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Many people come to therapy stuck in cycles of overthinking — replaying conversations or unable to switch off.

Often, these patterns don’t come out of nowhere. They can develop in response to earlier experiences — where you may have had to think carefully about how others were feeling, or how you were being perceived, in order to feel safe or understood.

Anxiety can take many forms. You may find yourself constantly analysing situations, anticipating problems, or feeling tense and on edge in everyday life. Over time, this can affect confidence, relationships, and your overall sense of ease.

Anxiety and overthinking are often connected to earlier relational experiences — particularly where there has been uncertainty, inconsistency, or a strong sense of responsibility for others.

Over time, thinking can become a way of trying to feel in control — especially when something feels uncertain or emotionally exposed.

• constant overthinking or worrying
• difficulty switching off thoughts
• fear of being judged by others
• people-pleasing or difficulty setting boundaries
• feeling overwhelmed by emotions
• low confidence or self-doubt

Research suggests that anxiety and overthinking are often rooted in earlier relational and emotional experiences (e.g. John Bowlby; Peter Fonagy; Daniel Stern).

Early relationships shape how we learn to understand ourselves, manage emotions, and feel safe with others. When these experiences are inconsistent or overwhelming, the nervous system can become more sensitive to perceived threat. Over time, thinking can become a way of trying to stay in control — anticipating problems, analysing situations, and trying to avoid emotional exposure.

From an intersubjective perspective, these patterns are not just internal — they are formed through relationships, and often continue to play out in how we relate to others in the present.

Therapy offers a space to slow down and begin to understand what may be driving these cycles — not just at the level of thoughts, but through experiencing a different kind of relationship — one where patterns can be explored and understood in real time.

Rather than trying to “stop overthinking,” the focus is on understanding what sits underneath it — and developing a different relationship with your thoughts, feelings, and needs.

...it’s an attempt to manage something that feels difficult to face or hold alone.

Over time, this can help you feel more grounded, develop clearer boundaries, and find new ways of relating to difficult thoughts and emotions with greater understanding.

If this feels familiar, you’re welcome to get in touch to arrange an initial session.