Counselling for anxiety and panic attacks in Berkhamsted

If you’re struggling with anxiety or panic attacks, you’re not alone. These experiences can feel overwhelming and isolating, but with the right support, there are effective ways to understand and manage them. As an experienced counsellor and acupuncturist in Berkhamsted, I’ve helped many people find relief from both anxiety and panic attacks using an integrative approach that addresses both mind and body

 

Understanding the Difference: Anxiety vs Panic Attacks 

While anxiety and panic attacks often go hand in hand, they’re distinct experiences with different characteristics: 

 

Anxiety: The Persistent Companion 

Anxiety tends to be: 

- Slow-burning and persistent, it can last for hours, days, or even longer 

- Involves worrying, rumination, and “what if” scenarios 

- Gradually building, often starting small and increasing over time 

- Physically draining, creating tension, restlessness, and fatigue 

 Think of anxiety as a persistent unease, a state of worrisome distress that needs soothing. It’s your mind’s way of trying to prepare for or prevent perceived threats, but it can become exhausting when it’s constantly activated. 

 

Panic Attacks: The Sudden Storm 

Panic attacks are characterized by: 

- Rapid onset and high intensity, they can peak within minutes 

- Overwhelming physical symptoms, heart racing, sweating, difficulty breathing 

- Fear of losing control, many people think they’re having a heart attack or “going crazy” 

- Time-limited, while terrifying, they typically last between 30 seconds to several minutes 

 The intensity of panic attacks means they can’t be sustained for long periods, but their sudden nature makes them particularly frightening. 

 

Why Do These Feelings Happen? 

 Here’s something important to understand: your anxiety and panic are never “silly” or “irrational,” even though they might feel that way.People have the feelings they have for very good reasons, and it always makes sense within that person’s experience of themselves and their life. 

 

The Hidden Roots 

Often, there’s much happening beneath the surface of awareness that contributes to these feelings: 

- Current triggers: Your feelings are connected to your concerns, values, comforts, securities, and perceived threats. When something meaningful that meets your needs is threatened or absent, anxiety or panic can emerge. 

 - Past experiences: Sometimes feelings from the past are unconsciously triggered by cues in the present. You might experience a surge of emotions from earlier experiences without being consciously aware of the connection. 

 - Implicit memory: Many of the experiences that contribute to anxiety are stored in implicit memory, the part of our memory we’re not consciously aware of. This can make anxiety feel confusing and “out of nowhere.” 

 

How Therapy Can Help 

It’s normal to begin counselling feeling anxious or panicky without really knowing why. This can contribute to feeling out of control. One of the ways our minds work is to guide us away from perceived threats while also blocking our awareness of what the threat is really about, because to fully experience it might be painful. 

  Through counselling, I help people: 

- Become aware of what they didn’t know about themselves and their feelings 

- Understand the connections between past experiences and current symptoms 

-  Develop the capacity for emotional regulation - to be able to experience anxious feelings without going into overwhelm

- Build confidence in their ability to cope with the difficulties that life brings

 As people start to discover more about what’s underneath their feelings, that awareness often brings a sense of calmness and understanding. This is part of the journey toward living with more ease and freedom. 

 

My Integrative Approach in Berkhamsted 

 Combining Counselling and Acupuncture 

As both a qualified counsellor and a registered acupuncturist, I offer a unique approach that addresses anxiety and panic from multiple angles: 

 Counselling helps with:

- Understanding the psychological roots of anxiety 

- Developing coping strategies and emotional regulation

- Processing past experiences that may be contributing 

- Building resilience and self-awareness 

 

Acupuncture supports by:

- Calming the nervous system naturally 

- Reducing physical symptoms of anxiety 

- Improving sleep and overall wellbeing 

- Complementing talk therapy with body-based healing 

 

What You Can Expect 

- Initial consultation to understand your specific experience 

- A personalized approach

- Regular sessions  in a safe, non-judgmental environment 

-  Conversations of depth and discovery that help you to better deal with what's going on for you

 

When to Seek Help 

 Consider reaching out if you’re experiencing: 

- Persistent worry that interferes with daily life 

- Panic attacks that limit your activities 

- Physical symptoms like heart racing, sweating, or difficulty breathing 

- Avoidance of places or situations due to anxiety 

- Sleep problems related to worry or panic 

- Feeling overwhelmed by anxious thoughts 

 

Your Next Steps 

 You don’t have to struggle with anxiety or panic attacks alone. With over 20 years of experience helping people in Berkhamsted and surrounding areas, I understand how distressing these experiences can be and how much relief is possible with the right support. 

 

Contact: 

Call 07717 515 013 

email sean@seanheneghan.com

Located at Berkhamsted Chiropractic Clinic, 69 High Street, Berkhamsted

Available Monday to Friday with both daytime and evening appointments

 

Article updated: August 2025

 

Sean Heneghan is a BACP registered counsellor, licensed acupuncturist (MBAcC), and cognitive hypnotherapist with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in helping people overcome anxiety, panic attacks, and stress-related issues using an integrative approach that honors both the mind and body