Moving Beyond the "What Ifs" to Real Connection
Anxiety is not just a feeling of being “stressed out.” It is a physical, persistent hum that tells you something is wrong even when everything looks right on paper. You might feel it as a tightness in your chest during a work meeting, a racing heart before a social gathering, or a late-night spiral of “what if” scenarios that keep you from the rest you deserve.
At Empathi, we see anxiety for what it really is: a protective system that has gone into overdrive. Our individual anxiety therapy online helps you understand the roots of your worry so you can finally step out of the loop and back into your life.
Understanding the Different Faces of Anxiety
Anxiety does not look the same for everyone. To provide the best care, we specialize in the specific ways worry manifests in the modern world.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): That constant, low-level dread about everyday things like health, finances, or family safety.
Social Anxiety: The paralyzing fear of being judged or rejected by others, often leading to isolation.
Panic Disorder: Sudden, intense waves of fear that can feel like a physical emergency.
Health Anxiety: A preoccupation with physical symptoms and a recurring fear of undiagnosed illness.
Our Evidence-Based Approach to Anxiety Therapy
We do not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Our therapists utilize proven methods to help you rewire your response to fear.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifying the specific “hot thoughts” that trigger your anxiety and testing them against real-world evidence.
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT): Looking at the attachment roots of your anxiety to help you feel more secure within yourself.
Mindfulness & Somatic Tools: Learning to settle your nervous system in the moment so panic does not take the wheel.
Why Individual Anxiety Counseling Matters for Your Relationships
While our heart is in helping couples, we know that your individual mental health is the foundation of your partnership. When you are stuck in a cycle of anxiety, it is nearly impossible to be the partner you want to be. You might find yourself seeking constant reassurance, withdrawing to avoid conflict, or becoming hyper-irritable with the people you love most.
By working with an anxiety counselor, you are not just helping yourself. You are improving the quality of your connection with everyone around you. You can explore how your individual anxiety impacts your bond on our anxiety and relationships blog.
Do I need Empathi couples therapy?
When a relationship is new, a couple feels like they’re on top of the world. The sky seems brighter, the flowers bloom more vibrantly, and food even tastes better. It feels as if everything was made just for them.
But the passage of time takes a toll on the vibrancy and magic couples once felt.
Soon couples have fights and hardships, as well as jobs, friends, and family outside of the relationship that redirect their attention. After a while, what was fresh and invigorating begins to feel routine, or worse: painful.
If you’re in a committed relationship or marriage that seems like it has become stuck or stalled, that doesn’t mean it’s the end. Quality couples therapy can help restore vitality and joy to your relationship. Reach out to Empathi today and start to make the world around you bright again.
Our Evidence-Based Approach to Anxiety Therapy
We do not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Our therapists utilize proven methods to help you rewire your response to fear.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Identifying the specific “hot thoughts” that trigger your anxiety and testing them against real-world evidence.
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT): Looking at the attachment roots of your anxiety to help you feel more secure within yourself.
Mindfulness & Somatic Tools: Learning to settle your nervous system in the moment so panic does not take the wheel.
Here are the ways we make it easy:
- With experienced professionals who know how to make you feel welcome the moment you walk in the door.
- We offer a fun and simple quiz to ease you into the process and help get at the heart of your issues before we begin.
- We all fear the unknown. Our podcast, Come Here to Me offers fun insights into what you can expect from relationship therapy sessions.
In this episode of Come Here To Me, we explain how we bring couples back from the brink after betrayal – from years-long affairs to smaller breaks in trust.
MEET FIGS AND TEAL
Think of us as your Sherpas. We’ve gone up and down the mountain with thousands of couples and brought them all back safely to the top and down again. The path to relationship healing is like climbing Everest you shouldn’t think you can do it alone without an experienced guide.
We will be right there with you, helping you carry the load until you can carry each other again.
Figs has dedicated his career to helping couples in crisis find their way back to each other. Certified in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, he has worked with thousands of couples over his career, specializing in high-conflict situations, affair recovery, and couples on the brink of divorce. His warm, direct approach helps couples cut through the noise and get to what really matters.
Teal is not only certified in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy but is also an EFT Certified Supervisor, training the next generation of couples therapists in this powerful approach. Her depth of expertise in attachment theory and her ability to create safety even in the most volatile situations makes her particularly effective with couples in crisis.
Together, Figs and Teal bring 30 years of combined experience serving San Francisco couples through their most difficult moments. They developed the Empathi Method and have helped thousands of couples transform crisis into connection.
NOT THE CITY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
More Couples Therapy Near You
We offer virtual counseling across the nation.
We are passionate about healing relationships.
Our team of couples counselors and marriage counselors can help you reconnect and discover that loving feeling.
- Feel safe to be your true self in life and love.
- Heal from recent or past grief and loss.
- Connect in a deeper and more authentic way.
- Stop having the same argument(s) over and over again.
- Avoid being disappointed in each other so much.
- Recover from infidelity or other breach of trust.
- Get back to more joy, laughter, and fun together.
- Work on your relationship even though your partner doesn't seem available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is online therapy effective for anxiety?
A: Yes. Research shows that online anxiety therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions for GAD and social anxiety. It also offers the added benefit of being in your own comfortable environment, which can lower the barrier to starting.
Q: How do I find the best anxiety therapist near me?
A: Finding the right fit is a personal process. We recommend looking for a therapist who specializes in the specific type of anxiety you are facing. At Empathi, we offer a Free Relationship Quiz that can also help identify how your individual anxiety might be playing out in your attachment style.
Q: How long does anxiety counseling take?
A: Every journey is different. Some clients see significant improvement in 8 to 12 sessions of structured CBT, while others prefer ongoing, open-ended support to manage chronic stress.
How much does couples therapy in San Francisco cost?
Couples counseling in San Francisco ranges on average from $120 to $250 per therapy hour. Some skilled therapists are in higher demand, and so have a higher rate. Skill and training also play a large part in the pricing of marriage therapy in San Francisco. Some therapists cost more, but these tend to be specialized experts in their field who have a high success rate.
At Empathi, we offer a range of pricing. Our experienced, licensed couples counseling professionals provide you with personalized guidance and give you the tools you need to restore vibrancy to your relationship.
How many couples therapists are in San Francisco, CA?
Statistically, couples therapists are lumped in with marriage and family therapists. The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics places just over 60,000 people employed nationally as couples or family therapists. There are roughly 32,000 employed in the state of California, which is the highest number in the nation. San Francisco has just over 3,300 therapists who specialize in couples and marriage counseling.
A number of sites have a list for best relationship counseling. A search of best couples counselors in the San Francisco area places Empathi founder, Fiachra Figs O’Sullivan in the top 10 list on Yelp and the top 5 list on GuideDoc.
How do I choose a good couples therapist in San Francisco, CA?
There are many good couples therapists out there, but it’s important to find the right therapist for you and your partner.
It may be important to find out if your values and principles align with your counselor’s. A therapy plan is far more likely to be effective if it’s driven by someone who can understand your point of view and leave harmful friction out of your sessions. That’s why we at Empathi emphasize empathy and validation as key components to the Empathi Method.
Generally, it’s a good idea to ask a potential therapist some questions before deciding on who to go with. This ensures a greater likelihood of landing on a counselor who’s right for you.
Communication is also important. You want to be sure that your counselor understands you both and that they can effectively convey their messages to you.
Relationship Therapy That Works
NOT THE CITY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
Empathi Marriage Counseling Near You
Empathi counselors serve these cities and many more across the U.S.
"With Empathi, Figs has created a fun and creative way to help people feel more connected in their relationship and to become acquainted with the transformational power of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy San Francisco."
Dr. Sue Johnson
Creator of Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples
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