The Rise of Anxiety: How Counselling Can Help

Anxiety has become one of the most common mental health concerns in the UK. According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly 60% of adults reported feeling anxious to the point it interfered with their daily lives in the past two weeks alone. Amongst younger adults aged 18 to 24, the numbers are even more striking, with 89% saying they experience anxiety at least sometimes, with more than a third feeling anxious most or all of the time.

The reasons behind this rise are complex. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, the cost-of-living crisis, and constant exposure to distressing news all contribute. For young people, social media also plays a significant role, fuelling comparison, self-doubt, and a constant pressure to perform or “keep up.” These pressures can lead to chronic stress, burnout, and a growing sense of being overwhelmed and helpless.

Counselling for Anxiety: How it can help

Counselling can be a lifeline for those struggling with anxiety. One of the most immediate benefits is having a safe, non-judgmental space to talk about what you’re feeling. Often, just being able to name what’s going on, without fear of being dismissed, can feel like a huge relief.

I can use evidence-based techniques like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful thought patterns. Alternatively, I might draw on mindfulness-based approaches, breathing techniques, or grounding exercises to help manage the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as racing thoughts, shortness of breath, or tension in the body.

I'd always recommend a minimum of six to eight sessions for this type of shorter-term, solution focused therapy to have a chance of making a difference.

My room in Tanners Yard, Crediton High Street

Understanding the Root Causes

While short-term strategies can be effective for symptom relief, many people will find that anxiety keeps returning if the deeper causes aren't addressed. This is where longer-term therapy can make a real difference.

Anxiety doesn’t always arise from current stressors but it can also be rooted in earlier life experiences. Childhood trauma, attachment issues, perfectionism, people-pleasing tendencies, or a long-standing fear of failure can all contribute to an anxious mindset. Sometimes, anxiety functions like an alarm system that’s been set too sensitively, triggered by situations that unconsciously remind us of past discomfort or danger.

In longer-term therapy, our focus often shifts to exploring these underlying dynamics. This can involve working through patterns of thinking, behaviour, and emotional responses that were formed in early life and have persisted into adulthood. By bringing greater awareness to these patterns, individuals often begin to feel more in control, less reactive, and more equipped to respond to life’s challenges in a more balanced way.

What I offer at TJ Langrill Counselling & Canine Assisted Therapy

At TJ Langrill Counselling, I offer a calm, compassionate space where we can explore what’s going on beneath the surface of your anxiety. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by recent life events or struggling with longer-standing patterns, I work collaboratively to help you understand your experience and find ways forward. Together, we can look at the roots of your anxiety, build resilience, and develop strategies that support your emotional wellbeing. Sessions are tailored to your unique needs, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach here.

For those who find comfort in animal connection, my therapy dog Merlin is also available for canine-assisted sessions—offering a gentle, grounding presence along the way.

Joy is a squeaky ball

Moving Forward

If you’re feeling anxious, or supporting someone who is, it’s important to know that help is available. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate this alone. Whether you’re looking for tools to manage day-to-day symptoms or want to dig deeper into what’s beneath the surface, counselling can meet you where you are.

With anxiety affecting so many across the UK, now is the time to normalise these conversations—and to remind ourselves that reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Do call for an introductory session, it's free and there's no obligation to take things further if you're still unsure: what have you got to lose? Contact me here, however suits you best.