Heading 1
.png)
Stepping Stones Psychotherapy
Trauma-informed therapy for stress, anxiety and recovery
Anxiety Treatment & Hypnotherapy in Finchley
Helping you feel calmer, more in control and more like yourself again
Anxiety can affect anyone. Sometimes there is an obvious reason for it. At other times, you may find yourself feeling anxious, on edge or overwhelmed without really understanding why.
You might find that your mind is constantly busy, going over conversations or worrying about what might happen next. Perhaps you struggle to switch off, avoid certain situations, experience panic attacks, or notice anxiety affecting your sleep, work or relationships.
When anxiety has been around for a while, it can start to feel as though it is simply part of who you are.
It doesn't have to stay that way.
I am Nicole Valens, an accredited psychotherapeutic counsellor and clinical hypnotherapist based in Finchley, North London. I specialise in working with anxiety, stress and trauma, using an integrative approach that allows therapy to be tailored to you rather than expecting you to fit one particular way of working.
I offer face-to-face sessions in Finchley as well as online therapy.
How Anxiety Can Affect You
Anxiety is more than feeling worried.
It can affect the way you think, the way your body feels and the way you respond to everyday situations. You may know logically that there is nothing to be afraid of, but still find it difficult to stop the physical and emotional response.
Anxiety can show up in many different ways, including:
-
persistent worry or overthinking
-
feeling tense, restless or unable to relax
-
panic attacks
-
a racing heart or feeling short of breath
-
difficulty sleeping
-
feeling overwhelmed
-
avoiding people, places or situations
-
fears and phobias
-
difficulty concentrating
-
worrying about work, health or relationships
-
feeling that something bad is going to happen
-
physical symptoms such as nausea, dizziness or a tight feeling in your chest or stomach
For some people, anxiety develops during a particularly stressful period of life. For others, it may be connected to earlier experiences or trauma. And sometimes there isn't one obvious cause.
Understanding what is driving your anxiety can be an important part of learning how to manage it.
How I can help
There isn't one approach to anxiety that works for everyone.
When we first meet, we will spend time understanding what you are experiencing, how anxiety is affecting your life and what you would like to change.
From there, we can decide together what may be most helpful.
As an integrative therapist, I can draw on psychotherapy, counselling, hypnotherapy, CBT-informed approaches and EMDR, depending on your individual needs.
For some people, this means learning practical ways to calm the body's stress response and manage anxiety when it appears. For others, our work may involve understanding the thoughts, beliefs or past experiences that are contributing to the anxiety.
Often, it is a combination of both.
The aim is not simply to help you cope with an anxious moment, but to understand what is happening and help you develop ways of responding differently.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety
Hypnotherapy can be particularly helpful when you understand your anxiety rationally but still find that your body reacts automatically.
During hypnotherapy, you remain aware and in control. You are not asleep, and you cannot be made to do anything you do not want to do.
Instead, hypnosis involves entering a deeply relaxed and focused state. This can make it easier to work with some of the automatic thoughts, feelings and responses that can contribute to anxiety.
I may use hypnotherapy alongside talking therapy and other therapeutic approaches, rather than seeing it as a completely separate treatment.
What we use will depend on you, your circumstances and what you feel comfortable with.
You don't need to wait until anxiety becomes overwhelming
Many people put off asking for help because they feel they should be able to manage on their own.
You may be functioning well on the outside — working, looking after other people and getting through everything that needs to be done — while using a great deal of energy simply trying to keep anxiety under control.
Seeking support doesn't mean that you have failed to cope.
Sometimes having a confidential space to understand what is happening, alongside practical and therapeutic support, can make an important difference.
Anxiety therapy in Finchley and online
I offer face-to-face anxiety therapy and hypnotherapy from my practice in Finchley, North London.
I also work online, which can be a convenient option if you live further away, have a busy working life or simply feel more comfortable having sessions from home.
If you are unsure whether psychotherapy, hypnotherapy or another approach would be most appropriate, you don't need to decide before contacting me. We can talk about what you are experiencing and consider the options together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hypnotherapy help with anxiety?
Hypnotherapy can be useful for some people experiencing anxiety, particularly when anxious responses have started to feel automatic or difficult to control. I use hypnotherapy as part of an integrative approach, which means we can also draw on psychotherapy, counselling and other therapeutic techniques where appropriate.
Will I lose control during hypnosis?
No. This is a common misconception about hypnotherapy. You remain aware of what is happening and in control throughout the session. Hypnosis is better thought of as a state of focused attention and relaxation rather than being asleep or unconscious.
Can you help with panic attacks?
Yes. I work with people experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. Therapy can help you understand the physical response that occurs during panic, develop ways of managing it and explore any underlying factors that may be contributing to your anxiety.
How many sessions will I need?
There isn't a set number because everyone is different. It will depend on what you are experiencing, how long it has been affecting you and what you would like to achieve. We can discuss this when we first meet and review our work as therapy progresses.
Do you offer anxiety therapy online?
Yes. I offer both face-to-face sessions in Finchley, North London, and online sessions. We can discuss which option feels most suitable for you.
Do I need to know which type of therapy I want?
No. You don't need to decide whether you need counselling, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy or EMDR before you contact me. My approach is integrative, so we can talk about what is happening for you and decide together which approach, or combination of approaches, may be most helpful.
