Counselling Teens and Adults for Anxiety
“I had been struggling with PTSD for 5 years and had not been able to find the right help, until I met Claire. From the very beginning she made me feel comfortable and at ease.
From the first session, we talked through my PTSD symptoms and she explained, in a very easy to understand way, why I have those symptoms and how to ease them. During the months we were speaking, she gave me exercises to do in my own time, so I could ease my symptoms, instead of trying to avoid them and make them worse.
I now use these exercises whenever I need to and have made a huge impact on my daily life. I have been struggling with flashbacks and nightmares and this is the first time in more than 5 years that I can actually go days and even weeks without any! I can have a full night’s sleep without waking up shivering and crying, and I can now focus on my work without distractions. I am very grateful for her help and these sessions have truly changed my life. Thank you."
​
(M., female client, 21 yrs).
Overcoming Anxiety: How I Can Help
I specialise in providing therapy for a wide range of anxiety disorders. Anxiety can take many forms, and it’s different for everyone. Whether anxiety feels overwhelming, specific to certain situations, or impacts your daily life, I provide compassionate and effective therapy tailored to your needs. Below are the types of anxiety I can help with:
-
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
-
Social Anxiety Disorder
-
Panic Disorder
-
Phobias
-
Post - traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
-
Obsessive - Compulsive Disoder (OCD)
-
Health Anxiety
-
Agoraphobia
-
Perfectionism anxiety
-
Performance Driven anxiety
Helping Teens and Young Adults Navigate Life Transitions with Confidence:
The journey from adolescence to adulthood is full of transitions, each bringing unique challenges and new responsibilities. During these formative years, teens and young adults face academic pressures, changing social dynamics, evolving family relationships, and career uncertainties. These experiences can be overwhelming, often leading to feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and stress.
I provide a safe and supportive space for teens and young adults to navigate these transitions with confidence and clarity. Together, we work on building essential skills to manage anxiety, develop resilience, and make empowered choices that align with your values and goals.
My approach is tailored to address the specific needs of young people at this stage, including:
-
Managing Academic and Career Pressures: We explore practical ways to handle academic demands, set realistic goals, and build healthy routines to reduce stress and foster productivity.
​​
-
Building Healthy Relationships: I help young people navigate the complexities of friendships, family, and romantic relationships, providing tools for effective communication, self-advocacy, and boundary-setting.
​​
-
Developing Self-Confidence and Identity: During this time of self-discovery, CBT offers tools to challenge self-doubt, build self-esteem, and promote a positive sense of identity and self-worth.
​
With compassionate guidance and evidence-based strategies, I help young adults
approach life’s transitions with resilience and a sense of empowerment. My goal is to help build a strong foundation for emotional well-being that will serve them as they continue to grow and thrive.
How I use CBT to help adolescents and adults with anxiety:
-
I help clients to understand the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that contribute to anxiety responses.
​​
-
After identifying unhelpful thought patterns, I help clients to replace them with more balanced perspectives.
​​
-
Behavioural techniques are taught to help clients face and manage their fears rather than avoiding them, fostering empowerment. This is only done at a pace the client is comfortable with.
​​
-
In my CBT practice I also incorporate tools like mindfulness, relaxation strategies, and problem-solving skills, which can provide long-term benefits in managing anxiety symptoms.
How I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help adolescents and adults with anxiety:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an effective approach for managing anxiety by focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based actions rather than directly challenging or eliminating anxious thoughts. Here are examples of how I use ACT to help with anxiety:
-
Acceptance of Thoughts and Feelings: Instead of struggling against or trying to eliminate anxious thoughts and feelings, ACT encourages individuals to accept them as natural experiences. This reduces the power of anxiety because resisting or avoiding it often amplifies it. Acceptance helps create space for these experiences without letting them dictate one’s actions.
-
Cognitive Defusion: I teach clients cognitive defusion techniques to help them recognise that thoughts are often not ‘absolute truths’. This reduces the power that unhelpful thoughts can have on emotions and behaviour.
-
Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness: Teaching clients how to focus on the present moment helps to shift attention away from worrying about the future or ruminating on the past. Mindfulness techniques can reduce reactivity to anxiety and promote a greater sense of calm and awareness of one’s current experience without judgment.
-
Values-Based Living: I help clients to clarify and commit to their personal values, such as relationships, health, or creativity. This helps clients to align their actions with what matters most to them, even when experiencing anxiety.
-
Self-Compassion: I help clients to foster self-compassion, encouraging them to be kind to themselves when experiencing anxiety. This self-acceptance can ease the distress that often accompanies anxiety.
-
Behavioural Commitment: I encourage and guide clients to take small, meaningful actions aligned with their values, even in the face of anxiety. This focus on action can empower clients to gradually build confidence, reduce avoidance, and live more fully.
By combining acceptance, mindfulness, and values-driven action, I use ACT to offer a compassionate and flexible approach to managing anxiety, fostering resilience and a meaningful, engaged life.
