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3 Available Los Angeles Hypochondria & Health Anxiety Specialists
If you find yourself constantly worrying about your health, Googling symptoms late at night, or seeking repeated medical reassurance despite negative test results, you're not alone. Health anxiety can feel isolating and exhausting, but it's highly treatable with the right therapeutic support. At Therapy Collective of California, our specialists understand the grip that health anxiety can have on your life, and we're here to help you break free from the cycle of worry with specialized, compassionate hypochondria therapy.
A note on terminology
We use the term "hypochondria" on this page because many people search for it when looking for help. However, this term is outdated and can feel stigmatizing. In our practice, we use "health anxiety" or "illness anxiety disorder" to describe what you're experiencing—language that's compassionate, accurate, and reflects our commitment to treating you with dignity and respect.
Meet our Los Angeles hypochondria therapists
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What is health anxiety/hypochondria?
Health anxiety, sometimes called hypochondria or illness anxiety disorder, is a condition where you experience excessive worry about having or developing a serious illness. Unlike general anxiety, this fear centers specifically on your physical health, often despite medical reassurance that you're healthy.
Common symptoms and patterns include:
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Constantly checking your body for signs of illness
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Frequently Googling symptoms or seeking medical information online
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Seeking repeated medical consultations or testing
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Avoiding medical appointments out of fear of bad news
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Misinterpreting normal bodily sensations as signs of serious disease
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Difficulty accepting reassurance from doctors or loved ones
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Experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety (racing heart, dizziness) that fuel further health worries
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Spending significant time thinking about illness or death
The good news is that health anxiety is highly treatable with the right therapeutic approach. You're in the right place—our specialists understand that your fear is real, and we're here to help you find relief and reclaim your peace of mind.
How therapy can help with health anxiety
Breaking the cycle of reassurance-seeking
Understanding the mind-body connection
Addressing underlying fears & patterns
Developing practical coping strategies
Therapy helps you recognize how constantly checking symptoms or seeking medical validation actually reinforces your anxiety rather than relieving it. Through evidence-based techniques, you'll learn to tolerate uncertainty and discomfort without immediately seeking reassurance. This gradual process weakens the anxiety cycle, helping you build confidence in your body's natural sensations and your ability to cope with health-related worries without spiraling.
Health anxiety often creates a feedback loop where anxious thoughts trigger physical symptoms, which then fuel more anxiety. Our therapists help you understand how stress and worry manifest physically in your body—racing heart, muscle tension, digestive issues—and recognize these as anxiety responses rather than signs of serious illness. This awareness alone can be profoundly relieving and empowering.
Health anxiety often stems from deeper concerns about control, loss, or past trauma. Through psychodynamic and attachment-focused work, we explore what might be driving your need for certainty and how early experiences may have shaped your relationship with your body. By addressing these root causes, you can heal not just the symptoms but the underlying emotional wounds.
You'll learn concrete, evidence-based tools to manage intrusive thoughts and anxiety when they arise. These include cognitive restructuring to challenge catastrophic thinking, mindfulness techniques to stay present rather than spiraling into "what if" scenarios, distress tolerance skills, and gradual exposure exercises to reduce avoidance behaviors. These practical strategies give you agency over your anxiety rather than feeling controlled by it.
What to expect from the therapy process
Step 1. Initial assessment & goal-setting
Step 2. Building awareness & insight
Step 3. Implementing therapeutic techniques
Step 4. Consolidating progress & relapse prevention
In your first sessions, your therapist will explore your specific fears, triggers, and how health anxiety impacts your daily life. Together, you'll identify meaningful goals and create a personalized treatment plan that honors your pace.
You'll begin to recognize patterns in your thoughts and behaviors, understanding how anxiety manifests for you specifically. This growing self-awareness is the foundation for lasting change.
Your therapist will introduce evidence-based strategies tailored to your needs, whether that's cognitive restructuring, exposure work, somatic interventions, or parts work. You'll practice these tools both in session and in your daily life.
As you gain confidence, sessions will focus on maintaining your progress and developing a plan for managing any future anxiety flare-ups. You'll leave therapy with lasting skills and greater peace of mind.