If you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or constantly “on edge”, you are not alone, and you don’t have to manage it by yourself. I offer counselling & psychotherapy for adults who want support with anxiety and stress, whether that shows up as worry, panic, overthinking, burnout, or feeling unable to switch off, or overwhelmed by life.
I work face-to-face near Billingshurst (close to Kirdford and Petworth) and online. Some people come wanting practical tools and coping strategies. Others want to understand where their anxiety began and why certain patterns keep repeating. We can begin wherever feels most helpful for you.
Anxiety vs stress (how I understand it)
People often use “stress” and “anxiety” as if they are the same thing, but they can feel quite different.
Stress is usually a response to something real and present. This may be pressure at work, a difficult relationship, financial worries, health concerns, or too much to juggle. Often, there’s a clear situation behind it.
Anxiety, as I see it, is more like a reaction to an uncertain or imagined threat. A feeling or sense that something is wrong, even when you can’t pinpoint what. It can show up as constant “what if” thinking, dread, tension in the body, or feeling stuck in your head. In therapy, we can work with both what’s happening in your life now and what your mind and body have learned to anticipate over time.
Signs it may be anxiety or stress
Anxiety and stress can affect the mind and body in many different ways. You might recognise some of the following:
- Constant worry, overthinking, and catastrophising
- Feeling overwhelmed and unable to think straight
- Feeling tense, on edge, or unable to relax
- Racing thoughts, dread, or a sense that something bad might happen
- Panic symptoms (racing heart, tight chest, breathlessness, dizziness)
- Restless sleep, waking early, or feeling exhausted
- Irritability or a short fuse
- Difficulty concentrating or switching off
- Avoiding situations, decisions, or conversations
- People-pleasing, perfectionism, or fear of getting it wrong
- Feeling overwhelmed, tearful, or low in mood
- Physical tension, headaches, gut symptoms, or feeling “wired”
You don’t need to have a diagnosis to seek counselling & psychotherapy. If something feels hard to manage alone, that’s enough. Please do get in touch [link]
What’s happening in the body
When we feel under threat, whether the threat is real (stress) or more uncertain and difficult to name (anxiety), the nervous system can go into an alarm state. This is the body’s natural survival response, often described as fight-or-flight.
In that state, your body may speed up: a racing heart, shallow breathing, tight muscles, nausea, or a sense of restlessness. The mind then tries to make sense of those sensations, and it can lead to more worry: “What if something is wrong?” That can create a loop where anxiety builds on itself.
I can help you understand your own stress and anxiety patterns, learn ways to settle the body, and gradually feel safer and steadier again.
A short-term approach: tools and stabilising
Some people come to therapy wanting practical help quickly, especially if anxiety or stress is affecting sleep, work, confidence, or day-to-day functioning. If that’s where you are, we can start there.
In a more focused, short-term way of working, we might:
- Identify what triggers your anxiety or stress, and how it builds
- Notice the thoughts, body sensations and behaviours that keep the cycle going
- Develop grounding techniques to help you feel calmer in the moment
- Explore boundaries, pressure, perfectionism and people-pleasing
- Find practical ways to manage overwhelm and reduce burnout
For some clients, a tools-based approach is enough. For others, it becomes a first step that later opens into deeper work. There’s no right way to do this. What’s important is that we’ll shape the work to your needs.
A longer-term approach: understanding patterns and origins
For many people, anxiety isn’t “random”. It can be a pattern of thinking and reacting learned early and carried into adulthood. This often happens without us realising.
Sometimes this comes from growing up needing to stay alert to other people’s moods, taking on responsibility too young, feeling you had to perform, be good, or not make mistakes. Sometimes it comes from emotional experiences that weren’t fully processed at the time. Even when life looks successful on the outside, the nervous system can still be on high alert for something to go wrong.
Longer-term counselling & psychotherapy can help you begin to connect the dots between past and present: noticing the roles you slip into, the beliefs you carry about yourself, and the relationship patterns that repeat. With understanding comes the choice to make changes in responses and behaviour, and many people find their anxiety eases as they feel more secure in themselves and in their relationships.
If you feel unsure about committing to therapy
Some people choose to begin with a small first step, to talk things through, get a clearer sense of what’s going on, and see how it feels to work together. From there, you might decide to continue weekly, come for a short period, or simply take time to think before booking again.
You don’t need to have everything worked out before you start. We can begin with where you are.
Who I work with
People come to therapy for anxiety and stress for many different reasons.
Many of my clients are in their 20s or 30s — successful, capable people who may appear to be doing well in their professional lives, yet internally feel under pressure, stuck in their thoughts, or exhausted from trying to cope. Some initially come looking for practical tools and later become curious about the deeper patterns behind their anxiety.
I also work with people in midlife and later life, where anxiety may be linked to health concerns, life transitions, loss, or other challenges that benefit from a safe and supportive space to talk.
Men in therapy
It is a common misconception that Men need to “stay strong” and hide their feelings. In truth, reaching out for support is a strength. Many of my clients are men, and I offer a safe space where you can be honest, vulnerable, and real –without pressure or judgment
What to expect
Therapy is a collaborative process. I aim to offer a calm, supportive relationship where you can speak openly and feel heard.
We’ll go at a pace that feels manageable, and we can review what’s helpful as we go. Sessions can be face-to-face near Billingshurst or online. Most people start weekly, and we can adapt it to what you need and what works with your life.
If you’re considering counselling & psychotherapy for anxiety or stress, you’re welcome to get in touch by email. We can take it one step at a time.