Services
Anxiety, OCD & Panic Counselling in Narre Warren
Freedom From Fear & Worry
Anxiety conditions are among the most common and most treatable mental health conditions. You don't have to manage this on your own.
Anxiety is Australia's most common mental health condition, affecting around 1 in 4 people at some point in their lives. It can show up as constant worry, sudden panic, intrusive thoughts and compulsions, or a persistent sense of dread that's hard to explain. At Thoughtful Strides Counselling and Psychotherapy, we help individuals understand what's driving their anxiety and build practical, evidence-based tools to feel more in control again.
Anxiety disorders cover a range of presentations, including generalised anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and they often overlap with each other. Whatever form it takes, effective, well-evidenced treatment is available.
Have a specific question? Jump straight to the FAQs below.
Signs Anxiety Counselling Could Help
- Persistent, hard to control worry about everyday things
- Restlessness, muscle tension, or feeling constantly on edge
- Sudden panic attacks, including a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a fear of losing control
- Avoiding places, situations, or activities out of fear or anxiety
- Intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause distress
- Compulsions or rituals used to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome
- Difficulty sleeping due to a racing mind
- Anxiety that's interfering with work, study, or relationships
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, sudden surges of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, chest tightness, or dizziness, along with ongoing worry about having another attack. It's highly treatable, and many people fear something is physically wrong with them before recognising the pattern as panic.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that cause significant distress, and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce that distress or prevent a feared outcome. Common themes include contamination, harm, symmetry, or intrusive taboo thoughts. OCD responds well to structured, evidence-based treatment.
Our Approach
With 20 years of clinical experience and advanced training across trauma-informed and evidence-based modalities, we tailor treatment to the specific type of anxiety you're experiencing, not a one-size-fits-all program.
What We'll Work On Together
- Understanding your specific anxiety triggers and patterns
- Practical tools to manage panic symptoms in the moment
- Gradual, structured exposure to reduce avoidance and compulsions
- Challenging unhelpful thinking patterns that fuel anxiety
- Nervous system regulation and grounding techniques
- Where relevant, processing past experiences that underlie current symptoms
- Building a relapse prevention plan for the future
What to Expect
Sessions are 60 minutes, available in person in Narre Warren or via telehealth Australia-wide. We start with a thorough assessment of your history, symptoms, and goals, then build a plan suited to you, whether that's short-term, focused work or a longer-term course of therapy.
Anxiety shrinks the world down to what feels safe. Therapy is about widening it back out again, one manageable step at a time.
Wondering about cost? Session fees and private health insurance rebate details are on the Fees page.
If anxiety, panic, or OCD is affecting your day to day life, support is available.
Book a Session →Common Questions
Anxiety, OCD & Panic FAQs
Anxiety counselling is professional support for generalised anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It helps identify what's driving the anxiety and build practical, evidence-based tools to feel more in control.
Common signs include persistent, hard to control worry, restlessness or muscle tension, avoidance of feared situations, difficulty sleeping due to a racing mind, and anxiety that's interfering with work, study, or relationships.
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or dizziness, typically peaking within minutes. Panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks along with ongoing worry about having another one.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that cause distress, and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce that distress or prevent a feared outcome. Common themes include contamination, harm, symmetry, or intrusive taboo thoughts.
The most well-evidenced approach to OCD is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that includes gradual, structured exposure work, often combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or Schema Therapy where longstanding patterns are involved. Treatment focuses on steadily reducing the power of obsessions and compulsions through this structured, supported approach.
Yes. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and related psychotherapies are well evidenced treatments for anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD on their own. Some people benefit from combining therapy with medication prescribed by a GP or psychiatrist, which is a decision best made with your treating professionals.
Yes. Thoughtful Strides Counselling and Psychotherapy offers anxiety, OCD, and panic counselling via telehealth Australia-wide, as well as in person in Narre Warren, Victoria.
Ready to take the first step?
Appointments are available now. Reach out today and we'll find a time that works for you.
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