Dr. Brittany Carswell

Personalized Anxiety & Stress Management

Welcome!  If you are here on my page you are probably trying to get a sense of who I am and how I work and that is the goal of this page to help you decide if I am the right fit for you. So lets start with who am I? I am Dr. Brittany Carswell— I’m a psychologist, a mom, a wife, a friend, and a neuroscience nerd. Beyond any of these descriptions I am a fellow human navigating the complexities of life. I specialize in couples therapy and individual therapy for high-functioning anxiety, anxiety disorders, perfectionism, personal growth, stress management and relationship issues. My work often centers on supporting driven, successful professionals  grappling with burnout while striving to create balance in their lives.

In addition to individual therapy, I have a strong passion for and expertise in couple therapy. I believe that healthy, fulfilling relationships are foundational to overall well-being, and I’m passionate about helping couples strengthen their connection and communication. I do traditional weekly couples therapy in addition to couples therapy intensives and created my own neuroscience skills-based approach for couples that has been put into an online course called the Relational Wellness Roadmap.

MY APPROACH TO THERAPY

My approach to therapy is rooted in a deep understanding of neuroscience—how we’re wired as humans and how this shapes our thoughts, behaviors, and experiences. From this foundation, I tailor my work to each client’s unique needs. Together, we explore strategies and skills to help you achieve your goals, gain insight, and build self-awareness, self trust and compassion. My ultimate goal is to help you find balance, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and enhance your overall quality of life in a safe and supportive environment.

Many of the clients I work with face challenges such as anxiety, stress, and difficulties in their relationships—often intertwined in complex ways. My role is to help you uncover the core issues driving these struggles and the barriers preventing you from making meaningful change. From there, we collaborate on a plan to build strategies and skills that support your goals while emphasizing the importance of health and wellness as the foundation for mental and relational well-being.

In therapy, I integrate a variety of evidence-based approaches, including:

• Interpersonal neurobiology– A framework that explores how the brain, mind, and personal relationships interact to shape brain development and overall functioning.
• Internal Family Systems (IFS), Parts Work, and Inner Child Work –Deeper, experiential tools that support emotional exploration, integration, and self-awareness by helping you connect with different parts of yourself in a compassionate, healing way.
• Psychoeducation on Neuroscience & Attachment–Grounding your growth in an understanding of how your nervous system, brain wiring, and early life experiences impact your thoughts, behaviors, and relationships today.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-based techniques – Evidence-based strategies that provide structure, practical coping skills, and tools for building emotional regulation, clarity, and intentional action.
• Somatic & Experiential Approaches–I integrate somatic and body-based techniques to help you reconnect with your physical self, regulate your nervous system, and process emotions stored in the body. This may include breathwork, grounding exercises, and guided somatic tracking.
• STAIR Method (Self Trust & Integrated Resilience) —a neurobiologically informed, experiential approach that weaves together tools from across my training. STAIR is designed to increase self-trust, deepen emotional resilience, and strengthen your brain’s integration capacity. Through somatic attunement, experiential exercises, and a focus on inner safety, this approach supports whole-person healing and lasting change.

While we’ll spend plenty of time talking, therapy with me is much more than just conversation. We’ll engage in exercises and experiential work to explore your challenges from different perspectives, while also building practical tools to help you navigate life with greater self-compassion, resilience, and confidence. I view therapy as a unique space that fosters safety and compassion, allowing you to feel comfortable being your true self. Here, you can learn self-acceptance and discover how to challenge yourself to grow and change from a place of self-compassion rather than judgment. From that space we can learn about your history so you can better understand why you react the way you do and why you may be stuck in repetitive patterns. Building self awareness is the foundation for creating the present and future that is in alignment with your values.

I’m here to support you on this journey, helping you create a life that feels more balanced, fulfilling, and aligned with who you truly are. If this approach resonates with you then reach out for a free consult and we can see if I am the fit for what you are looking for:)

ANXIETY SPECIALIZATION

I specialize in treating a wide range of anxiety issues, from mild worry to more severe conditions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Phobias, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Anxiety is so prevalent in our culture that it’s often hard to distinguish between normal life stress and problematic anxiety. Many clients come to me wondering: What’s the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder? When does anxiety become something serious or detrimental? Often, individuals realize they’ve been struggling with anxiety for much longer than they thought. Early intervention (and prevention) is key to better treatment outcomes. My approach is both psychoeducational and active—I help you understand how anxiety works, identify your triggers, and build a toolkit of coping and relaxation skills. Whether you’re facing generalized anxiety, persistent worry, or severe panic attacks, we’ll create a personalized plan to  understand how your nervous system works and help you manage—and even master—your anxiety. Anxiety often goes hand-in-hand with perfectionism and a need for control. Together, we’ll explore how these factors play a role in your life and develop strategies to address them.

HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY & PERFECTIONISM SPECIALIZATION

High-functioning anxiety isn’t a clinical diagnosis but a term that describes people who experience significant anxiety while maintaining a high level of functioning in their daily lives. In many cases, anxiety can even drive success, making these individuals appear accomplished, organized, and competent. However, beneath the surface, they may be dealing with:

• Chronic worry or nervousness
• Stress and lack of joy
• Perfectionism
• Overthinking
• People-pleasing tendencies
• Difficulty relaxing
• Fear of failure & Impostor Syndrome
• Physical symptoms like tension or exhaustion
• Avoidance of confrontation
• Burnout

I frequently work with high-achieving professionals who find that high-functioning anxiety and perfectionism are underlying issues driving their stress and lack of balance. Together, we’ll use evidence-based approaches to develop regulation and coping skills, enhance self-awareness, and foster self-trust and self-compassion. This work can help you align with your true self and lead a more balanced and fulfilling life.

HIGH ACHIEVING PROFESSIONALS SPECIALIZATION

As a psychologist and business owner, I have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by high-achieving professionals in general and particularly Physicians and those in the healthcare and helping professions as well as lawyers, business owners and entrepreneurs. After years of specializing in high functioning anxiety I have developed an expertise and work predominantly with people in this arena. These individuals are often held to exceptionally high standards, both professionally and personally, which can lead to chronic stress and burnout, feelings of isolation and disconnection, difficulty maintaining work-life balance, impostor syndrome or fear of failure, struggles with perfectionism and control and physical and emotional exhaustion. Healthcare professionals, in particular, may experience additional layers of stress due to the high-stakes nature of their work and the emotional toll of caregiving. These demands often leave little time for self-care or addressing personal needs.

My approach involves creating a space where high-achieving professionals can step away from their roles and focus on their own well-being. Together, we work to:

• Understand the unique pressures and expectations driving your stress.
• Develop tailored coping strategies for managing anxiety and burnout.
• Build tools for enhancing emotional resilience and work-life integration.
• Address the impact of perfectionism and overcommitment on your mental health.

This work not only helps you manage immediate challenges but also empowers you to create a more sustainable and fulfilling approach to your professional and personal life.

RELATIONSHIP ISSUES SPECIALIZATION

While couples therapy is one of my passions (see the Couples Therapy page for more on my approach), I also work with individuals addressing relationship challenges. Sometimes a partner is unwilling to engage in couples therapy or you are not ready. Whether it’s a spouse, partner, family member, or friend, unresolved relationship issues can significantly impact your well-being. In individual therapy for relationship issues, we will:

• Explore and address long-standing relational patterns and your “connection template”
• Identify what’s within your control to change
• Develop strategies for improving communication and expressing feelings
• Work on setting healthy boundaries where appropriate

Depending on the situation, we may consider including the other person in a session or transitioning to couples therapy if needed and possible. My goal is to help you navigate relationship challenges in a way that improves your personal well-being and relational health.

OTHER ADULT PSYCHOTHERAPY SPECIALTIES

• Life Transitions and Adjustment Disorders
• PTSD and Trauma
• Couples therapy
• Stress Management