Anxiety can affect people in many different ways. You may feel constantly on edge, overwhelmed, panicky, tense or unable to switch off. You might find yourself overthinking conversations, worrying about what could go wrong, or feeling caught in familiar patterns that are difficult to understand.

​

Sometimes anxiety has an obvious cause. At other times, it can be much harder to explain. You may simply know that something doesn’t feel right, or that worry and fear are taking up more space in your life than you would like.

​

I offer private counselling for anxiety face to face in Witham and Chelmsford, as well as online across the UK. Counselling offers a confidential space to slow things down, talk openly and begin to make sense of what may be happening.

​

How anxiety can feel

 

Anxiety is not always just worry. It can affect your thoughts, body, relationships, work and everyday life.

​

You may be experiencing:

• Overthinking or constant worry

• Panic attacks or feelings of dread

• Health anxiety

• Difficulty relaxing or switching off

• Feeling tense, restless or constantly on alert

• Trouble sleeping

• Avoiding certain places or situations

• Worrying about what other people think

• Social anxiety or fear of being judged

• Feeling overwhelmed by ordinary tasks

• Physical symptoms such as a racing heart, nausea, shakiness or tightness

• A sense that something bad might happen, even when you cannot explain why

 

You do not need to have a diagnosis of anxiety to come to counselling. It may simply be that worry, stress or fear is beginning to affect the way you feel, relate to other people or live your everyday life.

​

How counselling may help with anxiety

 

Counselling can give you time to slow things down and think about what your anxiety may be connected to.

​

Rather than focusing only on symptoms or trying to find a quick way to stop feeling anxious, we can be curious about when anxiety appears, what seems to trigger it, and what may be happening underneath it.

​

Together, we might notice how you respond when you feel overwhelmed, how much pressure you put on yourself, or whether earlier experiences and relationships have influenced how safe, responsible, judged or accepted you feel now.

​

The aim is not to find someone to blame or to force everything back to childhood. It is about beginning to understand your anxiety more fully and noticing patterns that may have become familiar over time.

​

A psychodynamic approach to anxiety

 

My approach is psychodynamic, which means we can think together about both what is happening in your life now and how past experiences may still influence the way you feel and respond.

​

Anxiety can sometimes be linked with feelings that have been difficult to express, expectations you place on yourself, fear of disappointing other people, or a strong need to feel in control.

​

Counselling is not about being told to “stop worrying” or being given quick advice. It offers a regular space where your thoughts and feelings can be taken seriously and understood at your own pace.

​

Over time, this may help you develop a clearer understanding of yourself, your relationships and the situations that leave you feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

​

Anxiety, relationships and feeling stuck

 

For some people, anxiety is closely connected with relationships.

​

You may worry about upsetting people, being judged, getting things wrong or being rejected. Perhaps you find yourself saying yes when you want to say no, avoiding conflict, needing reassurance, or feeling responsible for how other people feel.

These patterns can be exhausting and may leave you questioning yourself.

​

Counselling can help you begin to notice these patterns, understand where they may have come from and think about whether there are different ways of responding.

​

Sessions

 

Counselling sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place weekly.

​

I offer face-to-face counselling in Witham and Chelmsford, as well as online counselling across the UK.

​

I offer a free 50-minute initial consultation, available face to face or online. This gives us time to talk about what has brought you to counselling, for you to ask any questions, and for me to explain a little about how I work. It also gives us both an opportunity to consider whether working together feels right.

​

My counselling is open-ended rather than limited to a fixed number of sessions. This means we do not need to decide at the beginning how long counselling will last. We can continue for as long as the work feels useful, reviewing this together as we go.

​

Taking the first step

 

Reaching out for counselling can feel difficult, particularly if anxiety has left you second-guessing yourself or worrying about what to say.

​

You do not need to have everything worked out before getting in touch. We can begin with whatever feels most important to you.

​

Call, email or text to arrange a free 50-minute initial consultation, either face to face or online.