Las Colinas sits at the corporate heart of DFW—Fortune 500 headquarters, international business travel through one of the world’s busiest airports, and a workforce that includes transferees and professionals from across the country and around the world. That environment shapes who walks through our doors looking for anxiety care, and it shapes what people need from a clinic: discreet, evidence-based care delivered around demanding schedules, with respect for the wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds our patients bring with them.
Our location at 1507 LBJ Freeway, Suite 750 technically sits just over the line in Farmers Branch (75234), but it serves the Las Colinas/Irving corridor and is immediately accessible from I-635 (LBJ Freeway), the President George Bush Turnpike, and SH-114. Patients coming from Las Colinas, Irving, Coppell, Carrollton, Addison, Grapevine, Euless, and the surrounding Mid-Cities can typically reach us in 15 to 20 minutes—and DFW Airport is less than 15 minutes away. We’re open Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Saturday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with same-week appointments available.
Anxiety is the body’s natural alarm system—useful for getting out of the way of a moving car or focusing on a deadline. But when that alarm starts firing without a real threat, or won’t turn off after the threat has passed, anxiety stops being a normal response and starts being a clinical condition. Anxiety disorders affect the brain’s threat-detection systems, the hormonal stress response, and the way the body and mind process uncertainty. They’re not character flaws and they’re not the result of not trying hard enough. They are treatable medical conditions, and most people who get specialty care see meaningful improvement.
There’s an important distinction between everyday anxiety—the kind everyone experiences before a presentation or a difficult conversation—and an anxiety disorder. Everyone gets nervous; that’s not what we treat. We treat anxiety that’s persistent, that’s out of proportion to the actual situation, that interferes with sleep, work, relationships, or quality of life, and that doesn’t respond to the usual coping strategies that work for ordinary stress. For professionals running hard for years, the line between “this is just my career” and “this is a treatable condition” often goes unrecognized for a long time.
Anxiety isn’t one condition—it’s a family of related conditions that respond to different combinations of treatment. We treat the full range:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Persistent, excessive worry about a range of everyday concerns—work, finances, family, immigration status, health—that’s hard to control and that’s been present most days for at least six months. GAD often comes with physical symptoms: muscle tension, sleep problems, fatigue, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating.
Panic disorder. Sudden, intense episodes of fear that come with physical symptoms—racing heart, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, nausea, the feeling that something is terribly wrong. Many panic attacks are mistaken for heart attacks, and many patients arrive at our clinic after an ER visit cleared them medically. Panic disorder can also come with agoraphobia, where the fear of having a panic attack in public causes avoidance of certain places or situations.
Social anxiety disorder. Persistent fear of social situations, performance situations, or being judged or evaluated by others—often to the point of avoiding work meetings, presentations, social gatherings, dating, or making phone calls. In international corporate settings, social anxiety is sometimes layered with language or cultural concerns that make it harder to address without specialized support.
Specific phobias. Intense, persistent fear of a specific object or situation—flying (common given the business-travel demands of this community), driving, heights, needles, certain animals, enclosed spaces—that triggers avoidance and disrupts daily life. Phobias often respond well to focused exposure-based treatment.
Illness anxiety (health anxiety). Persistent worry about having or developing a serious illness, often despite repeated medical reassurance. Illness anxiety is its own clinical condition and is treatable, even when ordinary reassurance hasn’t worked.
Anxiety related to medical conditions, work, immigration status, or life transitions. Anxiety that develops in response to a serious diagnosis, a major life change, immigration status uncertainty, a sustained work crisis, or other identifiable stressors. This is often where treatment can move quickly because the trigger is identifiable and the underlying nervous system was healthy before.
Anxiety presents differently in different people, but the symptoms tend to fall into three areas:
Physical symptoms. Racing heart, rapid breathing or shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, muscle tension (often jaw, neck, shoulders), gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, sleep disruption. Many anxiety patients first see a primary care doctor or visit the ER for these physical symptoms before the anxiety diagnosis is made.
Emotional and cognitive symptoms. Persistent worry, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, irritability, feeling on edge, catastrophic thinking, fear of losing control, intrusive “what if” scenarios that won’t stop.
Behavioral symptoms. Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, procrastination, seeking constant reassurance, checking behaviors, social withdrawal, sleep changes, increased use of alcohol or substances to cope. In high-functioning professionals, anxiety often hides behind overworking, overpreparation, or over-scheduling rather than visible avoidance.
Anxiety frequently shows up alongside other mental health conditions. Depression and anxiety together are extremely common—each amplifies the other and treating only one usually doesn’t work. Anxiety often accompanies OCD, PTSD, ADHD, and substance use disorders. Sleep disorders both cause and are caused by anxiety. Chronic medical conditions—diabetes, thyroid disease, cardiac conditions, autoimmune disorders—often have an anxiety component that deserves its own treatment.
During your first visit, we assess the full picture rather than just the most obvious symptom. Treatment plans that address the actual constellation of what’s going on tend to work better than plans that target one diagnosis in isolation.
Las Colinas is one of the most internationally diverse corporate communities in DFW, and many of our patients carry anxiety patterns that are directly tied to the realities of building a career and a family in a country that isn’t always the one they grew up in. Naming these patterns matters because they’re common, they’re often invisible to U.S.-trained clinicians who don’t ask, and they’re very treatable when properly recognized:
Immigration status anxiety. H-1B renewals, employer dependency, green card waits that can stretch a decade or longer, the uncertainty of whether the rules will change before your priority date comes up—all of this generates real, sustained anxiety. The nervous system doesn’t fully relax during a multi-year wait, and the chronic activation has clinical consequences. Treatment doesn’t change the immigration process, but it does help patients carry it with less wear.
Family-abroad anxiety. Patients with elderly parents in their home country, siblings in unstable regions, children sent to live with grandparents during corporate transitions, or financial obligations to extended family carry a specific anxiety profile—calls from home, news from home, currency fluctuations, the guilt of being safe when others are not. This is a real clinical pattern, not a personality trait.
Acculturation and bicultural stress. The ongoing work of navigating two cultures—at work, at home, in parenting, in social settings—produces a chronic low-grade activation that adds up over years. Code-switching is genuinely tiring, and the cumulative load shows up as GAD, sleep problems, irritability, and exhaustion. We see this in long-time U.S. residents and recent arrivals alike.
Bicultural parenting anxiety. Parents navigating language decisions, cultural identity for kids growing up here, expectations from grandparents abroad, and the gap between how they were raised and how American schools and peer culture work all carry their own anxiety load. Treatment can address the underlying nervous system load even when the decisions themselves are ongoing.
Workplace pressure layered on top. For H-1B workers and corporate transferees, the demands of a high-stakes career sit directly on top of the chronic stress of status uncertainty. The job often gets all the attention; the underlying anxiety gets none. Treatment can address both.
Concerns about confidentiality are legitimate and common in tight corporate communities, and they take on additional weight for patients with immigration status concerns, employer-sponsored benefits, or specialized roles. Mental health treatment records are protected by HIPAA, and your employer cannot access them without your written authorization. Treatment for anxiety generally does not affect immigration status, though specific situations vary and we recommend patients with concerns consult an immigration attorney for guidance specific to their case. We work to make care discreet: extended hours that don’t require explaining absences, appointment times that fit before-work or after-work routines, and clear conversations about what is and isn’t shared with anyone.
Beyond the international professional context, certain other patterns show up frequently in our patient population. Naming them isn’t about defining anyone by their stressors—it’s about recognizing that some of what people are carrying is shaped by the realities of life here:
Corporate and professional anxiety. Las Colinas hosts a dense concentration of corporate headquarters and major employers. High-stakes careers, demanding performance cycles, frequent reorganizations, and the work-life integration challenges of corporate North Dallas show up regularly in our patient population.
Business travel and aviation-related anxiety. Frequent fliers through DFW deal with jet lag, flying anxiety, time-zone disruption, and the chronic stress of being on the road or away from family. For patients with flying anxiety specifically, the proximity of the airport and the regular demand to fly can keep symptoms front-and-center. Specific phobia treatment for flying is very effective.
Commute and driving anxiety on North Dallas corridors. I-635 (LBJ), the President George Bush Turnpike, SH-114, the Dallas North Tollway, and the surrounding high-speed corridors carry heavy traffic, and serious accidents are common. Driving anxiety, panic attacks while driving, and chronic commute-related GAD are real and very treatable.
Healthcare worker anxiety. Nurses, techs, and staff at the hospital systems across Irving, Carrollton, and the broader North Dallas region carry significant anxiety loads. Healthcare worker anxiety often goes unaddressed because of the same “I’m supposed to take care of others” framing that keeps clinicians from seeking care.
Community vigilance after recent regional events. Recent DFW-area events, including the May 2023 Allen Outlets shooting, created lasting vigilance for some patients around crowded public spaces. For some this is PTSD-related; for others it shows up as ordinary anxiety. Either way, treatment can help.
Living in North Texas creates conditions that interact with anxiety in ways patients in milder climates don’t experience. We’ve noticed several patterns worth naming:
Spring severe weather and storm anxiety. March through June brings tornadoes, hail, and severe storms across the DFW Metroplex. For patients prone to anxiety, watch boxes and warnings can drive significant symptom spikes—racing thoughts, sleep disruption, hypervigilance, panic. For patients who didn’t grow up in Tornado Alley, the first few storm seasons in DFW can be especially activating.
Winter weather and Uri anticipatory anxiety. Since the February 2021 winter storm and grid failure, many North Texas patients now experience anxiety during winter weather forecasts that would have been unremarkable before. Irving and Las Colinas had significant pipe damage in 2021, and the lived memory of those days fuels ongoing checking and worry during winter weather.
Summer heat, sleep, and travel. North Texas summers are long and hot, which affects sleep quality. Poor sleep amplifies every anxiety symptom—racing thoughts, irritability, panic susceptibility, intrusive worry. For patients who travel frequently across time zones, sleep disruption layers on top of summer heat in ways that can make symptoms worse.
Our clinic offers a comprehensive range of anxiety treatments designed to work together. There is no single best treatment for anxiety—the right plan depends on the specific anxiety disorder, the severity of symptoms, your previous treatment history, and your own preferences. We talk through the options with you and build a plan that fits.
Medication can be a meaningful part of anxiety treatment, particularly when symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily life or to make therapy difficult to engage with. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are typically first-line for most anxiety disorders, with strong evidence for GAD, social anxiety, and panic disorder. Common options include sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and duloxetine.
Buspirone is a non-SSRI option specifically approved for GAD that doesn’t carry the dependency risk of benzodiazepines and doesn’t have the sexual or weight side effects that some SSRIs do. It’s often a good option for patients who haven’t tolerated SSRIs well.
Beta-blockers like propranolol can be useful for performance anxiety and specific situations where physical symptoms are the main problem—worth considering for executives giving high-stakes presentations, frequent fliers, and anyone whose anxiety shows up most acutely in specific situations.
Our medication management services in Las Colinas are led by our psychiatric nurse practitioners Andrea Montes, PMHNP, and Najah Syed, PMHNP, who oversee careful monitoring of dosage, side effects, and overall effectiveness. We prioritize finding the right medication at the right dose with minimal side effects, which often takes some adjustment. Regular follow-ups ensure changes can be made promptly.
Many anxiety patients come in with questions about benzodiazepines—alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium). Sometimes they’ve been prescribed them by a primary care provider and want to know whether to continue. Sometimes they’ve heard concerning things about dependency and want to know what their alternatives are. Sometimes they’re already taking them daily and want to taper.
Our general philosophy: benzodiazepines can be helpful in specific short-term situations—a few days during an acute crisis, occasional use for a flight or a medical procedure, bridging the gap while an SSRI takes effect—but they’re not great long-term anxiety treatments. They carry real risks of tolerance (needing higher doses to get the same effect), physical dependence, rebound anxiety when missed or stopped, and interactions with alcohol and opioids that can be dangerous. They also don’t actually fix anxiety; they suppress symptoms while the underlying condition continues.
For new anxiety patients, we typically prefer SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, CBT, and—for treatment-resistant cases—TMS or ketamine, all of which have stronger long-term evidence. For patients already on benzodiazepines who want to taper, we develop slow, careful plans rather than abrupt stops, because abrupt benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous. The goal is always what works best for you—not a rigid rule.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-studied treatments for anxiety, with strong evidence across GAD, social anxiety, panic disorder, and specific phobias. CBT helps patients identify and revise the thought patterns that drive anxiety, build skills for managing physical symptoms, and gradually face situations that have been avoided. For high-functioning professionals specifically, CBT can be particularly useful because it gives patients clear tools and a structured framework—both of which fit how this community tends to approach problems.
For panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety, and specific phobias—including flying anxiety, which is especially common in our patient population—exposure-based approaches are particularly effective. Exposure isn’t about forcing yourself into uncomfortable situations; it’s about systematic, paced practice that teaches the nervous system that the feared outcome doesn’t happen, or that you can handle it when it does. Done correctly, it’s one of the most reliable ways to actually shrink anxiety over time rather than just managing it.
We provide therapy referrals to trusted local therapists when therapy is the right next step, and we coordinate care so that your medication and therapy work together rather than at cross purposes. For patients who prefer therapy in a language other than English, we make referrals accordingly when we can.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood and anxiety regulation. TMS is FDA-approved for depression—including depression with anxious distress—and has shown meaningful benefit for anxiety symptoms, particularly when medication and therapy alone have not been sufficient.
For patients who can’t take SSRIs, who haven’t responded to multiple medications, who want to avoid medication entirely, or who specifically want to avoid benzodiazepines, TMS is an important non-medication option. Sessions are conducted in a comfortable clinical setting, easily accessible from I-635, the President George Bush Turnpike, or SH-114, and minutes from DFW Airport. The procedure is well-tolerated, requires no sedation or recovery time, and patients can drive themselves home and return to normal activities the same day.
Ketamine IV therapy is a newer, fast-acting option for severe or treatment-resistant anxiety, particularly when significant depression accompanies the anxiety. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which work through serotonin and can take weeks to show effect, ketamine acts on the glutamate system and can produce noticeable symptom relief within hours or days.
Ketamine therapy is delivered under medical supervision in a series of carefully monitored sessions in our Las Colinas clinic. We integrate it into a broader treatment plan—typically alongside medication management and, when appropriate, therapy—because the window of reduced symptom intensity that ketamine opens can be a powerful time to make other changes that anxiety has been blocking. Ketamine is not appropriate for everyone, and we’ll have a clear conversation about whether it’s the right fit during your evaluation.
In-person appointments in Las Colinas provide a valuable opportunity for direct interaction with experienced clinicians. Whether you are commuting from Irving, Coppell, Carrollton, Addison, Grapevine, or elsewhere across the Mid-Cities, these sessions allow for thorough assessments, real conversations about treatment options, and the kind of steady, present care that virtual visits can’t fully replicate.
For anxiety in particular, being physically present matters. Clinicians can observe the signs of activation—shallow breathing, restlessness, jaw tension—that are easy to miss on video. We also pace sessions so you leave feeling steadier, not more activated.
Our Las Colinas clinic is led by two psychiatric nurse practitioners with training in mood, anxiety, and related disorders:
Andrea Montes, PMHNP — Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. View profile.
Najah Syed, PMHNP — Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. View profile.
Our Las Colinas team takes a patient-first, evidence-based approach: treatment plans built around your specific symptoms, life, and preferences; transparent conversations about what each option can and can’t do; and a steady pace that respects how you’re actually doing. With same-week appointments, extended hours, Tricare accepted, and discretion that respects the realities of corporate and international professional life, we’re committed to delivering specialty anxiety care that fits the way our patients actually live.
Starting anxiety treatment can feel daunting—especially when reaching out is itself an anxiety-provoking task. Your first visit is designed to be welcoming, thorough, and unhurried. Most first appointments run 60 to 90 minutes—long enough to actually hear your story without rushing through it.
We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, how symptoms have been affecting your life, your history, and your goals. We’ll discuss treatment options and answer your questions—including the questions you’ve been afraid to ask. You won’t be pushed into anything; we’ll come up with a plan together. For patients with confidentiality, status, or career concerns, your first visit is also a good time to ask the questions you’ve been carrying.
The comprehensive evaluation includes a detailed clinical interview, standardized anxiety assessments, screening for co-occurring conditions (depression, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, substance use, sleep disorders, medical conditions that can cause anxiety symptoms), and—when appropriate and with your permission—input from family members or other healthcare providers. This process helps identify the full picture of what’s going on, which is the only way to build a treatment plan that actually addresses it.
We also explore your history with anxiety, any previous treatments, and the strategies you’ve already been using to cope. That history matters; it tells us what’s been tried, what’s helped, and what to do differently this time.
Following the evaluation, we collaborate with you to create a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs and preferences. The plan outlines recommended treatments, expected timeline, and how we’ll measure progress. Goals in anxiety treatment often start practical—better sleep, less reactivity, being able to do specific things that anxiety has been blocking—and expand from there into the broader work of reclaiming the life you want.
We encourage open communication and ongoing feedback so that treatment stays responsive to your evolving needs. Recovery from anxiety isn’t always linear; we expect that and adjust the plan accordingly.
Related Videos
Related Posts
When anxiety becomes a daily shadow instead of an occasional
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can make daily life feel like
If you’re living with ongoing depression, you’ve likely explored many
