Support for performance, creative, and achievement anxiety
A specialized practice for teens, college students, and driven adults navigating performance pressure, creative blocks, perfectionism, and anxiety.
When you’re feeling more than just nerves
Sometimes a single bad experience can uncover a nagging sense of self doubt. You might feel that everything is going great as you start a performance only to find that at the first sign of discomfort or suboptimal execution, your resolve crumbles.
You sometimes feel unsure about your abilities, wondering whether you’re truly prepared, talented enough, or capable of meeting the expectations in front of you. You might even hope that stepping back from performing, creating, or striving could bring relief from anxiety, while still deeply wanting to hold on to the part of you that loves what you do.
It’s natural to wish for a clear sign that you’re doing okay. We seek for a single strong performance or a defining moment of confidence, “if i make all state this year” or “if I finally perform as well as I practiced”. If you are looking for an external reassurance that finally quiets the doubt, it can be discouraging when the relief fades almost as soon as it arrives.
You care so much about doing things well that you find yourself constantly checking, correcting, or replaying performances in your mind. You may be constantly comparing your progress to others. You know you’re doing well, but the fear of falling short continues to linger, and you feel that if you aren’t the best you are a complete failure.
Being driven and visionary can also lead to constant self-criticism and fear of mistakes. If you find that repeated performances are affecting other areas of your life, consider additional support.
Helping artists and performers struggling with anxiety build steadiness and confidence.
I work with individuals who are often described as talented, capable, or high-achieving — and who privately struggle with anxiety, pressure, self-doubt, or a constant sense of not being enough.
You are not alone.
On the outside, you may appear composed, competent, even confident. On the inside, your mind may feel loud, restless, or unforgiving, especially when something important is at stake.
Many of the people who find their way here are artists, performers, students, and creatives. They care deeply about what they do. They are often sensitive, perceptive, and driven. And they frequently carry levels of internal stress that others don’t see.
Their work matters to them. It is not just as a performance, but an expression of who they are. They are often sensitive, perceptive, and driven, with a strong internal compass and a high level of personal responsibility. These same strengths, however, can make them especially vulnerable to anxiety and self-criticism.
Often, others don’t see the full picture. They don’t see the hours of rumination after a performance, the fear of making a single mistake, or the way pressure builds quietly over time. They don’t see how hard it is to rest when your mind won’t let go, or how exhausting it feels to constantly question whether you are measuring up. What looks like success from the outside can feel fragile or heavy on the inside.
These emotions can turn into strengths.
Clients I see often struggle with performance anxiety, creative blocks, perfectionism, intrusive thoughts, burnout, and fear of failure. Some feel stuck in cycles of over-preparing, avoiding, or second-guessing themselves. Others feel disconnected from the joy or meaning that once drew them to their craft. Many worry that their anxiety says something fundamental about who they are — or fear that addressing it might somehow dull their edge or ambition.
It doesn’t have to stay this way.
I help people understand their anxiety differently, develop a more flexible relationship with their thoughts and emotions, and move forward in ways that align with their values rather than their fears. Instead of feeling nervous, you can learn to work with your mind so that your strengths can support you rather than exhaust you.
I can help.
A different way of working with Performance Anxiety
Much of performance anxiety is fueled by how the mind responds to pressure, uncertainty, and self doubt. The harder one tries to eliminate anxiety or “get it right,” the louder fear and self-criticism can become.
Our work draws primarily from
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
Together these evidenced-based approaches are especially effective for performance anxiety, perfectionism, and intrusive, doubt-driven thinking.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT helps individuals learn how to make room for anxiety without letting it dictate their choices. Rather than waiting to feel confident before performing or creating, clients learn how to stay present, connected to their values, and engaged in what matters even through discomfort.
Learn more about what really works.
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
I-CBT addresses the patterns of doubt, overthinking, and mental checking that often accompany performance anxiety. Instead of getting caught in endless “what if” questions or replaying mistakes, this work helps individuals recognize when the mind has shifted into an imagined threat and how to return to grounded, reality-based decision-making.