Is excessive worrying getting in the way of you living your life?
Individuals who suffer from anxiety often describe their physical and mental symptoms as debilitating. Anxiety is a primal biological experience designed to get our attention so that we can act quickly in dangerous or risky situations. However, for those with excessive anxiety, physical and mental changes associated with the “fight or flight” system are over-active, leading to panic and worry throughout the day.
Dr. Peck’s Approach
Biofeedback Training & Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dr. Peck has extensive experience in both psycho-physiological and cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBT) for anxiety disorders. Through her training at the Center for Applied Psycho-Physiology, Dr. Peck was trained in providing a combination of biofeedback and cognitive-behavioral therapy to target anxiety. Clients learn to recognize and harness the power of both the body-to-mind and mind-to-body connection to effectively control symptoms. Using this method, she has successfully treated a wide range of anxiety disorders.
Biofeedback
Using specialized equipment designed to detect biomarkers of anxiety, biofeedback treatment focuses on improving awareness and learning to control physiological symptoms associated with anxiety and panic. Clients learn how to create a state of relaxation in their body, which leads to improvements in anxiety and worry.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Dr. Peck utilizes evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy as a primary treatment method. CBT for anxiety is currently regarded as the most efficacious treatment for a wide range of anxiety disorders, with studies showing a significant decrease in symptoms for those who receive this specialized treatment. In addition to CBT, Dr. Peck also uses treatment strategies developed through her work at UCSD, where she has studied the neurobiological basis of anxiety and contributed to the development of new treatment strategies targeting specific networks in the brain responsible for worry.
Child and Adolescent Anxiety Treatment
Both cognitive-behavioral therapy and biofeedback interventions can be adapted for children and teens. Dr. Peck has treated children and adolescents with anxiety disorders ranging from simple phobias and excessive worrying to generalized anxiety disorder. Dr. Peck uses interventions adapted to be age-appropriate and is able to treat children ranging from 7-18 years old.
Conditions Treated
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Excessive worry
- Skills for stress management
- Phobias
- Social phobia
- Panic Disorder