Understanding the anxiety underneath your relationships
Psychology for women with relationship anxiety in Thornbury, Melbourne and online across Australia.
Free 15 Minute Phone Consultation
Medicare Rebates Available
Psychologist in Thornbury
Online Therapy Australia-Wide
Do You Manage Your Relationships More Than You Enjoy Them?
Many women carry relationship anxiety, often described as anxious attachment, without ever looking anxious. It can show up as perfectionism, over-giving, people-pleasing and an exhausting effort to be 'enough’. I offer attachment-informed therapy for anxious attachment and relationship anxiety, in Thornbury and online, to help build relationships that don't require constant vigilance to feel secure.
Hi, I'm Emma
I'm a registered psychologist based in Thornbury, Melbourne. I've been providing therapy for over a decade, with experience in both community health and in private practice. More recently, my focus has been on supporting women* with anxious attachment and relationship anxiety, and the way it shows up in close relationships
Over the years I've come to see how much our earliest relationships and experiences can shape the way we connect with others as adults, and how the strategies that once kept us safe can become the very things that leave us feeling anxious or alone. My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in research. We start by understanding what's driving things for you, then choose ways of working that fit what you're experiencing.
*Women includes non-binary individuals (feminine-aligned), intersex or transgender women.
What Does Relationship Anxiety Look Like?
Wanting reassurance from people close to them, and sometimes feeling unsure about asking for it
Putting a lot of effort into keeping relationships running smoothly, including people-pleasing or avoiding conflict
Wondering how they come across to friends, partners, or family, and feeling the need to be ‘perfect’ to prevent rejection or abandonment
Overthinking texts and conversations, going over them again and again, wondering if something they said changed things
Feeling like their relationships or friendships are often one-sided
Many people feel some anxiety or uncertainty in close relationships from time to time. It's a very human experience, and it isn't a sign that something is wrong with you. For some women, though, it takes up more room than they'd like. They might describe:
If any of this feels familiar, it may be relationship anxiety or an anxious attachment pattern. If you’re unsure, you may like to continue exploring.
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A first conversation
A short 15 minute phone consultation to see whether we're a good fit and identify what you'd like from therapy. If it sounds like a different kind of support would suit you better, I'll say so openly.
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A thorough assessment
In our first session, we take time to talk about what's been happening for you: what your close relationships are like, when the worry shows up, and what you've already tried. You decide what you share and when.
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Making sense of it together
Once we have that picture, we talk through what might be contributing, what's keeping things going, and what therapeutic direction to take.
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Working on it, at your pace
Sessions are a space to explore the patterns that show up in your close relationships, where they may have come from, and what kind of support you need moving forwards. We'll go at a pace that feels manageable, and check in along the way on how things are going, whether we're focusing on the right things, and how and when to wrap up.
50 minute sessions available in person (Thornbury) or via telehealth. Medicare rebates are available with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.