Anna Pluck Counselling

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

When we feel anxious, our brain’s survival system identifies a "threat": like a social event or a tough chat: and sugges...
17/06/2026

When we feel anxious, our brain’s survival system identifies a "threat": like a social event or a tough chat: and suggests we stay away. Avoiding it brings instant relief, but that relief is a debt we pay back with interest.

The hidden cost? It shrinks your world. Every time you opt out, you confirm to your brain that the situation was dangerous and reinforce the belief that you can't handle it.


Confidence isn’t the absence of fear; it’s knowing that you can cope with that fear. Of course you won't like it and you would rather not but you can cope with it.

As a BACP accredited counsellor, I help people move through that discomfort rather than avoid it.

If your world has started to feel a bit small, let’s work on making it bigger again.

Pop over to my website or send me a DM.

Ever find yourself asking "Are you sure it's okay?" for the tenth time today? Or going on google to search your symptom...
15/06/2026

Ever find yourself asking "Are you sure it's okay?" for the tenth time today? Or going on google to search your symptoms yet again?

When you’re anxious, your brain is in survival mode. Reassurance provides immediate relief.

But there’s a catch.

The relief is temporary. Because the anxiety drops before you see that the "threat" wasn't real, your brain never gets the memo. It thinks the reassurance saved you, not that you were safe all along.

You never learn to cope with discomfort or uncertainty and every time you seek reassurance you reinforce to yourself that you can't cope without it.

Breaking this cycle means learning to sit with uncertainty. A good way to start is to notice when you seek reassurance and hold off -put your phone down and don't open google or text your friend. Notice what comes up when you do that.

As a BACP accredited therapist, I help people retrain their nervous systems to find safety from within, rather than searching outside.

Pop over to my website if you’d like to find out more.

Worrying vs. Problem Solving.Worrying is circular. It’s a repetitive loop of 'what ifs' that keeps you stuck. Your brain...
10/06/2026

Worrying vs. Problem Solving.

Worrying is circular. It’s a repetitive loop of 'what ifs' that keeps you stuck. Your brain thinks it’s helping by scanning for danger, but it isn't.

Problem solving is linear. It’s action-oriented. It asks: 'What is one thing I can actually do right now?'

Worrying feels like work, but it doesn’t move the needle. Problem solving is about moving forward.

If you’re stuck in the worry trap, I get it. I have been there too.

It can help to just ask yourself "am I worrying or am I problem solving?" If it's worry - take some action. Ask yourself "if I wasn't worried right now, what would I be doing?" Then as best you can do that one thing.

Have you heard of the "Sunday scaries"?It's where you get a surge of anxiety on a Sunday evening in dread of going back ...
07/06/2026

Have you heard of the "Sunday scaries"?

It's where you get a surge of anxiety on a Sunday evening in dread of going back to work on Monday morning. The issue is then you can't switch off as you are always thinking about work. You end up with burnout.

If that sounds like you I can help!

The Mental Health MOT is designed to help you recalibrate that response. We’ll spend 90 minutes unravelling the loops, identifying the triggers, and building a practical toolkit to help you actually switch off when you aren't in work.

If you can't stop feeling anxious even though you know you are safe it doesn't mean you are broken.Your brain's job is n...
04/06/2026

If you can't stop feeling anxious even though you know you are safe it doesn't mean you are broken.

Your brain's job is not to keep you happy - it is to keep you alive. So it can sometimes see danger everywhere.

The part of your brain that handles this is called the amygdala and it responds faster than rational thought, which is why trying to rationalise or reason with anxiety doesn't work. We know that we aren't in danger but the fear part of our brain carries on sounding the alarm regardless.

The good news is that there are things you can do to help calm this part of your brain and teach your nervous system you are safe.

Pop over to my website to book a session

I have in-person availability at two locations:📍 InMotion Clinics, ChesterTuesdays: 15:00 – 19:00📍 Maritime House, Birke...
03/06/2026

I have in-person availability at two locations:

📍 InMotion Clinics, Chester
Tuesdays: 15:00 – 19:00

📍 Maritime House, Birkenhead
Mondays: 09:00 – 18:00
Wednesdays: 12:00 – 19:00
Thursdays: 10:00 – 18:30
Fridays: 10:00 – 15:00

Whether it’s social anxiety, overthinking, or that heavy sense of overwhelm, we can work through it together in a calm, supportive environment.

I am a BACP-accredited therapist and an approved provider for BUPA, AXA, and Aviva. Self-pay sessions are available, and you don’t need a GP referral to get started.

If you’re ready to bridge the gap between understanding your anxiety and actually feeling better, I offer a free introductory call to chat through what you need.

Pop over to my website or send me a DM to find out more.

"What happens if I bump into my therapist in public?"It’s a question many wonder about. I remember seeing my own therapi...
02/06/2026

"What happens if I bump into my therapist in public?"

It’s a question many wonder about. I remember seeing my own therapist years ago and having no idea what the etiquette was. Should I say hello? Pretend I hadn't seen them? I managed an awkward nod and carried on while worrying if I looked weird or not.

For me, the answer is simple.

If I see a client in public, I won't usually approach them first. It's not because I'm ignoring you, it's to respect your privacy. You might be with someone who doesn't know you're in therapy, and I never want to put you in an awkward position.

However, if you'd like to say hello, please do! I'm always happy to chat briefly. 👋

The same goes for former clients. One of the best parts of this job is seeing people move forward. Sometimes I walk alongside someone through a difficult chapter and then never hear what happened next. Of course I would like to know if you got that job or if that new relationship worked out.

So, if you’re a former client and you’ve wondered whether you can send an update or say hello: the answer is a big yes. I'd be delighted to hear from you.

In-person sessions in Chester (InMotion Clinics)Current availability:Tuesdays, 3–7pmYou can start with a free intro call...
02/06/2026

In-person sessions in Chester (InMotion Clinics)

Current availability:
Tuesdays, 3–7pm

You can start with a free intro call.
No GP appointment needed.
Self-pay or insurance (BUPA, AXA, Aviva).

Pop over to annapluck.com or send me a DM and I’ll talk you through the next step.

When I am not in the therapy room I am often spending time with cats. I volunteer as a cat fosterer with an animal rescu...
30/05/2026

When I am not in the therapy room I am often spending time with cats. I volunteer as a cat fosterer with an animal rescue and for the last 3 months I fostered Ella and her four kittens.

Yesterday I dropped off mum cat and her last remaining kitten ready to start the next chapter of their lives. ❤️

After weeks of feeding, cleaning, worrying, socialising, cuddling, and watching them grow in confidence, my job is done.

Part of me would love to keep every cat that comes through my door. (My existing cats would probably have something to say about that.)

But fostering isn't about keeping them. It's about helping them become ready to leave.

It got me thinking about how often this comes up in counselling too.

So much of life involves letting go. Letting go of old versions of ourselves. Letting go of relationships, roles, expectations, or situations that no longer fit. And often, trusting that we've done enough and that we're ready for whatever comes next.

It's not always comfortable.

But growth rarely happens when we stay in the same place forever.

Now excuse me while I pretend I'm not going to miss these two terribly. 🐾

For those who don’t know me, I’m Anna I’m a psychotherapist who works mainly with anxiety, overwhelm, burnout, and peopl...
29/05/2026

For those who don’t know me, I’m Anna

I’m a psychotherapist who works mainly with anxiety, overwhelm, burnout, and people who feel like they’re constantly “holding it together” on the outside while internally screaming into the void a little bit.

I know anxiety both professionally and personally, which is a huge part of why I do this work. After going through bereavement, job loss, and my own struggles with severe anxiety, I became passionate about helping people realise that anxiety doesn’t have to run their lives.

My approach is warm, practical, down-to-earth, and definitely not “just think positive” energy because honestly… if it were that easy, none of us would be here.

I offer psychotherapy sessions and Mental Health MOTs online and face-to-face, helping people understand themselves better, build resilience, set boundaries, and stop living in survival mode.

Outside of therapy, I’m a cat lover, kitten fosterer, overthinker-turned-anxiety-therapist, and someone who genuinely believes people are often far more capable than they give themselves credit for.

If you’re new here welcome

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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