Anxiety Therapist Spotlight - Charniqua Snell, RMHCI

We're thrilled to introduce our latest team member, Charniqua Snell, RMHCI. Charniqua specializes in assisting adults and teenagers struggling with anxiety, trauma, and depression. As an Orlando-based anxiety therapist, she's here to address any questions you might have before embarking on counseling.

As an anxiety therapist who works with clients who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks, what are some of the first things you address in counseling?

We would first address your story about what brought you to seek out therapy. I would use that time to get a sense of what we can work on, where your anxiety is coming from, and get to understand you more. The therapy experience is a certain relationship where I need to know you to be able to help you. I believe that by building this therapeutic relationship it enables me to provide effective support tailored to your needs.

How do you help clients heal from panic attacks and anxiety?

I use evidence-based techniques to alleviate anxiety and panic attacks, tailoring them to suit your needs. Sometimes, it means using trauma interventions like EMDR to uncover and heal the root of your symptoms. Throughout our sessions, I prioritize validating and normalizing your experiences, ensuring you understand that you are not alone in what you're going through.

What is important in the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks in teens?

One of the most important parts of treatment is to acknowledge the severity of the teens' anxiety and panic attacks. Often teens' emotions are disregarded because they might not be dealing with the responsibilities of paying bills, raising children, or working full-time jobs like adults. To adults, their lives can seem relatively easy or the reasons they are anxious can seem small. The first step is allowing them to feel safe in expressing their emotions so they can then learn to regulate themselves better.

What role does a client's family or support system play in the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks, and how do you engage with them?

We cannot heal only on our own; It takes a village to heal (yes, even as an adult). Support systems are important for healing with any mental health recovery journey because we need supportive people around us when we cannot keep going on our own. As a therapist, it is important to engage outside support with individuals the client feels safe with and trusts. If appropriate I will reach out to the support system to help establish a relationship or encourage the client to do so. Support systems are not just family this could include individuals such as friends, mentors, teachers, or larger systems like a school, peer support groups, outside therapy groups, or other medical professionals. Either way, I would work collaboratively with the client to build and fortify these supports so they are not alone after therapy ends.

What is important for people who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks to know?

Anxiety and panic attacks do not last forever! Of course, everyone knows this logically but when you are in the middle of an attack it can seem like it is never going away and you will always struggle with it. There is a life without the constant dread that anxiety will always take over your life.

How is EMDR Therapy helpful for anxiety and panic attacks?

Yes! EMDR has been shown to be helpful for anxiety and panic attacks. By using EMDR, we can help you to build confidence that you are capable and not feel stuck in your panic and anxiety attacks.

Can you describe a common misconception about anxiety and panic attacks that you encounter in your practice?

I will often hear from people after a panic attack [especially after they have been in therapy] “If I just tried harder and was more positive I would not be suffering like this - This is my fault - What is wrong with me?”

If feeling in control of your anxiety was just about willpower most of us would never feel anxiety. We cannot just push the feeling aside or pretend it is not there because it will come back even stronger next time. Chances are, you have been trying to deal with and decrease your anxiety for a while now, you are the opposite of lazy. There is no embarrassment or shame in asking for help. It takes time to build the confidence that you can handle your anxiety and it does not take over.

What self-care strategies do you recommend to clients to complement their therapy sessions?

It will depend on what is causing the anxiety and panic but there are multiple strategies we can use. Maybe your self-care is learning boundaries in your relationships and how to say no. Self-care can look like learning to prioritize your health and well-being instead of only taking care of others. It can be learning relaxation and calming skills such as meditative or mindfulness practices. It could be learning executive functioning skills to help organize yourself and feel less overwhelmed. Maybe it is re-evaluating the expectations you have for yourself and then making more realistic goals. Or it could be as “simple” as drinking more water, going outside more, and eating more regularly. Chances are that your self-care will be a combination of these skills; practicing them outside of the session will help you to see which ones really work for you.

Ready to start Anxiety Therapy Orlando?

The highly trained team at Mindful Living Counseling specializes in anxiety therapy and can help you pave a path forward to healing. To get started with Charnqiua Snell, RMHCI or someone at the Mindful Living Team:

1. Fill out our New Client Consultation Form

2. Schedule a consultation call with our Client Care Coordinator

3. Start your with Anxiety Therapy.

Additional Resources for Anxiety Therapy Orlando

Anxiety Therapist Orlando Shares 4 Steps to Manage Anxiety

Anxiety Therapy Orlando: 5 Signs You Have Anxiety

Orlando Therapist Shares: 6 Anxiety-Friendly Activities to Do in Downtown Orlando

Orlando Therapist Shares About Anxiety Therapy

An Anxiety Therapist Shares Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety

How to Manage Perfectionism and Anxiety

Guided Meditation for Anxiety: Healing Light

Additional Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando

The Mindful Living Counseling provides a variety of counseling services to help you overcome challenges beyond Anxiety Therapy. We offer various therapy options, including Toxic Relationship Therapy, EMDR Therapy, and Teen Therapy.

Anxiety Therapist: Charniqua Snell

Anxiety therapist Charniqua Snell, RMHCI is thrilled to be a part of the Mindful Living Counseling Team. She specializes in helping teens and adults who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma. When she is not working with clients, she enjoys spending time at the beach and sipping on boba tea.