Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin

06/06/2025

In Honor of National Donut Day, I am posting this throwback video of a man on a "100 Days of Rejection Therapy" journey who walks into a Krispy Kreme and asks for interlocking donuts resembling the Olympic Symbol.
This is a fun example of what exposure therapy for social anxiety might look like. If you deliberately put yourself in a social situation in which you are likely to be rejected, you will probably learn the outcome is better than you expected or if not, you learn that you can handle the rejection or criticism or disapproval.

Day 3 of my rejection therapy, I asked Jackie at Krispy Kreme to make me doughnuts that look like Olympic Symbols. To my astonishment, she not only delivered...

06/06/2025

"Use the bathroom before we leave!" We all heard that growing up and it is considered conventional wisdom. But what happens if your "just in case" trips to the bathroom are too frequent? The New York Times featured an article in their Ask Well section a few days ago regarding the potential negative effects of proactive peeing. Dr. Ariana Smith, a professor urology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine warned that taking too many "just in case' bathroom breaks can increase the risk of bladder issues by disrupting the natural feedback loop between your bladder and your brain.

We found this interesting because at the Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin we often treat people with OCD who have compulsions regarding proactive peeing or obsessions regarding a feeling of needing to urinate.

For many people, using the bathroom preemptively is no big deal. But for those with a certain type of OCD, it can become part of a distressing cycle—driven not by physical need, but by obsessive thoughts and anxiety.

The fear of discomfort, having an accident, or “just not knowing” can lead to compulsive bathroom visits—sometimes dozens of times a day. Over time, this retrains the bladder, creating a real sense of urgency even when it’s not full.

It’s a powerful example of how OCD blurs the line between safety behaviors and physical sensations. Treatment can help retrain both the bladder and the brain.

🧠🛑 If this sounds familiar, you're not alone—and you're not stuck. ERP (Exposure & Response Prevention) is a gold-standard therapy that can help. And this is what we specialize in at Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin.

www.anxietyaustin.com

04/24/2025

The Cycle of Social Anxiety: Awareness is the First Step 🔄

If social situations leave you feeling anxious before, during, and long after—you’re not alone.

Social anxiety often unfolds in 3 phases. Learning to recognize the pattern can help you shift from fear to freedom.

🌿 At The Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin, we help clients build tools to navigate this cycle and connect more fully—with themselves and others.

www.anxietyaustin.com

04/22/2025

www.anxietyaustin.com

04/20/2025

Overthinking? Becoming your parents? We got you! Planning ahead and preparing for contingencies can be helpful but at some point you reach diminishing returns. If your need for certainty is interfering with your life, you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder. At the Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin, we can help you tolerate uncertainty and start living your life to the fullest.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/155QWFKq3RK/

04/16/2025

At the Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin, we help you choose long-term freedom over short-term comfort—one decision at a time 💚


www.anxietyaustin.com

03/28/2025

Exciting news! We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Alban Foulser to our team! Dr. Foulser is a licensed psychologist who earned her doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin and completed her internship and postdoctoral training at Emory University School of Medicine. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, trauma & PTSD, OCD, and Reproductive Mental Health. Dr. Foulser is dedicated to empowering clients to live meaningful lives by fostering a flexible relationship with their thoughts and emotions. Dr. Foulser's approach, blending CBT, ACT, ERP, and CPT, is all about personalized care. Welcome, Dr. Foulser!
https://www.anxietyaustin.com/team/alban-foulser%2C-ph.d.-

11/20/2024

What do we love about working with anxiety disorders? We love seeing people get better...we love seeing people get their lives back! Check out our new video and learn a little about how we help people overcome Anxiety and OCD.

An introduction to our group practice, our therapists, and treatment philosophy.

11/12/2024

We were proud to be a gold sponsor for the Austin OCD Walk on November 2nd. We are even more proud that our own Katy Rothfelder chaired the event. Thanks to everyone who came out to connect, share stories, and raise awareness of what it really means to have OCD.

09/22/2024

We love seeing accurate and relatable depictions of anxiety in our community! Our team can't wait to support this one!
Austin-based improv troupe, Children of the Corndog, is debuting a new mindfulness-inspired improv r***e show, Adventures in Anxiety, on September 28th at 8pm as part of a Merlin Works Potions showcase, alongside other acts.
The show uses mindfulness as a way to explore anxiety in a positive and humorous light, acknowledging the challenges of living with anxiety framed by the healing power of laughter.
Tickets available now!
https://activitymessenger.com/p/M3L5hMc?_session=Tqa9iRcrwnLpeqSO81fZ2KCe61UizwkuDddq3F80

06/21/2024

05/10/2024

We are excited to announce the start of our first ever neuroaffirming social thriving group for children! Social Thriving in Austin Kids is a neuroaffirmative, contextual behavioral 8 week program that supports children 8-11 years old in exploring their own values in the context of seeking relationships with others. This program reconceptualizes “social skills” as values guided social behaviors. It shifts away from neurodivergences themselves and towards the social contexts that turn neurodivergence into disability. Through highly interactive exercises, children will build awareness of themselves and others, expand their ability to choose effective behavior based on context; and self-advocate for dignity, safety, and respect.
Contact katy@anxietyaustin.com for more information.