaped their nervous system brings the most relief. We work together to find what fits.
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While talk therapy can be valuable, my approach goes beyond conversation to include the body, the nervous system, and the deeper layers of your experience. I pay close attention to how anxiety shows up physically and relationally, not just cognitively. I also bring an understanding of how cultural background, immigration experiences, and family dynamics can shape anxiety in ways that mainstream approaches sometimes overlook.
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The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other. I will ask about what brought you to therapy, your history, and what you hope to get from our work together. You are welcome to share as much or as little as feels comfortable. My goal is for you to leave feeling heard and with a clearer sense of how we might work together moving forward.
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Getting started is simple. I offer a free 20 minute consultation where we can talk about what you're experiencing and whether my approach might be a good fit for you. If we decide to move forward, you will complete some standard paperwork through my client portal before your first session. From there, we schedule a time that works for you and begin the work together.