Anxiety Treatment

Pshychotherapy for anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and chronic worry

Anxiety Isn’t Just in Your Body It’s in Your Story

Anxiety can feel relentless. It may show up as overthinking, restlessness, panic, difficulty sleeping, or a constant hum of unease.

From a psychodynamic and attachment lens, anxiety is more than a list of symptoms. It is often rooted in early relational experiences that shaped your nervous system and sense of safety in the world.

Anxiety also has biological and physical dimensions. It can affect sleep, digestion, immune function, and energy. When it becomes chronic, it is not only emotionally exhausting but physically depleting too.

The Attachment-Based Understanding of Anxiety

In childhood we learn to regulate emotions and seek comfort through our caregivers. When those relationships are inconsistent, overwhelming, or unavailable, anxiety can become part of our inner landscape.

You might recognize yourself in patterns such as:

Hypervigilance: scanning for danger in relationships

People pleasing: putting others first to avoid disconnection

Boundary struggles: fearing rejection or engulfment

Fear of being “too much”: suppressing your needs to stay safe

These are adaptations — ways your mind and body have tried to protect you.

This psychodynamic understanding complements diagnostic categories such as generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or social anxiety. These labels can be useful in describing symptoms, but they do not define who you are or explain their deeper origins.

How Anxiety Affects Your Life

These patterns are common, and they can shift with the right support. Therapy can explore both emotional roots and the behaviours that keep anxiety going. This may include recognising catastrophic thinking, challenging internalised beliefs, or trying new relational patterns.

Anxiety’s Many Layers: Mind, Body, and Context

While I focus on the emotional and relational roots of anxiety, I also approach it holistically:

Organic factors

Inflammation, hormonal shifts, or nervous system dysregulation can amplify anxiety

Lifestyle factors

Sleep, diet, movement, and substance use all play a role in how anxiety develops and persists

Psychological factors

Attachment patterns, trauma histories, and unconscious fears shape how anxiety feels and continues

I stay informed about evolving research in psychiatry, somatic psychology, and the role of supplements in emotional health.

Anxiety is rarely caused by one factor. It is layered — shaped by history, biology, relationships, and environment. That complexity deserves to be respected.

Healing Through Therapy: Depth and Practical Support

In our work together, we’ll approach anxiety with both depth and practicality. Therapy will help you understand its emotional roots while also giving you tools to manage symptoms in daily life.

In our sessions, you can expect:

01

A safe and consistent space

A reliable setting where you can explore your story at your own pace, without pressure.

02

Emotion-focused exploration

Uncover unconscious patterns that drive anxiety and begin to shift them.

03

Nervous system awareness

Learn how your body responds to stress and practise ways to restore calm and balance.

04

A secure therapeutic relationship

Experience a new kind of safety and trust that can support healing and growth.

I also integrate elements from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) when appropriate—always adapting tools thoughtfully to your unique process.These modalities can offer practical frameworks and exercises to complement deeper inner work.

A Nuanced Approach to Medication

The conversation around medication and anxiety is evolving. We know the brain plays a role, but not in simple or one-dimensional ways.

While therapy is often enough, there are times when anxiety is severe enough that medication can provide additional support. If needed, I may suggest a referral to a psychiatrist who values integrated care. We will collaborate thoughtfully, ensuring that any medical support aligns with your therapeutic goals.

You’re Wired for Connection

Anxiety often reveals an underlying need for safety, connection, and understanding. These needs may have gone unmet in the past, or it may not have felt safe to express them.

With compassionate exploration and the right guidance, you can learn to live with less fear and more grounded presence.

Do you think therapy could be helpful?

If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns that are hard to shift, you may be ready to start psychotherapy. I’d be honoured to explore whether I might be the right therapist to support you.