Online Anxiety therapists in Beddau, Wales Wales, United Kingdom UK

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.  

Anxiety is often the smoke, not the fire. The racing thoughts, the chest tightness, the 3am wake-ups and the constant scanning for what might go wrong are usually the surface expression of a pattern formed much earlier. Something the subconscious decided was a threat and never updated. RTT works by going back to that original moment and changing the meaning attached to it from an adult perspective. Once the root pattern updates, the surface symptoms tend to settle, often quickly. I work online via Zoom with adults around the world on generalised anxiety, performance anxiety, health anxiety and specific fears. A complimentary 20-minute discovery call is the place to start.  

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.  

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.  

Anxiety is essentially rooted in a heightened state of vigilance and tension. We have 'forgotten' how to let go. Here's a simple example. When we cross a busy road or drive a car we need to be extra vigilant and aware of our surroundings. We don't need that same level of attention when sitting comfortably at home, yet somehow it is still there. By bringing this habitual tension into conscious awareness and exploring its origins, we can help your nervous system rediscover how to unwind and embrace life fully.  

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 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 trust that I can work with you and help you overcome your anxiety and fears that are struggling with at the moment, supporting you with the help of Mindfulness, CBT, Exposure, Therapy) Psychodynamics and EMDR so that you can move forward in your life as a free person.  

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.  

Anxiety is often a messenger from the somatic self signalling a lack of safety. Together, we decode these signals, using psychoanalytic depth and sound therapy to transform chaos into stability. We dissolve the blocks to your peace, allowing you to stand in your intrinsic power.  

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.  

Everyone gets anxious sometimes. But when anxiety stops you from living your life—when you're avoiding things that matter, waking up at 3am with your heart racing, or constantly scanning for danger even when you're safe—something deeper is going on. For some people, we find the root fairly quickly. For others, it takes more digging to understand why your nervous system learned to stay on high alert. Either way, we work together to understand what's driving it, then change it. Not just manage the symptoms, but actually address why your body thinks it needs to protect you all the time. Anxiety isn't a character flaw. It's your nervous system doing what it learned to do. We can help it learn something different.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

I work with many individuals who suffer from various anxiety disorders. I understand anxiety as a form of complex PTSD and, therefore, focus on addressing (childhood) trauma to help my clients feel safe within themselves and in the world again. In my experience, my clients are often highly creative, introspective, sensitive, and possess quick, intelligent minds. Our challenge is to learn to experience anxiety and other underlying feelings in a safe and effective manner, allowing these emotions to pass without retreating into our minds and prolonging the distress. We also work on the beliefs and assumptions that contribute to anxiety, as well as any past trauma at its root. Our work includes understanding our nervous system and learning how to feel safe in our bodies to create more ease and calm. Another aspect of anxiety can be an intense focus on others and their feelings. In such cases, our work involves releasing the beliefs and assumptions that drive this focus, addressing potential trauma, and learning to concentrate on our own experiences instead. This includes learning to trust oneself and one's inner guidance rather than striving to please external factors.  

From an TIST/EFIT/IPNB/IFS Parts Perspective, clients get to know parts with anxieties and fears and learn how to listen and be with the anxiety, even finding hidden wisdom in these parts. We also offer the Polyvagal Theory based Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) for clients with more intensive anxiety and fears, particularly social and intimacy fears. Sometimes a functional approach may support clients experiencing anxiety due to physiological stress or epigenetic adaptive stress (e.g. if a basic metabolism or hormonal cycle is not able to complete with ease or there is an injury or chronic health condition that is still being tended to in the body, the brain will likely receive signals of distress that could be read as baseline anxiety, but may be a bodily signal that some part of a basic physiological cycle is not able to function smoothly and may benefit from ascertaining where the challenge is and working with supplemental or integrative support/education/care that is within scope or collaborative scope); please feel free to ask if you have any questions about this.  

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.  

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.