Most people hope therapy will remove anxiety entirely - which is understandable, but not always realistic. Fear/Anxiety are in-built emotions and features of our nervous system - for better or worse it’s part of being human. The goal of therapy is not to eliminate anxiety, but to reduce its intensity, frequency, and the influence it may have on your decisions and quality of life.

Most clients notice that anxiety becomes easier to predict and manage, and less consuming over time. Even when anxiety shows up, it tends to pass more quickly and feels less overwhelming. In other words, anxiety may still exist - but it no longer defines or limits you in the same way.

Evidence-based therapy for anxiety may involve gradually facing feared situations - but this is always done collaboratively, at a pace that feels manageable, and with a clear rationale. Nothing is forced, and you remain in control of what you’re willing to try.

Importantly, therapy isn’t just about “pushing through” fear. A large part of therapy focuses on understanding your anxiety, building confidence in your ability to cope, and reducing the need for avoidance or overcontrolling situations. Exposure, when used, is just a tool - not the entire therapy.

Please also be aware that our clinicians have experience with other models for addressing anxiety (e.g., EMDR, Schema Therapy, and Meta-cognitive therapy) that may require less exposure components - if preferred.

In our work, we focus on understanding what actually maintains your anxiety day-to-day and tailoring strategies to your situation. Ideally, we address multiple layers of anxiety:

• Physical: how your body responds and regulates stress

• Cognitive: thought patterns that fuel worry or rumination

• Behavioural: avoidance or other patterns that maintain anxiety

• Emotional: the impact of living with anxiety on mood and quality of life
  

The goal is to provide meaningful, personalised support that addresses the root of your anxiety, builds lasting skills, and fits with your life - rather than relying on any single technique.

Being honest - if you experience a high amount of physical or somatic anxiety, we would likely prioritise finding practical ways to help regulate your nervous system. There are plenty of options, and this wouldn’t be the only focus of treatment. Breathing exercises, mindfulness, yoga, distraction techniques, exercise or other anxiety tools can help some people, but they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution so it takes experimentation to find the right tool(s).

This really depends on what you’re seeking support for and how complex your situation is. Some people find a smaller number of sessions (often around 6) helpful for gaining clarity or practical tools, while others prefer longer-term support (15+ sessions). We’ll regularly check in about what’s working, what you need, and whether continuing therapy feels right for you. You’re never “locked in,” and there’s no expectation to attend more sessions than are genuinely helpful.

Yes - you are always in control of what you choose to share, and you can skip questions if needed. Sessions are guided by what feels most relevant or pressing for you. Our clinicians are trained to work alongside you (not interrogate you). The aim is to create a safe, respectful space, ask thoughtful questions, and offer guidance - never to push you into discussing topics you don’t want to address.