Therapy for Anxiety & Stress in Newport Beach
Feel more grounded, clear, and in control — one step at a time.
What Anxiety and Chronic Stress Can Feel Like
When anxiety or stress takes over, it can affect every part of your life — work, relationships, even your ability to rest. Some signs might feel obvious, while others can be more subtle or internalized.
You might be experiencing:
These experiences aren’t a reflection of weakness — they’re signs that your nervous system is doing its best to protect you. Therapy helps you understand what’s happening and teaches you how to respond differently.
Why It Happens — And Why It’s Not Your Fault
Anxiety and stress are deeply wired survival responses. Whether rooted in childhood experiences, trauma, high pressure environments, or simply life in today’s world — these responses make sense. But over time, they can start to control your life.
Together, we’ll explore what’s beneath the surface of your anxiety or stress and build new tools for how you relate to pressure, uncertainty, and yourself.
How Therapy Can Help
In our work together, we’ll focus on:
Modalities I draw from include:
The goal isn’t just “to feel less anxious.” It’s to feel more like yourself again — calm, clear, and capable of responding to life without being ruled by it.
What to Expect in Sessions
My approach is gentle, collaborative, and grounded in respect for your pace. Some sessions may involve learning tools to regulate anxiety in the moment. Others may focus more on reflection, meaning-making, or healing past experiences.
You don’t have to come prepared with solutions — just your honest experience. I’ll meet you with curiosity, warmth, and guidance.
“You don’t need to do this perfectly. You just need to show up.”
What Clients Say
“Before working with Irene, I didn’t even realize how anxious I was all the time. She helped me slow down, breathe, and feel like I wasn’t broken — just burnt out.”
What Clients Say
“I used to feel like my mind never shut off. Now I feel like I have actual tools that work. And I know I’m not alone.”
What Clients Say
“Irene helped me realize I don’t have to say yes to everything. Learning to set boundaries changed everything.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long is each therapy session?
No. You don’t need to meet any clinical threshold. If life feels harder than it should, that’s reason enough to seek support.
Q: Is this therapy more about tools or exploration?
It depends on your needs. We’ll often do both — learning practical ways to manage stress while also exploring deeper patterns that may be fueling it.
Q: Can stress really be helped through therapy?
Absolutely. Chronic stress is often about more than just being “busy.” Therapy helps you understand what’s keeping you in survival mode and what needs to shift.
Q: Do you offer online sessions?
Yes. I offer secure online therapy throughout California, as well as in-person sessions in Newport Beach.
Q: Is this confidential?
Yes — all sessions are private and protected under HIPAA guidelines.
Let’s talk
If you're tired of feeling tense, overwhelmed, or like your thoughts never stop spinning — let's talk.
Therapy can help you slow down, feel safe in your body again, and find a more sustainable way to move through life.
Maria Irene Alvarez de Schwartz, LMFT 155789
(949) 385-3689
Newport Beach Office
1000 Quail St., Suite 220
Laguna Beach Office
333 3rd St #6
Online Therapy
California Residents Only
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