Anxiety

Anxiety can affect how you feel, think, and navigate your daily life – from work relationships and social connections to your overall sense of wellbeing. If you’re experiencing persistent worry, physical tension, or avoidance patterns that are impacting you, therapy can be a valuable support.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural response to stress and uncertainty. It’s something most people experience at times. However, when anxiety becomes persistent, intense, or begins to interfere with daily activities – work, relationships, or simple tasks – it may be helpful to seek support. Anxiety can show up in many ways: as racing thoughts, physical sensations like tension or chest tightness, a sense of dread, avoidance of certain situations, or sleep difficulties. Some people experience generalised worry, while others have anxiety focused on specific situations, social interactions, or health concerns. The experience is different for everyone, and that’s an important part of understanding what’s happening for you.

How it might affect you

Many people with anxiety notice it’s affecting more than just their emotions. You might find yourself avoiding situations that trigger worry, which can gradually narrow your world. Sleep may become disrupted. Work concentration might suffer. Relationships can feel strained if anxiety keeps you from connecting authentically with others. The physical sensations – a racing heart, tension, restlessness, or feeling “on edge” – can become exhausting over time. Some people worry about the anxiety itself, which can create a cycle that feeds the original concern. The good news is that with support, many people develop practical strategies to manage anxiety and reconnect with the activities and relationships that matter to them.

Our approach to anxiety

Working with a psychologist at Growth Psychology, you’ll find a warm, supportive environment where your individual experience of anxiety guides our approach. We use a range of evidence-based therapies tailored to what will work best for you. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is often helpful for anxiety, as it supports you in understanding the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours – and developing practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches skills to help you live in ways that align with what matters to you, even while managing anxiety. Many people also benefit from mindfulness practices, which help you develop awareness of anxious thoughts and sensations without judgment, creating space to respond more intentionally. Your psychologist will help you understand what’s driving your anxiety, develop coping strategies, and gradually build confidence in managing situations that previously felt overwhelming. This collaborative process creates the strong therapeutic alliance that supports real, lasting change. Learn more about our therapeutic approaches.

When to Seek Help

If you’ve noticed anxiety is affecting how you feel day-to-day – or if it’s keeping you from doing things you enjoy – it’s worth reaching out. Seeking support early often means you can develop strategies before anxiety becomes more entrenched. There’s no “right time” or threshold you need to meet; if anxiety feels like a burden, you deserve support in managing it.

Ask about our Anxiety services.

If you’d like to explore how therapy might help, we’re here to talk through your needs.

Enquire today

Our practicitioners with a focus on Anxiety

Lara Patty - Psychologist

Lara is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, collaborative, and emotionally grounded approach to therapy. She supports adolescents (16+) and adults across experiences such as anxiety, depression, stress, identity concerns, relationship and attachment patterns, the impacts of difficult childhood experiences, and life transitions. Lara integrates evidence‑informed approaches—including Schema Therapy, CBT, and ACT—to help clients explore their inner world and develop compassionate, authentic ways of relating to themselves and others.

Louise Kelly - Psychologist

Louise is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, collaborative approach to supporting adolescents and adults. She works across areas such as anxiety, OCD, hoarding‑related challenges, eating‑disorder concerns, stress, and life transitions. Louise draws on CBT, ACT, and DBT, and has completed specialised training in CBT‑E and SSCM through QuEDS. She is an ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician and is listed on the Butterfly Foundation’s National Referral Database. With a background in education, Louise also facilitates mental health literacy programs.

Shelley Phillips - Psychologist

Shelley Phillips is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, caring, and evidence‑informed approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing. She draws on CBT, ACT, Positive Psychology, and strengths‑based practices to help clients explore challenges in life and work. Shelley also supports clients navigating job selection processes, career development, and workplace stress. She has experience working with emergency services personnel and has worked as a psychology lecturer, mentor, and supervisor.

Gregory Dean - Endorsed Counselling Psychologist

Greg is an Endorsed Counselling Psychologist with more than thirty years of experience supporting people across a wide range of life challenges. He works collaboratively with clients to explore the impact of past experiences, strengthen emotional wellbeing, and navigate patterns that influence relationships and daily life. Greg uses evidence‑informed approaches tailored to each person’s needs. Greg has worked in counselling and psychotherapy private practice in metropolitan centres and remote rural areas, in schools, government organisations, emergency services, military veterans’ organisations and in industry. He has also worked as an academic, teacher and in management and specialist roles in the mining industry.

Rita Mesch - Psychologist

Rita is a registered teacher and Psychologist who offers a supportive, non‑judgemental space for clients experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, grief, difficult or traumatic events, life transitions, and relationship concerns. She works from a Process‑Oriented Psychology framework, helping clients explore inner experiences and the patterns that influence wellbeing and personal growth.

Beth Keane - Psychologist - Practice Owner

Beth is a registered Psychologist who supports adults across a range of wellbeing and mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, life transitions, and career‑related challenges. She draws on CBT, ACT, Schema‑informed strategies, and strengths‑based, person‑centred approaches. Beth also provides services under Queensland emergency services support programs and works in training, development, and career‑related support.