Online Anxiety therapists in Elderslie, Scotland Scotland, United Kingdom UK

Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias be gone  

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.  

Anxiety and fear can relate to external events- and they are also wired into our nervous systems. Being 'activated' can be a very helpful response- when it allows us to protect ourselves. But this can also be our habitual or only response. This can be exhausting. I take an approach that looks not only at the thoughts and feelings but helps you to create different bodily/ nervous system responses to fear/ stress or concern. We can work online or in person, informed by somatic experiencing and Polyvagal Theory. If helpful, we can also explore the links between anxiety and sleep difficulties.  

Anxiety and fears had been a personal issue for many years. Together, we will navigate the associated emotions and find solutions that will work for you, personally.  

We are all burdened by anxieties and fears at some point in our lives, but when these get entrenched and we feel 'stuck' in these, it is helpful to consider online therapy. We will try interrupt the anxiety cycle and see how we can manage it in helpful ways.  

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.  

I work in a unique way to help people experiencing anxiety and I have helped many people learn the tools and deep exploration to reduce and overcome symptoms.  

Bognor Regis, Bristol, London, West Sussex I am an integrative counsellor so covered this in my studies alongside years of experience and continued professional development  

Balancing self-awareness on perspective of internal conflicts, becoming aware of though/feeling will reduce stress & panic. While we cannot remove painful events, we can manage the reflection of injurious memories. Validating the authentic-self, the true self, is the road to good emotional health.  

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.  

Each therapist has their own specialties, and we focus on connecting you with the clinician whose experience best fits your needs. Therapy may involve developing coping strategies, processing past experiences and childhood patterns, and cultivating greater self-compassion and emotional well-being.  

Anxiety can feel overwhelming, like it’s in the driver’s seat of your life. In our work together, we can gently explore the parts of you that hold fear and worry, and uncover the protective roles they’ve been playing. As an example you can learn to connect with these parts from a place of compassion, you’ll begin to feel more calm, confident, and in charge. Healing is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready to find relief from anxiety and reconnect with your Self, I’m here to support you.  

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.  

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.  

Anxiety can make the world feel like an overwhelming place, leaving you 'stuck' in a cycle of constant worry. Together, we will work to understand your specific triggers and develop practical, grounding tools to help you regain a sense of calm and safety in your daily life. I can incorporate EFT tapping to help you manage physical triggers in real-time.  

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 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.  

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.  

Everyone feels anxious some of the time. When it is persistent, however, that’s a sign it’s time to treat your anxiety. Persistent anxiety can affect your ability to enjoy life. You might feel a sense of consistent worry just beneath the surface of your thoughts, making it impossible for you to focus. Your thoughts might race so quickly that you feel as though your head will explode. It doesn’t have to be this way.  

Anxiety can be crippling and obvious. Or it can subtly sabotage our plans. Contact me for a free consultation on recognizing your feelings of anxiety, and applying anxiety management techniques. You are not an anxious person: you are person more susceptible to anxiety – but you can learn to hand it. We all need to experience some degree of anxiety at times – it would be unnatural not to feel any of its symptoms, such as racing pulse, dry mouth, sweatiness and shallow breathing, just before a big speech or exam, for instance – as it helps get us motivated to act. But excessive anxiety causes problems. Excessive anxiety may develop gradually, starting, perhaps, with loneliness after the loss of a loved one; being too shy to make new friends when moving somewhere new; experiencing unwelcome life changes because of chronic illness and pain; or feeling loaded down with too much responsibility – all cases of unmet emotional needs. When people worry excessively, it is in essence because important emotional needs, such as for safety, connection or status, are not being met. That’s why the human givens approach, which focuses on helping people in distress find healthy ways to meet their emotional needs, is so effective. For some people, anxiety can develop suddenly, after they are caught up in some tragic disaster, such as a fire or a crash, or are the victims of violence, and their lives become ruled by fear. (This is known as post-traumatic stress.) Anxiety may also take the form of obsessions, compulsions, phobias or a nagging feeling of foreboding – all of which are attempts to ward off a sense of threat. Yet, as we know, some people face such circumstances without becoming overly anxious, while others end up almost crippled by anxiety. How we explain the negative events that happen to us has a considerable bearing on whether we are likely to suffer from excessive anxiety. Three particular types of thinking are especially connected with its development and its close partner, depression: how personally people take events (they think everything is their fault or that they didn’t get the job because they weren’t good enough, rather than because the competition was particularly stiff); how pervasive they think the effects will be (if they lose their job, they think everything in their world is going wrong, even though their relationship is still strong and they have their health, good friends, etc); and how permanent(they will never get another job, partner, dream house like that one, etc). People who suffer badly from anxiety also tend to have a lot of negative thoughts running through their minds that they don’t even notice (“I’ll never cope”; “it’s going to be awful”; “no one likes me”) and commonly catastrophise (“I’m going to be late. My boss will sack me!”) Changing negative self-talk and challenging catastrophic thinking help lower stress levels. Another major cause of troublesome anxiety is negative over-imagination. Anxious people tend to spend a lot of time worrying “What if?”, coming up with a whole variety of dreadful outcomes for themselves or their loved ones. This keeps them in a constant state of high emotional arousal and can take the extreme forms of phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorders. Learning to use the imagination positively – by calmly rehearsing mentally tried and tested techniques (such as deep breathing and distracting thoughts) for dealing with feared or worrisome situations – is very effective. Calming ourselves down, when anxious, is extremely important because high emotional arousal makes us stupid. We literally can’t think straight and that makes the situation worse. Human givens practitioners can show people how to relax, so that they can bring their own arousal and stress levels down, and how to use their imaginations positively, to rehearse successful outcomes instead of bad ones. They can also help people overcome phobias, panic attacks and traumatic memories quickly and painlessly. And, very importantly, they will encourage people to find ways to reduce their stress and also focus outwards on fulfilling activities (maybe involving the wellbeing of others as well as themselves) – excellent ways of getting their own needs met.