Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but effective support is available. Below are key insights into anxiety, treatment options, and how our psychologists in Melbourne can help.
Anxiety is a normal feeling we all experience as humans. Anxiety is feeling fear or apprehension about something bad happening. It can look and feel different for everyone, but usually comes with physical sensations like muscle tension, restlessness or increase in heart rate/blood pressure. People will often want to avoid and have lots of worry thoughts.
An Anxiety Disorder is when the anxiety is causing ongoing and significant distress and is impacting on your daily living. A registered psychologist can help you work out if you meet the formal criteria for an Anxiety Disorder. Whether you do or not, if you are experiencing anxiety it might be a good idea to see a psychologist and learn some strategies to manage these symptoms.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in Australia and can make everyday life very tough for those who have them. They can also lead to low self esteem making life even more complicated.
These conditions come about from a combination of social and physiological risk factors and manifest in many different ways with different features and challenges to overcome.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Phobias
Panic attacks
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Social anxiety
The symptoms of anxiety disorders are many and varied but often include excessive worrying and emotional distress that lasts more than 6 months and an ongoing sense of fear or dread. Recognising anxiety and its impact is the first step to getting help.
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is when you worry excessively about everyday life. This level of worry can be distressing and interfere with your daily living or ability to enjoy living.
Persistent anxiety and worrying about many things – from your health and finances to work and relationships – are the hallmarks of generalised anxiety. Recognising these signs is the first step to getting the right help and support from psychologists who specialise in anxiety.
Panic disorder is when you have recurring episodes of intense anxiety and terror that can seem to come out of nowhere (although sometimes there is a trigger that is known to the individual). These panic attacks are accompanied by strong (and often painful) physical sensations like palpitations, sweating and difficulty breathing. Having a panic attack can be a scary experience and people will often avoid places or situations where they have had an attack before.
For people with panic disorder the fear of having another panic attack can be overwhelming. This fear can interfere with their daily living and require big changes to their lifestyle.
Social anxiety presents with many symptoms including intense worry and fear in various social situations in everyday life. This can stop you from doing everyday things like attending events or speaking in public. Often the individual feels a generalised fear of being judged, criticised or humiliated.
Recognising the triggers – like public speaking, approaching strangers or dating – is important for those with this type of anxiety. Recognising these signs is the first step to getting help such as anxiety counselling in Melbourne.
Intense and irrational fears of specific objects, situations or activities known as specific phobias can impact your life big time.
Examples of common specific phobias include:
Arachnophobia (spider fear)
Acrophobia (fear of heights)
Aviophobia (fear of flying)
Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces)
These fears often come from traumatic events, hereditary or environmental factors.
Exposure therapy is a common treatment for these phobias. This therapy gradually exposes individuals to their feared stimulus in a controlled and safe environment to help them overcome their anxiety response.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is when you experience anxiety from persistent obsessions and compulsions. These intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviours can take up a lot of time and disrupt your daily living so getting the right treatment for this condition is important.
Treating anxiety disorders effectively is key to reducing symptoms and preventing relapse. Evidence based psychological therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, Schema Therapy and EMDR are proven ways to address anxiety. These therapies help you understand and manage your anxiety and improve your mental health.
An integrative approach to treating anxiety means working with clients as individuals and taking into account their developmental stage to provide targeted and effective treatment. Targeted treatment will often include a combination of evidence based treatments such as:
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a therapy that helps people understand how their thoughts impact their emotions and actions. By learning to change unhelpful thought patterns people can reduce their anxiety. Cognitive behaviour therapy uses techniques like disputing negative beliefs and self-compassion as ways to manage anxiety.
By teaching people practical skills through CBT they have control over their mental health so they can manage anxiety and improve their overall well being for a better life.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) says to accept (or welcome) the anxious emotions rather than resist them because pushing emotions away only works in the short term. By accepting thoughts and emotions and doing behaviours that match your values ACT helps with anxiety management.
By accepting personal experiences and encouraging people to do helpful actions even when anxious ACT brings about big change.
Exposure therapy is most commonly used to treat specific phobias (fear of heights, spiders, sickness etc). This therapy involves gradually exposing people to situations that trigger fear with the goal of reducing their avoidance of those situations and the anxiety that comes with it. By facing those fears in a controlled environment people can learn to manage their anxiety response.
This therapy is to help people overcome phobias and reduce the impact of anxiety on their daily living.
Schema Therapy is a comprehensive treatment that combines elements from various therapeutic models to address deeply ingrained patterns or themes in thoughts and behaviours called schemas. These schemas develop in childhood and can contribute to anxiety disorders. By identifying and changing these unhelpful schemas people can break free from the repetitive negative cycles that perpetuate anxiety. Schema Therapy uses techniques like cognitive restructuring, experiential exercises and behaviour pattern breaking to bring about deep emotional healing and overall mental health.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specific therapy for people whose anxiety is trauma based. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation such as guided eye movements to reprocess and integrate distressing memories so they have less emotional charge. This allows people to confront and resolve traumatic events without feeling overwhelmed and therefore reduce anxiety symptoms. EMDR is known for its rapid and lasting results so if you want to get rid of anxiety from past traumas contact us at Cova Psychology for EMDR Melbourne options.
In Melbourne, there are many options for anxiety counselling, offering a space to explore your emotions, experiences, and patterns. At our Melbourne psychology clinic, therapy isn’t just about managing symptoms—it’s about understanding yourself on a deeper level and finding ways to move forward with greater confidence and self-compassion.
Experienced clinical psychologists provide a safe and supportive environment where you can express yourself openly. Using individualised techniques, Melbourne therapists help with different types of anxiety, working towards meaningful and lasting change. For some, group therapy or support groups can also offer valuable connection and shared understanding, complementing individual therapy by providing diverse perspectives and communal support.
Therapy can also improve interpersonal skills and emotional resilience, supporting not just your mental health but also your relationships and overall well-being.
Whether to choose online counselling or therapy in person depends on your personal preference and situation. Face to face therapy allows therapists to pick up on nonverbal cues and get a better understanding of the client’s emotions. In these sessions clients often feel a stronger connection with the therapist and can explore more complex feelings.
Telehealth or online counselling offers convenience and accessibility. You can have therapy sessions from the comfort of your own home which is especially helpful for those with physical limitations or busy schedules.
Your Melbourne psychologist will teach you the most effective coping skills for anxiety. These are often set as homework so you will practice coping skills between sessions.
By using slow breathing techniques which involves taking deeper and slower breaths you can calm anxiety feelings. By using progressive muscle relaxation which involves consciously tensing and then releasing muscles you can release physical tension that comes with anxious symptoms. Learning these skills is key to managing anxiety in daily life.
Counselling sessions will also work on identifying the underlying causes of anxiety and current triggers. By knowing what triggers stress and anxiety counselling clients can learn when to use their coping skills. As they master the skills especially when they are feeling anxious they can take control of their anxiety and improve their mental and emotional well being.
Feeling anxious from time to time is normal, but if anxiety is affecting your daily life—making it hard to work, sleep, or enjoy things you used to—it might be time to reach out for support. A psychologist can help you understand your anxiety and develop strategies to manage it in a way that works for you.
Feeling anxious from time to time is normal, but if anxiety is affecting your daily life—making it hard to work, sleep, or enjoy things you used to—it might be time to reach out for support. A psychologist can help you understand your anxiety and develop strategies to manage it in a way that works for you.
There are several evidence-based approaches for treating anxiety, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps change unhelpful thought patterns, and mindfulness-based strategies that can support emotional regulation. The right approach depends on your experiences and what feels most helpful for you.
Yes. Even if anxiety has been part of your life for a long time, therapy can help you understand its patterns and develop new ways to manage it. Many people find that working with a psychologist allows them to break free from long-standing anxiety and feel more in control.
Not necessarily. Therapy can be highly effective on its own, and many people manage anxiety without medication. However, in some cases, a combination of therapy and medication may be helpful. If you’re unsure, a psychologist can help you explore your options.
The first step is simply reaching out. At Cova Psychology, we take the time to understand your concerns and help you find a path forward that feels right for you. If you’re considering therapy, we’re here to guide you through the process in a way that feels supportive and manageable.
If you or a loved one is experiencing anxiety our Melbourne psychologists and clinical psychologists are here to help. Get in touch with our friendly reception team to book an appointment. Contact us by:
We are available for both face to face and telehealth sessions.
Call us today to discuss your needs and connect with a psychologist from our Melbourne team.
Don't let your struggles hold you back. Call us.
Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist.
Let’s discuss your needs and match you with the right Melbourne psychologist
Acknowledgement of Country
Cova Psychology acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where our Melbourne CBD practice is located—the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong/Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, as well as the Elders of other Aboriginal communities in Melbourne and beyond.
We Welcome all People
We Work With
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which the practice is located. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.
