Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist

Therapist specializing in helping millennial women & teens overcome feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, and perfectionism so that you can live your best life

[Amanda E. White, LPC @therapy4women]

So often I see clients who seek therapy for having seemingly out of nowhere panic attacks or strange physical symptoms we identify as anxiety. They don’t understand where it’s coming from and then we discover they have spent years ignoring, suppressing or hiding their emotions.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

One of the toughest aspects of mental health is that it can be so hard to talk about!

But to get better, you have to be able to accept and acknowledge your anxiety when it comes up—and take the steps needed for recovery.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Having needs doesn't make you "needy". It makes you human.

We all have physical, mental, emotional, and social needs.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Ironically, the only way to “get rid of an emotion” is to sit with the feeling. Not to avoid it.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

You’re not a black and white kind of person - none of us are. We all have and experience emotions, doubts, fears, thoughts, beliefs, questions - the list goes on. So we just can’t put ourselves into a black and white box when it comes to how we think, or we think we should think!

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Reminder: Your needs matter.

The key is realizing your needs and then finding healthy ways to fulfill them. Or, if you're struggling to accept that your needs matter, the key is finding someone who will validate that AND show you how to take them.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Whatever painful thought, situation, or memory you’ve been avoiding, ripping off the bandaid will probs sting at first. But if you can do this, then you won’t have to keep patching yourself up for the rest of your life.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Just a reminder that you don’t owe anyone an excuse if you want to stay home today.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

One small effort or change might not seem like much at the time. But imagine what could happen if you compounded that one tiny effort for a full year.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Telling someone with anxiety to “just calm down” is like telling someone who broke their leg to “just walk.”

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Being hard on yourself can make everything worse! It’s like creating unnecessary pressure for yourself out of thin air, and it weighs you down even more. If you want to start feeling better, choose kindness and understanding instead!

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Do more of the things you love

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Your body is beautiful. Today and every day. Why? Bc it gives you life. It carries you throughout your day.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Changing the way your brain thinks takes time. But being aware of this is a great start! And it’s never too late to start.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Want to know who the real con artist is in your life? It’s your anxiety, and it loves to lie to you.

Today I challenge you to call your anxiety out for the liar that it is! Let yourself speak the truth now instead.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

It’s a lot easier to change your thoughts than to change your circumstances.

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

One of my fav parts of being a therapist is helping people identify their feelings and thoughts - so they can set boundaries and get their needs met. No more gaslighting 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

Stop saying: “I’ll be happy when.”
Start choosing: “I’ll be happy while.”

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

People-pleasing will keep you from manifesting a life that feels authentic to you - one that genuinely makes you happy and lets you shine as you are.

The next time you make a decision or behave a certain way, ask yourself, am I doing this because *I* want to?

[Kelly McKenna | Anxiety Therapist @sitwithkelly]

PSA: you don’t have to be the “cool girl”. It’s ok to have feelings and to really feel them. Pretending like you don’t won’t stop you from getting hurt - but it will stop you from being happy.