Types of Anxiety Disorder​

Becoming caught up in your mind about your problems and changing your activities to avoid the feeling of anxiety can interfere with everyday life. The manner in which anxiety affects people can vary and here are some of the common issues:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - excessive worry about work, relationships, finances, health, or other areas of life.

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - intrusive, unwanted thoughts which are temporarily alleviated through engagement in rituals or repetitive behaviours.

• Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) - excessive worry about others’ negative perceptions about your appearance, actions, or comments, and a strong feeling of anxiety in public spaces.

• Panic Disorder - avoidance of situations or actions that might result in sudden, scary and intense physical and emotional reactions (panic attacks) due to a constant fear of having another attack.

• Agoraphobia - intense fear of open spaces or a fear of leaving the home that may lead to social isolation or unemployment.

How Treatment for Anxiety Works

Psychological counselling has been proven as a successful way to treat the majority of anxiety problems with or without medication. My treatments adhere to best practice and modern research, and the plan for your treatment may include the following components:​

• Psychoeducation-learning about the role and functions of anxiety, how anxiety is processed in the brain, how anxiety disorders develop;

• Changing behavioural and thinking patterns-learning to use relaxation/breathing skills, mindfulness skills; and

• Gradual desensitisation to the experience of anxiety and triggers of anxiety-learning ways to continue important tasks while experiencing anxiety, identifying and responding to triggers in a constructive manner.

My aim is to make your experience of counselling accessible, relevant and, most importantly, effective. You are welcome to contact me to ask questions or discuss treatment options.

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