Therapy for Health Anxiety
Specialist psychotherapy for children and young people with health anxiety. Available online in the UK, without the wait.
What is Health Anxiety?
It is natural to feel concerned about our health from time to time, particularly following an illness or a worrying symptom. Health anxiety, sometimes referred to as illness anxiety, is different. It is a persistent and excessive preoccupation with having or developing a serious illness, that continues despite medical reassurance and in the absence of significant physical symptoms.
For young people with health anxiety, the fear of illness can become all-consuming. Minor physical sensations such as a headache, a racing heart or an unfamiliar ache are interpreted as evidence of something serious, triggering intense anxiety that is difficult to reason away. The internet, which offers an endless supply of medical information, can make things significantly worse, with searches for symptoms frequently leading to worst-case conclusions.
Health anxiety is more common in children and young people than many parents realise, and it can be difficult to recognise. A young person who is frequently unwell, who regularly visits the GP or school nurse, or who seeks constant reassurance about their health may be experiencing health anxiety rather than a genuine physical condition.
Signs of Health Anxiety
Health anxiety can present in a number of ways in children and young people, and the behaviour it drives is not always immediately recognisable as anxiety. Common signs include:
Repeatedly seeking reassurance from parents, teachers or medical professionals that they are not seriously ill
Frequently checking their body for signs of illness, such as feeling for lumps, monitoring their heartbeat or repeatedly taking their temperature
Avoiding physical activity, certain foods or situations out of fear of triggering symptoms
It is worth noting that a young person with health anxiety genuinely believes their fears are well founded, and the distress they experience is very real.
The Reassurance Cycle
One of the most challenging aspects of health anxiety is the role that reassurance plays in maintaining it. When a young person seeks reassurance from a parent or doctor and receives it, the relief they feel is immediate but short-lived. Before long, doubt creeps back in, the anxiety returns, and the need for reassurance begins again.
Over time, more reassurance is needed to achieve the same level of relief, and the periods of calm between episodes of anxiety become shorter. The reassurance that feels like the obvious and compassionate response is in fact reinforcing the anxiety, teaching the young person that their fears are legitimate and that seeking reassurance is the way to manage them.
This is not a reason for parents to withhold reassurance harshly or abruptly. But it does explain why reassurance alone is never a long term solution, and why therapeutic support that addresses the underlying anxiety is so important.
Hi, I'm Christina
I have worked with many young people with health anxiety throughout my career, including during my years as a CAMHS therapist. Health anxiety can be all-consuming for the young person experiencing it, and I understand how confusing and worrying it can be for parents who are trying to do the right thing.
Hi, I'm Christina
I have worked with many young people with health anxiety throughout my career, including during my years as a CAMHS therapist. Health anxiety can be all-consuming for the young person experiencing it, and I understand how confusing and worrying it can be for parents who are trying to do the right thing.
How We Treat Anxiety
At Sulis Therapies, we treat health anxiety using two evidence-based therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). CBT is the NICE recommended treatment for anxiety, though EMDR may be recommended depending on your child's individual needs.
Following a comprehensive assessment, and in conjunction with discussion with the young person and/or parent/carer(s), we will recommend the approach that is best suited to your child's individual needs, in some cases this may be a combination of both.
CBT for health anxiety helps young people identify and challenge the catastrophic thoughts that fuel their health fears, and gradually reduce the checking and reassurance-seeking behaviours that maintain them. Through structured sessions, young people develop a more balanced and realistic relationship with physical sensations and health concerns, and build the confidence to tolerate uncertainty without needing to seek constant reassurance.
Where health anxiety has developed following a specific frightening medical experience, such as a serious illness, a hospitalisation or witnessing the illness of someone close to them, EMDR can be an effective approach. By reprocessing the memories driving the fear, EMDR can significantly reduce the emotional intensity associated with health concerns.
Quick Answers
How do I know if my child needs therapy for health anxiety?
If your child's health worries are affecting their daily life, their school attendance or their ability to enjoy everyday activities, therapy is likely to help. If reassurance is providing only temporary relief before the fears return, that is a strong indicator that professional support would be beneficial. You do not need to wait until things become unmanageable before seeking help.
What ages do you treat?
We work with children and young people up to the age of 26.
How many sessions will my child need?
This depends entirely on your child and the nature of their difficulties. The initial sessions focus on understanding what your child is experiencing and putting together a clear plan for therapy. At that stage we will be able to give you a much clearer idea of how many sessions we feel would be beneficial.
How often will my child need to attend sessions?
We recommend sessions at least once a week for the best results, though we can discuss a more intensive programme if that suits your child's needs. We offer flexible appointments including evenings and weekends to fit around your family's schedule.
How much do sessions cost?
CBT sessions last 60 minutes and cost £85. EMDR sessions last 90 minutes and cost £100. A free initial consultation is available so we can discuss your child's needs before committing to a programme of therapy.
If your child is struggling with health anxiety, we're here to help. Get in touch today to arrange a free initial consultation and find out how we can support your family.
