Understanding the source of distress allows more precise treatment
Anxiety, depression, addictions, self-esteem, emotional dependency, sexuality, eating and family difficulties. An initial assessment helps distinguish symptoms, context and needs.
Eight common areas of assessment and treatment
Categories help provide orientation, but they do not replace assessment. Several areas commonly overlap.
Anxiety and stress
Worry, panic, physical symptoms, phobias, social anxiety, insomnia and avoidance.
View specialty→Depression and mood
Persistent sadness, apathy, isolation, guilt, irritability, hopelessness and exhaustion.
View specialty→Addictions and loss of control
Substance use, gambling, screens or other behaviours that are difficult to stop despite their consequences.
View specialty→Psychonutrition and body image
Emotional relationship with food, guilt, rigid control, body dissatisfaction and habits.
View specialty→Self-esteem and personal growth
Self-criticism, insecurity, guilt, difficulty setting boundaries and feeling stuck.
Explore treatment→Attachment and emotional dependency
Fear of abandonment, jealousy, unstable relationships, difficulty separating and painful break-ups.
Explore treatment→Sexology and sexual wellbeing
Desire, arousal, erection, orgasm, ejaculation, pain, sexual anxiety and intimacy.
Explore sexology→Teenagers and family
Emotional changes, isolation, self-esteem, school, behaviour and family conflict.
Explore teen support→Which area best fits what concerns you?
Tick anything you recognise, you can choose more than one. This is not a diagnosis, just a faster way to find the page that best fits.
Symptoms do not always belong to a single category
Anxiety may affect sleep and mood; a break-up may alter self-esteem and eating; a sexual difficulty may create couples conflict. Assessment helps decide what to address first.
What is happening, its intensity, frequency and duration.
How it affects work, relationships, sleep, health, study or autonomy.
Avoidance, habits, interpretations, environment, experiences and relational responses.
Assessing before intervening creates a clearer direction
The first phase is not about applying a quick label. It aims to understand the difficulty, identify any complementary needs and agree useful goals for everyday life.
Request guidance→We explore symptoms, history, relationships, recent changes and needs.
We organise the information to understand what triggers and maintains distress.
We agree what needs attention first and which changes are sought.
We review progress, obstacles and adjustments to the plan or frequency.
Begin with what interferes most in your life
What concerns you most
The symptom causing the most fear, suffering or urgency is often a useful starting point.
What limits you most
Work, rest, relationships, autonomy or activities you have stopped doing.
What you most want to change
A specific goal helps transform general distress into observable objectives.