CBT for anxiety & persistent worry
When “what if?” takes up too much space.
What you might notice
Worry may move from one subject to another — work, family, money or everyday decisions — and feel difficult to switch off. You might notice tension, poor sleep or a need to feel completely certain. When this pattern is persistent and affects daily life, it can be part of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
How CBT can help
We explore what keeps the worry going, distinguish problems you can act on from hypothetical worries, and practise responding differently to uncertainty. CBT can include problem solving, testing predictions and reducing repeated reassurance seeking, with steps agreed around your goals.
General information, not a diagnosis. Your experience and goals guide our assessment and the plan we agree together.
Further reading and sourcesHow the cycle can keep going
This example shows one way the pattern can be maintained. Your own triggers and responses may look different.
Read the cycle step by step
- Trigger: An unanswered message
- Meaning: Something must be wrong. I need to know for sure.
- Feelings: Anxiety, tension and more ‘what if?’ thoughts.
- Response: Check again, seek reassurance or rehearse outcomes.
- What keeps it going: Relief fades. Uncertainty feels harder to tolerate.
The short-term response can make the pattern more likely to repeat. This is an illustration, not a diagnosis or an individual formulation.
What would you have more room for if worry took up less of your day?
A free 5–10 minute consultation is a chance to talk about what you need and whether we could work well together.
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