Anxiety counselling in Eastbourne and online
Does your mind keep going over the same things? Do you find it difficult to switch off, relax or trust that things will be okay? Perhaps anxiety appears in particular situations - at work, in relationships or socially - or sits more quietly in the background as a constant sense of unease?
However it shows up, living with anxiety can be exhausting.
I'm Nicki Wakefield, an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist based in Eastbourne.
Anxiety is an area I have a particular interest in, both professionally and through personal experience. I know what it's like when your rational mind can tell you one thing, while another part of you still feels that something is wrong.
That experience has reinforced for me the value of both understanding anxiety more deeply and finding practical ways of responding to it.
I've also used some of the practical approaches I draw on in my work, including ideas from CBT and ACT. For me, both understanding anxiety more deeply and finding practical ways to respond to it have been valuable.
How I work with anxiety
We can explore what may be contributing to your anxiety and why it affects you as it does. This might include emotions, past or present experiences, beliefs, relationships or patterns in how you respond.
We can also draw on practical approaches, including CBT and ACT, to help you develop different ways of responding when anxiety shows up.
Our work can include both deeper understanding and practical ways forward, depending on what you need.
Anxiety can show up in different ways
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Overthinking, replaying conversations or imagining the worst-case scenario
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Feeling tense, restless or unable to settle
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Difficulty sleeping or switching off
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Avoiding situations that feel overwhelming
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Seeking reassurance but finding the relief doesn't last
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Finding decisions difficult or doubting yourself
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Physical sensations such as a racing heart, tightness, nausea or feeling on edge
Sometimes anxiety has an obvious trigger. At other times, you may not know why you're feeling anxious at all. Either is a perfectly good place to start.
What we might explore together
We may look at what tends to trigger your anxiety, what happens in your thoughts and body, and the ways you have learned to protect yourself from uncertainty or discomfort.
For some people, it is useful to explore earlier experiences or relationship patterns. For others, the work may be more focused on the present: noticing anxious cycles, understanding avoidance or reassurance-seeking, reconnecting with what matters to you, and trying different responses.
Thinking about counselling for anxiety?
I offer counselling face-to-face in Eastbourne and online.
If anxiety is affecting your day-to-day life, relationships or the choices you're making, please get in touch. The first step is a free introductory call so we can talk briefly about what you're looking for and whether I might be the right person to support you.