Health Anxiety Counselling & Treatment at Bayside Psychotherapy

Bayside Psychotherapy>Overcome Health Anxiety – Find Peace with Expert Therapy at Bayside Psychotherapy Melbourne

Worried about your health, even after doctors reassure you? At Bayside Psychotherapy, we help you manage health anxiety with personalised, compassionate care.

Understanding health anxiety

Health anxiety, also known as hypochondria or illness anxiety disorder, is when you continually worry about having a serious medical condition, even when doctors tell you you’re healthy.

This persistent worry can consume your thoughts, making it hard to focus on anything else. Despite getting reassurance from healthcare professionals, the fear often lingers, making it difficult to find peace of mind.

You may struggle with sleep, feel constantly stressed and find yourself stuck in a cycle of worry.

Common symptoms of health anxiety

People with health anxiety often experience

• Physical symptoms: Real physical sensations like headaches, heart palpitations or stomach issues, often caused by stress and anxiety.

• Excessive worry: A constant feeling that you have a serious illness, even after doctors reassure you.

• Frequent body checks: Regularly checking your body for signs of illness, like lumps or rashes.

• Compulsive research: Spending hours online searching for symptoms and potential illnesses.

• Frequent doctor visits: Seeing multiple doctors to get more opinions, even after being told you’re healthy.

• Social isolation: Avoiding social situations due to fear of catching a contagious disease.

These symptoms can be exhausting and can really get in the way of your daily life, work and relationships.

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Common triggers for health anxiety

Health anxiety can be triggered by many factors, including stressful life events, exposure to health-related news or past experiences with illnesses.

A big part of health anxiety is the need for certainty and reassurance, which can keep the anxiety going. We get it—it’s natural to want to feel sure and safe.

Understanding these triggers is the first step in managing your anxiety.

We help you handle those feelings in a healthier way and develop strategies to reduce their impact on your life.

The benefits of early intervention

Addressing health anxiety early can prevent it from becoming more severe.
The earlier you start therapy, the sooner you can experience symptom relief and regain control over your thoughts and emotions.

Early intervention also makes therapy more effective, as we can address the anxiety before it becomes deeply ingrained.

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How Bayside Psychotherapy can help

At Bayside Psychotherapy, we understand how overwhelming health anxiety can be. You might wonder if therapy will really help or if you’ll be judged for your fears.

If you’re looking for health anxiety treatment in Melbourne, our therapists create a safe, non-judgmental space where your concerns are taken seriously.

We work with you to create a treatment plan that’s right for you, helping you build resilience and manage your anxiety with confidence.

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Our approach to health anxiety

We offer a range of therapies to help you manage health anxiety. Everyone’s experience is different, so we tailor our methods to fit your needs.

Our treatment options can include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT helps you identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviours that drive your health anxiety. It’s especially effective if you like a structured, solution-focused approach.

• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: This therapy is great if you’re more reflective and want to dig deeper into what’s causing your health anxiety. It helps you understand how unresolved issues from your past might be contributing to your current fears.

• Mindfulness Therapy: Mindfulness techniques can help you manage the intrusive thoughts and worries that come with health anxiety. By focusing on the present moment, you can reduce the intensity of your fears and gain more control over your thoughts.

• Medication (provided by your GP or psychiatrist): While not offered directly at Bayside Psychotherapy, prescribed medication can sometimes be a part of a treatment plan, especially if your anxiety is severe. Medications like antidepressants can help reduce the intensity of health anxiety symptoms and complement the therapies we provide.

• Hypnotherapy: Hypnotherapy can be a great way to manage health anxiety. By guiding you to relax deeply, it allows us to tap into your subconscious mind, where we can work on easing anxiety and changing unhelpful thought patterns. We take the time to explore what’s really driving your anxiety and tailor each session to help you handle those triggers more effectively. The goal is to help you build long-term resilience, so you can feel more in control and less overwhelmed by health anxiety.

• Additional therapies: Depending on your needs, we may also include Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation, dream work, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), or Group Therapy in your treatment plan. These methods offer extra support in managing anxiety and promoting overall wellbeing.

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Getting started

Therapy works best when you’re committed and actively involved.

While it takes time, many clients start to notice positive changes early in therapy. With the right support and dedication, you can gradually regain control over your life and reduce the impact of anxiety.

If you’re ready to take the first step toward managing your health anxiety, we’re here to help.

Located in Melbourne’s Bayside area, we offer both in-clinic and secure online sessions, so you can access therapy from anywhere.

To learn more or to book an appointment, call us at (03) 9557 9113 or use our online booking form:
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Your Path to Personalised Healing and Growth

Taking the first step towards therapy is an act of courage, especially if you've faced challenges or felt let down by therapy before. At Bayside Psychotherapy, we truly understand how important it is to find the right support that genuinely connects with you. Whether you're managing anxiety, addiction, eating challenges, aiming to strengthen your relationships, or seeking to understand deeper emotional patterns, our non-judgmental therapists in Melbourne are here to offer personalised care that aligns with your unique needs. Our wide range of services—including counselling, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, and clinical psychology—are designed to guide you on a journey of meaningful change and lasting personal growth.

Binge Eating Disorder Therapy: Struggling with binge eating often goes deeper than just the act itself. Our therapy sessions focus on uncovering the emotional and psychological triggers behind your eating habits, guiding you towards healthier choices and a renewed sense of self-worth.
Hypnotherapy: Whether you're dealing with addiction, phobias, or stress, our personalized hypnotherapy sessions work on a subconscious level to help you make deep, lasting changes. We’ll support you in addressing the root causes of your challenges, empowering you to take control of your life.
Couples Therapy: Relationships can be complex, and communication is key. Our couples therapy sessions create a supportive environment where both partners can express their feelings, resolve conflicts, and rebuild a strong, understanding connection. We're here to help you and your partner navigate your relationship’s challenges together.
Compulsive Lying Therapy: Compulsive lying can be a deeply ingrained habit, but it doesn’t have to define you. In our therapy sessions, we’ll work together to explore the underlying psychological factors driving dishonesty. Our goal is to help you build integrity and trust in your personal and professional relationships.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Therapy: Living with anxiety can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to manage it alone. Our approach to treating generalised anxiety disorder includes cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness, and depth psychotherapy, all designed to help you find peace and stability in your daily life.

At Bayside Psychotherapy, we are dedicated to offering personalised care that truly meets your unique needs. Whether you’re navigating personal, relational, or psychological challenges, we’re here to offer compassionate, professional support, carefully tailored to your journey. Your well-being is our foremost priority, and we’re committed to helping you achieve meaningful growth and lasting, positive change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first signs of health anxiety?

Early signs of health anxiety include constant worrying about your health, frequently checking your body for symptoms and feeling distressed by physical sensations that others might ignore.

What is health anxiety and how does Bayside Psychotherapy treat it?

Health anxiety, also known as hypochondria or illness anxiety disorder, involves ongoing worry about a serious medical condition, even when there’s little to no medical evidence. At Bayside Psychotherapy, we provide comprehensive hypochondria treatment using approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Mindfulness Therapy, all tailored to your specific needs.

How do I know if it’s health anxiety or a physical real issue?

It can be hard to tell the difference between health anxiety and a real psychical problem. A key sign of health anxiety is the constant worry about your health, even after multiple doctors’ visits and health checks.

Can health anxiety cause physical symptoms?

Yes, health anxiety can cause physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension and stomach pains, often due to stress. These symptoms are real but are usually driven by anxiety rather than an underlying medical condition.

What are the primary methods used in health anxiety treatment?

We primarily use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and Mindfulness Therapy. Each approach is tailored to your specific needs, depending on your situation and therapist.

How can a health anxiety therapist at Bayside Psychotherapy help me?

Our Melbourne-based therapists have a special interest in and regularly work with health anxiety, hypochondria and illness anxiety disorder. They work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your unique situation and symptoms. We aim to help you regain control over your anxiety, improve your mental wellbeing and lead a more fulfilling life.

What can help manage panic attacks causes by health anxiety?

Techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness and grounding exercises can help manage panic attacks. In therapy, we work with you to develop these skills and others to help you feel more in control when anxiety spikes.

Is there a difference between hypochondriasis therapy and health anxiety treatment?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, hypochondriasis therapy typically focuses on understanding the psychological reasons behind your health anxiety, like exploring past experiences through Psychodynamic Therapy. Health anxiety treatment generally refers to managing and reducing your symptoms using approaches like CBT, mindfulness and education about your condition.

Ready to take the first step toward lasting change?

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