Anxiety is one of the most common reasons adults seek mental health treatment, and one of the most responsive to evidence-based care. At Cedar Hill Behavioral Health in Southborough, we treat adults with anxiety disorders across our full continuum of outpatient care — from weekly therapy for manageable symptoms to our partial hospitalization program for adults whose anxiety has become disabling.
This page explains how anxiety presents, the specific disorders within the anxiety category, and how we treat each at Cedar Hill.
When anxiety is more than stress
Everyone experiences anxiety. It becomes a clinical concern when it is excessive relative to the situation, persistent over weeks or months, and significantly affects work, relationships, or daily functioning.
Symptoms typically cluster in three areas:
- Physical: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, muscle tension, fatigue, sleep problems, digestive issues, dizziness
- Cognitive and emotional: persistent worry, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, irritability, feeling on edge, sense of impending doom
- Behavioral: avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, seeking constant reassurance, difficulty making decisions, repetitive behaviors to ease distress
When these patterns become entrenched, they can develop into one of several distinct anxiety disorders, each with its own treatment approach.
Anxiety disorders we treat
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Excessive, hard-to-control worry about everyday matters — work, health, relationships, finances — often without a clear trigger. Patients with GAD frequently report restlessness, fatigue, concentration difficulty, and disturbed sleep.
Panic Disorder. Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks: sudden episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms like chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a sense of losing control. Many patients develop anticipatory anxiety — fear of having another attack — which can lead to avoidance of places or situations where attacks have occurred.
Social Anxiety Disorder. Intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized in social or performance situations. Can affect daily interactions, meetings, public speaking, dating, and any activity involving observation by others.
Specific Phobias. Disproportionate fear of a particular object or situation — common examples include heights, flying, enclosed spaces, needles, and certain animals. Phobias can range from manageable inconvenience to significant life impairment depending on the trigger and the patient’s circumstances.
Agoraphobia. Fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable — open spaces, crowds, public transportation, being away from home alone. Often develops alongside panic disorder.
Note on related conditions. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) share features with anxiety but are categorized separately in current diagnostic criteria. If you’re searching for help with OCD specifically, see our OCD treatment page. For trauma-related symptoms, see our PTSD treatment page.
How we treat anxiety at Cedar Hill
Anxiety treatment at Cedar Hill is built on three components, combined based on your specific disorder, symptom severity, and treatment history.
Evidence-based psychotherapy. Several therapies have strong evidence for anxiety disorders, and the right choice depends on which disorder is present:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold-standard treatment across nearly every anxiety disorder. CBT targets the thinking patterns and behaviors that maintain anxiety, with adaptations specific to each disorder.
- Exposure therapy is the core treatment for specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder with avoidance. Patients work systematically with their clinician to face feared situations in a structured way that reduces avoidance over time.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is useful when avoidance has become the dominant pattern and the patient’s life has narrowed to manage anxiety.
- Mindfulness-based approaches can complement CBT and reduce overall reactivity to anxiety symptoms.
Psychiatric care and medication management. When medication is part of your plan, our prescribers select and manage it. First-line medications for anxiety disorders include:
- SSRIs and SNRIs — the most commonly prescribed long-term medications for anxiety disorders, with strong evidence and favorable safety profiles
- Buspirone — a non-sedating, non-addictive option for GAD
- Hydroxyzine — an antihistamine sometimes used for anxiety on an as-needed basis
For most patients, the goal is sustained reduction in baseline anxiety rather than short-term symptom blunting. Medication is an option, not a requirement; the decision remains yours.
Coordinated levels of care. Cedar Hill provides three levels of outpatient care for anxiety. The right level depends on symptom severity and functional impact.
| Level of care | Schedule | Appropriate when |
|---|---|---|
| Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) | 5 days per week | Anxiety is severe and significantly impairs daily functioning, work, or self-care |
| Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) | 3–4 days per week, ~3 hours per session | Anxiety exceeds what weekly therapy can address but daily functioning is maintained |
| Outpatient Program (OP) | Weekly individual sessions, optional group | Mild to moderate anxiety, or stepping down from a higher level of care |
If you’re not sure which level applies, our intake assessment determines the right starting point. You can step up or down between levels at Cedar Hill without changing providers.
When higher-level care is needed
Most anxiety presentations can be effectively treated in an outpatient setting. A small number require additional intervention:
- Anxiety with active suicidality is an indication for emergency assessment. If you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.
- Severe agoraphobia that prevents a patient from leaving home may require initial in-home or telehealth-supported stabilization before in-office treatment is possible.
- Anxiety with significant substance use is generally better treated by a program that specializes in co-occurring disorders. Cedar Hill is mental-health-only.
What to expect
Your first appointment is a comprehensive assessment: presenting symptoms, history of anxiety episodes or attacks, prior treatment, current medications, and your goals. From that, your clinician identifies the specific anxiety disorder (or disorders) and proposes a working treatment plan.
For most anxiety disorders, evidence-based therapy (typically CBT or exposure therapy) shows meaningful change within 12 to 20 weekly sessions. Panic disorder often responds within the early portion of treatment as patients learn to interrupt the panic cycle. SSRIs and SNRIs typically take 4 to 6 weeks to reach their full effect for anxiety.
Insurance and same-day admissions
Cedar Hill accepts most major commercial insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Beacon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts Health Plan, and UMR. Our admissions team verifies benefits before your first appointment.
For appropriate candidates, we offer same-day admissions. Calling our admissions line in the morning typically allows for an intake assessment the same day or the next business morning.
Why patients choose Cedar Hill for anxiety treatment
- Three coordinated levels of care. If weekly therapy isn’t enough, you can step up to IOP or PHP without changing providers or starting over.
- Mental health specialty. Cedar Hill treats mental health conditions exclusively.
- Integrated therapy and medication management — your therapist and prescriber work as a team.
- Veteran-owned, clinically led. Our leadership includes clinicians with direct experience treating anxiety in veteran and civilian populations.
- Medical reviewer oversight — content and treatment standards reviewed by Matthew Howe, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have an anxiety disorder, or just normal stress?
Everyone experiences anxiety in response to stress, deadlines, or major life events. The clinical line is excessive worry (out of proportion to actual circumstances), persistence (most days for at least six months for GAD; recurrent panic attacks; specific avoidance for phobias and social anxiety), and meaningful impact on daily functioning. A professional assessment can tell you accurately what’s going on without committing you to a particular treatment.
Will therapy actually help with panic attacks?
Yes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy specifically adapted for panic disorder is one of the most-researched and most-effective treatments in mental health care. Patients learn to interrupt the panic cycle, reduce hypervigilance to body sensations, and gradually face avoided situations. Most patients see meaningful reduction in panic frequency and severity within the first weeks of structured treatment.
Will I have to take medication for anxiety?
No. For mild-to-moderate anxiety, therapy alone is often sufficient. For severe or treatment-resistant anxiety, medication combined with therapy is typically more effective than either alone. The decision to start medication is collaborative and remains yours.
Do you prescribe benzodiazepines like Xanax, Ativan, or Klonopin?
Benzodiazepines have a role in anxiety treatment but are not first-line medications for ongoing care. They work quickly but carry significant risks with long-term use, including tolerance and dependence. Our prescribers generally use SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, or hydroxyzine as the foundation of medication management for anxiety, with benzodiazepines reserved for specific clinical situations and shorter-term use when appropriate.
How long does anxiety treatment take?
For most anxiety disorders treated with CBT or exposure therapy, meaningful change occurs within 12 to 20 weekly sessions. Severe presentations or combinations of multiple anxiety disorders may require longer. Treatment-resistant anxiety is uncommon but does occur; if first-line approaches aren’t producing results, treatment plans are adjusted.
Will I be able to work or attend school during treatment?
Yes, in most cases. Weekly outpatient therapy fits around employment, school, and family responsibilities. IOP is designed for adults maintaining work or caregiving while in more intensive treatment. PHP is full-time during the day; patients in PHP typically take leave during their stay using FMLA or short-term disability when applicable.
Payment for Care
Medical Reviewer
Matthew Howe, PMHNP-BC
Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Philosophy (Summa Cum Laude) from Plymouth State University, and MSN degrees from Rivier and Herzing Universities. Specializing in PTSD, mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, with expertise in psychodynamic therapy, psychopharmacology, and addiction treatment. I emphasize medication as an adjunct to psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.
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