Counselling for Separation Anxiety
Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology | Menai and Sutherland Shire
Separation anxiety can affect people at any stage of life. While it is often recognised in children, it can continue into adolescence and adulthood, particularly during periods of stress, transition or change. Separation anxiety can make everyday situations feel overwhelming and impact confidence, relationships and wellbeing.
In young children, separation anxiety may appear as school avoidance, worries about something happening to a caregiver, difficulty sleeping alone or physical symptoms such as stomach aches, nausea or headaches. Children may feel highly distressed during drop-offs or express fear about being away from home. You can learn more about how we work with younger clients on our Child Counselling page.
In adolescents and adults, separation anxiety may contribute to panic attacks, avoidance behaviours and difficulty managing independence. It can also affect relationships, travel, work commitments and major life transitions. For some people, separation anxiety is linked to underlying anxiety disorders, attachment experiences, trauma or significant life changes such as relationship breakdowns or moving away from home. More information is available on our Anxiety Disorders and Trauma and PTSD pages.
At Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology in Menai, our psychologists and counsellors provide therapy for children, adolescents and adults experiencing separation anxiety. We offer a calm, non-judgemental and trauma-informed environment to explore worries, understand what contributes to distress and develop strategies that help individuals feel more secure and capable. We work with clients across the Sutherland Shire, including Bangor, Illawong, Alfords Point, Barden Ridge, Engadine, Woronora Heights, Sylvania, Kirrawee, Gymea, Miranda and Caringbah.
Our clinicians draw on evidence-based therapies that help people manage anxiety and gradually increase confidence in being apart from loved ones. These may include:
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Mindfulness-based strategies
• Gradual exposure
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Emotion Focused Therapy
• Play and Art Therapy for younger clients
Therapy is guided by each person’s goals and pace. We work collaboratively to understand the thoughts, emotions and experiences that contribute to separation anxiety and introduce practical strategies to help individuals feel more settled, capable and independent in everyday situations.
To book an appointment for counselling for separation anxiety, call Evolving Minds Counselling and Psychology on 02 8519 4197 or click the button below to make an enquiry.