Counselling for Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal emotion that all of us feel at times. For most people it is healthy and helpful, telling them when there is something to be cautious of. However, for others it can become problematic, causing disproportionate nervousness, fear, worry and apprehension.

Anxiety can be mild, moderate or severe. Mild anxiety is vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety can be extremely debilitating – having a serious impact on daily life. Men, women and even children can suffer from anxiety problems.

Most people experience anxiety at some points in their lives. We often experience a general state of worry or fear before confronting something challenging such as a test, examination or interview. These feelings are easily justified and considered a normal reaction to stress.

Anxiety becomes a problem when symptoms interfere with a person’s quality of life and ability to establish a state of relaxation or equilibrium. Our counselling services for anxiety can help with alleviating some of these symptoms.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety can affect anyone at any time. Anxiety can occur in people from all backgrounds, any occupation and at any time of life. It is a commonly diagnosed mental health problem. Recent research has suggested that anxiety may be overtaking depression as the most common reason people approach counselling and psychotherapy services in the UK.

Anxiety is usually described as an unpleasant feeling typically associated with uneasiness, fear, worry and dread.

Anxiety can affect individuals in different ways. Some people experience anxiety mainly through psychological and emotional symptoms, while others experience a wide range of physical effects. Anxiety often has a self-perpetuating quality, because the physical symptoms of anxiety can be so distressing that they can make people even more psychologically anxious.

How can anxiety counselling help?

Yes. There are a number of counselling approaches that are used to treat anxiety. Some approaches deal with the symptoms of anxiety while others look to understand and resolve the underlying causes.  Our anxiety counsellors, based at our locations in central London, have helped many individuals deal with, and move on from, debilitating anxiety problems.

Although treatment of anxiety is primarily done through counselling and psychotherapy, medication may also be used in some cases. Anti-depressant medication can be helpful in bringing the symptoms of anxiety under control. Anxiety counselling offers an alternative, or in some cases complementary, approach to the treatment of anxiety.

Client Testimonials

Symptoms of anxiety

The psychological effects of anxiety include:

  • fearful anticipation of future events
  • an inability to concentrate
  • irritability
  • constant worrying / a sense of dread
  • heightened alertness / difficulty feeling calm
  • fatigue
  • sleep disturbances
  • depression
  • panic attacks
  • paranoia or distrust in others
The physical effects of anxiety include:
  • tightness in the chest
  • chest pains
  • nausea
  • rapid, shallow breathing
  • loss of appetite
  • headaches and dizziness
  • pounding heart
  • faintness
  • sweating
  • frequent urination
  • decreased libido

As with depression, anxiety symptoms may be mild, moderate or severe. There is evidence that some people are genetically pre-disposed to anxiety. And people who live very stressful lives are also more likely to develop anxiety problems. Long-term use of certain medications may lead to increased levels of anxiety.

Women have a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders than men. In Britain, approximately 16 percent of women and 9 percent of men experience some anxiety disorder in the course of a year.

What do I talk about in counselling?

One of the most common worries I hear expressed by people starting counselling is that they won’t know what to talk about. Some people think their problems aren’t significant enough. Others fear they have too much to say, that they might overwhelm the therapist…

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How does therapy help?

Over the years that I’ve worked as a therapist, I’ve been asked numerous times by prospective clients, “How does counselling help?”  And I’ve yet to come up with a satisfactory answer. Not because I’m in any doubt that it helps, but because the ‘how’ bit is so hard to articulate concisely…

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Individual counselling

Personal counselling can be about anything that’s on your mind.

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Couples counselling

Couples counselling provides space for couples to discuss problems in their relationship and find solutions.

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Therapists in London

Finding the right therapist is an important first step.

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One Therapy London

Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Therapist Asma Gharbi
Asma Gharbi

Consultant Psychodynamic Psychotherapist Couples and Relationship Therapist Counselling Psychologist Asma offers psychodynamic, humanistic and integrative therapies to individuals and couples She tailors her approach to meet the needs and preferences of her clients She offers short and long term therapy Asma provides a non-judgemental space for her clients, where they...

Oxford Circus

Kensington

Therapist Marta Pisarri
Marta Pisarri

Consultant Integrative Psychotherapist Visiting lecturer at Regent's University Diploma in Somatic Trauma Therapy Advance Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy MSc in Clinical Psychology Marta is a psychologist and an integrative psychotherapist: she has been working in the field of mental health for over 12 years in both private...

Soho

Kensington

Therapist Barbara Perini
Barbara Perini

Consultant Therapist MSc in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy DIT - Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy BSc in Clinical Psychology Barbara is an accredited member of BACP, holding an MSc in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and adhering to the BACP ethical framework Her approach is open-ended, offering both short-term and long-term therapy Barbara has also trained in Dynamic...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Yussef Ferguson
Yussef Ferguson

Consultant Psychodynamic Psychotherapist MSc Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy BA (Hons) Social Work Yussef is a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist who offers both long and short term personal therapy to individuals He has experience of working with a diverse range of clients and can provide a warm, confidential space to explore and gain insight into any past or...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Magda Piesiewicz
Magda Piesiewicz

Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist MSc in Psychology Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Sexology Magda helps couples and individuals who are facing psychosexual and relationship struggles She also specialises in compulsive sexual behaviours (often misunderstood as sex addiction) She aims to create a non-judgmental, supportive space where her clients can be open...

Fitzrovia

Therapist Ben Brackenbury
Ben Brackenbury

Consultant Therapist Head of Therapy Training Programmes Ben believes that at times we all struggle with the challenges life has to offer and therapy provides a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space to explore this Ben works with individuals to make sense of who they are and how they respond to the world today, and to explore new ways of being Ben is also...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Geraldine Lothian
Geraldine Lothian

Consultant Therapist Geraldine (she/her) is a psychodynamic psychotherapist who works with individuals Geraldine’s style of therapy is to work collaboratively with her clients and at each client’s pace  It is sometimes difficult to make the decision to start therapy but Geraldine works together with her clients to address any issues that may feel difficult to...

Fitzrovia

Therapist Stamatia Lorentzou
Stamatia Lorentzou

Senior Consultant Therapist Stamatia draws on a broad range of theories of psychotherapy She works collaboratively with her clients to understand the causes of their concern and find ways to move forward Stamatia offers both short-term and longer-term therapy She has worked in various organisational settings with individuals seeking to address relationship issues,...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Rhiannon Whipps
Rhiannon Whipps

Consultant Therapist Rhiannon is a psychodynamic counsellor and psychotherapist with over ten years experience of working within the field of mental health Rhiannon provides an empathic and non-judgemental therapeutic space for her clients to explore any difficulties which they may be facing Within the safety of a confidential environment, she encourages her clients...

Oxford Circus

Soho

Therapist Patricia Connolly
Patricia Connolly

Consultant Psychodynamic Psychotherapist Patricia works within a psychodynamic approach This focuses on early life experience and  relationships to help you understand how they shape who you are in the present When you begin to more fully explore your emotions and attitudes you can find a deeper self–knowledge, which can also transform the way you relate to...

Soho