Psychological Support for Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural human response to stress, but when it becomes constant or overwhelming, it can interfere with daily life and wellbeing. It may show up as persistent worry, racing thoughts, restlessness, or physical symptoms such as tension, nausea, or difficulty sleeping. At Refuge Psychology, support is available to help you understand the underlying causes of anxiety and develop practical tools to manage it. Therapy focuses on calming the mind and body, building resilience, and restoring a sense of safety and control.
“Anxiety convinces us that control is the key to safety — but the more we tighten our grip, the more life slips through our fingers. Real strength lies not in managing every outcome, but in learning to breathe, release, and trust that we can face uncertainty and still be okay.”
Information about Anxiety
What is Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal and protective response to perceived threat — it’s part of how our body keeps us safe. However, when anxiety becomes constant, overwhelming, or out of proportion to the situation, it can begin to interfere with daily life. People often experience racing thoughts, muscle tension, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, or trouble sleeping. Anxiety can take many forms, including generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), where persistent worry affects multiple areas of life; panic disorder, which involves sudden, intense surges of fear or panic; social anxiety, where fear of judgment or embarrassment leads to avoidance of social situations; and specific phobias, which are strong fears of particular objects or circumstances. Some people also experience health anxiety, performance anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive features, all of which can be distressing but are treatable with the right support.
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How is Anxiety Treated?
Anxiety is highly treatable, and many people experience significant improvement through evidence-based therapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and gradually reduce avoidance through structured exposure and coping strategies. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports individuals to respond to anxious thoughts with mindfulness and values-based action, rather than resistance or avoidance. Schema Therapy can help uncover deeper beliefs or emotional patterns that drive chronic worry or fear, often linked to earlier life experiences. For those whose anxiety affects relationships, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) or Gottman Method couples work can address relational triggers and strengthen emotional security. In some cases, medication prescribed by a GP or psychiatrist can be helpful alongside therapy.
What Causes Anxiety
Anxiety can arise from a combination of factors — biological, psychological, and environmental. It may develop following a stressful or traumatic experience, or emerge gradually through ongoing pressure, uncertainty, or change. Some people have a family history of anxiety or naturally more sensitive nervous systems that react strongly to stress. Personality traits such as perfectionism, high self-expectations, or difficulty tolerating uncertainty can also play a role. Life experiences such as loss, relationship difficulties, health challenges, or faith-related stress can further heighten vulnerability. Over time, avoidance and worry can reinforce the anxiety cycle, making it feel harder to break. Understanding these individual patterns is an important first step toward recovery.
Support is Available
Anxiety can feel exhausting and isolating, but you don’t have to face it alone. With professional support, it’s possible to calm your nervous system, change long-standing patterns of fear or avoidance, and regain a sense of balance. Kylie, an experienced online psychologist and counsellor, integrates compassion with evidence-based approaches to help you understand your anxiety and develop tools to manage it effectively. Therapy provides a space to explore both the practical and emotional aspects of anxiety — restoring confidence, building resilience, and supporting a calmer, more grounded way of living.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common types of anxiety disorders? Can I have more than one of them?
There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with distinct patterns and triggers. These include Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which involves ongoing worry about everyday matters; Panic Disorder, which features sudden and intense feelings of fear or panic; Social Anxiety, marked by fear of embarrassment or judgment; and Specific Phobias, which centre around a particular object or situation. Some people also experience Health Anxiety, Performance Anxiety, or features of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It’s possible to experience symptoms of more than one type at the same time, as anxiety often overlaps across different areas of life. Understanding your unique pattern helps guide the most effective treatment plan.
How do I know if I have anxiety or I’m just stressed?
Stress is a normal reaction to life’s demands and usually eases once the situation changes or resolves. Anxiety, however, involves a more persistent sense of tension, fear, or physical unease that continues even when there is no immediate stressor. You might notice symptoms such as trembling, a racing heart, dry mouth, difficulty breathing, or feeling light-headed. Some people describe feeling close to panic, easily startled, or unable to relax. When these sensations and worries occur frequently or make it difficult to concentrate, sleep, or carry out everyday tasks, it may indicate that anxiety has developed. Speaking with a psychologist can help you understand what’s happening and learn practical strategies to manage anxiety and restore calm.s supports emotional healing and helps build a more stable and positive sense of self.
Information about Depression
What is Depression
Depression is a common yet deeply distressing mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and functions day to day. It goes beyond normal sadness or temporary low mood, often involving a persistent sense of emptiness, hopelessness, or loss of pleasure in things once enjoyed. People experiencing depression may also notice changes in sleep, appetite, energy, or concentration, and may struggle with feelings of guilt or worthlessness. It can affect anyone, regardless of age or circumstance, and often has a combination of biological, psychological, and social causes.
Some people experience temporary periods of feeling low, often triggered by stressful or challenging life events such as relationship changes, loss, or major transitions. This can sometimes be referred to as adjustment disorder, where mood and anxiety symptoms arise in response to these life stresses but generally ease as circumstances improve. However, for others, depression can become more persistent and intense, lasting for weeks, months, or even longer, without an obvious external cause. In these cases, depression can deeply affect energy, concentration, motivation, and self-worth, making it difficult to function or find pleasure in everyday life — but with the right support and treatment, recovery and renewed hope are possible.
What Causes Depression
There are many reasons why someone might experience depression. It can be triggered by significant life changes, such as losing a job, going through a breakup, or experiencing the death of a loved one. Sometimes, it runs in families, suggesting a genetic link. Other times, it might be related to ongoing stress, trauma, or certain medical conditions. Chronic anxiety and long-term stress can also contribute to depression by depleting emotional and physical reserves, disrupting sleep and hormone regulation, and increasing feelings of helplessness or exhaustion. Experiences of neglect, abuse, or unresolved grief can further heighten vulnerability to depressive symptoms.
Understanding the specific reasons behind someone’s depression is crucial, which is where the concept of formulation comes in. Formulation is like creating a map of a person’s unique experiences, thoughts, and feelings to identify the factors that may be maintaining their distress. It looks at biological, psychological, relational, and situational influences to provide a clear and compassionate understanding of the person as a whole. This approach helps in selecting the most appropriate and effective treatment plan, ensuring therapy is tailored to the individual’s story, needs, and goals.
What Depression Costs You
Depression can often lead to a vicious cycle. When you’re feeling down, it’s hard to find the motivation to do the things you once enjoyed. This lack of activity can make you feel even worse, leading to even less motivation. Breaking this cycle is an important part of recovery.
Depression can also affect relationships. It may cause you to withdraw from loved ones, feel irritable or misunderstood, or struggle to communicate. Over time, this can lead to conflict, disconnection, or isolation, which may deepen feelings of sadness and loneliness.
Work and study can also become difficult. Concentration may suffer, energy levels can drop, and small tasks may feel overwhelming. This can impact job performance or make it hard to keep up with responsibilities, sometimes leading to job loss or academic struggles—further affecting self-esteem and hope for the future.
In severe cases, depression can lead to thoughts of suicide. If this is happening, it’s important to know that you are not alone, and help is available.
Support is Available
Kylie, an online psychologist and experienced counsellor, offers evidence-based and compassionate support to help individuals break free from the cycle of depression and begin to rebuild hope. She draws from a range of therapies tailored to each person’s needs. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns that can fuel feelings of hopelessness, while Schema Therapy explores long-standing beliefs and emotional themes that may keep people feeling stuck. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports clients in developing a more mindful and values-based approach to life, learning to make space for difficult emotions while taking meaningful action toward what matters most.
Because depression often affects relationships and how people connect with others, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman Therapy can also be integrated to address relational stress, communication breakdowns, or feelings of disconnection. These approaches help strengthen emotional bonds, build trust, and foster healthier patterns of relating. Together, these therapies provide a holistic path to understanding the root causes of depression, restoring balance, and supporting lasting emotional wellbeing.
Can anxiety and depression occur together?
Yes, anxiety and depression often occur together. Many people who experience chronic worry, exhaustion, or stress also develop low mood, hopelessness, or loss of interest in things they once enjoyed. This overlap happens because both conditions affect similar parts of the brain and can reinforce each other — ongoing anxiety can lead to fatigue and discouragement, while depression can make coping with worry more difficult. The good news is that both are treatable, and therapy can help address the underlying causes and restore balance.
Can stress or trauma cause anxiety?
Yes. Stressful or traumatic experiences can strongly influence the development of anxiety. Events such as accidents, illness, loss, family conflict, or abuse can condition the nervous system to remain in a heightened state of alertness. Even after the event has passed, the body can continue reacting as if danger is still present. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) are particularly effective in helping individuals process past experiences, calm the body’s threat response, and regain a sense of safety and control.
Does anxiety run in families?
Anxiety can have a genetic component, meaning it may run in families, but this doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. What’s often inherited is a sensitivity in the nervous system or certain personality traits such as perfectionism or caution. Family dynamics and learned coping styles also play a role — for example, if caregivers model worry or avoidance, children may adopt similar responses. Understanding both the biological and environmental factors can empower you to change patterns and develop healthier ways of managing stress.
What therapies work best for anxiety?
Several evidence-based therapies are highly effective for treating anxiety. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps challenge unhelpful thought patterns and gradually reduce avoidance. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on building mindfulness and taking values-based action even when anxiety is present. Schema Therapy explores long-standing emotional themes and beliefs that may drive chronic worry or fear, while EMDR can be especially useful when anxiety is linked to trauma. The best approach depends on your individual history, symptoms, and goals — often, a combination of methods provides the most lasting relief.
Can therapy help with anxiety that stems from religious or moral concerns?
Yes. For some, anxiety can be tied to deeply held moral or spiritual beliefs, such as fear of sinning, disappointing God, or failing to live up to religious expectations. Therapy provides a respectful space to explore these concerns without judgment. A psychologist who understands faith contexts can help differentiate between healthy spirituality and anxiety-driven guilt, offering strategies to reduce excessive self-blame while honouring your values and beliefs.
What is Depression
Depression is more than just feeling sad or having a bad day. It’s a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest that can affect how you think, feel, and handle daily activities. People with depression might experience symptoms such as feeling tired all the time, having trouble sleeping, losing interest in hobbies, feeling worthless or guilty, and even having difficulty concentrating. It can also cause physical symptoms like aches and pains.
What Causes Depression
There are many reasons why someone might experience depression. It can be triggered by significant life changes, such as losing a job, going through a breakup, or experiencing the death of a loved one. Sometimes, it runs in families, suggesting a genetic link. Other times, it might be related to ongoing stress, trauma, or certain medical conditions.
Understanding the specific reasons behind someone’s depression is crucial, which is where the concept of "formulation" comes in. Formulation is like creating a map of a person’s unique experiences, thoughts, and feelings to understand what might be contributing to their depression. This helps in choosing the right treatment approach, ensuring it’s tailored to the individual’s needs.
The Consequences
Depression can often lead to a vicious cycle. When you’re feeling down, it’s hard to find the motivation to do the things you once enjoyed. This lack of activity can make you feel even worse, leading to even less motivation. Breaking this cycle is an important part of recovery.
Depression can also affect relationships. It may cause you to withdraw from loved ones, feel irritable or misunderstood, or struggle to communicate. Over time, this can lead to conflict, disconnection, or isolation, which may deepen feelings of sadness and loneliness.
Work and study can also become difficult. Concentration may suffer, energy levels can drop, and small tasks may feel overwhelming. This can impact job performance or make it hard to keep up with responsibilities, sometimes leading to job loss or academic struggles—further affecting self-esteem and hope for the future.
In severe cases, depression can lead to thoughts of suicide. If this is happening, it’s important to know that you are not alone, and help is available.
Support is Available
Kylie, an online Psychologist and experienced counsellor, uses a combination of therapies to help break this cycle and support recovery. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps change negative thought patterns, while Schema Therapy addresses deep-rooted beliefs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages embracing emotions and committing to actions that align with personal values. Emotional Focused Therapy and Gottman Therapy can also be used to address relational concerns that are contributing to depression.
Book a session through the online portal today, or phone on:
1300 618 377
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