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.

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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

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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

Roz Urquhart

Roz is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, who offers both long- and short-term psychotherapy She works with a varied client group offering a welcoming, safe and confidential therapeutic space in which to help her clients explore and process the issues that are bringing them into therapy Roz supports her clients to focus on unconscious processes, inner conflicts and...

Oxford Circus

Natasha Maidment

Natasha is a person–centred counsellor and psychotherapist who will provide you with a safe, empathetic and non-judgemental space to explore any thoughts or concerns you wish to bring She works with a range of issues including anxiety, stress, critical thoughts, trauma, relationship issues, identity, depression, loss and low self-esteem Natasha offers a...

Oxford Circus

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

Therapist Rhiannon Whipps
Rhiannon Whipps

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 to openly explore...

Soho

Therapist Stamatia Lorentzou
Stamatia Lorentzou

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, low self esteem, separation,...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Barbara Perini
Barbara Perini

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 Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), a short-term (16 sessions), semi-structured individual therapy developed for mood...

Oxford Circus

Therapist Catherine Hammett
Catherine Hammett

Catherine offers a safe, confidential space for clients bringing a wide range of issues to therapy  These include anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, anger and work-related stress  Catherine also supports clients experiencing depression, bereavement and life transitions  Among her specialist interests are post-traumatic growth and working with adult...

Oxford Circus

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...

Soho

Therapist Mita Hiremath
Mita Hiremath

Mita has been involved in the field of counselling and psychotherapy for over 30 years and has a wealth of experience working in the voluntary sector, the NHS and private practice She is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist Additionally, she holds an MSc in Psychotherapy and is a trained EMDR therapist She has also facilitated support groups in the voluntary...

Bloomsbury

Therapist Silvi Naskinova
Silvi Naskinova

Silvi is a psychodynamic psychotherapist offering both long- and short-term therapy  She aims to provide a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space for her clients to explore whatever is on their minds Her work helps individuals understand how their experiences (both past and present) and any unconscious forces might be impacting their relationships and ways of coping...

Oxford Circus