Online Anxiety therapists in King's Cross, England ENG, United Kingdom UK

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.  

Hi, I'm Lavinia May, Psychotherapist & Life Coach | 14+ Years Experience. I believe everyone has the potential to create meaningful change - sometimes you just need the right support to get there. With over a decade of experience helping individuals and couples heal, grow, and thrive, I offer a compassionate, results-driven approach tailored to your unique journey. I specialise in: Relationship therapy and couples counselling Anxiety, stress, and emotional overwhelm Personal growth and life transitions Communication and conflict resolution Healing from past trauma and emotional wounds Building confidence and self-worth ​Whether you're seeking deeper connection in your relationships, tools to overcome life's hurdles, or simply a safe space to be heard, I'm here to walk alongside you every step of the way.  

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.  

In my work I build a strong therapeutic alliance with the young person and their parents to understand and explore through the explore the unconscious psychological meanings and internal conflicts that underlie a young persons anxiety symptoms.  

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.  

Anxiety isn’t who you are—it’s a part of you trying to keep you safe. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by racing thoughts, constant worry, or fear that won’t let go, it can be exhausting. Anxiety often comes from parts of us that learned to stay hyper-alert to avoid pain or danger. Through Internal Family Systems (IFS) and somatic practices like TRE, I help you gently connect with these protective parts and the deeper wounds they may be guarding. Together, we’ll create space for calm, clarity, and a deeper sense of internal safety—so you can move through life with more ease and trust.  

We will provide you with Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction techniques and tools to help you to manage and reduce your levels of Anxiety, Phobias and Fears. We also provide Hypnotherapy sessions to reduce and release your anxiety, stress, worries and fears, and sometimes a combination of the two.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

Anxiety and fear often points to the meaning of something that might happen in the future. It may be the fear of losing your job or a relationship that is struggling. It may be the anxiety from the responsibility that come with living in the modern world and what might feel like no freedom. I believe most often, anxiety is telling you something useful and critical in you life that require exploration. I invite you to come and explore your anxiety with curiosity and what it is trying to tell you. With that awareness, new choices may appear.  

Anxiety takes many forms. It can present as OCD, agoraphobia or more commonly as free-floating anxiety. You could view it as your body's way of warning you that there is something amiss. The role in therapy is to discover what it is your body is trying to tell you. Then you can begin to confronted it and become stronger. I would like to meet with you to see what can be done to help you. This will enable us to get to know each other and see if we can work together. It’s important for you to work with someone you trust and feel safe with.  

After several decades of working on myself and experimenting with methods, I find that it is true that Fear is safe! It may sound strange but you can let fear be your guidance. This implies meeting the inner shadows in openness. I've experienced that it works and it works for many of my clients. Analysis and other methods can support with softening overwhelm at the beginning, yet the real teacher is in opening to the experience of fear in the moment. It is safe! To experience this, I hold space for you, and your hand when possible.  

We all feel anxious. Is yours out of all proportion? Does it take you over so you feel you cannot function with calm and acceptance around ordinary challenges? If so, come and talk to me and we will explore what is going on to trap you in this debilitating version of ordinary life.  

I help clients understand the deeper roots of their anxiety and fears, developing a compassionate awareness of the emotions and beliefs that sustain them. Through a blend of evidence-based and experiential approaches, we work to regulate the nervous system, expand tolerance for discomfort, and foster a sense of calm and confidence in daily 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.  

Living inside our bodies and outside in society can be scary. I help people look at their fears and find ways to cope.  

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.  

People struggle with anixety and fear due to unconscious processes in the brain. In looking at the underlying issues people are struggling with can we affect change to peoples overall sense of wellbeing and alleviate any 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.