Anxiety Counselling Australia
Professional anxiety counselling from wherever you are in Australia.
Living with anxiety can be exhausting. Constant worry, overthinking, racing thoughts or feeling unable to switch off can affect your relationships, work, confidence and overall wellbeing.
At Bent Couch, anxiety counselling provides a safe and affirming space to better understand your experiences, identify what may be contributing to your anxiety, and develop practical strategies to help you move forward with greater confidence and calm.
We'll begin wherever you are today, one conversation at a time.
✓ ACA Registered Counsellor
✓ In-person in Melbourne CBD
✓ Online across Australia
✓ LGBTQIA+ affirming
Ready to take the first step?
Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural human response to stress or perceived threat. While everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, ongoing anxiety can begin affecting everyday life, making it difficult to relax, concentrate, make decisions or feel present in the moment.
For many people, anxiety is more than feeling worried. It may involve constantly anticipating what could go wrong, replaying conversations, avoiding certain situations, struggling to sleep, or feeling physically tense throughout the day.
For gay, bi and queer men, anxiety may also be influenced by experiences such as minority stress, discrimination, internalised shame, concerns about acceptance, or years of feeling the need to hide parts of themselves.
Counselling provides an opportunity to better understand these experiences while developing healthier ways of responding to them.
Is Anxiety Counselling Right for You?
Anxiety counselling may be helpful if you:
Constantly overthink situations or conversations.
Find it difficult to switch off or relax.
Feel overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities.
Experience panic attacks.
Avoid situations because of fear or worry.
Struggle with social anxiety.
Lose sleep because your mind won't slow down.
Feel physically tense or on edge.
Set unrealistically high expectations for yourself.
Want to feel more confident and in control of your life.
You do not need to wait until anxiety feels overwhelming before seeking support. Counselling can help you better understand your experiences and develop practical strategies at any stage.
Common Signs and Experiences
Everyone experiences anxiety differently, but common experiences include:
Thoughts
Constant worrying
Racing thoughts
Difficulty concentrating
Expecting the worst
Self-criticism
Emotions
Feeling on edge
Irritability
Fear
Restlessness
Feeling overwhelmed
Physical Symptoms
Muscle tension
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue
Increased heart rate
Shallow breathing
Everyday Life
Avoiding social situations
Difficulty making decisions
Procrastination
Overworking
Seeking reassurance
Why Anxiety Can Affect Gay and Queer Men
While anxiety can affect anyone, many gay, bi and queer men have experiences that may increase emotional stress over time.
These may include:
Growing up feeling different.
Fear of rejection.
Bullying or discrimination.
Internalised shame.
Pressure to meet expectations.
Minority stress.
Navigating coming out.
Relationship challenges.
Workplace pressures.
Feeling the need to constantly prove yourself.
These experiences do not mean anxiety is inevitable, but they can shape how you respond to stress and uncertainty.
Counselling provides an opportunity to understand these patterns with curiosity and compassion rather than judgement.
How Anxiety Counselling Can Help
Together we may work towards:
Better understanding your anxiety.
Identifying triggers and patterns.
Managing racing thoughts.
Reducing overthinking.
Building confidence.
Developing healthier coping strategies.
Improving emotional regulation.
Managing workplace stress.
Strengthening relationships.
Living more consistently with your values.
The goal is not to eliminate anxiety completely, but to help it have less control over your life.
What We Might Explore Together
Every person's experience of anxiety is different.
Some of the topics we may explore include:
Overthinking
Panic attacks
Social anxiety
Workplace stress
Burnout
Confidence
Perfectionism
Self-criticism
Relationships
Identity
Boundaries
Emotional resilience
Meet Shaun Williams
I'm an ACA Registered Counsellor based in Melbourne, supporting gay, bisexual, queer and LGBTQIA+ men both in person and online across Australia.
My counselling combines professional training with lived experience and years of community involvement supporting gay and queer men's wellbeing.
Alongside counselling, I'm the founder of Bent Couch, facilitator of Community Couch Conversations, co-founder of Gay Fathers Worldwide and creator of Australia's annual Gay and Queer Men's Mental Health Survey.
For many clients, knowing their counsellor understands both the clinical and lived experience aspects of their journey provides reassurance from the very beginning.
Why Choose Bent Couch?
At Bent Couch, anxiety counselling is tailored to the experiences of gay, bi and queer men.
When you work with Bent Couch you can expect:
A safe, confidential and affirming environment.
Support from a registered counsellor.
An understanding of the experiences that may contribute to anxiety in LGBTQIA+ communities.
Practical strategies alongside meaningful reflection.
Online counselling across Australia and in-person appointments in Melbourne.
A complimentary Discovery Call if you would like to discuss whether anxiety counselling feels right for you.
Explore other Counselling Services
Online Counselling
Professional counselling from anywhere in Australia, with secure online sessions.
Individual Counselling
Support for anxiety, relationships, identity, confidence and personal growth in a safe space.
Not sure which service is right for you? You're welcome to book a complimentary Discovery Call and we'll talk through the best place to begin.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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If anxiety is affecting your relationships, work, sleep, confidence or overall wellbeing, counselling may be helpful. You do not need to wait until things feel overwhelming before seeking support. Many people attend counselling to better understand their anxiety and develop practical strategies to manage it.
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Yes. Overthinking is one of the most common concerns clients bring to counselling. Together we explore the patterns that keep you stuck in cycles of worry and develop practical ways to respond differently, helping you feel calmer and more present.
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Yes. If you're experiencing panic attacks, counselling can help you better understand what may be contributing to them, recognise early warning signs, and develop practical strategies to manage your response. If you have concerns about your physical health or have not previously discussed your symptoms with a GP, it is also important to seek medical advice to rule out other causes.
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Absolutely. Anxiety can influence communication, intimacy, confidence and the way we respond to conflict. Counselling provides an opportunity to better understand these patterns and develop healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.
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No. You can book an appointment directly without a referral.
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Yes. Bent Couch provides secure online counselling for clients throughout Australia, as well as in-person appointments in Melbourne.
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There is no set number of sessions. Some people attend for a few sessions to work through a specific concern, while others choose longer term support. Together we regularly review your goals to ensure counselling continues to meet your needs.
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The aim of counselling is not to eliminate anxiety altogether. Anxiety is a normal human emotion. Counselling can help you better understand your anxiety, reduce its impact on your daily life, and develop practical strategies so it no longer feels like it is controlling you.
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Many gay, bi and queer men experience forms of stress that can differ from the broader population, including minority stress, discrimination, internalised shame, identity concerns and fear of rejection. While everyone's experience is unique, counselling at Bent Couch provides an affirming space where these experiences can be explored without needing to explain or justify who you are.
Ready to Start?
Living with anxiety can be exhausting, but you do not have to manage it on your own. Whether your anxiety has developed recently or has been affecting you for years, counselling can provide a safe space to better understand your experiences and develop practical ways to move forward.
Book your first session or arrange a complimentary discovery call to explore whether Bent Couch is the right fit for you.