Finding the Right Anxiety Therapist in Los Angeles Ca
Feeling overwhelmed looking for an anxiety therapist in Los Angeles CA? This is a helpful guide that supports First-Gen and Queer adults in their journey towards finding the right care that truly fits.
Why First-Gen Adults in Los Angeles Often Carry Invisible Anxiety
Many of us were raised in environments where there were unsaid rules of expectations of us culturally, from our parents, and society as a whole. This innate pressure to succeed and take care of others, more than ourselves. Learning to keep the peace, meant moving forward and not paying attention to feelings we felt in the moment. Who had time for that? There are SO MANY other things that I can do to be productive.
Being in your feelings never felt useful.
These environments (cultural, family, and the outside world) never taught us that emotional expression was needed to be prioritized or even allowed. Growing up, we might have been taught to “push through” difficult emotions, or we were told that we needed to focus on “practical” things like work, school, or family obligations. These strategies became ingrained in us as normal, and we carried them into adulthood. But these strategies don’t help us process anxiety, instead, they perpetuate it.
Being First Gen, a person of color, and/or queer comes with its own emotional stress of living “between cultures.” When we get to a point in our lives to have more freedom to lean into living differently, whether from leaving these environments or getting into healthier relationships/environments. You begin to question these rules you grew up around. You second guess how they have molded you and decision making — Are they your own values/rules or just a way you learned to keep the peace with others and environments? Was it to avoid feelings of being a bad person? As an anxiety therapist in Los Angeles for First-Gen adults, I help clients learn to sit with these questions, to move forward in a healthier way, reducing anxiety and building deeper connections with themselves and others.
It can feel lonely to be surrounded by the emotional weight of always being the caregiver in relationships to others, and the anxiety of choosing a different path. Explore with an anxiety therapist based in Los Angeles how to begin your path towards healing.
Common Signs of Anxiety Among First-Gen Clients
Many of the clients I work with come into therapy asking if what they are feeling is normal or have had enough with second guessing themselves. First Gen clients struggle with these high expectations of themselves of being the “good one” or “responsible one” or “not being enough.” They hold fears of asking for too much, so they prioritize others and bottle up their emotions. They want to keep the peace, be understanding, forgiving, and letting things slide because doing something for themselves feels scary and not doable. Relationships, their job, friendships, family become more emotionally draining. There are new feelings of resentment, irritability, and constantly bracing for something to go wrong. They notice a chest tightness, fatigue, tenseness, and head fogginess. These common signs of anxiety tend to get overlooked as being connected to one’s mental health because cultures do not teach you what it means to be anxious. When there are physical signs, it is automatically deemed to be something you cure on your own by ‘figuring it out yourself’ as opposed to asking for help.
What a Culturally Affirming Anxiety Therapist in Los Angeles Ca Offers
As a first-generation Guatemalan-American therapist in Los Angeles Ca who specializes in anxiety therapy, I have witnessed the impact of cultural conditioning regularly. Many of my clients are BIPOC and Queer folx, navigating the intersection of cultural expectations, trauma, and the desire for emotional relief. The struggle to break free from these patterns of people-pleasing, overthinking, guilt, imposter syndrome, questioning themselves, and toxic relationships. There is a longing to heal from these intergenerational wounds, and my clients come to find it to be a profound and empowering journey. That is what cultural affirming and intersectional therapy provides, a space that understands how the intersections of race, immigration, queerness, religion, and generational trauma impact the way we experience anxiety, relationships, and the world around us. My goal is to offer a therapeutic relationship where you feel held, respected, and deeply seen.
Therapy for Queer and First-Gen adults supports them in moving from feeling emotionally unsafe to clarity in navigating their needs. Finding the right Anxiety therapist in Los Angeles and across California can help the healing feel less overwhelming.
How Therapy Can Help You Build Self-Trust and Set Boundaries
Working with a therapist is not only having a stranger listen to you, there is a deeper layer of healing happening during the time you share together. Having a mirror to our fears and insecurities is really scary, but consistently showing up for yourself, in and out of sessions, is one of the first steps in setting a boundary for yourself. Therapy teaches you to trust, identify what you need to practice vulnerability, and how it can feel like when you step into yourself slowly of who you authentically are. The work you do in this safe space ultimately translates to your daily life; leaning into relationships that nurture you and setting boundaries with yourself and others. Working through the feelings of guilt and shame that present themselves when you think of setting boundaries.
As an anxiety therapist in Los Angeles I help guide clients into this journey of learning to give yourself permission to feel, to trust that your emotions matter, and to find the courage to create deeper connections with those around you. I specialize in helping First Gen Adults throughout California heal anxiety, people pleasing, toxic relationship patterns, and identity through Awareness and Nervous System Regulation. Through understanding your anxiety and incorporating embodiment into your daily life, learning to regulate your nervous system, calm your racing thoughts, and build emotional resilience.
Directories and Resources for Finding an Anxiety Therapist in Los Angeles Ca
If everything so far has resonated with you and are looking to work with a therapist towards healing your anxiety the following directories are great resources to help in your search. In a directory, you can also utilize filters for cultural background, LGBTQ+ affirming, queer idenitfied therapist, specialities they work with, and and language spoken.
Researching expert tips online from therapists can be helpful in guiding you through finding the right anxiety therapist in Los Angeles. The goal is to help you find someone that you can do the best healing work with.
This national directory is for Latinx Therapists in private practice, psychiatrists, and immigration evaluations. They also provide workshops and groups for the community.
This national directory is a social justice and liberation-oriented mental health directory, community, and resource hub. You can find a therapist, counselor, coach, or mental health provider committed to collective liberation and healing.
This is a nationwide directory of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office and online mental health care at a reduced rate.'
This national directory focusing on elevating visibility of BIPOC providers who can provide a culturally sensitive" environment for those seeking therapy. Their mission to eradicate the stigma to therapy.
This national directory is for therapist, psychiatrists, treatment centers, and support groups. It is the most known, and has a variety of therapists from different types of identities and specialities. While the previous three emphasize BIPOC and inclusivity, this directory as well has providers who focus on culture centered and inclusive work.
Looking through directories can start to feel overwhelming, so remember to give yourself breaks in between searches. It's important to find someone you can feel comfortable with, someone you can trust, and someone you can really open up to. Click here for a few tips that could help you fast-track your process of finding the best therapist for you and help ease the feelings of nerves.
You Don’t Have to Carry This Alone:
Start Your Therapy Journey Today
If you are struggling with anxiety and seeking support in Los Angeles, because you’re ready to begin to feel more empowered in your relationships and heal through moving away from guilt and shame, not because others change, but because you do. I’m here to provide a compassionate and culturally-informed space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered. I offer Anxiety Therapy in Los Angeles and across California virtually with a focus on culturally responsive, Queer-affirming care for people navigating anxiety, people-pleasing, and family expectations. .
Contact me today for your free 15 minute consultation at (323) 493-6644 or Book A Session with me here.
Start your journey today with an anxiety therapist based in Los Angeles and providing therapy across California.
Wishing you peace and clarity on your journey to finding the right anxiety therapist in Los Angeles—and the healing you deserve.
Ligia Orellana, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 122659
