Even when everything feels harder than it should be you can find your footing again.
Therapy for overthinking, emotional overwhelm, and relationship stress for adults in Waukesha and across Wisconsin
“Why can’t I just change?”
Over time, this may stop feeling like something that passes on its own and start feeling like a pattern you keep getting pulled back into.
Maybe this has been going on for months or even years. Your mind rarely slows down. You overthink situations, feel anxious with uncertainty, and struggle to feel settled when you do not know what will happen next.
It can feel difficult to let things go, even when you want to. You may find yourself replaying conversations, running through different outcomes, or trying to mentally prepare so you do not feel caught off guard.
In relationships, this can show up as repeated arguments, pulling away when things feel uncertain or intense, or getting stuck in cycles where conflict escalates and feels difficult to repair. At times, you may end relationships quickly when emotional intensity feels like too much to hold.
There can be a strong need for things to feel predictable or under control before you can relax, but the more you try to manage uncertainty in your mind or relationships, the more exhausting everything becomes.
But you’re still feeling…
You want to feel more present in your life, but your mind rarely slows down.
Small decisions can turn into long mental loops, and what feels simple for others can feel mentally draining for you.
You may often feel overwhelmed by everything you are trying to hold in your head, which can leave you frustrated with yourself when things do not go the way you intended.
In relationships, things can feel complicated in a different way.
You may want closeness, but also feel anxious about how things will unfold or how others might respond.
Withdrawing when things feel uncertain or emotionally intense.
Arguments can begin to feel predictable, and afterward there may be distance or disconnection that feels hard to repair.
You want things to feel more steady and manageable, but it can be difficult to imagine change when your mind feels this active all the time.
Over time, this can turn into a cycle: overthinking leads to anxiety, anxiety leads to trying to control or avoid uncertainty, and that often leads to conflict or emotional distance in relationships, which brings you back into more overthinking.
Learning to respond differently, not just think differently
We work on the specific moments where you tend to get stuck, such as replaying conversations, becoming emotionally flooded, or feeling pulled into urgency in relationships. Instead of staying inside those loops, you learn how to notice what is happening internally and shift your response.
You will learn practical skills to recognize emotional intensity earlier, make sense of what you are experiencing, tolerate uncertainty, and respond more effectively in relationships when things feel stressful or uncertain.
Together, we work on both acceptance and change so you can understand what’s happening internally without getting pulled into it, and practice responding differently when overthinking or emotional intensity shows up.
Learn how to respond intentionally
Notice when you are getting pulled into overthinking or emotional escalation earlier in the moment
Step out of mental loops instead of getting stuck replaying conversations or outcomes
Tolerate uncertainty without immediately trying to resolve it in your mind or relationships
Respond more intentionally during emotional or relational stress instead of reacting automatically
Communicate more clearly so emotions do not take over conversations or decisions
Feel more steady and less overwhelmed by your internal experience over time
You don’t have to stay stuck in the same patterns. You can start living, not just existing.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
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When you are overwhelmed, your body usually shows signs before you can even put words into what you are feeling. Common body sensations include: fatigue, muscle tension, brain fog, sleep problems, headaches or stomach issues (loss of appetite, over eating, or nausea).
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People can have difficulties because they are feeling so many emotions at one time. Most identify depression and anxiety as being their biggest concern, but often someone is also experiencing anger, shame, or fear while dealing with stressors that affect their mood. This may be due to trauma, substance use, relationship issues, etc. I have worked with individuals struggling with all of these. They don’t scare me.
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Typically people will notice the intensity and frequency of their symptoms reducing. Things that used to feel unbearable, now may be frustrating or disappointing. You may also notice that there isn’t as much to talk about as you once did, or you feel more time between sessions would be better. This is all a great sign that you’re using skills and life is feeling more manageable and balanced.
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Before and since my licensure, over 14 years, I have trained and helped facilitate groups for individuals struggling with varying degrees of emotion overwhelm. Individuals I have seen in my practice have included those struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. I continue to regularly attend trainings for therapies focused on treatments for those disorders.
Schedule a free consultation
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Schedule a free consultation —