Keith Miller Counseling Highlights Treatment Gap for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Among DC-Area Adults
BETHESDA, MD – August 26, 2026 – Keith Miller Counseling, an individual, couples, and family therapy practice serving Washington, D.C., Bethesda, and Silver Spring, Maryland, is highlighting a persistent gap between how common generalized anxiety disorder is and how many people actually receive treatment for it.
What Generalized Anxiety Disorder Involves
Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is a diagnosis marked by excessive, difficult-to-control worry about everyday matters, lasting most days for six months or longer, often alongside physical symptoms like muscle tension, restlessness, and disrupted sleep. Unlike a phobia or panic disorder, GAD isn’t centered on one specific fear; the worry tends to move from topic to topic, which can make it harder for people to recognize as a treatable condition rather than just a personality trait.
A Significant Treatment Gap
An estimated 6.8 million U.S. adults, or 3.1% of the population, live with GAD, according to data compiled by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America from National Institute of Mental Health research — and of that group, fewer than half, just 43.2%, are currently in treatment. That leaves the majority of adults living with generalized anxiety disorder managing it without professional support, often for years before seeking help.
Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is the Standard of Care
Among psychotherapy options for GAD, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidence base behind it, a conclusion echoed in clinical guidance from both the Cleveland Clinic and Germany’s Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. CBT works by helping clients identify the specific thought patterns that fuel their worry, such as catastrophizing or assuming the worst-case outcome, and replacing them with more balanced, evidence-based thinking. Medication can also play a role in treatment, and research indicates that combining medication with therapy tends to produce the largest improvement for people with GAD.
How GAD Differs From Other Anxiety Disorders
GAD is one of several distinct anxiety disorders, and the difference matters for treatment. Panic disorder centers on sudden, intense panic attacks and fear of future episodes; social anxiety disorder centers on fear of judgment in social situations; specific phobias center on a particular object or scenario. GAD is broader and less focused: the worry isn’t tied to one trigger, but tends to drift across whatever is currently unresolved in a person’s life, from finances to health to relationships. GAD also frequently co-occurs with depression, which is part of why an accurate diagnosis, rather than a self-assessment, is an important first step before starting treatment.
Comprehensive Therapy Services
Alongside anxiety-focused care, Keith Miller Counseling works with individuals, couples, and families on a broader range of concerns, including premarital counseling, Black couples counseling, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, and trauma-focused care, at office locations in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland. The practice has been featured in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, PBS NewsHour, The Hill, Quartz, and Fatherly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is generalized anxiety disorder different from normal worry?
Everyone worries occasionally, but GAD involves worry that’s difficult to control, occurs most days for six months or more, and is accompanied by physical symptoms such as fatigue, muscle tension, or trouble sleeping. The excessive worry also tends to interfere with daily functioning, which is part of what distinguishes it clinically from everyday stress.
What does treatment for GAD typically involve?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is generally considered first-line treatment, often delivered in weekly sessions over several months. Some clients also work with a prescriber on medication, particularly when symptoms are more severe, since research suggests combining the two approaches tends to produce the best outcomes.
Why do so few people with GAD get treatment?
Reasons vary, but commonly include not recognizing chronic worry as a treatable condition, uncertainty about where to start, and the cost or logistics of finding a therapist. Because GAD often develops gradually, many people adapt around it for years before recognizing it as something they don’t have to just live with.
Can GAD occur alongside other conditions?
Yes. GAD frequently co-occurs with depression and other anxiety disorders, which can make symptoms harder to untangle without a professional evaluation. Treating GAD in isolation when depression is also present often produces limited results, which is why an initial assessment typically screens for overlapping conditions.
Does Keith Miller Counseling accept insurance?
The practice is private-pay; session fees generally range from $250 to $450 for 50 minutes depending on the clinician. Clients can submit sessions to their insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement, though the amount depends on each person’s plan.
Where is Keith Miller Counseling located?
The practice has offices in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland, and serves clients throughout the DC metro region, including Silver Spring, with both in-person and virtual sessions available depending on the clinician.
About Keith Miller Counseling
Founded in 2007, Keith Miller Counseling is an individual, couples therapy Bethesda practice conveniently located in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland. The practice’s mission is to help clients build healthier relationships and stronger mental health through evidence-based, culturally-informed care, including specialized support for Black couples, premarital preparation, and trauma-focused therapy. Keith Miller Counseling serves clients throughout the DC metro region, including Silver Spring, and offers a free phone consultation to help match new clients with the right member of its clinical staff. Learn more at www.keithmillercounseling.com.
Media Contact
Company Name: Keith Miller Counseling, LLC
Contact Person: Keith Miller
Email: Send Email
Phone: +1 202-629-1949
Address:4300 Montgomery Ave #302
City: Bethesda
State: MD, 20814
Country: United States
Website: https://www.keithmillercounseling.com/
