Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek counselling, and one of the most misunderstood. It is not simply worrying too much, or being nervous before a big event. For many people, anxiety is a persistent, exhausting presence that shapes every part of daily life — from the moment they wake up to the moment they try, and often fail, to sleep.

Anxiety can show up in many different ways. It might be a constant low-level hum of worry that never quite switches off. It might be sudden, overwhelming panic attacks that seem to come from nowhere. It might be a creeping dread about specific situations — social events, work, health, relationships — or a more generalised sense that something is wrong, even when nothing obviously is.

Physically, anxiety can be just as demanding. Racing heart, tight chest, shallow breathing, nausea, headaches, muscle tension, fatigue — the body responds to perceived threat as though the danger is real and immediate, even when the rational mind knows it isn't. Over time, this takes a significant toll.

What makes anxiety particularly difficult is that the strategies most people use to manage it — avoidance, reassurance-seeking, over-preparation, staying busy — often make it worse in the long run. The anxiety grows to fill the space we give it.

Anxiety counselling is not about being told to "just relax" or given a list of breathing exercises. It is about understanding your anxiety — where it comes from, what it is trying to protect you from, and what keeps it going — so that you can begin to relate to it differently.

As an integrative counsellor, I draw on a range of approaches depending on what feels most useful for you. Person-centred work means I offer a genuinely safe, non-judgemental space where you can explore your experience without feeling rushed or assessed. Psychodynamic work helps us look at the roots of anxiety — often in early experiences, relationships or patterns of thinking that developed long before the anxiety became a problem.

We might explore the specific triggers for your anxiety, the thoughts and beliefs that fuel it, and the ways you have been trying to cope. We might look at what anxiety is telling you — because anxiety, however painful, is often trying to communicate something important. And we will work at your pace, without pressure to perform or to "get better" on a schedule.

Many people find that simply having a space to talk about their anxiety — honestly, without fear of judgement or of worrying someone they love — brings significant relief. Over time, the work goes deeper: building self-understanding, developing new ways of relating to anxious thoughts, and gradually reclaiming the parts of life that anxiety has been limiting.

We begin with an initial session so you can get a sense of how I work and whether it feels right for you. There is no obligation to continue, and no pressure to disclose more than you are comfortable with.

If we decide to work together, sessions are typically 50 minutes, held weekly at a consistent time.  Regularity matters — it creates a rhythm and a sense of safety that allows the work to deepen over time. I offer face-to-face sessions at my practice in Sutton, as well as online and telephone counselling for clients across the UK.

The number of sessions varies from person to person. Some people find that a short course of six to twelve sessions gives them what they need. Others prefer longer-term work. We will review progress together regularly, and you are always free to end or pause at any time, provided notice is given.