Booking an appointment to speak with a trained professional about your anxiety can be a daunting process. It involves opening up to someone and discussing your thoughts, feelings and emotions on a very personal level.
Here is a guide to what to expect from anxiety counselling, so that you can feel confident and comfortable from your first session. But first, a brief summary on anxiety and how counselling can help.
Anxiety Explained
We all have a tendency to be nervous or stressed out once in a while. As humans, we’re hardwired to react this way to certain situations. But for those with anxiety disorders, these fears and worries aren’t temporary. The amygdala and other parts of the brain can become overactive, which results in highly distressed feelings or panic attacks.
These reactions can grow increasingly heightened over time, and have a serious impact on the person’s ability to carry out routine tasks and live a normal life – particularly in social situations. It can also put pressure on your relationships with friends and relatives.
Anxiety has become much more prevalent Australia-wide over the last few decades; especially in the wake of recent global events. Thankfully, there is help.
Cognitive Behavioural treatment (either on its own or alongside medication) can be effective in reducing people’s anxiety symptoms and helping them regain control over their anxiety disorder, be it:
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Social anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
These various anxiety disorders, while different, often stem from similar root causes and present similar symptoms.
How does anxiety counselling help?
Psychologists are educated in how to accurately diagnose anxiety disorders and provide clients with the emotional tools to cope with difficult situations in a more positive and productive manner.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a results-driven method of anxiety treatment that involves identifying and managing the key factors that are contributing to a client’s anxiety. The objective is to teach clients how to understand the thoughts that exacerbate their feelings of anxiety.
By breaking out of these negative thought patterns, patients can gain control over their anxiety and thus the undesirable behaviours that their anxiety causes.
Anxiety counselling: what to expect
At Ashcliffe Psychology, counselling for anxiety is a collaborative process. We work closely alongside our clients to identify specific concerns and assist them to develop the necessary skills and techniques to cope with anxiety.
Gradually over time, when part of the treatment plan, we support clients to face the real-life scenarios outside of therapy sessions. The purpose is to reinforce strategies of self-management and anxiety control.
Arrange anxiety counselling at Ashcliffe Psychology today
At Ashcliffe Psychology, we have experience in working with clients who are looking to change the way they respond to situations which typically trigger their anxiety. Together, we will develop a personalised treatment plan that addresses your individual needs.
We adopt the same personalised approach to our alcohol counselling, drug counselling, PTSD treatment, depression counselling and other psychologist services. To arrange an initial consultation with one of our qualified and experienced therapists, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.