Stop the Worry Cycle With a Health Anxiety Psychologist in Melbourne

Matched to a psychologist whose approach and experience fit your needs, not a one-size-fits-all therapy model.

Evidence-based approach
Three Melbourne locations
Telehealth available

Working with a health anxiety psychologist in Melbourne often begins with recognising that the same cycle keeps repeating.

You notice a symptom, search for answers, get reassurance, feel better briefly, then the worry returns. It is exhausting, and it can quietly affect your sleep, your relationships, and your ability to concentrate on daily life.

At Solace Psychology, our psychologists work with you to understand what is driving the cycle, not just manage it in the moment. Support is matched to your specific concerns and circumstances.

Our AHPRA-registered team draws on evidence-based approaches including CBT, ACT, and ERP to help you build a different relationship with health-related worry.

What Can Health Anxiety Feel Like?

Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder, involves more than occasional worry about your health. For some people, it means becoming highly alert to bodily sensations and finding it difficult to feel reassured, even after a doctor has said everything looks fine.

You might notice yourself frequently checking your body for changes, spending time researching symptoms online, or feeling anxious before and after medical appointments. The worry can feel persistent and difficult to control, even when you know on some level that it may not match the medical evidence in front of you.

Health anxiety often centres on the fear that a serious medical condition may be present, even when medical evidence suggests otherwise.

It is worth being clear: experiencing health anxiety does not mean your physical symptoms are imaginary. Practitioners should respect the reality of a patient’s physical symptoms during treatment. Psychological support focuses on the patterns of worry, checking, and reassurance-seeking that can keep anxiety going, not on dismissing what you feel in your body.

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Common Health Anxiety Patterns

Many behaviours associated with health anxiety feel logical in the moment but can keep the worry cycle going over time.

Body Scanning and Checking

Repeatedly monitoring yourself for physical changes can make bodily sensations feel more noticeable, not less.

Searching Symptoms Online

Repeated searches often surface alarming possibilities. Many people find the relief is short-lived.

Seeking Reassurance

Reassurance from a doctor or family member can provide temporary relief, but the anxiety tends to return without addressing the underlying cycle.

Avoidance

Not everyone with health anxiety checks excessively. Some people avoid medical settings or health information altogether out of fear of what they might find.

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How Can Health Anxiety Affect Daily Life?

Health anxiety can spread into daily life in ways that are not always easy to connect back to anxiety. It may affect concentration, sleep, and relationships, particularly when reassurance-seeking becomes a repeated pattern.

Some people also avoid activities, feel exhausted by constant alertness, or spend significant time searching medical information.

If health-related worry is affecting your quality of life, it may be worth speaking with a psychologist.

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When Might Psychological Support Help?

You do not need to wait until anxiety becomes overwhelming before seeking support. Early intervention may help change anxiety patterns before they become more deeply ingrained.

It may be worth speaking with a psychologist when health-related worry feels difficult to control, keeps returning despite reassurance, or is affecting your sleep, relationships, or daily functioning.

Psychological therapy or support is not a substitute for appropriate medical assessment. If you have new or concerning physical symptoms, please see your GP.

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How Can a Psychologist Help With Health Anxiety?

Psychologist speaking with a client during a health anxiety therapy session

Psychological support for health anxiety is not about convincing you that your concerns are unfounded. It is about understanding what is driving the worry and learning to respond differently.

Depending on your needs, this may involve identifying triggers, recognising checking and reassurance-seeking cycles, building tolerance of uncertainty, and gradually reducing avoidance. Therapists create personalised treatment plans rather than applying the same approach to every person.

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Evidence-Based Therapy for Health Anxiety

Clinics in Melbourne use evidence-based methods to treat health anxiety, and the approach that suits you will depend on your specific patterns of worry and what you want to work on. At Solace Psychology, our psychologists draw on several established therapeutic approaches.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most researched treatments for health anxiety. CBT for health anxiety helps you identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts, reduce checking and reassurance-seeking behaviours, and build more practical coping strategies for anxiety triggers. Rather than avoiding feared situations, CBT supports you in developing a different response to them.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure and Response Prevention gradually confronts anxiety triggers in a structured, supported way. Over time, this can help reduce the distress associated with health-related fears and loosen the grip of compulsive checking behaviours.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy supports you in responding to anxious thoughts without being driven by them. The focus is on living in line with your values rather than organising your life around avoiding health-related worry.

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What to Expect From Your First Appointment

It is normal to feel uncertain about what therapy involves, particularly if you have not seen a psychologist before. Your first appointment is a chance to talk, not to have everything figured out.

Talk through what's been happening.

Share what has been on your mind and how health-related worry has been affecting your day-to-day life.

Explore what you want to work on.

Your psychologist will ask about relevant background and current concerns, so support can be shaped around your needs.

Ask questions about the process.

There is space to ask anything about how therapy works, what to expect, and whether Solace Psychology feels like the right fit.

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Why Choose Solace Psychology?

Personalised Care

Support is shaped around your specific concerns and circumstances, not a standard template.

A Safe, Judgement-Free Space

Health-related fears can feel difficult to talk about. At Solace Psychology, you can speak openly without judgement.

Evidence-Based Therapy

Our AHPRA-registered psychologists draw on established approaches including CBT, ERP, and ACT, applied in a way that fits your needs.

Finding the Right Psychologist

We can help match you with someone whose experience, therapeutic approach, and availability suit what you are looking for.

Health Anxiety Psychologists in Melbourne

Solace Psychology has three clinic locations across Melbourne’s inner north, Carlton North, Coburg, and Kew East, as well as telehealth appointments for clients who prefer to work remotely.

Weekday, evening, and Saturday appointments are available. No referral is required to book.

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Finding a Psychologist Who Is Right for You

A good therapeutic fit is critical for effective health anxiety treatment. If you are unsure where to start, our team can help match you with a psychologist based on your concerns, preferred approach, and availability.

You are welcome to contact us with questions before booking.

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Fees, Referrals and Medicare Rebates

Sessions at Solace Psychology are priced between $110 and $290. No referral is required to book an appointment.

If you have a valid Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates of up to 10 sessions per calendar year. We recommend speaking with your GP about whether a Mental Health Care Plan is appropriate for your situation.

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FAQs

Can a psychologist help with health anxiety?

Yes, a psychologist can help with health anxiety. Psychological support focuses on the patterns of worry, checking, reassurance-seeking, and avoidance that keep the cycle going. Approaches such as CBT, ERP, and ACT are commonly used and well-researched for this type of concern.

What type of therapy is used for health anxiety?

The therapy used for health anxiety at Solace Psychology includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The approach is tailored to your specific patterns and what you want to work on.

Do I need a referral to see a psychologist at Solace Psychology?

No, you do not need a referral to see a psychologist at Solace Psychology. You can book an appointment directly. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates.

Ready to Break the Worry Cycle?

If persistent health worry is affecting your daily life, speaking with a health anxiety psychologist in Melbourne may be a useful next step. Solace Psychology can help you find a psychologist whose experience and approach suit your needs.