CBT is an evidence-based psychological therapy that can be effective in supporting people experiencing anxiety difficulties. Where appropriate, CBT may be integrated with approaches such as EMDR and/or clinical hypnotherapy to support the reduction of anxiety symptoms and help individuals develop more effective ways of managing distress.

Anxiety is a normal part of being human. It is our mind and body’s natural alarm system, helping us stay alert, focused, respond to potential danger, and prepare for challenges. However, for some people, anxiety can become more intense, frequent, or difficult to manage, beginning to affect everyday life.

When anxiety becomes overwhelming, situations, places, people, or events may start to feel threatening, even when there is no immediate danger. You may find yourself experiencing persistent worry, fear, overthinking, physical tension, panic, or a feeling that you need to stay prepared for something to go wrong.

Many people living with anxiety begin to rely on strategies that provide short-term relief but may unintentionally maintain anxiety over time. In CBT, these are often referred to as safety/ protective behaviours. They are understandable attempts to help us feel safer, such as avoiding certain situations, seeking reassurance, checking, over-preparing, or trying to reduce uncertainty.

Together, we can explore how anxiety affects you as an individual — including your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, triggers, and coping patterns. By developing a clearer understanding of what is happening and what may be maintaining anxiety, we can work towards building more helpful responses and increasing your confidence in managing difficult situations.

Anxiety can develop for many different reasons. For some people, it may be connected to childhood experiences, past difficulties, trauma, stressful life events, or patterns that have developed over time. For others, anxiety may emerge during periods of increased pressure, change, uncertainty, or significant life transitions.

The way we work together will be tailored to your individual experiences and needs. Therapy may involve learning practical strategies to manage anxiety symptoms, exploring the thoughts and beliefs that influence anxiety, developing emotional awareness, and gradually building confidence in facing situations that feel difficult.

Where anxiety is linked to traumatic experiences, distressing memories, or specific events, approaches such as EMDR may be considered as part of therapy. EMDR can support the processing of distressing experiences and help reduce the emotional intensity connected to them. The suitability of any approach will always be explored collaboratively, ensuring therapy progresses at a pace that feels safe and appropriate for you.

At ISC Therapy, I support people experiencing a range of anxiety difficulties, helping them understand their experiences, develop effective coping strategies, and regain a greater sense of confidence, safety, and control.

Below you will find some of the specific anxiety presentations I work with. If you do not see your experience listed, please get in touch so we can explore how I may be able to support you.