Therapy for anxiety, panic and OCD
When your mind is always braced for the next thing to go wrong, life gets smaller.
You might feel on edge most of the time without knowing why. You might lie awake running through worst-case scenarios, or avoid situations in case a panic attack hits. You may have tried rest, exercise or time off, and found the anxiety was still there when you got back.
That isn't a personal failing. Our fight-or-flight response evolved for sabre-toothed tigers, not inboxes, deadlines and constant news. It reacts to modern pressures as if they were life-threatening, and the things we do to feel safer often keep the anxiety going.
I can help with
Constant worry and overthinking (generalised anxiety)
Panic attacks and fear of the next one
Health anxiety
Social anxiety and fear of judgement
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Phobias
How we'll work on it
Drawing on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other approaches that suit you, we'll map out what triggers your anxiety and what keeps it going. Then we'll work on it step by step: noticing and testing anxious thoughts, gradually facing what you've been avoiding, and building skills to calm your body and mind.
The aim isn't to never feel anxious again. It's for anxiety to stop running the show, so you can get on with the life you want.
When it’s OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is closely linked to anxiety, but it’s a condition in its own right. Unwanted thoughts, images or urges get stuck, and they can be especially distressing because they go against who you are.
To ease the discomfort you might check, clean, count, seek reassurance or go over things in your head, until those rituals take up more and more of your day.
The good news is that OCD responds well to therapy. NICE recommends CBT that includes exposure and response prevention (ERP): with support, you gradually face the thoughts and situations that trigger you without carrying out the ritual, so your mind learns the anxiety will pass on its own.
We’ll go at a pace that feels manageable, and you stay in control of each step.
Common questions
How many sessions will I need? It depends on what you’re facing. NICE guidance suggests around 12 to 15 sessions for generalised anxiety, and up to 14 for panic or social anxiety, though many people notice a difference sooner. We’ll review progress together as we go.
Will my anxiety ever go away completely? Some anxiety is part of being human, and it can even be useful. The aim of therapy is for it to stop running your life. You’ll leave with skills you can keep using, which is one reason the benefits of CBT tend to last after therapy ends.
Does online therapy work for anxiety? Yes. Research shows CBT by video works as well as face-to-face for most anxiety problems. Many people find it easier to open up from somewhere familiar, which can especially help with social anxiety.
What if I’m embarrassed to talk about my intrusive thoughts? That’s very common with OCD, and it’s often the very thing that keeps people from getting help. Intrusive thoughts are not wishes or intentions. They’re thoughts the mind gets stuck on precisely because they upset you. Whatever they are, you won’t shock me, and talking about them openly is the first step to loosening their grip.
I’m a London-based Counselling Psychologist, and all sessions take place online, so you can join from anywhere in the UK. Anxiety often comes with low mood or poor sleep; you may also find my pages on depression and sleep helpful, and you can see fees & insurance.