Therapy for Anxiety in Oslo — Available in English or Norwegian

Anxiety can gradually affect the way a person moves through everyday life. For some people it shows up as constant worry or difficulty switching off, while for others it may feel more physical, such as tension, restlessness, poor sleep, or a sense of always being mentally occupied.

Often, people experiencing anxiety are still functioning outwardly. They continue working, caring for other people, keeping up with responsibilities, and trying to manage things as best they can. Over time though, it can become exhausting to carry that level of pressure internally for long periods without space to properly slow down or reflect on it.

Therapy offers space to talk more openly about what has been happening and how anxiety may be affecting you emotionally, physically, and relationally. Some sessions may feel more practical and supportive, while others may involve exploring patterns, experiences, or pressures that seem connected to the anxiety over time.

Sometimes anxiety develops so gradually that people stop noticing how much pressure they are living under.

HOW THERAPY HELPS

What Actually Happens in Sessions

Anxiety work is not about calming you down or teaching you to think differently. It is about understanding what the anxiety is protecting you from, and what would need to shift for it to relax.

Therapy isn't about forcing change or trying to get rid of anxiety. It's about creating space to slow things down and begin to understand how it shows up for you. In sessions, we pay attention to what you're noticing, in your thoughts, your reactions, and in your body, and work from there.

We focus on what feels relevant and present for you, at a pace that feels manageable. Over time, this can make it easier to respond differently to anxiety, rather than feeling caught in the same patterns.

At times, we may also pay attention to how anxiety shows up physically, noticing what helps your system feel more settled and manageable.

ABOUT ANDI

I am Andi Kerr Little. I have been working as a psychotherapist in Oslo for ten years.

I am originally from Scotland and moved to Norway, so I know some of the complexity that can come with rebuilding a life somewhere new. The cultural rules are not always visible, and language and belonging can take time to settle. At times, living abroad can leave people feeling slightly out of sync with the world around them, questioning themselves more than they normally would, or feeling pressure to adapt more quickly than feels possible.

My background is in psychology, psychotherapy, and behavioural science, and I work in an integrative way that adapts to the person and what feels most relevant to them. My approach draws from relational psychotherapy, Compassionate Inquiry, and other approaches that support reflection, emotional awareness, and self-understanding.

Therapy can offer space to better understand yourself, your relationships, and the ways you may find yourself responding to stress, uncertainty, or difficult experiences over time.

PhD Candidate (current), UiT The Arctic University of Norway BSc Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London MSc Applied Behaviour Analysis, Newcastle University Integrative Psychotherapy Training, University of South-Eastern Norway Compassionate Inquiry Professional Training Programme

More about my approach

WHAT TO KNOW

Understanding Anxiety

Common questions about recognising, working with, and understanding anxiety.

How do I know if what I'm feeling is anxiety or just stress?

Stress is usually proportional to what is happening and resolves when the situation changes. Anxiety persists regardless of circumstances. If you find yourself scanning for danger, anticipating problems that have not happened, or feeling physically tense most of the time, that is usually anxiety rather than situational stress.

What does anxiety therapy actually involve in practice?

We look at where the anxiety comes from, what it protects you from, and what it costs you. The work is relational and exploratory. We pay attention to what happens in your body, how you relate to yourself, and what patterns show up in the room between us. It is slower and more observational than cognitive techniques.

What is the connection between anxiety and early experiences?

Anxiety is often a learned response to environments where hypervigilance was necessary. If you grew up in a context where other people were unpredictable, where your needs were not reliably met, or where expressing vulnerability felt unsafe, your nervous system may have adapted by staying on alert. That adaptation can persist long after the original threat is gone.

Does anxiety ever fully go away with therapy?

Most people do not lose the capacity for anxiety entirely, but they stop being controlled by it. The intensity reduces, the triggers become more specific, and the recovery time gets shorter. You also develop a different relationship to the anxiety itself. It becomes something you can notice and work with rather than something that overtakes you.

How can changes in environment affect anxiety?

Changes in routine, surroundings, or support can sometimes make anxiety feel more noticeable or harder to manage. The constant low-level negotiation of a new culture, the absence of familiar structures, the effort required to navigate language and social norms can all lower your threshold. What felt manageable before can feel more difficult when you are already using extra energy just to function.

What can I do between therapy sessions to help with anxiety?

Notice where the anxiety shows up for you. When you feel it rising, pause and ask what it is responding to. Sometimes just naming it, even silently, creates a small amount of distance. Avoid trying to force it away or judge yourself for feeling it. There is no single right approach, and we can explore what works best for you.

How do I choose the right therapist for anxiety in Oslo?

Look for someone who asks what the anxiety is responding to, not just how to manage it. The approach matters more than the credential. If you are an English speaker, working in your mother tongue makes a difference. Cultural context also matters. A therapist who understands your background will recognise nuances that someone unfamiliar with that world might miss.

CLIENT EXPERIENCES

What People Say

Reflections from people who came to therapy for anxiety.

I had been dealing with anxiety for years but never really understood where it was coming from. Andi helped me see the patterns I had been carrying since I was young. The work was not easy, but it was the first time I felt like someone was actually listening to what the anxiety was trying to tell me rather than just trying to make it go away. I still get anxious sometimes, but it does not run my life the way it used to.

M.R.

M.R., Oslo

Anxiety therapy

The fact that Andi is Scottish and understands what it is like to live in Norway as a foreigner made a huge difference. I did not have to explain why certain things felt harder here than they did back home. She just got it. The sessions helped me understand that my anxiety was not a sign that I was failing at adapting, it was a reasonable response to living in a context where everything requires more effort than it used to.

J.H.

J.H., Bærum

Expat anxiety therapy

I was sceptical about whether talking would actually help with something that felt so physical. But Andi did not just talk. She paid attention to what was happening in my body during sessions and helped me understand that the tightness and restlessness I felt all the time was connected to things I had not processed. It took months, but I started sleeping better and feeling less on edge. I did not think that was possible before I started working with her.

L.K.

L.K., Oslo

Anxiety therapy

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You're welcome to share a brief message or suggest times that work for you, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Common Questions About Anxiety Therapy

Stress is usually linked to something specific and tends to ease when the situation changes. Anxiety can feel more constant, like your mind keeps going over things, or it's hard to switch off even when there isn't an obvious reason. It often shows up as ongoing tension, difficulty relaxing, or feeling caught in your thoughts. If it's been present for a while without shifting much, it may be worth exploring.

Therapy for anxiety is about understanding how it shows up for you and finding ways to work with it that feel manageable. We might explore what you're noticing in your thoughts, your reactions, and in your body, and look at patterns that feel familiar. The work can include both talking things through and paying attention to how you're experiencing things in the moment. The pace is shaped around you.

Anxiety is a normal part of being human and something everyone experiences to some degree. Therapy isn't about removing it completely, but about making it feel more manageable and less overwhelming. Over time, it often becomes easier to recognise, respond to, and move through without it taking over.

Changes in environment, routine, or support can sometimes make anxiety feel more noticeable or harder to manage. This can be the case when adjusting to a new place, but it isn't the same for everyone. We can explore how this connects to your experience, if it feels relevant.

It can help to notice how anxiety shows up for you, in your thoughts, your body, or your reactions. Some people find it useful to pause briefly, name what's happening, or give themselves a moment to slow things down. There's no single right approach, and we can explore what works best for you.

There isn't a fixed timeline for therapy. Some people find a few sessions helpful, while others choose to work together for longer. We can review this as we go and adjust based on what feels useful for you.

Sessions can take place in person or online via Zoom. Both can be effective. It often comes down to what feels more comfortable and practical for you. You're free to move between the two if your circumstances change.

Medication is something to discuss with your GP or prescribing doctor. Some people choose to combine therapy with medication, while others don't. Therapy can support you in understanding and working with anxiety alongside whatever approach you choose.

Sessions are 50 minutes and cost 1200 NOK in person or 1100 NOK online. Payment is via Vipps or bank transfer. If cost is a concern, we can discuss session frequency to find something manageable.

You can get in touch using the form on this page or by email. If you'd like, we can arrange a 20-minute call to talk through what's going on and whether working together feels like a good fit. From there, we can arrange a first session if it feels right.

Therapy for anxiety