Stress Therapy
Stress Therapy in Hampshire
Whether we’re anxious about meeting a work deadline or rushing to catch a flight, little moments of stress are an unavoidable part of life. In fact, these small doses of stress can be a good thing, pushing us to get things done.
But when we’re faced with demands that we can’t keep up with, we can become overly stressed, even to the point of burnout. Over time, stress can affect you both mentally and physically, impacting your focus, relationships, sleep, and general wellbeing.While we can’t eliminate stress altogether, learning how to respond to it in a healthy, empowering way can make a real difference.
Would it be helpful to learn practical, lasting ways to manage the stressors you face at work, at university, at home, or during times of transition?
I’m Dr Sonney Gullu-McPhee, a bilingual Clinical Psychologist, offering bespoke therapy for stress both in-person at my Petersfield clinic and online across the UK. I frequently work with people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, including those who have relocated to the UK from different continents. Many of my clients experience stress and navigate emotional challenges that come with adjusting to a new culture such as identity shifts, language barriers, and feelings of disconnection or isolation.
Having relocated to the UK myself many years ago, I bring both personal and professional awareness and insight into the experiences of my international clients. My culturally sensitive approach helps people be seen and supported, no matter where they are from.
As a Turkish speaking Clinical Psychologist, I also offer therapy in Turkish for clients who feel more at ease expressing themselves in their native language.
Whether you prefer in person sessions at my Petersfield, Hampshire clinic, or the flexibility of online therapy, I offer a calm, empathetic space to explore healthier and more practical ways to manage stress.
Book your 15-minute complimentary consultation with me today.
Understanding Stress
Before learning to manage stress effectively, It’s important to understand what it is and where it comes from.
Stress is our body’s natural response to feeling threatened or under pressure. When we perceive a threat the body releases a hormone called adrenaline (the fight or flight hormone), to help us react quickly. This response is useful in short bursts, but when stress becomes constant, it can start to wear the body down.
Chronic stress keeps the body in a heightened state of alert, leading to symptoms, like fatigue irritability, mental fog, and emotional overwhelm. Over time, it can also trigger physical issues, such as digestive problems, headaches, dizziness, skin flare-ups, and muscle tensions or pain.
Ongoing stress can leave you constantly overwhelmed, tense, worn out, or exhausted. It’s the feeling of being under too much pressure that makes even completing small tasks feel impossible. Long-term stress can also increase your likelihood of developing anxiety and depression.
The two most common types of stress are:
- Acute Stress
- Chronic Stress
Acute Stress
Acute stress is when you feel a brief but intense episode of stress due to common stressors, such as getting into an argument or preparing for an exam.
Chronic Stress
This form of stress might not exhibit symptoms at the moment, but its effects are severe and last longer. Chronic stress is a result of long-term stressors such as financial problems, a challenging career, or unhealthy relationship.
Many of us think that our stress response is something in our control. But a lot of the common causes of stress are beyond our control. If you’re dealing with stress, you may get used to the discomfort, with this feeling becoming your new normal.
Dealing with chronic stress is a personal journey, with some people finding it more difficult than others. My therapy for stress involves a deeper approach to help you build resilience to stress, regardless of the situations life throws at you.
Contact me to learn how I can help you.
Challenges Addressed in Stress Therapy
My therapy sessions are tailored to your specific stressors, lifestyle, and internal patterns. Together, we’ll explore and work through:
We’ll look at the sources of your stress and explore how to break large, overwhelming pressures into manageable parts.
Stress often stems from taking on too much. Therapy helps you recognise where you may need firmer boundaries and how to assert them with confidence.
When stress builds up, it can cause emotional reactivity or shutdown. We’ll work on tools to manage your responses and build emotional resilience.
Many people feel chronically stressed because they’re striving to do everything perfectly. Therapy helps challenge unrelenting standards and encourages self-compassion.
Whether you’re a parent, professional, carer, or all of the above, therapy helps you find a rhythm that supports your health and priorities.
Relocating or living between cultures can lead to emotional distress, identity shifts, and feelings of disconnection. Therapy can support you in navigating change and uncertainty, managing loneliness, balancing cultural and personal expectations, and exploring your sense of belonging across different worlds.
How Dr McPhee’s Stress Therapy Can Help
Anyone can become burned out and exhausted due to stress, at any point in life. Whether you’re a new parent juggling responsibilities or transitioning into a new professional role, when it becomes overwhelming, don’t hold back – you can and should seek help to manage stress.
As a bilungual Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate in Psychology and over 15 years of experience, I bring my own valuable insights and cultural sensitivity to help you deal with your stress and stressors in life.
My therapy for work stress can allow you to view stress as an enabler and manage it with practical techniques tailored to your lifestyle. I also offer general therapy for stress sessions to help you build resilience to stress in challenging times in your life.
My Integrated Stress Therapy Approach
I offer a tailored approach to stress management that integrates evidence-based therapies with a culturally sensitive lens. My work considers your background, values, and life experiences to ensure you feel understood and supported.
I employ the following stress management strategies in my stress therapy sessions:
CBT is an effective therapeutic approach used to manage stress. This technique involves identifying the negative thought patterns that lead to undesired emotions and behaviours.
I use this approach in my stress therapy sessions to help you reshape your negative experiences related to stress.
In my stress therapy sessions, I use mindfulness practices that guide you to stay mindful and in the present moment. Through this practice, you’ll gain a non-judgemental and compassionate awareness of the things you’re dealing with, reducing the worry and anxiety brought on by stress and its triggers.
Mindfulness can also be used in conjunction with CBT to improve your overall well-being.
Drawing on the principles of Polyvagal Theory, I incorporate techniques to help you regulate your nervous system. These strategies support a sense of safety and calm, helping you move from states of anxiety or shut down into more grounded connected states of being.
CFT helps you respond to yourself with kindness rather than criticism, especially in times of stress. By cultivating self-compassion, you can build emotional resilience and begin to reduce feelings of shame, self doubt, or fear that may accompany stress.
My Stress Therapy Process
Why Choose Dr McPhee for Stress Therapy?
With my integrated approach to therapy for stress, I combine my knowledge and expertise to create a therapeutic approach grounded in evidence, aligned with NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines.
I specialise in using therapy as a medium to address how you deal with and process stress. My therapy for work stress sessions are personalised and tailored to your needs. I provide a safe, confidential and compassionate space to help you open up about the triggers that cause stress and tension in your life.
Stress Therapy in Hampshire or Online
Don’t let stress overwhelm you and leave you feeling powerless. My therapy for stress can help you build resilience, take back control of your life, and face tough challenges with complete confidence. I offer flexible therapy options with both in-person at my Petersfield clinic and online.
Learn how you can push stress to the backseat with therapy for stress. Book a complimentary 15-minute consultation via email or call today and take the first step toward effectively dealing with stress.
Yes. Therapy helps you understand your stress patterns, build coping skills, and make meaningful lifestyle and emotional changes to reduce stress long term.
If life feels too hectic for therapy, it may be exactly when you need support the most. I offer flexible scheduling and online sessions to make therapy accessible — whether you’re juggling work, family life, or living between countries or cultures.
Yes. Whether you’re an expat, international student, or someone who has relocated, therapy can help you navigate feelings of isolation, identity struggles, and cultural adjustment. It can also offer a space to honour your cultural roots while building a meaningful life in your current environment.
Yes. Stress, anxiety, and emotional overload often disrupt sleep. In therapy, you’ll learn how to regulate your nervous system and develop calming routines that support better sleep and overall well being.
Absolutely. Burnout is a form of chronic stress. Therapy can help you recover, reset your boundaries, and rebuild emotional strength.
Yes. Therapy can help you understand your triggers, gain emotional clarity, and develop a sense of empowerment in managing life’s demands.
Though it may not completely eliminate stress from your lives, therapy helps you develop tools and strategies to manage stress effectively.
If you’re taking or considering medication, please contact your GP or psychiatrist to discuss how medication can be helpful.
If stress is overwhelming you, therapy is a positive step toward better understanding and managing your stress triggers.
Please schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to explore how we might work together.