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Anxiety Counselling Sydney

Perhaps it is the tight chest before a meeting, the “what ifs” that keep you awake long after midnight, or a child who clings to you at the school gate every morning. Thinkahead provides anxiety counselling from our clinics in Frenchs Forest and Meadowbank, where our registered psychologists work with children, teenagers and adults from across Sydney.

It is worth stressing that anxiety is not a weakness or a character flaw. Some anxiety is a normal, even useful, response to pressure — it becomes a problem when it is out of proportion to the situation, hard to switch off, or quietly starts to shrink your life. You would also be far from alone: the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that around one in five Australians aged 16 and over experienced a mental health disorder in the previous 12 months, with anxiety the most common.

How Anxiety Can Show Up

Anxiety looks different from person to person, and in children it can look different again. Common signs include:

Persistent worry or “what if” thinking that is hard to put down
Physical symptoms such as a racing heart, tense muscles, an upset stomach or trouble sleeping
Avoiding places, people or tasks that trigger fear — and finding that list growing
Seeking constant reassurance, or over-preparing in order to feel in control
In children, tummy aches before school, tears at separation, or worries at bedtime

These are indicators — not a diagnosis. Our psychologists work with a wide range of presentations, including general worry, social anxiety, health anxiety, phobias, separation anxiety in children, and study and exam stress.

How Anxiety Counselling Works

Anxiety tends to feed on avoidance: each time a feared situation is sidestepped, relief arrives and the fear is reinforced. Counselling works to loosen that cycle, at a pace you agree to.

Initial consultation. Your first 50-minute appointment is about understanding what triggers your anxiety, what it is costing you day to day, and what you would like to be different.

Choosing an approach. Cognitive behavioural therapy is often a starting point for anxiety — our article What Is CBT Therapy? explains how it works. Depending on what suits you, your psychologist may also draw on acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness or other methods described in our treatment approach.

Building skills. Sessions focus on recognising anxious thinking, settling the body's alarm response, and taking graded steps back towards the things anxiety has pushed out of your life. Practising between sessions helps the skills hold up in real situations.

Reviewing progress. You and your psychologist keep track of what is helping and adjust the plan as you go, moving towards less frequent sessions when you feel ready.

Anxiety in Children and Teenagers

Worries are a normal part of growing up, but when they start to affect school, friendships or sleep, it is worth getting support early. Parents and carers are encouraged to attend the first consultation on their own, so the psychologist has some background before meeting your child.

Younger children often find it hard to put fear into words, so our psychologists may use drawing, games, craft or sand play to help them open up. A young person's confidentiality is respected, while parents are kept up to date with progress and invited into joint sessions when that will help.

Every child is different, so we can talk through the options that suit your child and family when you get in touch.

How to Get Started

You do not need a referral to book anxiety counselling — you can contact us directly by phone or through the enquiry form below. That said, a GP referral under a Mental Health Care Plan may make you eligible for Medicare rebates, so it can be worth speaking with your GP first. Part of the cost may also be claimable through private health insurance, depending on your cover.

We aim to offer an initial consultation within 1–3 business days, and our psychologist fees sit below the APS and AAPi recommended rates. See fees and rebates for current fees, or making a referral if your GP is referring you. If you have an NDIS plan, Thinkahead is an accredited NDIS provider with experience supporting participants with anxiety disorders.

If you are in crisis or need urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 in an emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know whether it is anxiety or ordinary stress?

Stress usually eases once the pressure behind it passes, while anxiety tends to linger, latch onto new worries, or appear even when nothing is obviously wrong. If worry is affecting your sleep, work, study or relationships, it is worth talking to a psychologist. You do not need to be certain what it is before you reach out.

Will I have to face my fears straight away?

No. Any steps towards situations you have been avoiding are planned with you, broken into manageable stages, and taken only when you feel ready. The aim is to build confidence gradually, not to overwhelm you.

How many sessions will I need?

It varies. Some people find a shorter block of sessions is enough to learn and practise the core skills, while others — particularly where anxiety is long-standing or sits alongside other difficulties — benefit from longer-term support. Your psychologist will talk this through with you early on.

Can I see a psychologist for anxiety via telehealth?

If attending a clinic in person is difficult, let us know when you get in touch and we can talk through the options.

Is anxiety counselling confidential?

Yes. What you discuss stays confidential, except in the limited circumstances set out in our information for patients — for example, where there is a serious and imminent risk to you or someone else. If you are referred under a Mental Health Care Plan, we will ask for your consent before sending feedback to your GP.