Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal emotion that all of us feel at times. However, some people become disproportionately anxious, which can have a major impact on their lives.

It’s normal to feel anxious when we face stressful situations, such as an exam or interview. Lots of people also get quite anxious about social interactions.

Anxiety becomes a problem when symptoms interfere with a person’s quality of life or their ability to establish a state of relaxation or equilibrium.

Severe anxiety can be extremely debilitating. It can prevent people from engaging in everyday activities.

There is evidence that people are more likely to suffer from anxiety if one or both of their parents are anxious. There may be a genetic predisposition; they will likely also have internalised their parent’s view of the world as unsafe. 

People who live very stressful lives are also more likely to develop anxiety problems. Stress often breeds anxiety. Long-term use of certain medications can also lead to increased levels of anxiety.

Growing awareness of anxiety

Recent research suggests anxiety may be overtaking depression as the most common reason people seek counselling and psychotherapy in the UK. More people are also asking their GPs for anxiety medication. 

This is partly due to increased awareness around mental health in general and anxiety in particular. Through social media and other channels, people have become more alert to the signs of anxiety. It’s great that more people who need support for anxiety are getting it. It’s also important to remember that feeling anxious sometimes is normal and healthy; it doesn’t mean you have a problem.

How can anxiety counselling help?

Counselling for anxiety typically addressed both the symptoms (see below) and underlying causes. A key part of therapy is building clients’ confidence in their ability to handle anxiety-provoking situations.

Our anxiety counsellors, based in central London, have helped many people deal with, and move on from, debilitating anxiety problems.

Although counselling is the primary treatment for anxiety, medication may be helpful alongside counselling in some cases.

Our clients have reported great results!

Mr K
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“I was attending sessions at One Therapy practice for about 1 1/2 years. I am very happy with the result, sessions there really helped me. I am really grateful to my therapist. Someone recommended him to me as a high professional and it proved right, thank you.”
Mrs M
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“I can only provide positive comments on my sessions with (my therapist). This was my first experience with a therapist, and she managed to make me feel comfortable. And I must say that the sessions were helpful and efficient.”
Mrs E
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“My therapist was extremely helpful, considerate and understanding. I felt she properly understood what the issues I had were, and their underlying causes, and I feel I benefited considerably from the sessions with her.”
Mrs N
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“I immediately felt completely at ease as they were very professional while showing genuine care and interest in helping me. I was able to confront many issues which I had so far chosen to ignore despite their negative effects on my personal relationships and happiness. I would have no hesitation in recommending (One Therapy) to anyone looking to improve their relationships and self-esteem.”
Mrs L
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“I learned a lot about myself and about the relationships I make with other people. I was able to see where I was going wrong and I now make better personal choices. Thank you, again.”
Mrs R
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“I can’t thank you enough for the help and support I got from my appointments. I would highly recommend therapy to anyone now. Therapy helped me in more ways than I could have imagined. Please tell (my therapist) how grateful I am for her help.”

Symptoms of anxiety

The psychological effects of anxiety include:

  • fearful anticipation of future events
  • an inability to concentrate
  • irritability
  • constant worrying or a sense of dread
  • heightened alertness and difficulty feeling calm
  • fatigue
  • sleep disturbances
  • 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
  • heart pounding
  • faintness
  • sweating
  • frequent urination
  • decreased libido

Anxiety can be self-perpetuating since the physical symptoms can be so distressing they make people even more anxious. One of the goals of counselling for anxiety is to minimise this self-perpetuating relationship between anxiety and its symptoms.

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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Counselling for individuals

Personal counselling can be about anything that is 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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Our therapists

We have over 30 qualified and experienced therapists to choose from.

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One Therapy London

Counselling, psychotherapy, couples counselling in London since 2006

Therapist Evan Bates
Evan Bates

Evan is a psychodynamic therapist, offering both long and short term therapy He creates a non-judgemental and reflective space to help clients explore their difficulties and concerns Working together to understand the connections between past and current relationships, Evan supports clients in developing a deeper awareness of their recurring emotional patterns and further...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Geraldine Lothian
Geraldine Lothian

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 explore on their own ...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Ben Brackenbury
Ben Brackenbury

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 sensitive to how difficult it might be for a client to talk to a...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Janis Dellner
Janis Dellner

Janis offers an empathic, non-judgmental and safe environment where her clients can explore the issues that are currently troubling them  Janis works collaboratively to explore and challenge thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are no longer serving her clients’ wellbeing, interests and relationships with themselves and others  She believes it is through the...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Andreea Gligore
Andreea Gligore

Andreea has a wonderful ability to put people at ease Her clients say they feel safe and relaxed with her Those who were anxious about coming to therapy often comment that she made it much more comfortable than they were expecting Her style is integrative-relational What that means is that she pays particular attention to relationships, as that is where most distress...

Oxford Circus

Kensington

Therapist Ben Marks
Ben Marks

Ben is an experienced psychotherapist who has helped many people through difficult times in their lives He works with clients with a wide range of personal issues around depression, anxiety, bereavement, trauma, abuse, loneliness, stresses within the workplace, low self esteem, relationship and sexual problems including performance anxiety, erectile dysfunction and...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Shelly Klein
Shelley Klein

As a psychodynamic therapist Shelley brings a wealth of experience to her work and supports her patients to talk about those aspects of their lives they are finding painful, upsetting or difficult to deal with, in a confidential, non-judgmental and peaceful setting Shelley is particularly interested in working with those who are experiencing depression, bereavement, high...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Antonella Bonetti
Antonella Bonetti

Antonella is a psychodynamic therapist offering short- and long-term therapy to adults She also sees couples facing issues within their relationship Since obtaining her Master’s degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy, Antonella has worked in different organisational settings (charities, NHS and university counselling services) helping people from...

Bloomsbury

Kensington

Therapist Nicola Reeves
Nicola Reeves

Nicola is a psychodynamic psychotherapist and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapist Nicola believes in giving clients time and space to approach therapy in the way they need to approach it She finds this is the best way to develop a therapeutic relationship that allows feelings to be truly explored and evaluated As a psychodynamic...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Yussef Ferguson
Yussef Ferguson

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 present personal difficulties and experiences Yussef works with issues such as anxiety, depression, loss,...

Oxford Circus