All about Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural response that helps protect us when we perceive a situation to be challenging, threatening or uncertain. When this happens, the body activates its built-in survival system, releasing stress hormones such as adrenaline that prepare us to respond quickly and effectively.
In many situations, anxiety can be helpful. It can keep us focused, motivated and alert to things that require our attention. For example, feeling nervous before an important event, interview or presentation is a normal part of being human.
However, when anxiety becomes frequent, overwhelming or difficult to control, it can begin to affect many areas of life. You may find yourself constantly worrying, overthinking situations, avoiding certain activities or feeling on edge even when there is no immediate threat present.
Over time, persistent anxiety can impact emotional wellbeing, relationships, work, sleep and overall quality of life. What may have started as a helpful protective response can become exhausting and difficult to manage.
The good news is that you can learn to manage anxiety. By understanding the thoughts, behaviours and patterns that contribute to anxiety, it is possible to develop healthier responses, regain a sense of control and feel more confident in everyday life.
Therapy for Anxiety
The most effective approach to anxiety will depend on your individual circumstances, symptoms and goals. Because everyone experiences anxiety differently, I tailor therapy to your specific needs rather than using a single approach for everyone.
Many clients find that a combination of Hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be particularly effective for reducing anxiety and panic symptoms. Hypnotherapy can help you access a calmer, more relaxed state, whilst CBT can help you to identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour that may be contributing to anxiety.
Therapy can also help you build confidence, develop practical coping strategies and learn new ways of responding to situations that may previously have felt overwhelming. As your understanding of anxiety grows, many people find they feel more in control and better equipped to manage challenges in every day life.
Where anxiety has been present for a long time, or where past experiences may be influencing current thoughts, feelings or behaviours, counselling and other talking therapies can also be beneficial. Exploring these underlying factors can help create a deeper understanding of what is driving the anxiety and support more lasting change.
"This experience has been brilliant for me, it has literally changed my life."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of therapy do I need?
The most appropriate type of therapy for you depends on your situation and the problem or issue you would like to address.
Many people find a combination of Hypnotherapy and CBT helpful for anxiety related issues and most therapy sessions will involve a blend of different therapies depending on your situation. We will discuss your situation at your first session and decide on the best approach for you.
How long is each session?
Standard therapy sessions are 50 minutes in order to maximise concentration and get the best from the process. Your first session is usually a little longer (approximately 60 to 90 minutes) to allow sufficient time to discuss your situation and answer any questions you may have.
What happens in a therapy session?
Therapy sessions provide a time and space for you to explore your situation. During your first session, we will discuss a number of areas connected with your problem or issue including everyday events, problems, feelings, thoughts, memories, past experiences and the future. At each session, we will discuss your progress since we last met and a combination of therapy techniques may be used during your session.
You may be given exercises or tasks to complete between your sessions to build on the work done during your session and to help you develop new skills and strategies to enable you to overcome the problem or issue.
How often do I need sessions?
Hypnotherapy sessions are typically 2 to 3 weeks apart as this allows sufficient time for your subconscious mind to process new ideas and for you to start making changes.
We will discuss the frequency and number of sessions during your first session.
How much does it cost?
The standard therapy session fees are £80 per session. A deposit of £40 is payable online before the online initial consultation or your first therapy session and this is refunded at or following your final therapy session. For more information, please see the fees page.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach in therapy, so it’s difficult to say exactly how many sessions you may need because everyone is different and some people experience changes more quickly than others.
The number of sessions required also depends on the problem or issue, along with your level of motivation and participation in your therapy sessions.
Generally speaking, most people find between 4 to 6 sessions helpful and occasionally further sessions may be required.
Will therapy work for me?
If you are committed to making changes, you have a good chance of succeeding. However, there are a variety of factors that can affect the outcome of therapy sessions and for this reason, it is unethical to offer any guarantee of success.
Hypnotherapy and talking therapies have a good track record in helping people to make lasting changes, however everyone responds differently and therefore outcomes may vary from person to person. Your motivation, participation and commitment are the key to success, so you need to play your part too.
Why do I need to complete therapy tasks between my sessions?
The problems or issues that people often seek help for have usually occurred as a result of past experiences and unhelpful thought processes. To overcome a problem or respond differently, the desired change must come from within, therefore we need to change our thoughts and behaviours.
During your therapy sessions, you may be shown how to use self help tools and techniques to enable you to make the changes that you desire. How you use these tools and the level of effort applied, will affect how quickly you experience positive changes. Remember, your motivation and participation are the key to your success.
Free Consultation
If you have any questions or are unsure whether therapy is right for you, I offer a free 20 minute online consultation via Zoom.
Experience hypnotherapy wherever you are
Whether you want some time to relax or you’re looking for help with a problem or issue, a range of hypnosis audios are available to buy from the downloads store.
