Online Anxiety therapists in Ashtead, England ENG, United Kingdom UK

Anxiety can feel overwhelming and exhausting. Together we will explore the underlying patterns contributing to your anxiety and develop practical ,evidence based strategies to help you feel more grounded, confident, and in control. I integrate Schema Therapy, CBT,EMDR and Compassion Focused therapy to help a clients understand the patterns, underlying anxiety, develop healthier coping strategies and build a greater confidence and emotional resilience.  

Who does not know fear? It is another core emotion - part of the very fabric of our inner lives. In good-enough development we develop a range of coping mechanisms that support us in managing fear and worry when they arise. In some cases, however, we struggle and we become too overwhelmed. In our desire to get rid of what might feel like an excessive, unbearable emotion, we start doing things that might hinder our lives (e.g. relying on substances to self-regulate; self-isolating; or trying to control ourselves and what surrounds us in excessive ways). If you would like to understand better your ways of experiencing and responding to anxiety and fear, please get in touch.  

I provide Cognitive Behaviour Therapy which is the recommended psychological therapy for panic attacks, agoraphobia, social anxiety/ social phobia, other phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder* and stress/ burnout. I have several years experience of supporting clients who had been bullied at school or gone through workplace bullying, harrassment, stalking, domestic violence and court proceedings. During my professional qualification I chose to specialise in panic attacks and agoraphobia for my research and dissertation. I have provided therapy for clients who had phobias of elevators, buses, trains, underground trains, bees, dogs, hospitals, needles, blood, injuries, and childbirth. I can also provide CBT for depression, traumas and PTSD. (*GAD also known as chronic neurosis is excessive and persistent worrying about several areas of your life, worry that is out of proportion with the situation and interfering with day-to-day life, a feeling of not being able to control worrying, and difficulties around overthinking and planning for potential problems that have not occurred.)  

For people who have never suffered from anxiety it is almost impossible to describe how debilitating the symptoms can be. It can seem as if there is no escape from the pain and discomfort; it feels like life will be like this forever and that the symptoms can’t be helped. Conventional approaches to anxiety seek to medicate. Many physicians may tell you that your anxiety is something you just have to live with.  Counseling or mainstream psychological approaches may have you manipulate or change your thought patterns, while alternative practices may seek to have you relax or practice mindfulness.  While there is value in some of these approaches, most fail to reach that deeper understanding of the underlying cause of anxiety and panic. Symptoms of anxiety and panic are not the same as emotions of fear – these include worry, nervous, apprehension, concern, etc. In everyday life we tend to talk about anxiety symptoms and conditions as being the same as emotions of fear, nervousness and worry. This is confusing for the simple reason that anxiety symptoms are not merely amplified fear, even though this can be what they feel like in many instances. Anxiety is something of an umbrella term that covers quite a wide range of symptoms and experiences. In some instances this symptoms and conditions might relate to emotions of fear but in other instances they do not. This is why it is entirely possible to rid ourselves of anxiety symptoms whereas we cannot, and should not try to rid ourselves of healthy emotions, because they play a vital feedback role in our day to day experience of life. These are the anxiety conditions: - anxious apprehension (worry, rumination) - generalised anxiety disorder (free floating anxiety) - Intense anxiety and panic attacks - obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) - phobias of all kinds including agoraphobia and social phobia - eating disorders - derealisation - depersonalisation There is an enormous amount of scientific evidence to show that various regions of the brain are either over active or dysfunctional when anxiety symptoms are present. One of the most salient issues pertaining to this kind of scientific research is that different types of anxiety symptoms correspond with different areas of brain dysfunction.The forebrain appears to be the area most affected in most anxiety disorders. This is the largest portion of the brain and includes the cerebral hemispheres, the limbic system, the thalamus and hypothalamus, amygdala and the corpus callosum. Each of the brain hemispheres is divided into four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal. Collectively, the forebrain functions to control cognitive, sensory and motor function, regulate temperature, reproductive functions, eating, sleeping and the display of emotions. When it becomes dysfunctional it is evident that the range of symptoms can be enormous.Recent studies using electroencephalographic (EEG) methods have found that patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder had heightened activity in the left brain regions, whereas patients with panic disorder, panic symptoms or those subjected to high stress situations exhibited enhanced activity in the right hemisphere. The important lesson from this type of research is that anxiety conditions are not all the same and therefore each case needs to be approached and treated depending on the needs of the individual and the types of symptoms present.  However, we must also be mindful that over activity or dysfunction in brain regions is not the cause of anxiety – rather this activity is caused and supported by the 4 core element model outlined below.  It is these 4 Anchors that trigger brain dysfunction, and it is only by fully addressing these that a complete cessation of symptoms is achieved. The first step is to understand the nature, structure and cause of anxiety, and then we can begin to address the cause of the symptoms. Within our culture we use the words ‘anxious’ and ‘anxiety’ to mean both the emotion of fear and a varied and debilitating set of symptoms. This can be extremely confusing since fear, in the form of worry, nervous, scared, or dread, is often very different from the symptoms of anxiety or a panic disorder. I would argue that even though many anxiety symptoms can feel like fear, it’s also the case that many anxiety and panic symptoms do not feel like fear (see Anxiety Symptoms Checklist below). This means that is possible to experience anxiety symptoms without being afraid of anything. Even though anxiety can be related to the emotion of fear at a deep unconscious level, there are many instances when symptoms of anxiety are present and there is no evidence of the emotion of fear. Most sufferers of anxiety will experience fear about the symptoms; though fear of symptoms is not the cause of symptoms.  Fear can exacerbate symptoms and make sufferers of anxietyfeel significantly worse; however it is rarely, if ever, the underlying cause. So what causes anxiety symptoms? The first step is to embrace the notion that symptoms are feedback from body and brain.  Symptoms are not some nasty evil invader trying to make us suffer, they have reason for existing and that reason is to let us know that something is not right, something is blocked and out of balance. There are Four Core Elements that lock anxiety symptoms in place. When we address these four core elements, we not only banish anxiety symptoms, we open up to the possibility of experiencing ourselves in a whole new way. The 4 core energy-flow model comprises: - FEAR & AVOIDANCE OF SYMPTOMS. Anxiety is deeply uncomfortable so it can be a natural reaction to avoid situations and events that seem to cause anxiety. Avoidance can lead to more symptoms, so carefully navigating through this is the first step. - REWIRING THE EMOTIONAL SYSTEM. Our emotion has a massive impact on body and brain. Blockages and imbalances within the emotional system are significant causes and contributors to anxiety conditions as well as a huge range of other chronic health challenges. Yet, our understanding of the nature of emotion and how to effectively process and regulate it remain poor. This element focuses in revealing the true nature of emotion and critically how to connect with it and facilitate a flow. - WEARING A MASK: As we move through life and seek to get along, fit in, be accepted and do well, we unconsciously block our true nature and end up being more of who we are not than who we are. Anxiety symptoms often tell us when we are covering up who we are, or are disconnected from our authentic core. Reconnecting with our core and removing the shackles of who we used to be takes us a step closer to being anxiety free. - CONTROL & CREATION: Whether we like it or not, we play a significant role in the creation of our experience of life and reality. However, when shackled with anxiety we feel out of control, restricted as if we have lost our freedom. Learning how to create inner freedom and design our lives is the final piece of the puzzle. The four core element model uncovers a different perspective on the cause of anxiety conditions and embraces a full understanding of the nature of the human condition. It puts you back in the driver’s seat to return to your natural healthy self. Your natural state is to be connected and happy; all that’s needed is a little guidance to help you find the way back to your default setting.  

I'm Emma, an integrative transpersonal practitioner dedicated to guiding you on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Through a blend of hypnotherapy, breathwork, meditation, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and spiritual coaching, I create a compassionate safe space for you to reconnect with your innate wisdom. I have helped empower hundreds of clients to overcome anxiety, fears and phobias and find freedom that they previously thought would be impossible. You have everything that you need to live the life you want to live, I just help you to access the inner resources that you already possess. Anxiety can feel overwhelming and all-consuming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. I help you explore the roots of fear and gently unravel limiting beliefs. Together, we create a safe, grounded space where you can build resilience and reclaim calm. My work empowers you to meet life with greater confidence, trust, and emotional freedom.  

We will focus on beliefs and behaviors that are sabotaging your happiness  

General levels of anxiety have risen in recent years. Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in the US and Europe among teens and young adults, especially white females. If you are struggling with anxiety or panic attacks, I offer you 12 weeks of Autogenic Training to find your inner strength and learn how to control your mind.  

Anxiety is extreme worry or apprehension which is a normal reaction to an extremely stressful situation. However if anxiety is characterised by physical changes such as increased blood pressure or rapid heart beat or recurring intrusive fearful thoughts or concerns it can lead to serious mental health issues.  

Anxiety is the number one reason that most of my clients come to work with me - and I can help. Together we can find strategies that you are using that do or don't work as well as discovering new ones that can make an enormous difference in your day to day life. Working on this together can be life transforming and leave you with 'tools' that you can continue to improve and help you throughout your life.  

Having experienced anxiety and fear myself, I understand that these emotions are often rooted in childhood experiences where there was little space to express feelings or where a child did not feel protected, supported, or safe. I help clients explore these emotional responses with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment. By understanding the roots of anxiety and creating safety within the body, it becomes possible to respond to life's challenges from the present moment rather than from old wounds.  

Anxiety is often more than worry. It can be the result of living in a constant state of anticipation, always scanning for what might go wrong or feeling responsible for keeping everything together. We'll work together to understand the patterns beneath your anxiety, build a greater sense of safety within yourself, and help you reconnect with your confidence, resilience, and ability to trust your own decisions.  

Anxiety can feel like it’s running the show, and it doesn’t have to. I help you tune into the unconscious patterns behind your fears, so you can stop feeling controlled by them and start feeling in charge of your life. With the right tools and understanding, you can break free. If you're ready to move past anxiety, reach out now.  

Experiences of Anxiety, fear and worry can range from being distracting to completely overwhelming, leaving you feeling paralysed and unable to engage with life. I have spent most of my career specialising in treating debilitating anxiety.  

I offer support for anxiety and fear, including persistent worry, panic, social anxiety, and the underlying sense of unease that can shape everyday life. Many people I work with feel caught in cycles of overthinking, physical tension, avoidance, or a constant sense of being “on edge,” often without fully understanding why these patterns persist. My approach is grounded in psychoanalytic and relational psychotherapy, which means we explore not only current symptoms, but also the deeper emotional and relational roots of anxiety. Together, we pay attention to unconscious patterns, early attachment experiences, and how past relationships may continue to shape present-day fears and responses. Alongside this, I integrate somatic awareness to help you reconnect with your body and better understand how anxiety is held physically, such as through breath, tension, or nervous system activation. This can support greater regulation and a sense of grounding. Where appropriate, I may also use psychoeducation to help you understand what is happening in the mind and body during states of anxiety, which can reduce fear and increase a sense of control and clarity. I may also integrate EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques / tapping) as a tool to support emotional processing and calming the nervous system. Therapy with me is collaborative and paced according to your needs. We work gently and steadily to help you develop greater awareness of your anxiety patterns, reduce their intensity over time, and build a more secure and grounded sense of self in relation to fear and uncertainty.  

Anxiety or fears are often learned nervous system responses rather than personal weaknesses. I work with anxiety or fears by supporting greater emotional safety, understanding how patterns formed, and gently changing how fear is experienced. The focus is on building stability and confidence while reducing how overwhelming these reactions feel in daily life.  

Anxiety is created by ruminating about the past or worrying about what might happen in the future. It is a misuse of the imagination combined with a hyper-vigilant nervous system. Excessive fears or phobias can be debilitating and people are often embarrassed to admit to them. You are not alone! Mind-body therapies address both the physical and mental (including the emotional and psychological) aspects of fear or anxiety. You can overwrite old patterns and learn more effective coping strategies.  

I work with anxiety using practical tools and explore the roots of any fears with psychoanalytic therapy.  

We can experience anxiety in a variety of different ways - we may suffer from panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, unrelenting worries, or phobias. Therapy can help to alleviate anxiety in different ways by understanding what lies beneath it and adjusting our behavioural responses to it accordingly. Anxiety is a very common mental health disorder and affects many, many people. Talking therapy can help us to learn different strategies to manage our anxiety and move away from feeling helpless or hopeless.  

The anxiety that returns every morning despite everything you know about it, is not a thinking problem. It's a nervous system state - one that was adaptive once, and has simply never received the signal that things have changed. We work with that signal directly: not by challenging anxious thoughts, but by helping the body experience the safety it hasn't yet been able to internalise. Many clients notice shifts in their baseline anxiety within the first weeks of the programme.  

FEAR! The strongest of ALL emotions. Paradoxically it's been fundamental to our evolutionary success: particularly fleeing predators and other sources of harm. It's kept us alive for the 200,000 years of our existence as humans. We're not all that strong, we don't have claws and fangs --but we can run long distances! And it matters not one bit that our fear of that growl in the undergrowth may be unfounded. We can get that wrong 1000 times and if we flee we survive as a consequence. Just as your smoke alarm has one volume (LOUD!) it's natural to be fearful of what we perceive may harm us. We often overestimate the size and proximity of threats and conversely underestimate our ability to cope. Fear is powerful BUT it can often interfere with logic and reason. That's why we need to respect fear and reassess our relationship to it. And courage is not the absence of fear; mindset is everything and mindset can be developed to ensure we have optimal strategies for the stresses and adversities that regularly afflict us.