C.S. Bates Therapy
C.S. Bates Therapy

From Stage Fright to Stage Presence

Therapy for performers ready to stop letting fear run the show.

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You know you're talented. You've proven it countless times. But when it matters most—the audition, the opening night, the big meeting—something takes over. Your heart races. Your mind goes blank. Your body feels like it belongs to someone else.

Performance anxiety isn't about lacking talent or preparation. It's about your nervous system getting hijacked by old programming—beliefs and fears that have nothing to do with the present moment but everything to do with how you learned to see yourself.

I work with performers, actors, musicians, speakers, and anyone whose work requires them to show up fully under pressure. Together, we address the roots of performance anxiety—not just the symptoms—so you can access your full capability when it counts.

Is This You?

  • You nail it in rehearsal but freeze when it's real
  • You've started avoiding opportunities because the anxiety isn't worth it
  • You feel like you're performing for approval, not for the love of it
  • Physical symptoms (shaking, sweating, voice trembling) have become your biggest fear
  • You catastrophize before performances, imagining everything that could go wrong
  • No amount of preparation feels like enough

If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.

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How I Work with Performance Anxiety

Performance anxiety lives in the body, not just the mind. That's why talk therapy alone often isn't enough—you need approaches that speak to your nervous system directly.

I combine somatic awareness with Attachment Focused EMDR to help you:

  • Understand what's really driving the anxiety (it's usually not what you think)
  • Develop a new relationship with your nervous system
  • Process the experiences that taught you performing wasn't safe
  • Build genuine confidence rooted in self-trust, not external validation
  • Learn to channel anxiety into energy rather than paralysis

The goal isn't to eliminate all nervousness—some activation is natural and even helpful. The goal is to stop being controlled by it, so you can show up as yourself when the lights are on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is performance anxiety the same as stage fright?
Stage fright is one form of performance anxiety, but it’s broader—auditions, meetings, interviews—any evaluation.
I've tried breathing techniques and they don't work. Now what?
They help in the moment, but don’t address why your system reacts. We’ll work at the roots and rewire the pattern.
Will I lose my 'edge' if I'm not anxious?
Your edge is your talent and sensitivity—not anxiety. This work lets you access your full capability consistently.
How quickly can I see results?
Many notice early shifts; lasting change unfolds over months. You don't have to wait to feel better.

Related Reading

How Trauma Stores Itself in the Body and Blocks Creativity Why Rejection Hits Creative People So Hard

Ready to Begin?

Your first consultation is free. Let's see if we're a good fit.

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