top of page
OCD Therapist providing ERP in Colorado, Washington, Arizona, and beyond.

Expert Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Chronic Worry

Break Free from Constant Worry, Find Calm, and Live with Greater Ease

Living with chronic worry and generalized anxiety disorder can feel relentless. Racing thoughts about “what if” scenarios seem to come out of nowhere and quickly spiral into anxiety and doubt. Worries jump from one to another. You try to reason with them, solve them, or make them stop, but that only pulls you in deeper. Before you know it, you’re stuck in a cycle of worry and tension that feels impossible to break.

For over a decade, I’ve helped children, teens, and adults reclaim their freedom from the grips of anxiety using the gold standard in anxiety treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I’m fully licensed to practice in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Washington, New Jersey, and Illinois.

I deeply respect my clients as some of the bravest people I’ve ever met, and my commitment is simple: to use proven therapies, applied with care and compassion, to help you find the lasting relief and freedom you deserve. - Josh Kaplan, LCSW

a calm mountain sunrise setting representing the journey through CBT for anxiety

Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Everyone feels anxious sometimes, but Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) goes beyond everyday stress. It’s a chronic pattern of excessive worry about work, health, relationships, or the future, often leaving you feeling on edge, tense, and mentally exhausted.​

Over time, this constant worry can cause muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, irritability, and trouble sleeping. Even when you know your fears might be unrealistic, it can feel impossible to shut them off.​

GAD often develops gradually, turning worry into a habit your brain mistakes for protection. The more you worry, the more anxious you feel, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of fear and tension.​

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most effective, research-supported treatment for GAD. It helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact, and teaches you practical tools to break free from chronic worry and restore a sense of calm and control.

a calm ocean rainbow setting representing the journey through CBT for anxiety

How Does Exposure Therapy For Anxiety Fit Into Treatment?

Exposure therapy plays an important role in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). While GAD is often driven by excessive worry and attempts to control uncertainty, exposure therapy helps you do the opposite, by learning to face uncertainty directly, rather than trying to avoid or solve it.

 

In treatment, you’ll gradually practice approaching the thoughts, images, and situations that trigger worry, without engaging in safety behaviors like reassurance seeking, overplanning, or avoidance. Over time, your brain learns that anxiety naturally decreases on its own and that uncertainty can be tolerated, not feared.

At its core, exposure therapy teaches a new relationship with anxiety. Instead of trying to eliminate worry, you’ll build the ability to feel anxious and still move toward what matters most to you. This process rewires how your mind responds to uncertainty, helping you regain a sense of control, confidence, and peace.

a calm ocean setting representing the journey through CBT for anxiety

How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Helps Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Chronic Worry

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold-standard, research-supported treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and chronic worry. Rather than simply talking about your anxiety, CBT gives you a clear, structured way to understand and change it.

Together, we’ll identify the patterns of thinking and behavior that fuel your anxiety, things like overestimating danger, underestimating your ability to cope, or relying on reassurance or avoidance to feel safe. You’ll learn how to challenge anxious thoughts, shift perspective, and gradually retrain your brain to respond to uncertainty in calmer, more balanced ways.

CBT isn’t about suppressing your anxiety, it’s about understanding it, responding differently to it, and taking back control of your life.

 Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the Gold Standard for Generalized Anxiety Treatment

Proven and Supported by Decades of Research

Decades of research show that CBT and Exposure Therapy are highly effective for treating GAD and chronic worry, leading to significant reductions in worries, rumination, and stress.

Endorsed by Experts

CBT is the most effective, evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders and is recognized by leading organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Targets the Root Cause 

CBT and Exposure Therapy target the underlying worry cycle that fuels generalized anxiety. Instead of just managing anxiety in the moment, these approaches help you recognize and change the thought patterns and behaviors that keep chronic worry and tension alive.

Retrains the Brain's Response to Fear

Through cognitive restructuring and exposure-based exercises, CBT helps retrain your brain to respond differently to uncertainty and worry. This leads to a reduction in both the intensity and frequency of chronic anxiety.

Take the First Step Toward Freedom from OCD

Recovery begins with a single step. If you’re ready to start CBT therapy for anxiety and chronic worry, I invite you to schedule a free 20-minute online consultation. We’ll discuss your symptoms, goals, and what effective treatment can look like for you. Together, we’ll take the first step toward lasting relief and renewed peace of mind.

a calm mountain setting representing the journey through CBT for anxiety

Meet Josh Kaplan, LCSWAnxiety and OCD Specialist.

Hi, I’m Josh Kaplan, LCSW. For nearly 15 years, I’ve helped people overcome anxiety disorders using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy—the gold-standard, research-supported treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and chronic worry. Treating anxiety isn’t just part of what I do, it’s all I do. I’ve dedicated my career to mastering these methods, training other therapists, and sharing this work through professional education.

I’m passionate about this work because I’ve seen how powerful the right treatment can be, and you deserve nothing less. My goal is to help you reduce the grip of worry, rebuild calm, and start living in the present instead of the “what ifs.”

Therapy with me is a partnership built on trust, collaboration, and genuine support. I bring warmth, humor, and honesty to every session, guiding you step by step as we use proven tools to create real change.​

Frequently asked questions

Still have questions? 

Get in contact and we'll answer any questions you may have.

bottom of page