Anticipatory Anxiety: Psychological Treatment in Barcelona

Worrying before something even happens, even when everything seems calm, can be a sign of anticipatory anxiety. It’s when the body reacts as if there were a real danger: tension, insomnia, fatigue, physical discomfort… even though nothing has happened yet. This is a real, common, and deeply human response to uncertainty.

At Proyecto Art, we help you understand and treat this form of anxiety. It’s not about stopping your thoughts, but about regulating what you feel so that it doesn’t control you—so you can feel calmer, more confident, and more present.

With professional support, it is possible to:

• Break the cycle of constant worrying
• Reconnect with the present
• Face daily life with greater calm
• Regain your emotional well-being

Anticipatory anxiety can keep you in a constant state of alert, with repetitive thoughts that affect your well-being.

At Clínica ART, we have a team of psychologists with specialized training in anxiety, emotional regulation, and evidence-based therapeutic approaches. Each professional is also supported by a clinical team that works in a coordinated way to ensure comprehensive, high-quality care.

We commit to your process from the very first session, respecting your pace, your goals, and your personal context. The therapeutic relationship is close and empathetic, yet always rigorous.

Our clinic is located in a central, well-connected area of Barcelona, making it easy for you to attend your sessions without complications. If you prefer, we also offer online therapy.

We also take care of details that make a difference in your experience: confidentiality, punctuality, and a comfortable, professional space where you can feel at ease.

At Proyecto Art, we approach anticipatory anxiety from a psychodynamic perspective, integrating clinical tools that allow us to work both with the symptom and with its deeper origins. Our main framework is based on Relational Psychoanalysis and Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT), which foster greater understanding of one’s own mental states and the ability to regulate them.

We combine these models with resources from other approaches when necessary, to offer a truly comprehensive treatment:

• Relational and emotional exploration of anticipatory fear: how it was formed, what experiences fuel it, and what role it plays.
• Mentalization techniques: to help you observe your thoughts and emotions without getting trapped in them.
• Practical emotional regulation tools, focused on managing distress in your daily life.

We do not work with quick fixes, but with clear, sustained interventions that enable you to:

• Understand why you tend to anticipate the worst and learn how to break that pattern.
• Develop greater emotional autonomy and inner resources to face uncertainty.
• Feel more present, grounded, and calm, with less physical and mental exhaustion.
• Improve your ability to make decisions, face challenges, and once again enjoy your everyday life without being held back by anxiety.

The treatment is always adapted to your story, your pace, and your needs, in a safe, non-judgmental space of trust.

Anticipatory anxiety disconnects you from the present and fuels constant worries. Although it tries to protect you, it ultimately limits your well-being.

At Proyecto Art, we help you understand the origin of this anxiety through a deep, personalized approach that respects your history and pace.

How do we address it?

• Through psychotherapy based on contemporary psychodynamic models, such as Relational Psychoanalysis and MBT.
• Via an individualized, ethical process focused on the therapeutic relationship.
• In a professional and carefully designed environment, with ongoing clinical support where ethics, attentive listening, and respect are fundamental.
• When necessary, we integrate other areas into the therapeutic process (medical, nutritional, or body-focused), providing a multidisciplinary approach.

Our goal is not just to control symptoms, but to transform your relationship with them, regain presence, and live with greater calm and confidence. Throughout the process, we work on strategies to help you reconnect with the present, make decisions without fear, and recover a sense of internal stability and trust.