Overthinking

What becomes possible:

What We Do in Sessions:

To work with this, we bring in awareness of other elements of your experience, one at a time. I’ll often ask you to pause, especially to interrupt the laundry list of worries or fears, so that we can take time with the content, piece by piece, in a way that does not overwhelm you. We look at what emotions are there and what is happening in your body. This helps create new pathways in your mind and body, giving you options other than think, think, think. People who overthink often need to understand how things work, so I am happy to offer educational materials like books and podcasts along the way.

We also explore where the overthinking came from, how it formed, and how it may have even helped you. It may be an important part of your experience, with a history of its own. We also explore where the overthinking came from, how it formed, and how it may have even helped you. It may be an important part of your experience, with a history of its own. When it's a good fit, we may use EMDR to help process the specific memories or experiences underneath the pattern, so they no longer carry the same charge.

With practice, you’ll start to learn the cues and signals that bring you into this overthinking mode. Over time, with this awareness, the other pathways that we create in therapy will become available to you in your day-to-day. You may be able to catch yourself going down a thought-spiral, and instead of getting stuck in it, you can take a breath, ground yourself in the present moment, and shift your attention on what you really want to be with in that moment. This helps you be in connection with your loved ones more readily. It allows you to move through moments and experiences with more ease and self-compassion. You might find yourself feeling a sense of relief that you don’t have to work through all the what-could-have-beens or the what-could-bes and you get to just be.

More access to life becomes available. When overthinking is running the show, it’s like having tunnel vision. With a shift in how much space it’s taking up, you get to see the broader picture, take in more nuanced details, and get to know yourself and the world in a different way.

We look at what your current Resources are— the things, places, qualities, experiences, that bring you joy, peace, or a sense of connection. And we build on those Resources, increasing your awareness and attention so that those experiences become as familiar and available as the negative states are now.