About us
Anxiety & Overwhelm
It usually starts quietly
Sometimes anxiety does not look the way people expect it to.
You may still be going to work, replying to messages, looking after other people and getting through the day. From the outside, things may even look relatively normal. But underneath it can feel exhausting. Your mind does not properly switch off. Sleep becomes difficult. Small things start feeling overwhelming. You replay conversations afterwards. You feel constantly alert, emotionally drained or like something bad is about to happen even when you cannot fully explain why.
For many people, anxiety builds gradually over time until it starts affecting relationships, confidence, work, sleep and everyday life. By the time most people begin searching for anxiety counselling, they are not usually looking for a quick fix. They are often simply tired of carrying too much for too long on their own.
If that feels familiar, you are not alone in it.
What anxiety can look like
Many of the people who contact us are unsure exactly what is wrong. Some describe panic attacks or emotional overwhelm. Others talk about burnout, constant overthinking, difficulty coping emotionally or feeling disconnected from themselves. Some have lived with anxiety quietly for years before deciding to speak to somebody.
Common experiences clients often describe include:
- constant worry or overthinking
- panic attacks or physical anxiety symptoms
- difficulty sleeping or switching off
- emotional exhaustion and burnout
- people pleasing and fear of letting others down
- relationship stress and emotional pressure
- low confidence and self doubt
- feeling emotionally overwhelmed by everyday life
- avoiding situations that feel emotionally difficult
- feeling emotionally “stuck” or unable to relax properly
Anxiety can sometimes exist on its own, but it can also sit underneath other experiences including trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, stress or long periods of emotional pressure.
What counselling for anxiety actually involves
Counselling is not about somebody telling you to “just think positively” or pretending difficult emotions are not real. Good therapy creates a safe professional relationship where you can begin understanding what may be happening underneath the anxiety and why things may have started feeling this way.
At Hope Therapy & Counselling Services, we provide anxiety counselling and therapy for adults, young adults, couples and families both online across the UK and face-to-face where suitable therapists are available.
We offer a range of therapeutic approaches depending on what feels appropriate for you, including:
- One to One Counselling
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, a therapy designed to help people process traumatic or emotionally difficult experiences that can feel “stuck”
- Couples Counselling
- Family Therapy
- Mindfulness Based Therapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Online Counselling & Therapy
Rather than taking a one size fits all approach, we carefully match people with a therapist suited to what they are experiencing personally.
Who you may work with
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services has supported clients since 2014 through an extensive team of qualified counsellors and therapists working across a wide range of specialisms.
You may work with therapists experienced in:
- anxiety and panic attacks
- workplace stress and burnout
- trauma related anxiety
- relationship anxiety and attachment difficulties
- low confidence and self esteem
- neurodiversity related overwhelm
- grief and emotional exhaustion
All therapists are registered with recognised professional bodies including the BACP or NCPS, and Hope Therapy is also an NCPS Organisational Member. Our founder, Ian Stockbridge, holds Senior Accredited status with both the BACP and NCPS alongside SCoPEd Band C recognition.
Online and in person counselling
Online counselling allows many clients to access support from a familiar environment without the stress of travel or waiting rooms, while face-to-face sessions remain available where suitable therapists are available for those who prefer in-person support.
Many people are understandably nervous about starting counselling or unsure whether it is the right step for them. A free 15 minute consultation can be a good place to start. It gives you the opportunity to ask questions, explain a little about what has been happening and decide whether the service feels right for you. There is no obligation to continue afterwards.
One important thing we will always say honestly
Counselling is not a guaranteed outcome or instant fix. For some people, therapy becomes an important turning point. For others, it provides support through a difficult period or helps them better understand themselves, their emotions and the patterns they may have been carrying for a long time. The experience is different for everybody.
If you are currently in crisis or at immediate risk of harm, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123, your GP or 999 in an emergency.
When you feel ready, we are here.
Training, qualifications & experience
We offer a wide range of therapeutic & counselling support. Therefore, our team have a range of qualifications and experiences to match the diversity of your needs.
However, you can be assured that all of our team are fully qualified and DBS-checked.
To find out more, simply ask.
Member organisations *
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Areas of counselling we deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- Standard sessional rate is £65 per session
- Couples Counselling is £85 per session
- Other prices are available on request
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