Understanding and Treating Stress

We know that everyone’s response to stress is different. You may have been through challenging times which inevitably feel like too much to deal with by yourself. Or you may feel that you are struggling to process even the most minor situations of stress, allowing them to stand in the way of your happiness.

We understand that living with stress can feel unbearable. It can be completely draining, weakening your ability to manage the pressures of daily life. Your responsibilities can become too much to cope with, which leads to you feeling worn down by relationships, work and even hobbies you used to enjoy. If you feel like this, Priory can help you to feel better and start to make the most of life again.

With our support, you can turn things around. Whatever your situation, however difficult things might seem now, accessing the right treatment with Priory can make a significant difference to the way you are feeling and address your problem stress. Rather than feeling like you are merely getting through the day, you deserve to feel like you can handle and take more pleasure from life.

Our experts know how to treat stress in a way which addresses your symptoms and gives you the building blocks for a happier future. Your recovery journey starts as soon as you contact us, and we will work with you to deliver our effective, proven programmes.

Helping you to live a more manageable, fulfilling life

With the right programme of care, you can make a difference to the way you feel and look forward to a brighter future. Our specialist stress treatment service at Priory aims to help you overcome your specific symptoms and find a better way of living. This includes giving you the coping skills to continue alleviating your symptoms and minimise the possibility of a future relapse.

Here we can help you to identify what stress looks like, its impact on your life and the steps we can take together to help you recover.

Signs that you may need private stress therapy

It is important for you to recognise the signs if your stress levels are becoming unmanageable and reach out for help as soon as possible.

Below are some of the most common symptoms of stress. If you suffer from any of these, you may benefit from stress treatment with Priory:

You may also experience:

• Insomnia
• Frequent exhaustion
• Lack of motivation/productivity
• Headaches or backache
• Low self-esteem
• Indigestion or weight loss/gain

Leaving stress untreated allows it to worsen over time, causing various unpleasant, persistent symptoms. These can escalate to impact your long-term physical and emotional health, developing into mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. At Priory, we will address the specific triggers which cause and worsen your stress, strengthening the coping skills which will improve your ability to manage daily life.

Types of stress treatment programmes at Priory

The type of stress treatment programme you’ll benefit most from depends on your personal circumstances, as well as the severity of your stress symptoms. We deliver stress treatment at our Priory sites in a variety of ways:

• Outpatient treatment – usually undertaken in weekly hour-long therapy sessions at one of our hospitals or wellbeing centres.
• Day care programmes – structured, ongoing support in the form of weekly half-day or full-day therapy sessions
• Inpatient treatment – an intensive programme undertaken on a residential basis, with 24-hour support

You can access treatment through various payment options, including your personal medical insurance. We are an approved mental healthcare provider for the full range of leading UK medical insurers. These include Bupa, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna and AXA Health. Read more about your funding options for our services here.

All of these programmes are delivered in a safe, supportive and highly therapeutic environment. Our stress treatment counselling is available in a range of formats depending on your requirements, including one-to-one therapy, group therapy, and family/couples therapy.

Personalised stress treatment designed around you

At Priory, we offer treatment for stress, which is tailored to your needs. Our comprehensive, bespoke package of care is designed to give you the best possible chance of a healthier, more positive future.

The Priory mental health team will look at your current situation, stress triggers and desired outcome, working with you to create a stress counselling programme you are happy with.

It is important to know that any level of stress is treatable and you can greatly relieve its symptoms, like many others in your situation already have. Stress recovery counselling can teach you how to manage your worries so that they don’t overwhelm you.

By seeking specialist stress treatment at Priory, you are already taking action in dealing with a significant mental health challenge and achieving a healthier, more productive life. We will give you the tools to turn your situation around and maintain a fulfilling life beyond your treatment programme.

Stress recovery counselling which benefits everyone

Remember that you don’t have to suffer alone, as we are ready to hear your story and understand what you are going through. Our experienced, specially-trained stress therapists can help you to regain a sense of control over whatever life brings.

Opening up to someone about what you are going through can be very powerful. Our compassionate team of mental health experts are here to listen. They can then advise on your next steps, informed by their wealth of experience treating people with similar struggles.

Just know that there is no judgement, whatever your circumstances. There is no shame in needing help with addressing stress. It is a debilitating problem for many people and we have seen first-hand the very real effects it can have.

We have helped many people to address the impact of stress. We want to help you do the same, rediscovering your confidence and breaking negative thought patterns. Our stress recovery counselling can help you to enjoy a more positive relationship with yourself and those around you.

Therapy techniques for stress treatment

We offer cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a key form of stress treatment at Priory. This talking therapy is the most commonly-used technique for helping to overcome chronic stress. CBT is highly effective, used worldwide in the treatment of stress and a wide range of other mental health conditions.

CBT is based on the principle that stress develops, and is intensified, as a result of a series of deeply-ingrained, negative thought processes. These patterns of thinking have a detrimental impact on how we feel, behave and respond in stressful situations.

The purpose of CBT is to encourage you to address dysfunctional thought patterns that may be contributing to your stress symptoms. This helps you to recognise and change negative feelings and unhelpful behaviour, so that you can live life in a more positive and healthy way.

One of the main benefits of CBT for the treatment of stress is the fact that it focuses on teaching you effective, lifelong coping mechanisms. You will be shown how to recognise the thought patterns and behaviours which are triggering your stress, so that you can respond to them appropriately in the future.

With CBT, you are given the lifelong skills to work consistently on reducing stress and improving your wellbeing.

Mindfulness for stress treatment

All too often, we rush through life without stopping to notice how we are feeling in the present moment. This can lead to us responding to situations without considering how our thoughts impact our emotions and behaviours. Mindfulness encourages us to reconnect with our minds and bodies throughout daily life, so that we have greater awareness of how our thought patterns can impact this.

Mindfulness is another therapeutic technique we employ for stress treatment at Priory. Once you have learned the principles of mindfulness as part of your therapy sessions, you will be able to practice mindfulness in the future whenever you like. This will enable you to continue processing your feelings and thoughts in a healthy way, to avoid passing judgement on them or becoming consumed by them.

Mindfulness can also be complemented by relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation and breathing exercises.

You can read more about the different treatment options we offer at Priory on our approach to mental health treatment page.

Convenient stress counselling locations

You are never too far away from accessing help from the Priory. We have specialist hospitals and wellbeing centres located throughout the UK, as well as a remote treatment service you can benefit from anywhere. Support can be delivered in a format which suits you, including residential treatment and weekly one-to-one therapy. Our world-class experts can offer you the most beneficial stress treatment for your needs, in a location which is convenient for you.

This means you can access our full range of programmes with minimal disruption to your life. We will deliver treatment in a flexible programme which fits around your work and other commitments.

At Priory, we believe that spotting the early signs of stress and seeking appropriate help is crucial to stop your symptoms from worsening. Seeking timely stress therapy is the next step in your recovery journey and a key factor in preventing your health being impacted further.

If you are unable to, or would prefer not to, attend a Priory hospital or wellbeing centre, then you can opt for online therapy. Our online therapy service, allows you to access the same level of personalised, specialist support over video sessions with one of our highly-qualified experts. We can help you to feel better no matter where you are, whatever your circumstances.

Your therapist will give personalised, sympathetic support, assessing and working with you in the environment you are most comfortable with. They will aim to put you at ease from the moment you meet, allaying any fears you have about confronting and working through your situation.

You’ve acknowledged your desire for help, now we will help you to put your recovery plan into action. We will direct you to the nearest suitable stress therapists for your needs, who care about your recovery and helping you to achieve your personal goals.