Anxiety support · For adults
When your mind won't switch off.
One-to-one, confidential support from a registered psychologist, online across Aotearoa. So you can quiet the noise, calm the body, and get your life back.
What anxiety feels like
You can look fine on the outside and be exhausted underneath.
Anxiety can feel like a mind that won't switch off, a tight chest, broken sleep, checking and re-checking, or quietly avoiding the things that set it off until your world gets smaller. It also comes in a real range, and we help across all of it.
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Never switching off
You're always a little on, even when there's nothing to be on for.
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Constant comparison
You measure yourself against everyone else and come up short.
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Numbing it
You reach for a drink or a habit that quiets it now and feeds it later.
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Feeling like an imposter
You over-prepare and overwork, sure you'll be found out.
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Quiet avoidance
You skip the call or turn down the invite, and your world narrows a little each time.
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A body on edge
You notice it as broken sleep, a racing heart, tension, or a gut that plays up.
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Doomscrolling
You chase certainty in bad news and end up more on edge than before.
How common is anxiety?
If anxiety has a grip on you, you're far from alone.
15%
of New Zealanders experience an anxiety disorder in any year.
bpacnz, 2024.
1 in 4
had anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks, and the number has risen sharply since 2016.
New Zealand Health Survey.
14.3%
of adults now report psychological distress, nearly double the 7.4% in 2020.
New Zealand Health Survey, 2024/25.
The avoidance trap
Avoiding what scares you works, until it doesn't.
When something makes you anxious, avoiding it brings relief. That is exactly why we all intuitively do it. The problem is what that relief teaches your brain and body: that the fear was right, and the thing really was dangerous. So the anxiety grows, the avoiding spreads, and little by little your world shrinks to what feels safe.
- 1 Something feels scary
- 2 You avoid it
- 3 Instant relief
- 4 Fear grows, world shrinks
and round again
2-minute anxiety check
Not sure where your anxiety sits?
A short, widely used check, the same one used in the New Zealand Health Survey. Answer seven quick questions to see where you're sitting and what might help. It's private, and you don't need to give an email to get your result.
How we help
One-to-one with a registered psychologist. Evidence-based strategies.
You'll work with a registered psychologist who understands anxiety, using practical, well-evidenced approaches rather than generic tips. Together you'll make sense of what keeps the anxiety going, and face it in steps you can handle, so it loses its grip.
Sessions are online, so support fits around your life. Many private health insurance policies cover this kind of work, so it's worth checking yours. If you're with UniMed, our partnership covers up to $1,000 a year, and we bill them directly on your behalf.
“Anxiety convinces you the safest thing is to avoid. So much of the work is finding out, gently and at your own pace, that you can face the thing, and the catastrophe doesn’t come.”
Is this for me?
You don't have to be at breaking point to get help.
Some people come to us when anxiety has taken over, panic attacks, or a worry they can't put down. Others come earlier, when it's quietly narrowing their life and they want it sorted before it grows. Both are the right time.
If anxiety is costing you more than you want it to, this is for you. We'll talk with you first, listen to what's going on, and be honest about what would help.
Frequently asked questions
Questions people ask us about anxiety.
What are the signs of anxiety?
The common signs of anxiety are a mind that won't switch off, constant worry, trouble relaxing, and a body that feels on edge, with a racing heart, tight chest or broken sleep. Many people also start avoiding the things that set it off, so their world slowly narrows. Anxiety is very common, and very treatable.
Is my anxiety "bad enough" to get help?
If it's affecting your life, it's enough. You don't need to be at crisis point, and earlier is almost always easier.
Can anxiety actually get better with treatment?
Yes, for most people. Anxiety is one of the most treatable things we work with, and the gains from the right approach tend to last. Many people feel a difference within weeks.
What actually helps with anxiety?
A few things, combined. Steadying the body, through sleep, movement and breathing. Facing the situations you have been avoiding, gently and at your pace, so your world stops shrinking. And learning to notice anxious thoughts without treating every worry as fact. You can start some of this on your own. It tends to go faster, and last longer, with a psychologist alongside you.
How much does it cost, and could my insurance cover it?
Many private health insurance policies cover this kind of support, so it's worth checking yours. If you're with UniMed, our partnership covers up to $1,000 a year, and we bill UniMed directly on your behalf.
What if it's more than anxiety, like panic or constant worry about my health?
We work across the full range, including panic, social anxiety, and health anxiety. We'll work out together what's going on and what will help.
Do I need a diagnosis or referral to get help with anxiety?
No. You can come to us directly, and you don't need a label to be worth helping.
Is anxiety support in person or online?
Online, so you can get support from wherever suits you. It's flexible, and it fits around work and life.
Is anxiety support confidential?
Yes. What you share stays between you and your psychologist, within the usual professional and legal limits.
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