Anxiety Treatment in Kansas City, Missouri
Many people feel anxious from time to time — it is a normal human response to stress and uncertainty. But when anxious feelings begin to interfere with your job, relationships, physical health, or ability to enjoy daily life, it is time to seek help.
At Hutchinson & Associates, we work with Clients to manage the physical and psychological effects of anxiety disorders. Our goal is to help you experience relief from the debilitating effects of anxiety — not just symptom management, but lasting, meaningful change in the quality of your life.
Types of Anxiety We Treat
Anxiety is not one thing. Our clinicians have experience treating:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — persistent, excessive worry about a range of everyday concerns
Social Anxiety — fear of social situations, judgment, or embarrassment that limits relationships and career
Panic Disorder — recurrent panic attacks and fear of future attacks
Specific Phobias — intense fear of particular objects, situations, or activities
Health Anxiety — excessive worry about illness or physical symptoms
OCD-related anxiety — intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors driven by anxiety
Anxiety related to trauma or PTSD — often best treated with EMDR (see our EMDR page)
How We Treat Anxiety
We use a variety of evidence-based approaches, tailored to your specific presentation and preferences:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the most extensively researched treatments for anxiety. It works by helping you identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that maintain anxiety. Through structured sessions and between-session practice, CBT builds lasting skills for managing anxiety.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
For anxiety rooted in traumatic experiences, EMDR can be especially effective. Several of our clinicians are trained in EMDR and integrate it into anxiety treatment when appropriate.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT helps clients develop psychological flexibility — learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them, and committing to actions that align with personal values.
Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Mindfulness techniques are incorporated across many of our treatment approaches, helping clients develop a calmer relationship with anxious thoughts and physical sensations.
Psychodynamic and Insight-Oriented Therapy
For some clients, understanding the deeper roots of anxiety — past experiences, relational patterns, unresolved conflicts — is an important part of treatment.
What to Expect
Treatment begins with a thorough assessment of your history, your symptoms, and how anxiety is affecting your life. Your therapist will work with you to set clear, realistic goals and build a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Therapy sessions are typically held weekly. Many clients begin to notice improvement within the first few weeks of treatment, though the timeline varies depending on the severity and complexity of anxiety symptoms.
We will stay committed to you and your treatment until you have reached your goals.
Our Clinicians
Multiple clinicians at Hutchinson & Associates have specific experience treating anxiety, including Dr. Arnold Abels, Dr. LaVerne Berkel, Dr. Abigail Geiger, Dr. Lauren Richerson, Dr. Lester Blue, Kiran Azielle, Amaya Ballard-Traylor, and Laura Dixon. When you contact us, we will match you with the therapist whose expertise and availability best fits your needs.
How long does anxiety treatment take?
It varies. For milder presentations, meaningful improvement can come in 8–16 sessions. More complex or longstanding anxiety may require longer treatment. Your therapist will give you a more specific estimate after your initial assessment.
Is medication required for anxiety treatment?
No. Many people achieve significant relief from anxiety through therapy alone. However, if medication might be beneficial, we can provide a referral to a psychiatrist or work collaboratively with your prescribing physician.
Can I bring my child for anxiety treatment?
Some of our clinicians work with children and adolescents. Please mention the patient's age when you contact us so we can match you with the right clinician.
Don't let anxiety stand in the way of pursuing your goals, enjoying your life, and living a comfortable day-to-day existence. Contact us at (816) 361-0664 or request an appointment online.