Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. It’s a normal, sometimes even healthy emotion, that can drive you to prepare well for an interview, or keep you safe by insisting you check both ways before crossing the road.
But when anxious feelings follow wherever you go, and worries become uncontrollable, anxiety may have shifted from being a healthy response into something harder to manage. When this happens, anxiety can negatively affect your relationships, work, and overall wellbeing.
It might be helpful to know that anxiety is a common problem, with up to 60% of UK adults reporting that anxiety interferes with their daily lives.1 But what people might not know is that ‘anxiety’ is an umbrella term used to describe many different types of intense worry, such as about social situations, objects or things, or non-specific everyday scenarios.
This means that treatment for anxiety needs to be specific to you and your needs. Anxiety therapy, when personalised to you, can give understanding, support, and relief.
Anxiety looks different from person to person, but it does have some common symptoms, including:
GAD feels like uncontrollable worry about everyday things – even if there’s no real reason to be concerned. If you have GAD, you might feel ‘on edge’ all or most of the time.
This type of anxiety centres on a fear of embarrassing yourself in public or worrying that others will judge you. It’s much more than shyness; it’s a deep-rooted unease that can interfere with daily life.
Panic disorder involves repeating episodes of intense fear and discomfort. These episodes are marked by physical symptoms, such as a sharp pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, and sweating. They’re also usually accompanied by a feeling of dread and impending doom.
Phobias involve a strong, irrational fear of a specific thing or situation. Some of the most common include a fear of spiders, enclosed spaces, and heights. Although the fear may be irrational, it’s still strong enough to lead people to avoid certain places or situations.
After someone experiences a traumatic event, they may develop the symptoms of PTSD, which can cause them to still feel trapped in the trauma. These symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and severe anxiety.
Phobias involve a strong, irrational fear of a specific thing or situation. Some of the most common include a fear of spiders, enclosed spaces, and heights. Although the fear may be irrational, it’s still strong enough to lead people to avoid certain places or situations.
You may recognise one of these types of anxiety in yourself. But if you don’t, that’s where I can help. As a therapist in London, I aim to get a clear understanding of your experiences through a collaborative assessment, helping you understand the why behind your anxiety. After which, we can discuss a suitable therapeutic approach for your needs.
Throughout the process, your voice is always the foremost key to success. Instead of sticking to a strict psychological model, I adapt evidence-based techniques to fit around your experiences.
Together, we can get to the root of your concerns, help you develop coping strategies that work, and find the way to long-term relief.
If you feel as though worries are quietly taking over your life or influencing your decisions, know that you don’t have to face this alone.
My integrative therapy style means I blend several therapeutic approaches (including CBT, ACT, and CFT) to create a personalised treatment, working together to understand and ease your anxiety.
As a HCPC-registered Counselling Psychologist and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS), I meet the highest standards of psychological knowledge and ethical practice in the UK.
This means you can feel confident that the guidance and therapy you receive are grounded in evidence, tailored to your unique needs, and delivered with professional care.
I offer in-person treatment for anxiety in London, as well as online sessions, providing anxiety support in whichever way feels most comfortable for you. If you’d like to explore working together, you’re welcome to book a free 15-minute consultation.
CBT for anxiety typically lasts from 12 to 20 sessions, although many people experience improvements early on. Some people may benefit from a longer period of counselling for anxiety, while others may need only a few sessions, depending on the challenges they face.
A psychologist or therapist for anxiety will work with you to identify and manage factors that contribute to your anxiety, such as specific thoughts, behaviours, beliefs, or situations. They can also help you develop new and more supportive coping strategies.10
If you have been searching online for ‘anxiety help near me’, you might already be thinking about taking the next step. If you’d like to talk things through, you’re welcome to get in touch.
