Health anxiety treatment with registered psychologists
Health anxiety is very treatable. Psychologists and counsellors in attendance at our Centre use evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and EMDR, to help you respond differently to body sensations and worrying thoughts so that health concerns stop running your life.
New clients are often seen within one to two weeks, including Saturday appointments, depending on who you wish to see. Please call (07) 3831 4452 to speak with our reception team.
Written and clinically reviewed by Natascha Madden, Registered Psychologist, Brisbane Counselling Centre. Last reviewed: October 2026
What is health anxiety?
Health anxiety is persistent, distressing worry that you have, or will develop, a serious illness, which continues even when medical tests or a doctor’s reassurance suggest you are well.
Everyday body sensations, such as a headache, a skipped heartbeat, a mole, tiredness or a twinge of pain, are read as signs of something serious. The worry feels urgent and real, and it can take up hours of the day. Health anxiety was once called hypochondria. In clinical settings it is now usually described as illness anxiety disorder, or somatic symptom disorder when physical symptoms are a major focus.
Health anxiety is not “being dramatic”. It is a recognised anxiety condition, and it responds well to psychological treatment.
What are the signs of health anxiety?
Health anxiety affects thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Common signs include:
- worrying for months about having or developing a serious illness
- noticing small body changes and immediately thinking the worst
- checking your body repeatedly, for example feeling for lumps, taking your pulse or examining your skin
- searching symptoms online, often for hours, and feeling worse afterwards
- seeking reassurance from doctors, family or friends, which helps only briefly
- frequent medical appointments or tests, or the opposite, avoiding doctors altogether because of fear
- avoiding health-related news, TV shows or conversations
- worrying about the health of children or other family members in the same way
- physical symptoms of anxiety such as a racing heart, chest tightness, dizziness or stomach upset, which then add to the fear
What causes health anxiety?
At the centre of health anxiety is a cycle. A normal body sensation is noticed and interpreted as dangerous. That interpretation triggers anxiety, which produces real physical symptoms such as a racing heart or tight chest. Those symptoms seem to confirm the fear, so you check, search or seek reassurance. The relief is temporary, and the cycle starts again.
Health anxiety often begins or worsens after:
- a serious illness in yourself or someone close to you, or the death of a loved one
- a frightening medical experience or misdiagnosis
- a period of high stress or major life change
- growing up in a family where illness was a frequent worry
- a pandemic or widely publicised health scare
It commonly occurs alongside generalised anxiety, panic attacks, OCD and depression.
How does health anxiety affect your life?
Emotional distress Constant worry, fear and sometimes hopelessness, with difficulty relaxing, sleeping or concentrating.
Physical symptoms Anxiety itself produces chest tightness, headaches, stomach problems and muscle tension, which can feel like proof that something is wrong.
Relationships Loved ones may become frustrated by repeated reassurance-seeking, and you may avoid social outings or travel to “stay safe”.
Work and study Time off for appointments and hours spent researching symptoms reduce concentration and performance.
Quality of life When the mind is always scanning the body for danger, joy and spontaneity fade.
How is health anxiety treated?
Psychological treatment for health anxiety aims to break the cycle of misinterpretation, checking and reassurance, so that you can live with uncertainty about your health in a calmer, more balanced way.
Sessions at Brisbane Counselling Centre are a place to understand what keeps your health anxiety going and to practise new ways of responding. Your psychologist or counsellor will work at a pace that feels manageable.
The approaches most often used are:
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) The treatment with the strongest evidence for health anxiety. CBT helps you notice and test anxious interpretations of body sensations, and gradually reduce checking, searching and reassurance-seeking.
Exposure and response prevention Gradually and safely facing feared situations, such as reading health information or not checking a symptom, so the brain learns that the anxiety settles on its own.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) Learning to notice anxious thoughts and sensations without getting caught up in them, and to focus on what matters to you. See also our article on the benefits of meditation.
EMDR Where health anxiety started after a frightening medical experience, a loss or another distressing event, EMDR can help process that memory so it no longer drives the fear.
Medication can be helpful for some people, and your GP can talk with you about this. Therapy addresses what keeps the worry going and gives you skills you can keep using long after treatment ends.
Should I still see my doctor?
Yes. Having health anxiety does not mean your physical health should be ignored. Your psychologist or counsellor will encourage you to have regular, planned check-ups with one trusted GP, rather than frequent urgent appointments or multiple doctors. Working together with your GP is often a helpful part of treatment.
If you have new, severe or sudden symptoms, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or signs of a stroke, call 000.
How do I book an appointment for health anxiety in Brisbane?
- Please call (07) 3831 4452 or complete our enquiry form. Our reception team will suggest a suitable practitioner. You do not need a referral to book.
- See your GP if you want a Medicare rebate. Ask for a Mental Health Treatment Plan. You can book with us before or after that appointment. If you have private health cover, you may be eligible for a rebate through your health fund instead.
- Attend your first session. Bring your Medicare card and your plan if you have one. Nothing else to prepare.
Brisbane Counselling Centre is at Level 7, 87 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, near the Brisbane CBD, about five minutes’ walk from Central Station. We are open Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 8:30am to 5:00pm. Online and telephone sessions are also available.
Meet the psychologists and counsellors or see our fees and rebate information.
Frequently asked questions
Is health anxiety the same as hypochondria?
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist for health anxiety?
How much does it cost to see a psychologist for health anxiety in Brisbane?
How many sessions will I need for health anxiety?
Why does reassurance from my doctor not last?
Can anxiety really cause physical symptoms?
Can EMDR help with health anxiety?
Can children and teenagers have health anxiety?
Should I stop googling my symptoms?
Do you offer online counselling for health anxiety?
Where are you located and is there parking?
Help is available
If worry about your health is taking over your days, help is available. Talking with a caring psychologist or counsellor who understands health anxiety can help you feel more settled in your body and get back to the life you want to be living.
Please call (07) 3831 4452 to speak with our reception team. The Brisbane psychologists and counsellors are available to help.
If you need urgent support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours. In an emergency, call 000.
