Anxiety Therapy in Rhode Island

Licensed Rhode Island therapists helping you understand, manage, and overcome anxiety through evidence-based treatment, in person or via telehealth.

Anxiety Is More Than Worry

Anxiety is not simply feeling stressed or nervous before a big event. It is a persistent state of heightened alertness that your body and mind struggle to switch off. When anxiety becomes chronic, it disrupts sleep, relationships, work performance, and physical health in ways that are real and measurable. The good news is that anxiety disorders are among the most treatable mental health conditions, and effective support is available in Rhode Island.

At Arrow Behavioral Health, our licensed therapists work with children, teens, and adults experiencing anxiety across a full range of presentations, from generalized worry to panic attacks, social anxiety, and OCD.

Recognizing Anxiety: Symptoms and Physical Effects

Many people do not realize that anxiety shows up in the body just as much as it does in the mind. When anxiety is triggered, the brain activates the fight-or-flight response, flooding the body with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this sustained physiological state takes a real toll.

Mental and Emotional Symptoms

  • Persistent worry or racing thoughts that are difficult to control

  • Irritability, restlessness, or a constant feeling of being on edge

  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • Fear of losing control or a sense of impending doom

  • Avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety

Physical Symptoms

  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, or chest pain

  • Shortness of breath or feeling like you cannot catch your breath

  • Muscle tension, aches, or trembling

  • Headaches, dizziness, or lightheadedness

  • Digestive issues including nausea, stomach upset, or irritable bowel

  • Excessive sweating or hot flashes

  • Fatigue despite sleeping, or chronic difficulty falling and staying asleep

When Physical Symptoms Go Unrecognized

A significant number of people seek medical care for these physical complaints before recognizing them as anxiety. If you have had medical causes ruled out and still experience unexplained physical symptoms, anxiety may be the underlying driver. A licensed therapist at Arrow Behavioral Health can help you understand the connection and build a plan to address it.

 

Types of Anxiety Treated at Arrow Behavioral Health

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Persistent, excessive worry about everyday situations including work, health, finances, and relationships that is difficult to control and interferes with daily life.

Panic Disorder Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks accompanied by intense physical symptoms such as chest pain, racing heart, and shortness of breath, followed by ongoing fear of another attack.

Social Anxiety Disorder Intense fear of social situations, judgment, or embarrassment that leads to avoidance and interferes with relationships and professional life.

OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) Intrusive, unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors performed to temporarily relieve anxiety, which reinforce the cycle over time.

Phobias Disproportionate fear responses to specific objects or situations that cause significant distress or avoidance.

Anxiety Related to Trauma For those whose anxiety is rooted in past traumatic experiences, our trauma therapy services address anxiety and trauma together as part of one integrated care plan.


 

Evidence-Based Anxiety Treatment at Arrow Behavioral Health

Our therapists draw on a range of proven therapeutic modalities tailored to each client's presentation and goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) The most well-researched approach for anxiety. CBT helps identify and reframe the thought patterns that fuel anxious responses and builds concrete coping skills for daily life.

Narrative Therapy Helps clients separate their identity from their anxiety, examining the stories they carry about themselves and rewriting them in a way that supports healing and agency.

Motivational Interviewing Supports clients in building the internal motivation to engage with change, particularly useful when anxiety leads to avoidance or resistance to treatment.

Reality Therapy Focuses on present choices and behaviors, empowering clients to take control of what they can and reduce anxiety driven by helplessness.

Medication Management When clinically appropriate, our psychiatric nurse practitioners can support anxiety treatment with medication alongside therapy. Learn more about our medication management services.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • Anxiety commonly produces a rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, shortness of breath, muscle tension, headaches, digestive upset, dizziness, and fatigue. These symptoms occur because anxiety triggers the body's stress response system, releasing hormones that prepare the body for a perceived threat. If physical symptoms persist and medical causes have been ruled out, anxiety may be the underlying cause and therapy can help.

  • Many anxiety symptoms overlap with medical conditions, which is why it is always appropriate to consult your doctor first. Once medical causes are ruled out, a licensed therapist can assess whether anxiety is the root cause and recommend the right treatment approach. Arrow Behavioral Health also offers medication management services through our psychiatric nurse practitioners when a combined medical and therapeutic approach is needed.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most extensively researched and effective treatment for anxiety disorders. Arrow Behavioral Health therapists are trained in CBT as well as Narrative Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Reality Therapy, and will recommend the approach best suited to your specific situation.

  • Yes. Therapy alone is effective for many people with anxiety. For others, a combination of therapy and medication management produces better outcomes. Our team will discuss all options with you so you can make an informed decision about your care.

  • Yes. Arrow Behavioral Health works with clients across the lifespan. Our therapists are experienced in treating anxiety in children and adolescents, with approaches tailored to developmental stage and family context. Learn more about our teen and adolescent counseling services.