Anxiety Service
Comprehensive care for all anxiety disorders
Everyone feels anxious now and then. But anxiety disorders are different. You or your child may have persistent feelings of worry or fear that make it hard to take part in work or school tasks, socialize with friends and family, and enjoy life. These feelings may lead to behaviors like avoidance of important activities or time-consuming compulsions.
Our mental health specialists offer comprehensive care, including medications and talk therapies, to help people of all ages manage anxiety. Because anxiety can occur with other conditions like depression, we manage all issues to improve overall mental health.
Mass General Brigham is a leader in mental health and psychiatric care, with McLean Hospital serving as a world leader in care, research, and education.
Part of Mental Health and Psychiatric Services
Our approach to anxiety disorder care
We offer dedicated services for adults with anxiety disorders, including:
- Talk therapy (psychotherapy), including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which includes exposure therapy.
- Intensive CBT
- Individual and group therapy sessions
- Inpatient and outpatient services
- Medications
- Partial hospital program (PHP)
Our adult PHPs offer intensive, structured services when you need more support than regular therapy, but don’t need hospitalized care. You take part in weekday therapy sessions and receive medication management for up to 15 days, returning to your home every evening.
We offer PHPs at McLean Hospital locations in Belmont and Middleborough.
We have mental health experts who specialize in treating anxiety and other disorders in children and teens. Our Child Anxiety program includes:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Family-based CBT which guides parents of children ages 3-7 to help their children manage and overcome anxiety
- Dedicated intensive anxiety program for youths ages 6 to 19
- Exposure therapy for phobias and fears
- Exposure with response prevention for OCD
- Medications
- Accredited high school for teens with anxiety and other mental health conditions
CBT is a proven treatment for anxiety disorders that centers on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact to maintain anxiety. CBT helps change unhelpful thought patterns, beliefs, and avoidance behaviors, develop problem-solving skills, and cope with physical symptoms of anxiety
CBT may also include:
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you accept difficult thoughts and feelings, improve mindfulness, and pursue goals.
- Exposure and response prevention to manage symptoms of OCD
For those who have difficulty managing intense emotions, including those at risk for self-harm or suicidal behaviors, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may be recommended. While DBT is not a primary treatment for anxiety, it can be a helpful first step for people whose symptoms are too intense to safely engage in CBT.
Other strategies for treating or preventing anxiety disorder include:
- Improved nutrition and sleep
- Treating and managing medical disorders
- Mindfulness and relaxation practice
- Physical activity
- Stress management and incorporating CBT strategies
- Developing a strong social support network
- Engaging in a structured schedule of meaningful and enjoyable activities
Contact the Anxiety Service
McLean Hospital
617-855-3141
Massachusetts General Hospital
617-724-5600