	Counselling Stockton-on-Tees 7 Riverside Mews, Thornaby TS17 6DW Stockton-on-tees
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✓ I also offer online therapy

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Wendy | Counsellor

Counselling Stockton-on-Tees

Anxiety, fear, and phobias are related but differ in severity; fear is a normal response to a real or perceived threat, while anxiety is a feeling of worry or unease, and a phobia is a type of anxiety disorder defined by an excessive, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that significantly impacts daily life.

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Fear definition:

A natural, instinctive response to a real or immediate threat.

It triggers the body’s fight, flight, or freeze response — preparing us to react quickly to danger.

Short-term and situational

Has a clear cause

Fades when the danger passes

Anxiety definition:

A feeling of tension, worry, or nervousness about future events or uncertain outcomes.

It’s a future-oriented emotion, often triggered by perceived threats rather than actual danger.

Symptoms:

Racing heart, restlessness, sweating

Overthinking, catastrophic thoughts

Sleep disturbance, fatigue

Avoidance behaviors

When Anxiety Becomes a Problem:

When it is chronic, disproportionate, or impairs functioning - for example, causing avoidance of normal activities.

Common Anxiety Disorders:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Panic Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Specific Phobias

Phobias definition:

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that poses little or no real danger.

Types of Phobias:

Specific Phobias – fear of objects or situations (e.g., heights, dogs, needles)

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) – fear of embarrassment or judgment

Agoraphobia – fear of being in places where escape may be difficult * these are some examples

Symptoms:

Immediate fear or panic when faced with the trigger

Physical reactions (sweating, shaking, nausea)

Avoidance of feared situations

Recognition that the fear is excessive

Online therapy

Online video therapy sessions are virtual counseling sessions conducted via secure video conferencing platforms, allowing clients and therapists to meet remotely;

This enables scheduling sessions to fit work, family, or other commitments, often outside of traditional office hours.
Sessions take place in a familiar, comfortable environment, such as one's own home, which can make it easier to open up.
Eliminates distance barriers, allowing access to therapists regardless of location

Online counseling offers benefits like increased accessibility, providing mental health support to those in remote areas or with mobility issues, and flexibility, allowing sessions to fit around busy schedules. It also promotes comfort and privacy by enabling people to access help from their own homes, reducing travel time and associated costs. co

I use Microsoft teams or google meet for all my online work, once a session is booked in a link will be sent to access the session.

Qualifications and registrations

Couples Therapy - Diploma
Working with non-monogamous clients certificate
CPCAB - Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and Psychotherapy
ICO registered
Registered member of the BACP ( British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) - working towards accreditation.
Accredited member of the NCPS ( National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society)
DBS enhanced checked

Registrations

I offer therapy in

✓ English

Specialisations

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
2. OCD
3. Social Anxiety
4. Phobias
5. Panic disorder
6. Excessive worry
7. Catastrophising thoughts
8. Separation Anxiety Disorder
9. Insecurity

Specialisations and Expertises

Anxiety: My clients often have anxiety as the core issue and are struggling to manage or cope with this on their own. This includes social anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder. Some clients have anxiety from using dating apps, starting fresh with someone new or ending something (e.g. relationship, job, moving etc..) and the anxiety that comes with it.

phobia: is a common form of anxiety disorder. We all have fears but for most people they don’t stop us doing things. A phobia is an overwhelming fear – of an object, animal, place or situation – that can make us anxious and cause us to panic.

I can help you to manage and better understand your concerns, and help you to identify and change the unhelpful coping skills you’re using to manage your phobia.

The aim is to help you feel more grounded, understood and better able to manage your distress.

Fear: is an unpleasant emotion triggered by the perception of danger or threat, which can be real or imagined. It prompts a physical and psychological response, often leading to the "fight-or-flight" reaction.
I can help explore the roots of your fear, helps you reframe anxious thoughts, and provides practical strategies to manage fear responses and gradually face feared situations.

Counselling helps with fear by identifying triggers, changing negative thought patterns, and teaching coping mechanisms like breathing exercises and gradual exposure.

As a Counsellor my role is to help clients understand these feelings, reduce distress, and develop effective coping skills by;

Identify triggers – explore when and where the feelings occur.

Challenge unhelpful thoughts – address distorted beliefs maintaining the fear.

Teach coping strategies – relaxation, mindfulness, grounding techniques.

Reduce avoidance – gradually expose clients to feared situations in a safe, controlled way.

Build resilience – increase confidence and emotional regulation.

Most common issues I support people with:

General Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety
OCD
Fear
Phobias

Therapies offered

Areas of counselling I can help with

Fees

My fees are £45 for an hours session - **please contact me via the send a message - button for sessions available

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