Overthinking Therapy in Leeds
Worrying you said the wrong thing and a mind that won’t slow down?
You’ve kept things together for a long time. People see someone who gets on with it. But underneath, your thoughts don’t switch off — always turning things over, second‑guessing, scanning for what you might’ve missed.
What Does Overthinking Look Like?
replaying conversations in your head
worrying you said the wrong thing and thinking about every possible outcome
analysing messages and emails after you send them
struggling to make decisions
imagining worst-case scenarios and lying awake for hours
How Can Therapy Help Overthinking?
Reducing the impact of thoughts
Understand your thinking patterns
Stepping out of mental loops
Overthinking doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s often a response to stress and your mind’s way of trying to regain control. You’re not going mad, or failing.
But, overthinking can start to feel automatic and catch you in it’s grip, pulling you into an endless loop again and again.
In therapy we focus on what’s driving it, when it’s happening and recognising patterns so that we can help you to find ways of making your mind a quieter place to be, day to day.
Why Overthinking Doesn’t Stop
With overthinking, it’s rarely just about one specific worry.
You might resolve one thing, only for your mind to move on to something else — a different conversation, a different situation, a new “what if”.
That’s because overthinking is more about the pattern your mind gets into than the individual thoughts themselves.
In therapy, we’re not just trying to solve each worry one by one. We’re looking at what keeps the cycle going, so it has less hold over you in the first place.
Who I Work With
I often work with people who are used to thinking things through and figuring things out on their own — but have reached a point where it’s become exhausting.
people who are thoughtful and self-aware, but spend too much time in their head
professionals who feel mentally “on” all the time, even outside of work
people who hold themselves to high standards and worry about getting things wrong
those who find it hard to switch off or properly relax
people who appear to be coping on the outside, but feel overwhelmed internally
Many of the people I work with don’t see themselves as needing therapy — they just know something isn’t working anymore.
Many of the men I work with are also dealing with anxiety - stress, or feeling constantly on edge. You can read more about my anxiety therapy in Leeds here
I also work with many gay, bisexual and LGBTQ men, where questions about identity, relationships, or community may be part of the work. You can learn more about my LGBTQ therapy in Leeds here
Common Questions About Overthinking
1. Is overthinking different from anxiety?
Overthinking is often linked to anxiety, but they’re not exactly the same. Anxiety is more about feeling on edge or overwhelmed, while overthinking tends to show up as constant analysing, replaying situations, or getting stuck in mental loops. You might be overthinking but not necessarily anxious. Many people experience both together.
2. Why can’t I stop overthinking?
Overthinking can become a habit your mind falls into, especially when you're stressed or trying to stay in control. Even when you recognise it’s happening, it can still feel automatic. Therapy helps you understand these patterns and gradually step out of them, finding alternative ways of managing stress.
3. Can therapy actually help with overthinking?
Yes. Therapy focuses on understanding what drives the overthinking and helping you respond differently to it. Over time, this can reduce how often it happens and how much it affects your day-to-day life. It might not remove a source of worry, because we’re all human. But it can help reframe that worry, how big it feels and how you respond to it.
4. Why is overthinking worse at night?
When things are quieter and there are fewer distractions, your mind has more space to wander. That’s often when thoughts start looping or becoming harder to switch off. You might have coped with distraction, listened to a podcast to calm your mind or adapted your sleep routine. When those methods stop working, it can be easy to beat yourself up. If overthinking is affecting your sleep, it’s worth talking it through.
Get in Touch
If you’re feeling stuck in your head and want things to feel a little easier, you’re welcome to get in touch.
The first session is a chance to get to know what you’re going through and see if working together feels like the right fit.
