Therapy for Performance Anxiety
We are in-network with select insurance providers.
Therapy for performance anxiety is about gaining control over your fears and finding the confidence to perform.
Understanding Your Triggers
Building Emotional Resilience
From anxiety to confidence, we’ll help you unlock your full potential.
Performance anxiety isn’t just about feeling nervous—it’s the kind of fear that can paralyze you, preventing you from performing at your best when it matters most. Whether you’re preparing for a big presentation, stepping on stage, or competing in a high-stakes event, performance anxiety can take over, making it difficult to focus, breathe, or think clearly.
At Zenith Counseling, we understand how frustrating performance anxiety can be. You know you’re capable, but the pressure to succeed becomes overwhelming. Therapy for performance anxiety helps you address these fears, understand their root causes, and develop personalized tools to manage anxiety before and during performances.
Using evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR Therapy, mindfulness techniques, and visualization exercises, we’ll help you reframe negative thoughts, calm your body, and regain control of your performance. Over time, you’ll feel more confident and capable in high-pressure situations, allowing you to focus on what you love without being held back by fear.
Common Symptoms a Performance Anxiety Therapist Can Help You Address:
- Intense fear or panic before or during performances
- Racing heart, shortness of breath, or feeling lightheaded
- Sweating, trembling, or shaking during high-pressure situations
- Difficulty concentrating or forgetting important details
- Fear of being judged or humiliated
- Overthinking or worrying about performance outcomes
- Avoiding opportunities to perform or present
- Procrastination or excessive preparation due to anxiety
- Feeling “frozen” or stuck when it’s time to perform
- Trouble sleeping before a performance or event
- Self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy
- Negative self-talk or fear of failure
- Irritability or emotional outbursts due to stress
- Physical symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, or headaches
Each step toward managing performance anxiety brings you closer to success.
Performance anxiety can manifest in various ways, from stage fright to fear of public speaking or presenting in front of colleagues. It often stems from a fear of failure or judgment, and it can cause physical, mental, and emotional reactions that make it difficult to perform at your best. While some nerves are normal, performance anxiety goes beyond that, causing you to doubt your abilities or avoid opportunities altogether.
At Zenith Counseling, we specialize in helping individuals overcome performance anxiety so they can regain their confidence and perform with ease. Whether you’re an athlete, artist, student, or business professional, we help you address the underlying fears and emotional triggers that contribute to your anxiety. Some common types of performance anxiety we treat include:
- Stage fright: Fear of performing in front of an audience, whether as a musician, actor, or speaker.
- Public speaking anxiety: Fear of speaking in front of groups, whether for a presentation, lecture, or speech.
- Sports performance anxiety: Fear of underperforming in athletic competitions or games, often caused by the pressure to succeed.
- Test anxiety: Fear of failing or performing poorly on exams or evaluations.
- Work-related performance anxiety:
- Fear of presenting ideas, leading meetings, or taking on new responsibilities at work.
Therapy for performance anxiety at Zenith Counseling incorporates two powerful approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). CBT helps you identify and challenge negative thoughts that fuel your anxiety, while EMDR allows you to process past experiences that may be contributing to your fear of failure or judgment.
CBT teaches you to reframe unhelpful thoughts, giving you practical strategies to manage your anxiety in high-pressure situations. You’ll learn to replace negative self-talk with constructive thoughts, allowing you to perform with greater confidence and clarity.
EMDR is particularly effective for individuals whose performance anxiety is rooted in past trauma or negative experiences. By processing unresolved memories, EMDR helps reduce the emotional charge of these experiences, freeing you from the anxiety they once triggered. This allows you to approach performances with a clearer mindset and less fear.
Together, CBT and EMDR provide a comprehensive approach to overcoming performance anxiety. With the right support, you can manage your anxiety, build emotional resilience, and perform at your best without being held back by fear.
Supporting You Every Step of the Way
Frequently Asked Questions
When is performance anxiety serious enough to seek therapy?
How is therapy for performance anxiety different from stress management?
Can therapy help me improve my performance?
Reclaim your confidence and perform at your best with therapy for performance anxiety.
Contact us now to start your journey toward overcoming performance anxiety.
Johanna Sozio, Founder & Lead Therapist