cognitive behavior therapy
Health Anxiety Therapy Near Me | In San Jose or Online in California
Do you constantly worry about having a serious illness—even when your doctor reassures you that you are healthy?
Health Anxiety (also known as illness anxiety disorder, hypochondriasis or health OCD) is characterized by persistent and intrusive fears of having or developing a severe medical condition.
If you're searching for a health anxiety therapist, I offer CBT and ERP therapy in the San Jose area and throughout California online.
Understanding Health Anxiety
Health OCD involves constant worry about your health. You may be fixating on specific illnesses or symptoms or repeatedly checking your body for signs of disease. For some, health anxiety is triggered by a specific health scare or a history of illness. For others, it develops over time, fueled by ongoing worry and stress. Health anxiety can cause you to interpret normal bodily sensations, like a headache or a stomachache, as signs of a severe disease, leading to constant stress and fear about your health.
Common fears include:
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What if I have cancer despite normal screenings?
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What if my headache is a sign of a brain tumor?
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What if a minor symptom turns into something life-threatening?
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What if I miss the signs of a serious illness?
These "what if" questions can dominate your thoughts, leading to compulsive behaviors like monitoring your symptoms, reassurance-seeking from medical professionals or loved ones, and excessively researching online.
The Impact of Health Anxiety
1. Constant Worry
People with health anxiety feel overwhelmed by persistent thoughts about illness. Even minor aches and pains and routine medical tests and appointments can trigger significant distress.
2. Avoidance of Everyday Activities
The fear of getting sick or having a serious condition may cause you to avoid social situations, exercise, or other normal activities, reducing their overall quality of life.
3. Time Consuming Behaviors
Constant researching and googling health symptoms, excessive health checks, and frequent doctor visits can take up a significant portion of your time, leaving you feeling drained and anxious.
4. Interference with Work and Relationships
The persistent worry about your health makes it difficult to focus at work or enjoy time with loved ones, increasing stress, tension, and social isolation.
5. Reassurance Doesn't Help
Even after receiving medical tests, clear results, or reassurances from doctors, the anxiety doesn’t subside - it might even feel more intense.
6. Stressful Medical Care
Going to the doctor or getting medical tests is extremely overwhelming. You may spend days, weeks, even months feeling anxious about upcoming appointments.
My Approach to Health Anxiety
I specialize in CBT and ERP for anxiety and OCD, and I understand how paralyzing health-related obsessions can feel. Together, we’ll work to dismantle the fears that keep you stuck, learn how to tolerate uncertainty, and develop healthy coping strategies that don’t revolve around checking, reassurance, or avoidance.
With both in-person sessions near San Jose (Campbell) and virtual therapy across California, I’m here to support you in breaking free from the constant worry and learning to trust in your health.
CBT for Health Anxiety
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How do I make an appointment?Complete the Potential Client Form and I will be in touch with you within 24 hours to set up a consultation call. If we are a fit, we will will book an intake session from there. After our initial meeting, most clients meet with me weekly for 45-minute sessions, ideally at the same day and a time each week. We will meet more or less depending on your needs. If you need to change your appointment time or cancel, I require 48 hours notice to avoid a full session charge.
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How much does therapy cost and do you take insurance?My fees are $340 per 60 minute initial assessment session and $255 per 45-minute therapy session. I am an out-of-network provider for all insurance panels. If you have a PPO you may be eligible for out of network benefits and I will submit electronic claims on your behalf so that you may be partially reimbursed for your CBT sessions. You can contact your insurance company directly to find out more information about your out of network coverage.
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Do you offer in-person/face -to-face sessions?YES! It has been so good to be back in the office! I offer both in person and online therapy. My in person office is in Campbell, CA, serving the Silicon Valley region. I can provide online therapy to residents throughout California.
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Do you work with children and teens?Most of my therapy clients are adults, young adults and older teenagers. I don’t often work with children under age 11 but if you feel your child could be a good fit for me I am happy to speak with you. I also offer Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) treatment for parents seeking to help their children with anxiety disorders and OCD.
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What will our sessions be like?CBT is more structured than other types of therapy. We will start by setting an agenda and intention for the session. Then the majority of our session time will be spent on discussing your problems and applying CBT interventions. We will end with an action plan for you to take into your week. CBT, is at its core, flexible and collaborative so we will tailor our sessions to your needs.
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How long does therapy take?It truth is that treatment length varies a lot! The severity of your symptoms and how long you've had them , your motivation to work outside of session, and your life circumstances will all factor in to treatment length. Most clients start to feel some noticeable relief within three months and may achieve their goals by six months. For others it can take a year or more.
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What is a Good Faith Estimate?You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.
Located in CAMPBELL near SAN JOSE
Address
51 E Campbell Ave
Campbell, CA 98005
Whether you’re looking for a health anxiety therapist in San Jose, Campbell, or anywhere in California, I offer flexible options that can fit your needs. Therapy is available both in-person at my office and virtually for clients across the state of California.
My office is located near San Jose in Campbell in the historic Heritage Village Offices. Conveniently located near restaurants and shops, my office is quiet with a peaceful courtyard view. There is plenty of parking. When you arrive at the Campbell Ave entrance, you will be greeted by our front desk staff and I show to to my private office.
If you live outside of the bay area or prefer to meet virtually, we can also do therapy online through HIPAA-compliant secure Telehealth.
Start Health Anxiety Therapy Today
You don’t have to keep living in fear of illness or constantly questioning your health. Therapy can help you break free from this cycle, gain control over your thoughts, and lead a life that’s not dominated by health anxiety.
Contact me today to schedule a consultation or to learn more about how therapy for Health Anxiety works.
Schedule a Consultation
Get a feel for my style and get your questions answered during our no-obligation phone screen.
About CAITLYN
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. I have been working as a therapist since 2009, specializing in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders. Before starting my own practice in 2021 I worked at a specialty anxiety/OCD group practice for many years, as well as community mental health, and school settings.
My practice is located in Campbell, CA in the South SF Bay Area, near San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Cupertino.
I have been working primarily with clients struggling with anxiety since 2012. Read more about my speciality training here.
My approach to anxiety and OCD treatment is compassionate and personalized. This work is challenging but we will go at your pace and focus on the symptoms that are getting in the way of your life.
Ready to get started or have more questions?
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How do I make an appointment?Complete the Potential Client Form and I will be in touch with you within 24 hours to set up a consultation call. If we are a fit, we will will book an intake session from there. After our initial meeting, most clients meet with me weekly for 45-minute sessions, ideally at the same day and a time each week. We will meet more or less depending on your needs. If you need to change your appointment time or cancel, I require 48 hours notice to avoid a full session charge.
-
How much does therapy cost and do you take insurance?My fees are $340 per 60 minute initial assessment session and $255 per 45-minute therapy session. I am an out-of-network provider for all insurance panels. If you have a PPO you may be eligible for out of network benefits and I will submit electronic claims on your behalf so that you may be partially reimbursed for your CBT sessions. You can contact your insurance company directly to find out more information about your out of network coverage.
-
Do you offer in-person/face -to-face sessions?YES! It has been so good to be back in the office! I offer both in person and online therapy. My in person office is in Campbell, CA, serving the Silicon Valley region. I can provide online therapy to residents throughout California.
-
Do you work with children and teens?Most of my therapy clients are adults, young adults and older teenagers. I don’t often work with children under age 11 but if you feel your child could be a good fit for me I am happy to speak with you. I also offer Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) treatment for parents seeking to help their children with anxiety disorders and OCD.
-
What will our sessions be like?CBT is more structured than other types of therapy. We will start by setting an agenda and intention for the session. Then the majority of our session time will be spent on discussing your problems and applying CBT interventions. We will end with an action plan for you to take into your week. CBT, is at its core, flexible and collaborative so we will tailor our sessions to your needs.
-
How long does therapy take?It truth is that treatment length varies a lot! The severity of your symptoms and how long you've had them , your motivation to work outside of session, and your life circumstances will all factor in to treatment length. Most clients start to feel some noticeable relief within three months and may achieve their goals by six months. For others it can take a year or more.
-
What is a Good Faith Estimate?You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.