Stress & Anxiety

Therapy for Stress and Anxiety in Marin County & Throughout California

Stress and anxiety are part of being human. Most of us carry a lot — work pressures, family responsibilities, health concerns, uncertainty about the world. I provide therapy for stress and anxiety in Marin County and throughout California using somatc based, trauma informed techniques.

But sometimes the stress doesn’t settle. The anxiety doesn’t ease. Your body stays tense. Your mind won’t turn off. Sleep becomes difficult. You feel constantly “on.”

When stress or anxiety begins to shape your daily life, therapy can help restore steadiness and capacity.

I offer Somatic Experiencing®, a trauma-informed approach to therapy for stress and anxiety in Marin County and via telehealth throughout California, supporting adults who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or persistently on edge. I also provide the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), a therapeutic listening program designed to support vagus nerve regulation and nervous system stability.

Stress and Anxiety. What’s the Difference?

People often use the words interchangeably, but they are not the same.

Stress

Stress is usually connected to something happening in your life — a deadline, a conflict, a transition, a health scare.

It tends to rise around a specific situation and often eases once that situation resolves.

In manageable amounts, stress can even help us mobilize and respond. But when it becomes chronic, the nervous system can have difficulty settling back down.

Anxiety

Anxiety often lingers.

It may begin with stress, but then continues even when there isn’t a clear reason. You might notice:

Persistent worry you can’t shut off
A sense that something bad is about to happen
Tightness in your chest or throat
Restlessness or irritability
Difficulty sleeping
Avoiding situations that feel overwhelming

Anxiety is not a flaw in your character. It is often a nervous system that has learned to stay on high alert.

When Stress and Anxiety Live in the Body

Stress and anxiety are not just thoughts — they are physiological states.

You might experience:

Muscle tension
Digestive disruption
Headaches
Fatigue
Feeling easily startled
Difficulty concentrating
Emotional reactivity or shutdown

When the nervous system stays activated for too long, it can lose flexibility. Small stressors begin to feel large. Rest doesn’t fully restore you.

Therapy can help your system relearn how to regulate.

A Nervous-System Approach to Anxiety

Many people have already tried talking themselves out of anxiety. Sometimes insight alone isn’t enough.

My work focuses on supporting regulation at the level of the nervous system.

Somatic Experiencing®

Somatic Experiencing works gently with the body’s stress response. Rather than pushing into overwhelming material, we build capacity gradually.

Clients often report:

Reduced baseline anxiety
Better sleep
Increased emotional steadiness
More resilience under pressure
A greater sense of internal calm

EMDR / Flash Technique

When past experiences continue to fuel present anxiety, EMDR can help the brain and nervous system process and integrate those experiences.

As unresolved stress is metabolized, the body no longer reacts as if the past threat is still happening.

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

The Safe and Sound Protocol is a clinically developed listening intervention based on polyvagal theory. Using specially filtered music, SSP supports the regulation of the vagus nerve and the social engagement system.

For some clients, especially those with chronic anxiety, sensory sensitivity, or a history of prolonged stress, the nervous system needs additional support settling into safety before deeper therapeutic work can unfold.

SSP can help:

Reduce baseline anxiety and hypervigilance
Improve emotional regulation
Support social connection and engagement
Decrease sensory overwhelm
Enhance overall nervous system resilience

It is often used alongside Somatic Experiencing® to gently strengthen regulatory capacity.

You May Benefit from Therapy If…

Worry feels excessive or difficult to control
You feel constantly “on edge”
Stress is affecting your relationships or work
Sleep is disrupted
You avoid situations due to anxiety
You feel depleted but can’t fully rest

Stress and anxiety are highly treatable. Early support can prevent patterns from becoming more entrenched.

Stress and Anxiety Therapy in Marin County & Online in California

I work with adults providing therapy for stress and anxiety in Marin County, and I offer telehealth sessions throughout California.

My approach is:

Trauma-informed
Nervous-system focused
Collaborative and steady
Grounded in clinical experience

If you’re ready, you’re welcome to schedule a first session. Experiencing the work often gives you a clearer sense of whether it feels like a good fit.

Phone: (415) 453-1402
Email: drkatebrennan@gmail.com
Schedule Appointment

FAQ’s

Here’s some answers to the frequently asked questions

Is stress the same as an anxiety disorder?

No. Stress is typically tied to external pressures and usually resolves when the situation changes. Anxiety disorders involve persistent, excessive fear or worry that interferes with daily life and may continue even when there is no clear external trigger. When anxiety becomes difficult to control, disproportionate to circumstances, or begins limiting your functioning, it may be more than situational stress.