Anxiety Therapy in Calgary

Do you find yourself constantly worrying about things that haven’t happened yet? 

• Do you second guess yourself, replay conversations over in your head and rehearse imagined scenarios endlessly?

• Do you frequently experience a racing heart, tight chest and an upset stomach?

• Do you lay awake at night thinking of all the things you need to prepare for?

At Redesigning Mental Health, we approach anxiety as a deeply human experience. We understand that living in a society structured by high demands, systemic inequities, and constant pressure, with a brain that was designed for a much simpler life, can heighten stress and anxiety. Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about making time to understand what’s happening, learning strategies to manage it, and ultimately reclaiming your sense of calm and control.

Anxiety is your body responding the way it’s designed to when it senses danger or uncertainty.

Approximately 13% of Canadians will experience anxiety in their lifetime. It’s the most common mental illness among young people and its prevalence in this age group continues to rise. There is no single cause of anxiety. It often arises from a combination of factors including: biological, past experiences or trauma, societal and environmental stressors and daily life pressures. 

Our brains are hardwired to keep us safe. Evolution shaped us to constantly scan our environment for threats, triggering fear as a protective mechanism that helped our ancestors survive. But the world we live in today is very different from the one our brains evolved in. With rapid changes, constant information, and countless “what ifs” to consider, our brain often interprets normal life events as danger. This means we may experience heightened worry, tension, or anxiety even when there is no immediate threat; a natural response of a system designed for survival, now navigating a world full of modern challenges.

Redesigning Mental Health integrates this understanding into therapy. We view anxiety not just as an individual challenge, but as a response to the broader world, while still helping clients develop personal tools and resilience.

What Anxiety Looks Like

Anxiety can show up in many ways, often affecting mind, body, and behavior. Common signs include:

• Racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating

• Persistent worry or overthinking

• Physical tension, headaches, or stomach discomfort

• Avoidance of certain situations or social events

• Irritability, restlessness, or difficulty sleeping
  
  

For teens, anxiety may show as school avoidance, frequent complaints of illness, or social withdrawal. Parents may experience heightened worry for their children while struggling to manage their own stress. Adults across careers may notice decreased focus, procrastination, or panic in high-pressure situations. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, and therapy begins by understanding your unique patterns.

Anxiety Therapy can help you stay in the moment 

Our approach combines trauma-informed care, mindfulness, CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills. We work hard to create a safer, compassionate space for clients to explore anxiety without judgment.

Therapy may include:

• Mindfulness practices: Simple, practical exercises to stay grounded in the present moment, helping to reduce overwhelm.

• DBT skills: Techniques for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and managing anxious thoughts.

• Exposure therapy: Taking small, gradual steps to expose yourself to your anxiety triggers, after learning skills to tolerate the anxious thoughts and physical sensations you will experience.

• Narrative and inner-child work: Understanding your personal story and the roots of anxious patterns.

• Collaborative goal-setting: We work with you to identify meaningful goals, whether it’s feeling calmer in social situations, managing panic attacks, or coping with daily stress.

Clients working through their anxiety in therapy often report:

Feeling calmer and more in control of their anxiety

Reduced physical symptoms like tension, racing heart, or restlessness

Improved focus and clarity in daily life

Greater self-compassion and emotional resilience

Confidence in navigating stressful or triggering situations

Therapy with us isn’t about getting rid of your anxiety. It’s about reducing symptoms, helping you reconnect with yourself, building skills to handle life’s challenges, and cultivating a sense of stability and peace. Whether your anxiety arises from personal circumstances, systemic pressures, or a combination of factors, we help you develop tools to manage it effectively while honoring your unique experience.

Whether you are seeking support in Calgary, or virtually across Alberta and Saskatchewan, sessions are designed to meet you where you are.

It is common to be unsure (or even scared) to try therapy for anxiety 

“The thought of facing some of my fears makes me not want to try anxiety therapy.”

It makes complete sense to feel scared; facing fears can feel overwhelming. Therapy isn’t about jumping straight into what’s frightening; it’s about taking small, manageable steps at your pace. You get to move forward in a way that feels safe for you and only after you’ve learned the skills to handle your anxious feelings differently.

“Is it possible to learn how to handle a panic attack?”

Absolutely. Therapy can teach skills to recognize the signs of a panic attack early, manage the physical sensations, and calm your mind in the moment. Many people find that, over time, panic attacks feel less intense and more manageable.

“Some of my thoughts are totally irrational and I know that.”

It’s completely OK to have thoughts that feel like they don’t make sense. Everyone does at times. In therapy, you don’t have to stop or control these thoughts right away. You learn ways to notice them, understand how they affect you, and respond in ways that reduce their power.

Take the first step to worrying less