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

Anxiety and fear can be debilitating and cause you to miss out on so much in life. You may feel crippled by the overwhelming feelings and feel there is no way our. A healthy level of anxiety is part of everyday life but when it becomes too big, or you cannot see your way out, you can end up feeling helpless and as though nothing will get you through the fear. By bringing this to counselling, you can begin to explore where it started, bring in a bit of realistic thinking, and can learn to soothe these feelings and take the power back to live your life as you want it.  

Anxiety can be debilitating and distressing, and prevent you from being the person or parent you can be or would like to be. But there is a way forward for you. And I can be of support. I can offer a safe, compassionate and non-judgmental space where you can relieve thoughts and feelings you find troubling, and gently work through any experiences underlying them. You're welcome to get in touch to ask questions or book a consultation to explore if I'm the right counsellor for you.  

I use an integrative approach (CBT and mindfulness) to help clients overcome anxiety and phobias. My stance is accepting and patient, and I encourage clients to bring compassion to themselves and their difficulties.  

I know first hand how anxiety or unprocessed fears can show up in our body and our mind - overthinking, imaging worst-case scenarios, heart racing. It can feel like sensations in our body are turned up full volume and as if everything else feels very far away and out of reach; it can be quite a destabilising and isolating experience. But it doesn´t have to be. Through support and training, I have learned to regulate and resource myself in times of worry and panic, to the point that I am hardly ever activated, and when I am, I know how to ride the wave with confidence and ease. I now pass on these practices with my clients who experience great relief from being able to brave the elements when their anxiety storm arises, empowering them to the point that the frequency, duration and intensity significantly reduces and they finally feel a sense of peace and calm within themselves again.  

I support individuals experiencing anxiety and fear, helping them understand and manage their responses in daily life. Using evidence-based approaches, I work collaboratively with clients to reduce distress, build coping strategies, and increase confidence, resilience, and a greater sense of calm.  

Helping clients to deal with Anxiety and fears, by talking to them asking them to talk about the problems that they are working about. Using calming breathing exercises, and work to identify meaning and purpose in their life. And shift their focus to positive emotions in their daily life.  

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

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.  

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.  

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 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.  

For dealing with anxiety, first of all, I help my clients to manage their physical symptoms of anxiety and then they are able to take control of their bodies, secondly we try to identify automatic negative thoughts and learn how to deal with them and challenge them. It is okay to have anxiety, but you need to learn how to deal with it faster.  

Anxiety is often a signal of a system that has learned to stay alert in order to feel safe. My work focuses on understanding these adaptive responses through a trauma-informed lens and a focus on trauma endurance. Together, we explore the patterns beneath the anxiety, creating space for greater regulation, safety, and sustainable change.  

Anxiety can affect any of us and is often a misuse of our imagination. Helping you to identify what your subconscious messages are that are causing your anxiety can alleviate much or all of the discomfort. As IFS says, there are no bad parts, even anxiety is there trying to help, it might just be that it needs some guidance or reassurance and a new set of beliefs to attach itself to.  

Fully qualified mindfulness teacher who has 15 + specialising in stress and anxiety reduction.  

Counselling provides a space for you to explore your experiences and feelings in a respectful and confidential space. The focus of the conversation is to understand your experience and provide support to explore the ways in which you can introduce change into your life.  

Talking about anxiety in therapy may initially feel overwhelming, but it is vital for your mental health journey. Identifying your specific concerns, including symptoms and triggers, is essential for effective management of anxiety. By openly discussing these elements with me, we can work together to develop strategies that will support you throughout the therapeutic process.  

In the midst of life's challenges, managing anxiety or confronting fears can feel like an uphill battle. As a dedicated psychologist, I specialize in providing a safe and compassionate space for individuals seeking support in overcoming anxiety and fears (including OCD). Together, we'll explore the roots of your concerns, develop practical coping strategies, and embark on a journey toward resilience and empowerment.  

Living with anxiety or persistent fears can feel exhausting and overwhelming, like your mind is constantly in “alert mode.” I help individuals understand what’s happening beneath the surface, regulate their nervous system, and build tools to manage worry, overthinking, panic, and fear-based patterns. Through gentle, trauma-informed and integrative therapy, we work together to restore calm, confidence, and emotional balance, one step at a time.  

Anxiety and fear can affect every part of life, leaving you feeling trapped in overthinking, worry, avoidance, panic, self-doubt, or constant anticipation that something bad is about to happen. I work with clients to understand not just the symptoms of anxiety, but the deeper patterns, experiences, relationships, and pressures that may be driving it underneath. Together, we can explore what your anxiety is trying to protect you from, why certain fears feel so powerful, and how to develop a greater sense of safety, confidence, and calm. My approach is less about managing symptoms alone and more about understanding your inner world and what may need to change beneath the surface.