Therapy for Anxiety
You Are Not Alone
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people come to therapy — and one of the most misunderstood. It can show up in so many different ways: a constant, low-level worry that never quite switches off; a sudden wave of panic that seems to come from nowhere; a tightness in the chest before social situations; or a mind that races at 2am when all you want to do is sleep.
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Whatever form it takes for you, I want you to know that it makes sense. Anxiety is not a flaw or a weakness — it is a deeply human response to the world around us. But when it begins to get in the way of living your life, it is worth doing something about.
How I Can Help
My approach to counselling is pluralistic, which simply means that I do not believe one size fits all. Together, we will explore what anxiety looks and feels like *for you* — where it shows up, what seems to trigger it, and how it has been affecting your life and relationships.
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Sometimes, being truly heard and understood is itself a powerful starting point. Creating a safe, non-judgmental space where you can speak honestly about what you are experiencing — without fear of being dismissed or told to “just think positively” — can bring an enormous sense of relief.
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From there, we work at your pace, gently exploring the roots of your anxiety and developing a greater understanding of yourself. Often, that understanding alone begins to loosen anxiety’s grip.
ACT and Anxiety
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be a particularly helpful approach when working with anxiety, and it is one I draw upon regularly in my practice.
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Rather than trying to eliminate anxious thoughts and feelings — which can often make them louder — ACT invites a different relationship with them.
Through the six core processes of ACT, we work together to:
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Accept anxious feelings rather than fight them, reducing the struggle that so often amplifies our distress.
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Defuse from anxious thoughts — learning to observe them without being consumed by them, so they have less power over what you do.
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Stay grounded in the present, rather than being pulled into
the “what ifs” of an imagined future.
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Reconnect with your values — what genuinely matters to you
— so that anxiety is no longer the thing steering your life.
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ACT does not promise to make anxiety disappear entirely. What it does offer is a way of carrying it more lightly, so that it no longer holds you back from the things that matter most to you.
What Anxiety Therapy Can Help With
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Generalised anxiety and chronic worry
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Panic attacks
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Social anxiety
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Health anxiety
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Anxiety relating to relationships, work or life transitions
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Intrusive thoughts
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OCD
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Perfectionism and fear of failure
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Low confidence and self-esteem rooted in anxiety
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If any of this resonates with you, or if you are simply not sure where to start, please do reach out. I am always happy to have an initial conversation to see how I might be able to help.