Struggle to rest without guilt? Learn why you feel like you have to earn your rest and how to start reclaiming rest without anxiety, shame, or burnout.

For many women who struggle with anxiety and people-pleasing, these patterns began in childhood. They were often shaped by the messages we received, witnessed, or absorbed long before we were old enough to realize how much they would follow us into adulthood.

If you’re an anxious woman who’s been going to therapy but still finds herself overwhelmed, overthinking, or stuck in people-pleasing patterns, you’re not alone. Let’s explore some common reasons therapy might not be helping your anxiety yet - and what to do about it.

As a therapist who works with anxious women, I see the emotional toll people-pleasing takes every day. What many don’t realize is that people-pleasing isn't just a personality trait; it's often a trauma response. And that’s why traditional talk therapy sometimes isn’t enough to fully shift the deeply embedded patterns that drive people-pleasing. Enter EMDR.