Counselling in Leeds
Malik Rezzi
Psychotherapist, MSc, GMBPsS
Verified Verified
Leeds LS11
I also have experience dealing with depression and anxiety.
I was born and raised in multicultural societies all my life. Living in several different countries on 3 different continents (United Arab Emirates, Canada, Pakistan, Wales and England) has given me unique knowledge about culturally adapting therapy. It has also taught me to understand and work with many different kinds of people. I believe in building a strong therapeutic relationship with the client to create a safe and comfortable space to address and potentially alleviate psychological trauma. I have extensive experience adapting contemporary therapy and counselling and tailoring it to unique cultural nuances.
I also have experience dealing with depression and anxiety.
I was born and raised in multicultural societies all my life. Living in several different countries on 3 different continents (United Arab Emirates, Canada, Pakistan, Wales and England) has given me unique knowledge about culturally adapting therapy. It has also taught me to understand and work with many different kinds of people. I believe in building a strong therapeutic relationship with the client to create a safe and comfortable space to address and potentially alleviate psychological trauma. I have extensive experience adapting contemporary therapy and counselling and tailoring it to unique cultural nuances.
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Anxiety Counsellors
What are the most common treatments for anxiety?
Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy, is the most common treatment for anxiety. Studies have shown it is equally effective as medication. Other forms of therapy are popular, depending on a patient’s experience. Exposure therapy, for instance, can be useful for people dealing with fears and phobias, or who have experienced traumatic events. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy may be useful for patients who need help with emotion regulation. Anxiolytic medications, like benzodiazepines, can also help with calming a person enough to focus on the skills they’ve learned, and physical exercise has been shown to help symptoms of anxiety across the board.
How long does therapy for anxiety take to work?
The amount of time needed to alleviate symptoms depends on the severity of a person’s condition. Some therapies may take 5-20 weekly sessions to show results. Anti-depressant medications typically take two to four weeks before a benefit is felt. Anti-anxiety medications are felt typically within 20-30 minutes. Medications are best used to offer a patient a better headspace in which to work on techniques learned in therapy. Exercise, improved sleep habits, and meditation are effective, but takes weeks or months to show results.
When should I seek treatment for anxiety?
Everyone feels anxious at times, but when anxiety causes disruption to your daily life, it may be time to seek help. Such disruption can be mental, physical, or both: having fear dominate your thoughts, avoiding situations or objects that bring on feelings of anxiety, or experiencing shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or panic attacks. When these symptoms are recurrent and distressing, it may be time to talk to someone.
How effective is treatment for anxiety?
Treatment for anxiety has been shown to be moderately to highly effective, according to a large body of psychology studies and analyses. For some people, treatment using CBT or exposure therapy alone is effective. Others respond best to a combination of medication and therapy.