Anna Pluck Counselling

Anna Pluck Counselling I help people recover from anxiety and move towards feeling calm and clarity.

"High achiever" is often just a posh way of saying you’ve become a pro at hiding the internal mess.It’s the functioning ...
09/03/2026

"High achiever" is often just a posh way of saying you’ve become a pro at hiding the internal mess.

It’s the functioning trap. Because you’re still smashing targets and managing a colour-coded to-do list, you assume you’re "fine." Your boss thinks you’re a machine. Your friends think you’ve got it all figured out, probably while you’re mid-way through a 22-step skincare routine.

But behind the scenes, your amygdala: your brain's frantic internal bodyguard: is in overdrive. You’re overthinking every WhatsApp, waking up at 3am with your heart hammering, and waiting for the moment everyone realises you’re "faking it."

Doing "well" on paper isn’t the same as being well. Just because you haven’t dropped the ball yet doesn’t mean your arms aren’t exhausted.

I’m in Birkenhead today (and Wed-Fri) for in-person sessions. I’m in Chester on Tuesdays, or online any day.

As a BACP-accredited therapist (who once did stand-up comedy to mask social anxiety), I promise zero toxic positivity. Just practical ways to help you feel as calm as you look.

Pop over to my website to book a session.

Your brain doesn’t learn safety from reassurance.It learns from experience.Exposure therapy is basically:1) Do the thing...
07/03/2026

Your brain doesn’t learn safety from reassurance.
It learns from experience.

Exposure therapy is basically:

1) Do the thing that triggers anxiety
2) Stay in it long enough for your nervous system to realise you’re not, in fact, being eaten by a lion
3) Repeat

You don’t wait to feel calm first. You don't pretend you aren't anxious (fake it till you make it).
You act differently WHILE anxious.
That’s the whole point.

Try this tiny experiment this week:
• Pick ONE avoided thing (email, phone call, shop, gym, social plan)
• Do it with anxiety in the passenger seat
• Afterwards, note: “I did it. Anxiety was loud. Nothing exploded.”

That’s relearning.
That’s behaviour change.

If you want proper support (and a plan that isn’t just “be brave”), send me a DM.
Birkenhead (in-person) Mon/Wed/Thu/Fri
Chester (in-person) Tue
Online any day

Who looks after the person who looks after everyone?If you're the family fixer, the office emotional scaffolding, or the...
06/03/2026

Who looks after the person who looks after everyone?

If you're the family fixer, the office emotional scaffolding, or the friend who always has the "sensible advice" and an impressively organised Google Drive, this is for you.

You’re charismatic, hilarious, and probably have a meticulous shared calendar or a mental to-do list that never ends (guilty as charged). But while you’re busy being everyone else’s rock, your own "check-engine" light has been blinking for months.

You’re not failing. You’re just un-serviced.

That’s why I offer the Mental Health MOT. It’s a 90-minute recalibration session designed for the "strong ones." No fluff, no "toxic positivity," and certainly no Udemy-qualified "coaches" who think a scented candle solves burnout.

We’ll look at:
- Your boundaries (or lack thereof).
- Your amygdala (the brain’s alarm system, stuck on "high alert").
- How to stop being the unpaid therapist for everyone else.

I’m a BACP-accredited psychotherapist, so you’re getting clinical expertise, not a quick-fix grifter.

I’m in Birkenhead every Monday for in-person sessions, or we can catch up online from wherever you are.

Pop over to my website to book a session.

Do social situations leave you feeling anxious or overwhelmed? Learn more about social anxiety, how it differs from shyn...
03/03/2026

Do social situations leave you feeling anxious or overwhelmed? Learn more about social anxiety, how it differs from shyness and introversion, and how CBT can help. Click to read and take the first step toward confidence and connection!

Link to read in comments

If I see one more "Positive Vibes Only" quote, I might actually spontaneously combust.Telling someone with Anxiety to "...
03/03/2026

If I see one more "Positive Vibes Only" quote, I might actually spontaneously combust.

Telling someone with Anxiety to "just think happy thoughts" is like telling someone with a broken leg to "just walk it off." It’s unhelpful, condescending, and, frankly: bananas. If you could do that, you would have.

The internet is obsessed with "anxiety hacks." Eating a cold orange in a hot shower? Oranges are great, but they won’t unpick the neural pathways in your brain that keep you awake at 3 AM worrying about 2014.

I’ve lived with GAD and Social Anxiety. I know "vibing" your way out of a panic attack isn’t a thing. Real recovery isn’t about ignoring "bad" feelings; it’s about learning to sit with them without letting them drive the bus.

We don’t do "hacks" here. We do the real work: using CBT, ACT, and Person-Centred therapy to take your life back. No shower oranges required. Just evidence-based support in Wirral, Chester, or online.

Tired of "positive vibes" grifters? Let’s chat. I offer a free introductory call to see if we're a good fit. 🛋️💭❤️

P.S. I’m an approved provider for BUPA, AXA, Vitality, AVIVA, and WPA. Book via the link in my bio or drop me a message.

I’ll admit it: I get way too excited about a nice spreadsheet.Where some see a boring chore, an overthinking brain sees ...
03/03/2026

I’ll admit it: I get way too excited about a nice spreadsheet.

Where some see a boring chore, an overthinking brain sees a spa day. Anxiety loves a mess. It thrives on that "everything-is-happening-at-once" noise where your thoughts are just one big, tangled ball of wool. It’s loud, unhelpful, and frankly, exhausting.

Enter: The Spreadsheet.

When you move racing thoughts into actual boxes, something shifts. You stop just "feeling" and start categorising. You’re moving from the frantic emotional brain to the logical, "let’s look at the data" side.

This isn't about being a "productivity ninja" or chasing some weird wellness goal. It’s about externalising the noise. Once a worry is in a cell, it’s contained. It’s manageable. It’s no longer bouncing around your head making you feel nauseous.

Whether it’s a budget or just a list of "things that feel too much today": boxes help. If your brain feels like a browser with 47 tabs open, try closing a few and opening a sheet.

Or, we could just talk about it. No formulas required.

Book an intro call or session here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18631369&appointmentType=category:Counselling

Your amygdala isn’t trying to ruin your life. It’s just a bit of an over-enthusiastic bodyguard with a terrible sense of...
02/03/2026

Your amygdala isn’t trying to ruin your life. It’s just a bit of an over-enthusiastic bodyguard with a terrible sense of direction.

Think of this tiny almond-shaped bit in your brain as the ultimate security guard. Its only job is to keep you alive. The problem? It can’t tell the difference between a hungry sabre-toothed tiger and a slightly passive-aggressive email from your boss.

When your heart starts thumping and your palms get sweaty, that’s just your bodyguard screaming, "DANGER!" It’s not a malfunction. It’s a survival mechanism that’s doing exactly what it was designed to do. It’s just working with some really dodgy data.

Reframing anxiety starts here: stop seeing your brain as a bully and start seeing it as a protector that’s a bit too jumpy. It doesn't need to be shut down; it needs better information.

Over the next few posts, we’re going to look at how to give this bodyguard a performance review and show it that you’re actually doing alright.

Got a bodyguard that’s constantly sounding the alarm? Pop over to my website to book a session and let's get to work.

“I should be able to cope.”“Other people have it worse.”These sentences are masters of disguise. They look like perspect...
02/03/2026

“I should be able to cope.”
“Other people have it worse.”

These sentences are masters of disguise. They look like perspective, but they are actually tools for dismissing your own needs.

When you tell yourself you “should” be fine because your life looks okay on paper, you’re essentially telling your own brain to shut up. You’re dismissing your experience before it’s even heard.

It’s like ignoring a thumping toothache because your neighbour has a broken leg. It doesn’t fix the tooth; it just ensures you’ll be in a world of pain later.

Your nervous system doesn’t care about the news or other people's problems. It only cares that you feel overwhelmed or stuck. You don’t need to wait for a total crisis to earn a seat in the therapy room.

As a BACP accredited therapist, I can tell you: acknowledging your own needs isn’t selfish. It is necessary.

I’m in Birkenhead on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and in Chester on Tuesdays. Online sessions are available any day.

Pop over to my website to book a session.

I had my first client in the middle of the COVID lockdown.Because of social distancing, I had to conduct the session ove...
27/02/2026

I had my first client in the middle of the COVID lockdown.

Because of social distancing, I had to conduct the session over the phone rather than face-to-face, and I remember nervously picking up the phone to call them, holding a landline in one hand and a mug of tea in the other, my heart hammering. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be – all my college practice had been face-to-face – how was I supposed to build a rapport with someone on the other end of the phone? The client, of course, didn’t know they were my first one, and I still think about them and wonder how they are doing.

This is a reflection of what I have learned about anxiety and how I have grown as a therapist since then

Link to blog in first comment

If you (like me) have been caught in the trap of feeling a bit "meh" and then deciding to do an hour of yoga followed by...
24/02/2026

If you (like me) have been caught in the trap of feeling a bit "meh" and then deciding to do an hour of yoga followed by 30 minutes of journalling every day only to fail after day one then this is for you. It's about choosing the right self care habits for you that will fit in well with your routine. I wouldn't ask anyone to get up at 5 am to do a miracle morning or go for a run (unless they really want to

Link to read article in first comment

What does it actually mean to be “trauma-informed”?It’s not a trend — it’s the foundation of safe, respectful therapy.In...
20/02/2026

What does it actually mean to be “trauma-informed”?
It’s not a trend — it’s the foundation of safe, respectful therapy.
In this blog, I share what a trauma-informed approach looks like, why it matters and how to know if your therapist is working in this way
Link to blog in comments

I am a therapist now but I have also been a client struggling with anxiety and attending sessions myself.My latest blog ...
17/02/2026

I am a therapist now but I have also been a client struggling with anxiety and attending sessions myself.
My latest blog gives you practical tips to get the most from your therapy, from regular attendance to being open (with yourself as well as me).

To read the full blog click the link in comments

Address

Maritime House Business Centre, 16 Balls Road
Birkenhead
CH435RE

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 12pm - 7pm
Thursday 10:30am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+447772874242

Website

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