Stephanie Dasher, LPC-A (SC) | Charleston & Telehealth statewide | Somatic & trauma-informed counseling.
You’re “Fine” on Paper, But Your Brain and Body Stay in Go-mode
Anxiety has a way of making everything feel urgent, even when you intellectually know nothing is technically happening. If you’re carrying constant tension, overthinking, or a sense that you can’t fully settle, it can be difficult to manage daily tasks, and you may feel drained without the ability to settle into a restful state. Anxiety can show up as overthinking, constant alertness, tightness in your chest, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or feeling like you can’t fully exhale. Therapy can help you develop tools that allow you to understand how anxiety functions and ways in which you can work with anxious thoughts and feelings rather than against them.
Anxiety Shows Up in a Few Different Ways
Anxiety Might Look Like
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Racing thoughts, spiraling, or mental rehearsal
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Tension, jaw clenching, headaches, stomach issues
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Panic sensations or sudden surges of fear
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Restlessness, irritability, insomnia
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People-pleasing, perfectionism, or “I can’t mess this up.”
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Avoidance, procrastination, or freeze (“I know what to do, but I can’t do it”)
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Can be related to trauma
How We Work With Anxiety
We use evidence-based interventions such as CBT, and may help you develop skills like;
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Tracking your anxiety pattern in real time (thoughts & body signals)
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Building regulation skills to reduce physiological arousal
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Widen your window of tolerance
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Cognitive restructuring to help you find and change thoughts that are driving anxiety.
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Journaling and self-monitoring to record thoughts, patterns, and behaviors.
In Person or Online
Charleston: walk-and-talk sessions (outdoors, low-traffic locations)
South Carolina: online counseling/telehealth
What You'll Invest For
Services
Individual Therapy Sessions
Counseling | Virtual or in Person
length: 50 minutes
location: In person as walk & talk or Virtual
Professional fee: $135 per session
Couples Therapy Sessions
Counseling | Virtual or in Person
length: 50 minutes
location: In person as walk & talk or Virtual
Professional fee: $175 per session
Who's This For?
Somatic-informed trauma therapy is beneficial for many types of experiences. We don’t treat anxiety like a character flaw or a mindset problem. We look at what’s keeping you stuck, then we work to build skills in a way that makes sense for your needs.
What Happens in the First 1–2 Sessions?
In the first session, we'll complete an intake assessment to understand your history and what your system is dealing with right now, including stress patterns, triggers, and what helps. We'll also set goals and build a treatment plan tailored to your specific situation and concerns.
Stephanie Dasher, LPC-A (South Carolina) — under the supervision of Dr. Maia Gill, PhD (SC#1202).
Common Questions
01.
Do I need a diagnosis?
No. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to start therapy. If you believe you have anxiety, a counselor can perform an assessment to determine a diagnosis. If a diagnosis becomes clinically relevant (for treatment planning, documentation, or insurance/superbills), we can talk through it.
02.
Can I do virtual sessions anywhere in South Carolina?
Yes. If you’re located in South Carolina, we can meet via secure telehealth from anywhere in the state. If you’re traveling outside SC, we may need to pause until you’re back in-state (licensing rules depend on where you physically are during the session).
I’m based in the Charleston area and work with clients across Charleston County (including Charleston, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, Daniel Island, and North Charleston). I also see clients via telehealth anywhere in South Carolina.
03.
How is somatic therapy different from talk therapy?
Talk therapy focuses mainly on thoughts, cognitions, emotions, and insight. Somatic therapy includes that and pays attention to what your nervous system and body are doing in real time. That might include breath, tension, shut down, bracing, agitation, and the “can’t settle” feeling. In addition to understanding the thoughts and feelings related to your anxiety, we practice shifting the body pattern underneath it so you develop the tools that can help you embody a different experience.
04.
How do I know if anxiety therapy is a fit for me?
If anxiety is costing you time, sleep, peace, or relationships, whether it shows up as overthinking, uncomfortable sensations, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or shutdown, therapy can help. We’ll start by mapping your specific pattern (what triggers it, what your body does, and what you do next), then build practical tools to interrupt the cycle and help you feel more grounded in everyday life.