Mind-Body Support to Help You Manage Stress, Stop the Spiral, and Feel More Like Yourself Again
Fort Lauderdale Anxiety Therapy
Online Holistic Therapy for Anxiety in Florida and Illinois
You’ve been holding it together for a long time.
And now, your body is telling you something’s not right.
Maybe anxiety is new for you, or maybe it’s been building for years—quiet at times, louder at others. But lately, it’s harder to ignore. Your mind spins with overthinking, your body feels tense and wired, and small things trigger big reactions.
You find yourself snapping, shutting down, or spiraling—even when nothing “big” is happening. Then the shame or second-guessing sets in.
You’re tired of riding the highs and lows. You want to feel in control again.
Anxiety Lives in the Body, Not Just the Mind
That wired, restless feeling.
The tension in your shoulders or gut.
The sense that something bad is about to happen—when everything looks fine on the surface.
Anxiety isn’t just a mental loop. It’s physical. It hijacks your focus, your mood, and your ability to feel like yourself.
That’s why mind-body therapy works differently.
Instead of only talking through your experiences, we work with what your body is holding onto—helping your nervous system respond in new ways.
Hi, I’m Amy Hagerstrom, LCSW.
I’m really glad you’re here.
I know how exhausting it feels when life throws new pressures your way, and the stress you’ve managed starts feeling unmanageable. You’ve worked hard to hold it all together—but lately, it’s taking more out of you.
The responsibilities, worry, and tension have left you stretched thin. It’s not just the exhaustion—it’s how much harder it feels to think clearly, connect, or feel like yourself.
You don’t have to keep pushing through alone. Together, we’ll ease what’s keeping you stuck so you can feel steady, clear-headed, and ready to face life again.
You’ve built a life worth enjoying, and you deserve to feel confident and in control.
Anxiety Therapist in Fort Lauderdale
Persistent worry or unease
Overwhelm from responsibilities and high expectations
Burnout from always doing, helping, or fixing
Physical tension, tightness, or disrupted sleep
Guilt, shame, or feeling like you’re never enough
Overthinking or replaying conversations
People-pleasing or fear of disappointing others
Quick reactions—like snapping or shutting down
Relationship anxiety or feeling on edge around others
Past experiences that still live in your body
Difficulty with transitions, uncertainty, or change
Using food, alcohol, or distractions to cope
If any of these feel familiar, you’re not alone—and there is support that goes deeper than surface-level fixes.
What Brings People to Anxiety Therapy (and Maybe You Too)
Inside a Session: Holistic Therapy for Anxiety and Stress
No two sessions look exactly the same—because no two people are the same, and even you won’t come in the same way every time.
Some sessions are about slowing down and finding comfort. Others are about building your capacity to stay present when emotions feel big or uncomfortable. And sometimes we’ll try something more active—like standing, swaying, or shifting position—if that feels right for you.
We start wherever you are.
You’ll never be pushed into something you’re not ready for. We’ll work at your pace, using an individualized approach based on what your body and nervous system need in the moment.
This kind of therapy is gentle, but powerful.
We use small steps—what’s called titration—to keep the work manageable. You’ll also experience pendulation, which means gently shifting between discomfort and safety, so you build more capacity without getting overwhelmed.
Even when we’re talking things through, I’m tuned into how your body is responding. We might pause to notice a reaction or shift attention to something that helps you settle. Over time, this creates lasting change—not just in how you think, but how you feel and respond.
My Mind-Body Approach to Anxiety Therapy
Here are a few of the methods we may use in our work together—based on what feels most supportive for you:
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
SE helps you access and process the physical side of anxiety. It helps your nervous system come out of “survival mode” and register safety again. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by sensations, you’ll learn how to stay with them in a way that’s manageable. Over time, this opens up space to understand what’s underneath the anxiety, build resilience, and connect more deeply with yourself.
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
SSP uses filtered music to support your nervous system in the background. It helps you register cues of safety more easily—so your system isn’t always bracing or scanning for what might go wrong. This can make it easier to connect with others, stay calm in the face of stress, and experience a deeper sense of ease. You don’t have to talk—just listen. I’ll guide the process with support along the way.
Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP)
RRP is also music-based, but it works differently from SSP. It helps your body return to a more natural rhythm and can be especially helpful when you feel disconnected, exhausted, or like you’ve lost your sense of self. It supports deeper rest and regulation, and makes it easier to notice what your body needs in daily life.
These methods are designed to complement each other.
Somatic Experiencing is at the core of the work we’ll do together. If it feels supportive, we can incorporate music-based protocols like SSP or RRP as part of your therapy. I’ll help you decide what’s most helpful based on how you're feeling, what you're working through, and what kind of support your nervous system needs.
Understanding the Roots of Your Anxiety
Even when life looks okay now, your nervous system may still be responding to the past.
As children, we didn’t have control over situations. If stress or connection felt unpredictable—or unsafe—your body may have learned to stay on high alert.
You might not remember everything that shaped you. But you may notice patterns like:
Constant worry about what others think
Over-explaining or apologizing
Feeling anxious when people are upset with you
Struggling to relax, even when nothing’s wrong
Reacting more strongly than the situation calls for
This isn’t about blaming the past—it’s about understanding how early experiences shaped your stress responses, your attachment style, and your relationships.
Together, we’ll gently explore these patterns, nurture the younger parts of you that are still holding on to fear, and support you in responding with more confidence and ease.
How Healing Can Feel—in Your Body and Your Life
As we do this work together, you may begin to notice:
Less tension in your chest, jaw, or stomach
Fewer physical symptoms—like racing heart or shallow breathing
A clearer sense of what you need and how to respond to it
More ease and steadiness, even in stressful moments
A stronger connection with yourself and the people who matter
More energy, clarity, and capacity for the life you’ve worked hard to build
You don’t have to keep spiraling, shutting down, or pushing through.
With the right support, it becomes easier to feel calm, connected, and capable—without having to work so hard for it.
Where I Work
I work with clients online throughout Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach. Whether you’re navigating chronic stress, trauma, or nervous system overwhelm, we can do this work together from the comfort of your home.
I’m also licensed in Illinois and am able to see clients in Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois.
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Anxiety is a signal. It’s not something to get rid of—it’s something we learn to understand and respond to differently.
Anxiety is often a sympathetic nervous system response—your body’s natural "flight" reaction to perceived threats. While it’s normal to feel anxious from time to time, when this response is overactive, it can start to control your life. Instead of just managing anxiety, I focus on healing by helping your nervous system settle and respond to stress in healthier ways.Through somatic therapy, we take the time to tune into the anxiety, understand what it's trying to communicate, and work on healing the underlying triggers. This allows you to break free from the patterns that are keeping you stuck and move closer to the life you want. Together, we work with both your mind and body to bring lasting relief.
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You can absolutely live a fulfilling life with anxiety—it doesn’t have to control you. While managing anxiety is often part of the early steps in therapy, the goal is to reduce its intensity over time.
Panic attacks and constant fear don’t have to be part of your daily life.
It’s normal to feel anxious from time to time, and those feelings can even provide helpful information. But what you’re experiencing now doesn’t have to be your normal.
Somatic therapy helps your brain better recognize the difference between real threats and safety, making everyday challenges easier to handle.
You’ll learn to feel more settled, even after stressful moments, and build the capacity to face anxiety without letting it take over. You’ll feel more in control and find real relief.
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It depends. Some people feel a shift in just a few sessions, especially as their body starts to settle. For others—especially if anxiety is tied to deeper trauma—it can take longer.
This isn’t a quick fix. But many people find that even early progress helps them feel more hopeful and capable.
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Sessions are online.
Virtual therapy works especially well for this kind of somatic work—you’re in your own environment, which helps your system feel safe.
Plus, you can use personal comfort items (even pets!) and skip the commute.
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In Florida, I am private pay only.
In Illinois, I am in-network with Aetna and BCBS.If you're paying out of pocket, I can provide a superbill for possible reimbursement.
Anxiety Therapy FAQs
Get help from a Florida Anxiety Therapist
Anxiety can leave you feeling stuck—tired from the worry, second-guessing yourself, and struggling to keep up with everything on your plate. It’s draining, and no matter how much you push through, it feels like it’s never enough.
You don’t have to keep carrying this alone.
With somatic therapy, we’ll work to calm the tension, ease the overwhelm, and help you feel steady and in control. It’s about finding relief and creating a way forward that keeps you connected to yourself and your life, even in challenging times.
If you're tired of pushing through and want real relief, I'm here to help.
Start Therapy with a Quick Consultation Call
Click the button below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
If you don’t see a time that works—or if you have questions—fill out the form on the Contact page, let me know what times might work for you, and we’ll find a time together.
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