Anxiety therapy
Help for anxiety, worry and overthinking
True North Vitality offers anxiety counseling for adults at offices in Greensburg, Irwin and Ligonier in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and by secure video. Licensed Professional Counselors use cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness skills, and can bring Christian faith and Scripture into the work.
- 3 Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselors
- Greensburg · Irwin · Ligonier
- Online across Pennsylvania
- Christ-centered counseling
This may help if
- Your mind keeps running through what could go wrong, even when you are tired
- Worry makes it hard to fall asleep, focus or relax
- You feel tense, on edge or short-tempered much of the time
- You avoid places, people or tasks because of how anxious they make you feel
- You have had sudden waves of fear with a racing heart or shaky breath
- You want practical tools, not just someone to listen
When is anxiety more than everyday stress?
Some worry is a normal part of life. Stress usually rises with a deadline or a hard conversation and eases once it passes. Anxiety can stay even when nothing is wrong right now, and it can show up in the body as tension, headaches, an upset stomach, poor sleep or feeling out of breath.
The National Institute of Mental Health suggests talking to a professional when stress or anxiety will not go away, gets in the way of daily life, or leads you to avoid things. You do not need a diagnosis to start counseling. If worry is taking up more room in your life than you want, that is reason enough to call.
How does counseling help with anxiety?
Counseling gives you a place to understand what your anxiety is reacting to and to practice new ways of responding. Our counselors draw on a few well-studied approaches and fit them to you.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): noticing automatic thoughts that feed worry, testing whether they are accurate, and changing the habits that keep anxiety going
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): making room for anxious thoughts without letting them make your choices, and spending more of your energy on what you value
- Mindfulness and calming skills: breathing, grounding and paying attention to the present moment, so you have something to reach for when anxiety rises
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills: ways to handle strong emotions and get through hard moments without making them worse
Who will you see, and where?
Nicole Stout, MA, LPC, leads much of our anxiety work. She sees adults with anxiety, overthinking and the feeling of being drained or stuck, and she uses CBT, ACT, DBT skills and mindfulness. Her style is warm and calm, and she goes at your pace. Nicole sees adults at our Greensburg office, mostly in the evenings and on Saturdays, and online. Read more on Nicole's page.
Dave Kemerer, MA, LPC, sees adults with anxiety at our Greensburg and Ligonier offices and online. Nicoletta Whiteman, MA, LPC, sees adults at our Irwin office and online, often when anxiety is tied to trauma, grief, a new baby or another big life change. See our office locations for addresses and parking.
Online sessions are by secure video through SimplePractice for clients who are located in Pennsylvania at the time of each session. Read more about online counseling.
What do anxiety sessions look like?
- Free 20-minute consultationCall, email or use the contact form. Tell us what anxiety looks like for you and which office or online option suits you best.
- Understanding your anxietyAfter intake paperwork, your first sessions look at when anxiety shows up, what sets it off and what you already do to cope.
- Building skillsYou and your counselor choose a few tools to try between sessions, such as a breathing practice, a thought record or small steps toward something you have been avoiding.
- Checking inSessions are 55 minutes. Weekly sessions are encouraged for the first month when possible, and your counselor reviews with you what is helping.
Can faith be part of anxiety counseling?
Yes, if you want it to be. Some clients find that prayer, Scripture or talking through what their faith says about fear and trust helps them. Others want counseling with no faith talk, and that is respected just as fully. For a faith-centered approach, see faith and anxiety.
When should you also see a doctor or psychiatrist?
Anxiety can have physical causes, and some symptoms, like a racing heart or shortness of breath, should be checked by a doctor. A health care provider can do a physical exam to rule out other problems. Medication is another common treatment for anxiety, and many people use it along with counseling. Our counselors do not prescribe, so they may suggest a primary care doctor or psychiatrist, especially if symptoms are severe or not easing.
Some of our counselors work with insurance and others are self-pay, and plans differ by counselor. See insurance and payment for details. True North Vitality is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.
Common questions
Do I need to have an anxiety disorder to come in?
No. Many people start counseling because worry, stress or nervousness is wearing them down, not because they have a diagnosis. You can simply start with what is bothering you and what you would like to feel instead. If you plan to use insurance, ask us on your first call how that works with your plan.
Will I have homework?
Often, yes, but it is small and you choose it with your counselor. It might be a few minutes of a breathing exercise, writing down an anxious thought and looking at it again later, or taking one small step toward something you have been avoiding. Practice between sessions is how new skills start to feel natural.
Can I do anxiety counseling online?
Yes. All three of our counselors offer online sessions by secure video through SimplePractice for clients located in Pennsylvania at the time of each session. Some people with anxiety find it easier to begin from home and later come to an office in Greensburg, Ligonier or Irwin. Ask about online times when you call.
References
Published by True North Vitality, a counseling practice of Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselors in Westmoreland County. Last updated November 2, 2026. This page is general information, not medical or mental health advice, a diagnosis or a substitute for care.
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Ready to take the first step?
Call, email or send a short message to book a free 20-minute consultation. We’ll help you choose a counselor and an office in Greensburg, Irwin or Ligonier, or meet online anywhere in Pennsylvania.