I-Therapy
You don't have to let anxiety control your life
Professional anxiety counselling in Christchurch using a holistic approach that combines neuroscience, practical tools, and compassionate support.
A Holistic Approach to Anxiety
Working with anxiety is probably the most common thing that people come to me with. The way I like to approach working with anxiety is taking a full holistic approach that combines understanding of neuroscience, biology, and how it all works in the brain.
It answers the questions a lot of people ask like: "Why is this happening?" "How is this happening?" and "What do I do about it?" The way I like to approach it as well is not just giving some tools but understanding why the tools work.
For example, it's not just "here are some breathing techniques" because when anxiety kicks in, it's like "I don't actually have time to breathe!" But if you understand why the tools work and what's happening in the whole process, they seem to sink in and really, really work better.
What is Anxiety?
Common Signs of Anxiety
Anxiety shows up in many different ways, and you might recognise some of these signs:
- Panic attacks or sudden feelings of fear
- Churning stomach or nausea
- Difficulty sleeping or restlessness
- Feeling nervous or constantly on edge
- Short, shallow breathing
- Sweating or flushing
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability or fidgeting
- Constant tiredness or exhaustion
When Anxiety Becomes a Problem
It's natural to feel nervous when you step outside your comfort zone... that's often where growth happens. But anxiety becomes a problem when it starts to:
- Limit your daily activities
- Drain your energy consistently
- Hold you back from living fully
- Make you avoid leaving the house
- Cause you to give up before starting
- Lead to constant worry and "what if" thinking
The pain of facing anxiety is always less than the pain of letting it run your life.
How We Work Together
At I-Therapy, we follow a structured three-stage approach designed to help you regain control over anxiety. This method focuses on understanding the 'why' behind your anxiety, learning evidence-based strategies, and applying them in your daily life so you feel empowered rather than overwhelmed.
Understanding What's Happening
We take a holistic perspective to explore your anxiety from multiple angles - the neuroscience of what's happening in your brain, the biology of your physical responses, and the patterns that trigger anxious thoughts. This stage answers the fundamental questions: "Why is this happening to me?" and "How does anxiety actually work?" By understanding the science behind anxiety, you'll begin to see it as something manageable rather than mysterious.
Learning What You Can Do About It
This is where we move beyond just giving you tools - we focus on understanding why specific strategies work. You'll learn evidence-based techniques like breathing exercises, grounding methods, and cognitive strategies, but more importantly, you'll understand the science of why they're effective. When you know why a technique works, you're much more likely to use it successfully when anxiety strikes because it makes logical sense rather than feeling like empty advice.
Applying the Tools in Real Life
The final stage focuses on practical application - taking everything you've learned and making it work in your daily life. We'll practice using your new understanding and tools in real-world scenarios, helping you interrupt anxiety cycles as they begin. The goal is for you to feel like you're getting control back over anxiety, instead of anxiety controlling you. This stage transforms knowledge into lasting change.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Not quite ready to book a full session? No worries — you're welcome to book a free 15-minute consultation instead. It's a relaxed opportunity to ask any questions, get a feel for how things work, and see if we're a good fit for your journey.