Table of Contents hide

1.1 What are the most effective counselling techniques for treating anxiety?

1.2 How Can I Find The Best Counsellor Who Specialises In Anxiety Treatment?

1.3 What Are Some Recommended Counselling Programs Or Services For Managing Anxiety?

1.4 Best Counselling For Anxiety Conclusion

Best Counselling For Anxiety

Best counselling for anxiety. Anxiety isn’t a pleasant sensation, so it’s only natural to avoid it if you can. One of the ways that people do this is by steering clear of the situations that make them anxious. If you have a fear of heights, you might drive three hours out of your way to avoid crossing a tall bridge.

Or if the prospect of public speaking leaves your stomach in knots, you might skip your best friend’s wedding in order to avoid giving a toast. Aside from the inconvenience factor, the problem with avoiding your fears is that you never have the chance to overcome them. In fact, avoiding your fears often makes them stronger.

Best counselling for anxiety, Cognitive behavioural counselling (CBT) is the most widely-used counselling for anxiety disorders. Research has shown it to be effective in the treatment of panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, and generalised anxiety disorder, among many other conditions.

CBT addresses negative patterns and distortions in the way we look at the world and ourselves. As the name suggests, this involves two main components: Cognitive counselling examines how negative thoughts, or cognitions, contribute to anxiety.

Best counselling for anxiety, Behavior counselling examines how you behave and react in situations that trigger anxiety. The basic premise of CBT is that our thoughts not external events affect the way we feel. In other words, it’s not the situation you’re in that determines how you feel, but your perception of the situation.

For example, imagine that you’ve just been invited to a big party. Consider three different ways of thinking about the invitation, and how those thoughts would affect your emotions.

Best counselling for anxiety, Systematic desensitisation. Rather than facing your biggest fear right away, which can be traumatising, exposure counselling usually starts with a situation that’s only mildly threatening and works up from there. This step-by-step approach is called systematic desensitisation.

Systematic desensitisation allows you to gradually challenge your fears, build confidence, and master skills for controlling panic. Systematic desensitisation involves three parts:

Best counselling for anxiety, Learning relaxation skills. First, your counsellor will teach you a relaxation technique, such as progressive muscle relaxation or deep breathing. You’ll practice in counselling and on your own at home.

Once you start confronting your fears, you’ll use this relaxation technique to reduce your physical anxiety response (such as trembling and hyperventilating) and encourage relaxation.

Best counselling for anxiety, Creating a step-by-step list. Next, you’ll create a list of 10 to 20 scary situations that progress toward your final goal. For example, if your final goal is to overcome your fear of flying, you might start by looking at photos of planes and end by taking an actual flight. Each step should be as specific as possible, with a clear, measurable objective.

Best counselling for anxiety, Working through the steps. Under the guidance of your counsellor, you’ll then begin to work through the list. The goal is to stay in each scary situation until your fears subside.

That way, you’ll learn that the feelings won’t hurt you and they do go away. Every time the anxiety gets too intense, you will switch to the relaxation technique you learned. Once you’re relaxed again, you can turn your attention back to the situation.

Best counselling for anxiety, In this way, you will work through the steps until you’re able to complete each one without feeling overly distressed. As you explore your anxiety disorder in counselling, you may also want to experiment with complementary therapies designed to bring your overall stress levels down and help you achieve emotional balance.

Exercise is a natural stress buster and anxiety reliever. Research shows that as little as 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week can provide significant anxiety relief. To achieve the maximum benefit, aim for at least an hour of aerobic exercise on most days.

Best counselling for anxiety, Relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, when practised regularly, can reduce anxiety and increase feelings of emotional well-being.

Biofeedback uses sensors that measure specific physiological functions—such as heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension to teach you to recognise your body’s anxiety response and learn how to control it using relaxation techniques.

Hypnosis is sometimes used in combination with CBT for anxiety. While you’re in a state of deep relaxation, the hypno counsellor uses different therapeutic techniques to help you face your fears and look at them in new ways.

Best counselling for anxiety, There is no quick fix for anxiety. Overcoming an anxiety disorder takes time and commitment. counselling involves facing your fears rather than avoiding them, so sometimes you’ll feel worse before you get better. The important thing is to stick with treatment and follow your counsellor’s advice.

If you’re feeling discouraged with the pace of recovery, remember that counselling for anxiety is very effective in the long run. You’ll reap the benefits if you see it through.

Best counselling for anxiety, You can also support your own anxiety counselling by making positive choices. Everything from your activity level to your social life affects anxiety. Set the stage for success by making a conscious decision to promote relaxation, vitality, and a positive mental outlook in your everyday life.

Learn about anxiety. In order to overcome anxiety, it’s important to understand the problem. That’s where education comes in. Education alone won’t cure an anxiety disorder, but it will help you get the most out of counselling.

The best counselling for anxiety is, Cultivate your connections with other people. Loneliness and isolation set the stage for anxiety. Decrease your vulnerability by reaching out to others. Make it a point to see friends, join a self-help or support group, or share your worries and concerns with a trusted loved one.

Adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Physical activity relieves tension and anxiety, so make time for regular exercise. Don’t use alcohol and drugs to cope with your symptoms, and try to avoid stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, which can make anxiety worse.

Best counselling for anxiety, Reduce stress in your life. Examine your life for stress, and look for ways to minimize it. Avoid people who make you anxious, say no to extra responsibilities, and make time for fun and relaxation in your daily schedule.

There are many counselling options for treating anxiety.

The most commonly used approach is cognitive-behavioural counselling (CBT), but depending on the specific type of anxiety, a counsellor might also use exposure counselling, acceptance and commitment counselling (ACT), dialectical behavioural counselling (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing counselling (EMDR), or interpersonal counselling (IPT).

Best counselling for anxiety, Anxious feelings are normal and a healthy part of life. You probably notice an increase in anxiety before public speaking or meeting a new person; however, if anxious feelings become persistent and overwhelming, or your anxiety starts to interfere with your day-to-day life, you might be struggling with an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimated that about 19% of adults experienced an anxiety disorder within the last year.

Types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety, and separation anxiety.

Best counselling for anxiety, Anxiety counselling provided by a trained counsellor using techniques appropriate for the individual and their specific needs can be beneficial to improve symptoms. However, the extent of symptom improvement, the pace at which symptoms improve and the end results vary for each person.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating anxiety. Treatment for anxiety needs to be chosen based on the individual’s specific symptoms. In some cases, the treatment will need to be individualized to combine aspects of different modalities.

Acceptance and Commitment Counselling (ACT): ACT is another effective modality of treatment for anxiety. It helps individuals to identify their values and act in ways that align with their values through acceptance and mindfulness techniques.ACT has been used to effectively treat social anxiety, testing anxiety, and OCD.

Elements of ACT can be combined with other treatment modalities to address symptom combinations specific to individuals. An example would be generalized anxiety that prevents a person from engaging with others and situations in a way that aligns with their values.

Art & Music Therapies: Any form of expressive art counselling can help manage anxiety symptoms. Creating or consuming art is naturally soothing and therapeutic. On a deeper level, art and music therapies can help people express challenging and unclear thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

These therapies can help the person gain a better understanding of themselves and their motivations.

Anxiety can seem to come out of nowhere, but in many cases, it’s being driven or worsened by negative thought patterns, underdeveloped coping skills, or deeply-ingrained unconscious beliefs.

Anxiety is a normal and healthy emotion, and you might experience higher anxiety levels before a first date or before giving an important presentation. However, when a person feels consistent and overwhelming anxiety, it might become a mental health condition. Anxiety disorders are a category of mental health conditions characterized by excessive fear, worry, and apprehension.

If you’re struggling with excessive worry or high anxiety levels, you’re not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States, and approximately 19% of the general population has a diagnosed anxiety disorder.

Anxiety can interfere with everyday life, and feelings of anxiety can be difficult to control. Fortunately, anxiety disorders are highly treatable, with many anxiety patients noticing significant improvement from psycho counselling.

What are the most effective counselling techniques for treating anxiety?

What are the most effective counselling techniques for treating anxiety? Cognitive counselling. Cognitive counselling is the most common psychological treatment for anxiety disorders. This approach involves working with counsellors to identify the feelings, thoughts, and beliefs that impact an individual’s ability to modify behaviours.

For example, a person with a phobia of dogs would work to uncover the irrational beliefs that surround this phobia, such as the inherent danger in approaching all dogs. Cognitive counselling is typically combined with behaviour counselling to address beliefs and cognitions in conjunction with working toward ways of changing behaviours.

For example, a patient with a dog phobia might try approaching docile dogs while also working with a counsellor on their irrational fears. This is an approach known as exposure counselling.

What are the most effective counselling techniques for treating anxiety? Attention bias modification. Attention bias modification is a newly emerging approach that involves the use of computer-based attention training with patients with anxiety to affect hyper-attention to perceived threats in the environment (Bar-Haim, 2010).

In this way, problematic attentional biases can be modified to reduce anxiety. Attention bias modification is similar to CBT because it involves exposure to feared objects or situations, but it is also unique because of its focus on specific attentional bias targets (Hakamata et al., 2010).

Although studies investigating this approach are minimal, attention bias modification represents a promising new approach for the treatment of anxiety disorders (Hakamata et al., 2010).

What are the most effective counselling techniques for treating anxiety? Hypnosis. Hypnosis has also been found to benefit individuals dealing with anxiety.

Hypnosis is “a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion” (Elkins, Barabasz, Council, & Spiegel, 2014, p. 6).

Hypnosis is like meditation but with added objectives based on the needs of the individual. It may involve varying states of consciousness during which attention is focused and distractions are tuned out (McNeal, 2019).

Importantly, hypnosis is not an out-of-control experience, as the patient has power over and awareness of what’s going on. Additionally, its goals are achievable within a minimal time commitment (Straub & Bowman, 2016).

What are the most effective counselling techniques for treating anxiety? Psychodynamic counselling. Psychodynamic counselling as a therapeutic approach often conjures up antiquated images of psychiatrist couches and patients reliving early childhood experiences.

Psychodynamic counselling, which is rooted in Freudian theory, involves building strong counsellor–patient alliances in which patients may develop the psychological tools needed to deal with fears and anxieties.

Although treatment may be lengthy, short-term psychodynamic counselling also has been reported as an effective approach for anxiety.

For example, one study reported that a 30-session psychodynamic treatment was helpful for the treatment of generalized anxiety although this approach was less successful than CBT (Leichsenring et al., 2009).

Additionally, in a study examining long-term follow-up after psychodynamic counselling, significant reductions were reported for anxiety symptoms, with short-term approaches producing quicker improvements and long-term approaches providing longer-lasting improvements (Knekt et al., 2008).

In contrast, a comparison of CBT and short-term psychodynamic counselling for patients with excessive health-related anxiety indicated significant improvements only for those who received CBT (Sørensen, Birket-Smith, Wattar, Buemann, & Salkovskis, 2010).

What are the most effective counselling techniques for treating anxiety? Vagus nerve stimulation. In this unique treatment approach, an anticonvulsant device sends electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is targeted because of its ability to modulate anxiety.

Although this approach is typically used for epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression, studies have also demonstrated its effectiveness for treatment-resistant anxiety disorders (George et al., 2008).

Additionally, studies in which vagus nerve stimulation was used to treat epilepsy or depression have reported significant reductions in anxiety symptoms (Chavel, Westerveld, & Spencer, 2003; Rush et al., 2000).

Importantly, vagus nerve stimulation is an invasive approach that is used as an add-on treatment for patients who have not achieved success with CBT and other forms of counselling.

How Can I Find The Best Counsellor Who Specialises In Anxiety Treatment?

How can I find the best counsellor who specialises in anxiety treatment? Online Resources. If you don’t have any of the above options, you can also search for counsellors in your area by visiting websites such as relationshipsmdd.com.

Both of these options allow you to narrow your search results by the type of services you are looking for, and the APA tool even allows you to specify counsellors with certain specialities or who treat certain age groups.

You can also use the search engine of your choice to see what is available in your area. Simply searching “clinical psychologist anxiety [insert your area]” will return any number of results.

However, I must caution against taking this approach. Search engines often return an overwhelming number of responses, and you are left to your own devices to determine the quality of these results.

How can I find the best counsellor who specialises in anxiety treatment? Do Your Research. Not all counsellors offer the same services or experience, regardless of licensing or clinical hours. Two counsellors might specialize in anxiety, but one could offer cognitive-behavioural counselling (CBT) while the other only offers exposure counselling.

Therefore, researching counselling modalities, specialities, and techniques before finding a counsellor can be beneficial. Many people may believe counselling involves lying on a couch and freely discussing your emotions or thoughts with your counsellor. However, this technique is only one of over 400.

Some forms of counselling involve talking one-on-one with a mental health professional. However, you may be able to find other forms if you’re not interested in traditional talk counselling. In addition, there are various forms of talk counselling.

How can I find the best counsellor who specialises in anxiety treatment? Check Each counsellor’s Credentials. When looking for a counsellor, ensure you understand the counsellor’s credentials. Each counsellor has a license, and each licensing designation may come with different responsibilities or abilities. These letters indicate what type of degree or training the counsellor has had, including the following:

MD: MD stands for medical doctor. In the psychology field, the only professionals with an MD are psychiatrists. These professionals have attended medical school and can write prescriptions, diagnose mental illness, and provide medical testing. They often collaborate with psychologists.
PhD and PsyD: Individuals with these letters have received a doctorate in psychology. Those with this degree designation can work as a counsellor, researchers, professors, or another distinguished professional in the psychology industry.
MA, MS, LGPC, LCPC: These acronyms show that a person has received a master’s degree. They have a state license if they have an “L” in their credentials. They may have other credentials if they have completed specialized training in a particular study area.
MSW, LCSW, LCSW-C, LGSW, LSW: These acronyms stand for the various degrees or licenses that those with a degree in social work have. Only those with a licensed clinical social work title can offer counselling.
MA, MFT, LFMT, LCMFT: These acronyms represent various types of marriage and family counsellors. Those with an L are licensed, while those without an L have a master’s degree in marriage and family counselling.
MA, CCPT, CpastC, NCPC, NCCA: You may see these acronyms for pastoral counsellors or those with a master’s in pastoral counselling. Often, these providers work in a church and offer religion-based counselling. If you meet with a pastoral counsellor, ensure they have a state license to practice counselling.
MHC, LMHC: These acronyms represent those with a master’s degree in mental health counselling. Those with an L are licensed, while those with an MHC work toward licensure under a limited permit. Mental health counsellors and social workers receive similar training in their master’s programs.

How can I find the best counsellor who specialises in anxiety treatment? Choosing Who to See. Your search has probably returned more than one viable option. The next step then becomes determining which counsellor to see. Remember! You are never “locked in” to seeing a particular counsellor (more on that later). However, here are some pointers for winnowing down your choices.

Does the counsellor have experience with your particular symptoms? Often clinicians are skilled in helping with any number of common mental illnesses and symptoms; however, others specialize to a much greater degree and focus only on certain issues.

In most cases, you should be able to see what a given counsellor specializes in by checking their website (if available) or calling them at their office. When examining their specializations, you also want to ensure that the individual is licensed and qualified to provide counselling.

Payment – Does your insurance cover this particular counsellor? Fortunately, most insurance companies cover even routine visits to counsellors. Unfortunately, much like their colleagues in the medical field, not all counsellors are covered by all insurance plans.

Always double-check with your insurance provider that your insurance will cover the person you are about to visit as well as how many visits are covered and what are the deductibles, co-pays, and annual maximum payments. In addition, you want to know how much each session will cost you and what forms of payment they accept.

How can I find the best counsellor who specialises in anxiety treatment? Making Your Decision. At this stage, it is quite possible that you have found a counsellor that is right for you.

You sought out the counsellors available in your area; you found one who specializes in your symptoms and uses evidenced-based therapies; and after a few sessions, you now feel comfortable seeing this person on a consistent basis. Great! It is also possible, though, that you still don’t feel like this person is a good match for you and/or your symptoms. What then?

To be sure, you need to give a counsellor a legitimate shot. Oftentimes, the treatment of mental illness is a slow process, so you must be careful to not write off a given counsellor simply because your symptoms are still bothering you.

If you do not feel that your counsellor is properly addressing your needs or concerns, first bring it up with them. Talk to them about how you don’t feel they are helping you. More likely than not, they will understand that every client’s needs are different and will have no problem trying to reframe their approach. However, if after having this conversation with your counsellor things do not improve, you might want to consider finding a new counsellor.

In some cases, you can even ask this counsellor for referrals to other individuals they think might be a better fit, especially if you can articulate why you want to see a different person. For instance, you might want to see a counsellor who specializes in a different approach or is the same gender, race, or sexual orientation as yourself.

If for some reason you can’t ask the counsellor you are seeing for a referral, you can return to Step 1 of this list and start again. Remember, you are not locked into seeing a particular individual.

What Are Some Recommended Counselling Programs Or Services For Managing Anxiety?

What are some recommended counselling programs or services for managing anxiety? Keep physically active. Develop a routine so that you’re physically active most days of the week. Exercise is a powerful stress reducer.

It can improve your mood and help you stay healthy. Start out slowly, and gradually increase the amount and intensity of your activities.

Exercise is especially attractive because it’s cost-effective and may be performed in a variety of ways. While exercise may not reap the same benefits for patients with anxiety as CBT or other psychological approaches, it may enhance the impact of such treatment.

What are some recommended counselling programs or services for managing anxiety? Complementary therapies for anxiety disorders. As you explore your anxiety disorder in counselling, you may also want to experiment with complementary therapies designed to bring your overall stress levels down and help you achieve emotional balance.

Relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, when practised regularly, can reduce anxiety and increase feelings of emotional well-being.

What are some recommended counselling programs or services for managing anxiety? Making anxiety counselling work for you. There is no quick fix for anxiety. Overcoming an anxiety disorder takes time and commitment. counselling involves facing your fears rather than avoiding them, so sometimes you’ll feel worse before you get better.

The important thing is to stick with treatment and follow your counsellor’s advice. If you’re feeling discouraged with the pace of recovery, remember that counselling for anxiety is very effective in the long run. You’ll reap the benefits if you see it through.

What are some recommended counselling programs or services for managing anxiety? Anxiety disorders differ considerably, so counselling should be tailored to your specific symptoms and diagnosis.

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), for example, your treatment will be different from someone who needs help for anxiety attacks. The length of counselling will also depend on the type and severity of your anxiety disorder.

However, many anxiety therapies are relatively short-term. According to the American Psychological Association, many people improve significantly within 8 to 10 counselling sessions.

What are some recommended counselling programs or services for managing anxiety? When individuals do seek help for anxiety, they most likely seek help from a counsellor. The terms are often used interchangeably.

Most professionals treating any of the anxiety disorders employ the same type of interventions, interventions that have been proven effective by scientifically based experiments and studies.

Interventions usually fall within one of two main counselling categories: cognitive behavioural counselling and evidence-based counselling. Medications for anxiety, such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines can also be prescribed in combination with counselling.

In addition to counselling, counsellors will also work with clients on overall lifestyle and behavioural changes, changes that aid the therapeutic process. Some of the main areas the counsellor will address are nutrition, restful sleep, exercise and physical activity, and social relationships.