When you understand the worry—but still feel caught in it
You might know that you’re overthinking, imagining the worst or putting yourself under too much pressure. But knowing that doesn’t necessarily help you feel any different.
Perhaps you’ve tried reassuring yourself, talking things through or learning techniques. You may have had therapy before. Yet you still find yourself caught in familiar patterns.
I’m Chris, a BABCP-accredited CBT psychotherapist. I offer private therapy for adults experiencing anxiety, worry, panic and overthinking.
We’ll start with understanding what’s happening for you, what you’ve already tried and what you would like to change.
Speak with me about what you need and get a feel for how I work. Meet me on Zoom, or request a phone call. No obligation to book therapy.
In person in Ferndown, Dorset · Online across the UK
£95 per 55-minute session
Recommended by a GP
“I refer to him with confidence and hear great feedback from clients who’ve benefited from his broad skills and experience.”
Dr Tom Willsher, GP
You spend a lot of time thinking about what might happen, preparing for problems or trying to make the right decision. Even when one concern settles, your attention moves to something else.
You might feel tense, find it difficult to relax or struggle to sleep because your mind keeps returning to the same worries. Anxiety can become exhausting when it is difficult to control and starts interfering with everyday life.
Or perhaps the most frustrating part is this:
You can explain why you’re anxious, but you haven’t found a way to stop getting caught in it.
You don’t need a perfect explanation before asking for help. We can begin with the situations you find difficult and what you would like to be different.
You may be wondering whether there is any point in trying again.
I would want to understand that experience rather than brush it aside. What did the work focus on? What made sense? What didn’t? Did you feel understood, and was there something important that never quite got addressed?
Having tried CBT before doesn’t mean you already know what working with me would be like.
CBT is an important part of my work, but I don’t rely on it alone. We can explore both practical changes and how you understand yourself, your anxiety and your thinking.
I won’t assume you simply need another set of the same exercises. Equally, we won’t dismiss something potentially useful just because it falls under the label of CBT. We’ll discuss what makes sense for you and why.
The introductory call gives you a chance to meet me and hear how I might approach your situation before deciding whether to book a session.
My approach draws on CBT, mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and transformative approaches. You don’t need to know which approach you need before we speak.
CBT provides an evidence-based foundation for my therapy work. It is a recommended treatment for several anxiety-related difficulties and involves exploring how thoughts, feelings and actions interact, then working on different responses.
How we apply that starts with you.
We’ll explore when anxiety shows up, what it seems to be about and how you respond.
I’ll also want to understand your circumstances: the pressures you’re under, your relationships, what has happened in your life and what matters to you.
I won’t assume that every concern is unfounded or that changing your thinking is the answer to every problem. Sometimes there are practical changes, difficult conversations or decisions that need attention too.
I use the term psychological blindspots to describe assumptions or ways of seeing things that can be difficult to notice in ourselves.
For example, you might feel that you need to be certain a decision is right before you can make it. From that starting point, thinking about it again seems sensible—even when you’ve already considered it many times.
We might explore the assumption underneath that struggle: Do you really need complete certainty, or have you come to feel that you do?
This isn’t about me telling you that your thoughts are wrong. It’s about looking together at something you may not have questioned and discovering whether another perspective is available.
Insight matters, but I also want our conversations to connect with your everyday life.
Depending on what you’re experiencing, we might agree ways to approach something you’ve been avoiding, test a prediction or practise responding differently in a difficult situation. These kinds of practical changes are part of CBT, not separate from it.
We’ll discuss the purpose of anything we try, make it relevant to you and review what happens. It should feel like work we are doing together, rather than instructions you have to follow without understanding why.
My aim is not simply to give you more things to remember whenever you feel anxious.
We may also explore what it is like to leave some thoughts unanswered, allow a feeling to be present or take a meaningful step without first feeling completely confident.
The focus is on what you would like more room for in your life—not only on monitoring whether anxiety has disappeared.
Worry may move between work, family, money, health or everyday responsibilities, with a sense that something always needs your attention. Generalised anxiety can involve worries that are difficult to control, alongside tension, tiredness and difficulty concentrating or sleeping.
We’ll explore your particular worries, how you respond to them and what you would like to do differently.
Perhaps you revisit decisions, spend a long time preparing or find it difficult to leave something alone until it feels right.
We can look at what you hope the extra thinking or effort will achieve, whether it is helping, and the standards or assumptions that may be making things harder.
The aim is not to make you careless or lower what matters to you. It is to explore a less exhausting way of approaching it.
Panic attacks can involve intense physical sensations, such as a racing heart, dizziness or breathlessness. Fear of another attack can then affect where you go and what you feel able to do. CBT can help address how you interpret and respond to these experiences.
We’ll work towards a clearer understanding of what is happening and discuss appropriate steps for rebuilding confidence.
You might repeatedly check your body, search for information or seek reassurance about symptoms, yet still struggle to feel reassured. CBT is one of the treatments used for health anxiety.
Our work would take your concerns seriously while exploring your relationship with uncertainty and the patterns that are taking up your time. Therapy is not about dismissing symptoms or replacing appropriate medical care.
You may worry about being judged, appearing nervous or saying something embarrassing. Social anxiety can affect everyday interactions and lead people to avoid situations they would otherwise like to take part in.
We can explore what you fear will happen, how you experience these situations and what might help you participate more freely.
OCD can involve distressing thoughts and efforts to neutralise them through rituals, checking or mental compulsions. It needs more than reassurance or a general instruction to stop overthinking; CBT incorporating exposure and response prevention is an established treatment approach.
You’re welcome to discuss these experiences with me. We’ll consider the focused support you need and whether I am the right person to provide it.
You don’t need to decide which category fits before getting in touch.
I make things straightforward and relatable. You don’t need to know psychological terminology or explain your experience in a particular way.
I’ll listen carefully, ask questions and help you look at what’s happening from different angles. We’ll agree what we’re working towards, rather than assume that simply talking for a set number of sessions will be enough.
There will be room for reflection, but also for trying things differently. We’ll keep asking whether the work is useful and whether something needs to change.
You can tell me when you disagree, when something hasn’t helped or when we’ve missed something important.
I want you to feel heard, seen and understood—and for our work to make a difference beyond the conversation itself.
I spent 14 years working in the NHS, including as a Senior Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, and five years teaching CBT at university.
Across my clinical and coaching work, I’ve worked with more than 6,000 people. I’m also the author of A Clear Mind: The Less Is More Mindset to Wellbeing & Performance.
I bring that experience to our sessions without assuming that your experience will be the same as somebody else’s.
We’ll work towards an understanding and way forward that makes sense in your life.
I offer face-to-face appointments in Ferndown, Dorset, for adults living locally or travelling from Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne, Verwood, Ringwood, West Moors and the surrounding area.
I also provide online anxiety therapy across the UK. You’ll need a private space where you can speak comfortably.
Sessions cost £95 and last 55 minutes.
I also accept Bupa and Aviva clients for therapy. Please mention your insurance when you get in touch and check any authorisation requirements with your insurer.
Before booking therapy, you can speak with me on a free 20-minute introductory call via Zoom, or by telephone on request.
CBT is a recommended treatment for several anxiety problems. However, that does not mean the same course of therapy will suit everyone, or that a previous experience should be ignored. Further CBT or a different treatment may be considered when difficulties persist.
We’ll take account of your needs, preferences and previous treatment when discussing what might be appropriate.
No. My aim is not to persuade you that everything is fine or give you a positive statement to replace every worry.
We may examine a particular belief or prediction. At other times, we may explore whether a thought needs your attention at all.
We’ll also look at your actions, circumstances and the changes that matter to you.
We’ll spend time understanding what has brought you to therapy.
That includes what you’re finding difficult, how it affects your life, what you’ve already tried and what you hope will change. We’ll discuss a possible focus and how we might approach the work.
You won’t be expected to arrive with everything worked out.
We’ll discuss that once we have a clearer understanding of your needs and the type of work we’re considering.
The plan will take account of your goals, circumstances and any previous therapy. We’ll review progress together, including whether continuing is useful or a different approach is needed.
You can raise questions about cost or the direction of therapy at any point.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis or GP referral to contact me privately. We can start by discussing what you’re experiencing.
For insurance-funded appointments, check any referral or authorisation requirements with your insurer.
Anxiety and panic can involve physical symptoms, but similar symptoms can have other causes. New, unexplained or concerning symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be anxiety; seek appropriate medical advice.
Therapy can work alongside medical care where appropriate.
The first step can simply be a conversation.
Tell me what’s been happening, ask the questions that matter to you and hear how I might approach it. Then decide whether you’d like to work together.
Meet me on Zoom, or request a phone call. No obligation to continue.