In-Person in Largo, MD | Online Across DC, MD & VA

Therapy for People Pleasing & Anxious Attachment

 

You can stop shrinking to keep the peace.

Let’s Talk—Book Your Consultation

You’ve built your relationships around managing other people’s comfort—while silently abandoning your own.
You replay conversations in your head, second-guessing if you said too much—or not enough.  You bend over backward to avoid conflict, then resent how invisible you feel.  You say “yes” when your body screams “no.”  You panic when someone pulls away… but don’t know how to ask for what you need without feeling “too much.” Your nervous system is always scanning for danger: a slow text response, a shift in tone, a missed moment of reassurance.  You crave closeness and fear rejection.  You want connection and keep proving your value to “earn” it.  You abandon your own needs just to make sure no one abandons you first. And underneath it all? A fear that if you stopped people-pleasing, no one would choose to stay.  

This isn’t just about your last relationship—or your current one.

It’s about the childhood wiring that said love had to be earned, not received freely. It’s about nervous systems trained to perform safety instead of feeling it. 

And it’s about how that shows up everywhere:

    • In your romantic life, where intimacy feels fragile or exhausting
    • In friendships, where you’re always the giver
    • At work, where burnout thrives on your over-functioning
    • In your self-talk, which is full of blame, doubt, and over-analysis

These aren’t flaws. 

They’re adaptations. 

But they don’t have to be your forever story.

 

It’s not about being less “sensitive.” It’s about feeling more secure.

Imagine saying “no” without spiraling in guilt. 

Being loved for who you are—not for how much you give, accommodate, or self-abandon. 

Not feeling like your value is on the line every time someone takes too long to text back. 

You’d ask for what you need without apologizing. 

You’d stop proving your worth and start protecting your peace. 

You’d finally feel like your emotions don’t make you “too much”—they make you human.

 

Your nervous system would learn that connection doesn’t have to come at the cost of self-respect. 

Your relationships would feel like a refuge, not a performance. 

You’d feel safe. Chosen. And most importantly—whole.

 

Transitions can stir up old wounds

We’ll get curious about where your attachment patterns come from—and how they’re showing up in real time.

You’ll learn how to notice the anxiety before it hijacks your body, your boundaries, or your inbox.

Using Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), we’ll explore the attachment wounds that shaped your emotional blueprint. You’ll learn how to recognize the cycles you get stuck in—like over-functioning, anxious spiraling, or shutting down—and begin to respond from a place of self-compassion instead of panic or performance.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) helps calm your nervous system in the moment. With tapping, you’ll release the fear of abandonment, the urgency to fix things, and the guilt that shows up when you even think about setting a boundary.

Together, we’ll create space for a new experience of love—one where you’re allowed to have needs, say no, feel secure, and be fully you.

Therapy for people-pleasing & anxious attachment can help you…

      • Recognize your relationship patterns without shame or self-blame
      • Set boundaries without guilt, fear, or emotional fallout
      • Calm your nervous system when you feel triggered, abandoned, or unsure
      • Speak up for your needs without fearing you’ll be rejected or “too much”
      • Build emotional safety in your relationships, not just manage emotional fires
      • Let go of the need to earn love through over-functioning or over-giving
      • Develop secure attachment behaviors that support mutual closeness and care
      • Reconnect to your self-worth outside of what you do for others
      • Feel less reactive, more grounded in moments of conflict or distance
      • Choose connection from confidence, not fear

You don’t have to abandon yourself to be loved.

FAQ's

Q: What if I don’t even know who I am without people-pleasing?

A: That’s actually why therapy can be so powerful. Together, we’ll gently untangle where those behaviors came from and begin to reconnect you to you—not just the version of you others expect.

Q: Will I be told to cut people off or “just set boundaries”?

A: Nope. Boundaries aren’t about pushing people away—they’re about protecting connection with yourself. We’ll move at a pace that honors your nervous system, your relationships, and your reality.

Q: What if I still want love and closeness? Am I too much?

A: You’re not too much. You’re wired for connection. Wanting intimacy doesn’t make you needy—it makes you human. We’ll help you experience closeness that feels safe, reciprocal, and real.

Q: Will this work if I’m in a relationship right now?

A: Yes. Therapy can help you show up more honestly and calmly in the relationships you’re already in—and give you clarity about what’s working and what’s not.

Methods

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

As a therapist trained in the clinical application of EFT, I use tapping to support deep emotional release and nervous system regulation. Whether you’re managing anxiety about setting a boundary, fear of rejection, or panic when someone pulls away—EFT helps clear the emotional and energetic charge beneath the behavior. It’s especially helpful when past wounds show up in your present relationships.

Learn More

Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)

EFIT helps us explore your attachment patterns with compassion and clarity. Instead of analyzing from the neck up, we get to the heart of how you reach for love—and what happens when it feels too far away. Through this lens, we uncover the cycles that keep you stuck and build a sense of safety within yourself, so connection doesn’t have to come at the cost of self-abandonment.

Learn More

You don’t have to keep losing yourself to keep others around.

If your relationships leave you anxious, exhausted, or unsure of who you are—it’s time to try something different. 

You can create connection without self-abandonment. 

You can set boundaries without guilt. 

And you can feel worthy—even when no one’s clapping.

Let's Talk - Schedule Your Consultation