Psychotherapist for

High-Functioning Anxiety

Understanding anxiety. Building self-trust.

You seem fine on the outside…

…but inside, your mind rarely stops.

You keep going.

You meet expectations.

You seem like you're coping.

But beneath the surface, you're constantly thinking, worrying, analysing or questioning yourself. You might be the person everyone relies on while quietly wondering when it will be your turn to feel more at ease.

Perhaps you've spent so long meeting everyone else's needs that you've lost sight of your own.

If this feels familiar, you're not alone.

Therapy offers a space to slow down, understand what's happening beneath the anxiety, and begin building a kinder relationship with yourself.

Together, we'll gently explore your experiences with curiosity and compassion, helping you reconnect with yourself and develop greater self-trust over time.

What if the goal isn't to become someone different…

…but to better understand the person you've always been?

Therapy isn't about fixing who you are. It's about making sense of your experiences with curiosity and compassion, so that, over time, you can develop a more trusting relationship with yourself.

Hi, I'm Elaine.

I'm an integrative psychotherapist and counsellor based in Angel, Islington, offering therapy to adults aged 18 and over, both in person and online.

I have experience supporting adults experiencing anxiety, depression and the lasting impact of childhood trauma. While I work with a broad range of emotional and relational challenges, I have a particular interest in high-functioning anxiety, depression, nervous system dysregulation, and understanding how early experiences continue to influence the way we relate to ourselves and others in adulthood, particularly within our relationships.

My work is grounded in psychology and enriched by mindfulness and mind-body practices, recognising the close connection between our thoughts, emotions, bodies and relationships. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, I draw on different therapeutic approaches to meet you as an individual and work in a way that feels responsive to your needs.

I believe therapy is most effective when it offers both compassion and thoughtful challenge. Alongside understanding and acceptance, I will gently encourage you to explore patterns, beliefs and ways of coping that may no longer be serving you. Together, we'll make sense of your experiences with curiosity, creating opportunities for meaningful and lasting change.

Rather than asking, "What's wrong with you?", I believe therapy begins by asking, "What has happened to you?" From this place of understanding, we can begin to explore not only how you've learned to survive, but also how you might begin to live with greater freedom, self-compassion and self-trust.

Does this sound familiar?

• Your mind rarely switches off, even when you're exhausted.

• You replay conversations long after they've ended.

• You worry about getting things wrong or letting people down.

• You put other people's needs before your own.

• You find it challenging to rest without feeling guilty.

• You appear calm and capable, yet often feel anxious inside.

• You constantly second-guess yourself and struggle to trust your own judgement.

• You long to feel calmer, more grounded and more like yourself again.

If you recognise yourself in these experiences, therapy can offer a place to pause, reflect and better understand what's happening beneath the surface.

My approach

Curiosity

Together we'll explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences without judgement. Understanding ourselves is often the first step towards meaningful change.

Compassion

Living with anxiety can leave us feeling self-critical and emotionally exhausted. Therapy offers an opportunity to develop a kinder, more compassionate relationship with ourselves.

Self-trust

As our understanding grows, we might begin to notice something shifts. Decisions feel clearer, boundaries become easier to hold, and confidence in yourself begins to return. Self-trust isn't something we force; it develops naturally as we reconnect with ourselves.

I can support you with:

• High-functioning anxiety

• Anxiety, panic and persistent worry

• Depression and low mood

• Burnout and emotional exhaustion

• People-pleasing

• Low self-esteem and self-doubt

• Feeling disconnected from yourself

• Relationship and attachment challenges

• Family dynamics and conflict

• Life transitions and questions around identity

• Stress and nervous system dysregulation

• Childhood trauma and the lasting impact of early experiences

Whether you've been struggling for years or things have recently begun to feel more challenging, you don't have to work through it alone.

Beginning therapy

Reaching out for therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you're unsure where to begin.

I offer an initial consultation where we'll explore why you are coming to therapy, what you're hoping for, and whether I may be of help to you. It is an opportunity to meet, ask questions and get a sense of how I work.

If you're looking for a space to better understand yourself, navigate anxiety with greater self-trust, and develop a kinder relationship with yourself, I'd be delighted to hear from you.