Anxiety Therapy in the UK: Understanding the Root Causes and Finding the Right Help
Image Credit: Andrej Lišakov
If you are living with anxiety, you may feel like you are constantly on edge, waiting for something to go wrong.
Maybe your heart races without warning, your thoughts refuse to settle, or you have a constant knot in your stomach that never really goes away. Anxiety can show up in many ways, and when it does, it can quietly drain the colour from your daily life.
You might have tried to talk yourself out of it. You might have read countless articles or downloaded mindfulness apps. Maybe you have even Googled or ChatGPT’d “how to get rid of anxiety fast”. But the truth is, there isn’t a quick fix, and if you are here reading this, you probably already know that. What you might be looking for is a way to understand your anxiety differently and how to find support that actually fits you.
Why anxiety feels so overwhelming
Anxiety isn’t just “worry” or “nervous.” It is a state where your mind and body are caught in a loop of threat detection and protection, even when there is no real danger in front of you. Your nervous system cannot always tell the difference between a genuine threat and a stressful thought which means you can be sitting at your desk or lying in bed and still feel like you are facing a crisis.
For some, anxiety feels like a surge of panic that makes it hard to breathe. For others, it is more of a constant hum of stress, a background tension that never lets you fully relax. You might notice that your muscles are always tight, you’re tossing and turning in bed restlessly, and your mind keeps running through worst-case scenarios.
When anxiety becomes a regular visitor in your life, it can leave you feeling exhausted and isolated. It is not unusual for anxiety and loneliness to go hand in hand, and both can feed each other.
Image Credit: A. C.
The problem with a “one size fits all” approach
In the UK, there are many options for anxiety treatment. The NHS often offers a limited Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as a first stop in their steps to wellbeing program. For some people, this is enough to make a noticeable difference, particularly those for mild-to-moderate anxiety. But for others, anxiety is tied up with deeper experiences such as early life stress, long-standing self-doubt, or unresolved grief. When that is the case, a surface-level approach can sometimes feel like it is missing the heart of the problem.
Anxiety therapy works best when it is personalised. This means taking the time to explore not just what your symptoms are, but the meaning behind why they might be there in the first place. It is about understanding the messages your anxiety could be sending, rather than only trying to silence it.
Types of anxiety therapy in the UK
There is no single “right” way to approach anxiety, but there are several psychological options you might consider:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety: Can help calm the nervous system and open space for new perspectives.
Integrative counselling: Combines different therapeutic approaches, tailored to your needs, this could involve combining CBT with hypnotherapy.
Online anxiety therapy: Not really another type of therapy but a way that the ones listed could be facilitated. It offers the same benefits without needing to travel, which can be especially helpful if your anxiety makes it hard to leave home.
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How I work with anxiety
In my practice, anxiety therapy is not about quick fixes, and I believe the first step is in acknowledging that and respecting that if this way of being has been with you for some time it may not be that easily rectified overnight. A way I think about it is this: if it has taken you 5 years to gradually put on weight and you want to lose it, it is unlikely it will be taken off overnight, change happens slowly with gradual implementations and practices, namely in exercise, eating and lifestyle adjustments. Allowing changes to happen gradually give it the best conditions to take root and become sustainable for the longer term.
In the consulting room (online, which is how I practice), it is about slowing things down so we can really understand what is happening. I create a safe, non-judgemental space where we can explore how anxiety shows up for you in your thoughts, your body, and your relationships.
We might notice patterns you have been following for years without realising it. We might find that your anxiety is linked to times when you felt unsafe, unheard, or under pressure. Sometimes, what feels like an enemy at first turns out to be a protective part of you that is just working too hard.
The goal is not to make anxiety disappear overnight, but to loosen its grip so you can live more freely. That could mean being able to meet friends without the constant rolodex flickering of “what ifs,” getting through a workday without feeling drained by tension, or finally sleeping through the night.
Image Credit: Christine Donaldson
Finding the right support for anxiety therapy in the UK
Choosing a therapist can feel daunting, especially when anxiety is already taking up so much mental space.
It can help to think about:
Whether you feel comfortable with the therapist after your first meeting
How well they explain their approach
If you feel listened to, rather than talked at
Whether they seem interested in understanding your version of anxiety, not just treating a generic presentation of “symptoms”
Anxiety therapy works best when you feel safe enough to be open and curious about your experience. When that happens, real change becomes possible.
If anxiety has been limiting your life, you do not have to navigate it alone. I offer online anxiety therapy, so it doesn’t matter where in the UK you are based, we can work together to understand what is going on and help you move towards a calmer and more connected way of living.
You can book a free discovery call to take the first step.
Anxiety can be overwhelming, but often it’s tied to shame and the belief you’re not enough. If this feels familiar, you may also like:
References
Catarino, A., Harper, S., Malcolm, R., Stainthorpe, A., Warren, G., Margoum, M., Hooper, J., Blackwell, A., & Welchman, A. (2023). Economic evaluation of 27,540 patients with mood and anxiety disorders and the importance of waiting time and clinical effectiveness in mental healthcare. Nat. Mental Health 1, 667–678.
Foster, B. (2025a). Therapy for anxiety: Beyond labels. Ben Foster Therapy. Available at: https://www.benfostertherapy.com/blogs/therapy-for-anxiety-beyond-labels. [Accessed: 11 August 2025].
Foster, B. (2025b). Why Can’t I Relax? Uncovering Hypervigilance and How to Feel Safe. Ben Foster Therapy. Available at: https://www.benfostertherapy.com/blogs/why-cant-i-relax. [Accessed: 11 August 2025].
NHS. (2023). Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/. [Accessed: 11 August 2025].