Generalised anxiety disorder therapyWorry doesn’t have to run your life.
Some people worry about one thing at a time. People with generalised anxiety disorder tend to worry about almost everything: their health and their family's, money, work, the news, whether they said the wrong thing, whether something bad is about to happen.
Online in English, with a therapist from our team, wherever you live · Sessions in Greek are with Matina Ladikou.
Each session lasts 45 minutes and costs 70 €. All fees
At Art of Mind, a centre founded by psychotherapist Matina LadikouAt a glance
- Format
- Online by video on Google Meet, 45-minute sessions.
- Who you work with
- A therapist from our team, in English. In Greek, Matina Ladikou.
- Getting started
- Send an enquiry; we reply within 24 hours.
There is help
You don’t have to face this on your own
As soon as one worry is settled, another takes its place. The mind rarely rests, and the body pays for it in tension, fatigue and broken sleep.
Generalised anxiety disorder, or GAD, is common and well understood, and it responds to psychological therapy. At Art of Mind, a psychotherapy centre founded in Patras, Greece, in 2019, therapy for GAD in English takes place online by video with a therapist from our centre.
Recognising it
What is generalised anxiety disorder?
GAD is a long-term condition in which a person feels anxious about a wide range of situations and issues rather than one specific event1. The worry is out of proportion to the actual risk, hard to switch off and present on most days. The US National Institute of Mental Health describes GAD as persistent and excessive worry that interferes with daily activities, often accompanied by physical symptoms2.
Anxiety disorders as a group are the most common mental disorders in the world, with the WHO estimating that 5.8% of the global population currently live with one6. Despite this, many people with GAD go years without help, partly because they see themselves simply as "a worrier".
Recognising it
Symptoms of GAD
GAD affects thinking, the body and behaviour:
- Worry that jumps from topic to topic and feels uncontrollable, often in the form of "what if...?"
- Restlessness, feeling on edge or keyed up.
- Tiredness, even after a full night in bed.
- Difficulty concentrating, or the mind going blank.
- Irritability and a short fuse.
- Muscle tension, headaches, jaw clenching, stomach problems.
- Sleep problems, especially difficulty falling asleep because the mind will not stop.
- Behaviours such as seeking reassurance, over-planning, checking, avoiding news or decisions, and procrastinating.
Recognising it
Why GAD develops
There is rarely a single cause. Contributing factors may include temperament, family history, long periods of stress, difficult early experiences, physical health problems and the use of alcohol or caffeine1. Many people with GAD hold beliefs about worry itself, for example that worrying keeps them prepared or prevents bad things from happening, while also fearing that their worry is harmful or out of control. These beliefs help keep the cycle going.
Another common thread is difficulty tolerating uncertainty. Life is full of things we cannot know in advance; for someone with GAD, not knowing feels unbearable, so the mind keeps working on problems that cannot be solved in thought.
GAD and depression
Anxiety and low mood often travel together. When depression occurs with significant anxiety, sometimes called anxious depression, research suggests that the course tends to be more difficult and treatment response lower than for depression without anxiety5. That is one reason why therapy for GAD looks at mood, energy and enjoyment of life, not only at worry. If low mood is a main concern, see our page on depression therapy.
Our approach
How therapy helps with GAD
A meta-analysis of 41 studies including 2,132 patients with GAD found that psychotherapy had a large effect compared with control conditions, with large effects on depressive symptoms as well; most studies examined cognitive behavioural therapy3. In its stepped-care model, the NICE guideline recommends starting with education and monitoring, then low-intensity interventions such as guided self-help, and, when GAD persists or causes marked impairment, a choice of a high-intensity psychological intervention (CBT or applied relaxation) or medication4.
Our therapists work in an integrative, evidence-informed way. For GAD, sessions often include:
- Mapping your worry: what you worry about, when, and what you do in response.
- Working with beliefs about worry, such as "if I stop worrying, something bad will happen".
- Techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy, where helpful, to distinguish problems you can act on from hypothetical "what ifs", and to practise living with uncertainty.
- Relaxation and body-based skills to lower physical tension and help with sleep.
- Reducing safety behaviours, such as constant reassurance-seeking or checking, step by step.
- Bringing life back in: reconnecting with activities and relationships that anxiety has crowded out.
The aim is not a life without worry, which nobody has, but a mind that can let worries come and go without being run by them.
Online, by video
Does online therapy work for GAD?
Video sessions suit GAD well because they make it easier to attend regularly. A meta-analysis of randomised trials found telemedicine treatment for anxiety, mood disorders and PTSD to be broadly equivalent to in-person treatment7. You need a private space, ideally headphones, and a stable connection.
Is it time?
When to seek help
Consider therapy if worry has been present most days for several months, if it is hard to control, or if it is affecting your sleep, work, relationships or health. Seek help sooner if you are using alcohol or other substances to calm down, or if low mood is joining the anxiety.
Some medical conditions and medicines can cause anxiety-like symptoms, so it is sensible to see a doctor as well. If you experience chest pain or severe breathlessness, seek medical help immediately; in an emergency call 112. We are happy to work alongside your doctor or psychiatrist.
Online, by video
How online therapy with us works
Send an enquiry.
Through our contact form with a brief description, your time zone and preferred times. There is no need to include detailed health information.
We reply within 24 hours.
And arrange your first session with a therapist from our centre.
You meet by video.
On Google Meet, for 45 minutes, Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 21:00 Athens time.
The first session.
Covers your history, current difficulties and goals, and ends with an initial plan.
Sessions in English cost 70 € per 45-minute session. See our pricing page for details. For anxiety and stress more broadly, see our anxiety therapy page.
If you need urgent help
In an emergency call 112. In Greece you can also call 1018 (suicide prevention) or 10306 (mental-health support). For helplines in your country, see findahelpline.com.
Our founder
Art of Mind, founded by Matina Ladikou
A centre where you can talk without fear of judgement, at your own pace.
Matina Ladikou, psychotherapist and founder of Art of Mind, set up the centre in Patras, Greece, in 2019. Sessions in English are with a therapist from our team; sessions in Greek are with Matina, and you can book Greek sessions directly.
We don’t promise a “guaranteed” or “instant” result; we offer a space of trust and work at your own pace.
Trained in Biothymic Psychotherapy and Clinical Hypnosis, in Mental Health Counselling and in NLP, with an MSc in Criminology from Panteion University.
About Matina and the centreNext step
Worry does not have to run your life
You do not need to wait until the worry is unmanageable. A short message is enough to start.
Before you start
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my worrying is GAD?
Everyone worries. GAD is more likely when worry is present most days for several months, covers many different topics, feels very hard to control and comes with symptoms such as restlessness, tiredness, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension or poor sleep. A formal diagnosis is made by a doctor or psychiatrist, but you do not need one to start therapy.
Can GAD be treated with therapy alone?
Psychological therapy is a first-line option for GAD in clinical guidelines, and many people improve with therapy alone. Others benefit from medication as well, which is prescribed and monitored by a doctor. We are happy to work alongside your doctor if you choose that route.
Why does trying to stop worrying not work?
Worry often feels useful, as if it prepares you for the worst, and trying to push thoughts away tends to make them return more strongly. Therapy usually focuses less on stopping worries and more on changing your relationship with them and with uncertainty.
Is online therapy suitable for GAD?
Yes, for most people. Research comparing video therapy with in-person therapy has found broadly similar outcomes for anxiety disorders. Online sessions also make it easier to keep a regular rhythm, which matters for this kind of work.
How much does a session cost?
Sessions in English are 70 € per 45-minute session. Full details are on our pricing page.