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Some nerves are part of life; worry that keeps returning is different. Here is how to prepare a first psychotherapy conversation with Christine in Lane Cove.

Ordinary nerves or something heavier?

Feeling uneasy before an exam, a medical test or a hard conversation is part of everyday life. It becomes a different matter when worry keeps returning, broken nights pile up, or plans with friends start to feel too hard. A racing heart, tight chest or stomach upsets also deserve attention, and they should not be put down to anxiety without a proper check.

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, also holds qualifications in psychotherapy and offers psychological treatment at the Lane Cove clinic. You do not need a label for what you are experiencing before booking a conversation.

Bringing everyday examples

• A place or activity you have started steering around.
• A worry that loops back at the same time of day.
• Changes in falling asleep, staying asleep or waking early.
• Approaches you have already tried, from apps to talking with family.

Concrete examples give the first session something specific to work with. Christine can talk through what has become harder, what support is already in place and what kind of psychological treatment might suit you.

When medical input is also needed

Physical symptoms, new medicines or changes in your general health may call for assessment by your GP alongside any talking therapy. Christine can discuss whether that step makes sense and how the two kinds of care can sit side by side. If you ever feel unsafe or in crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis support line rather than waiting for a booked appointment.

Shaping the direction together

Your priorities come first. You might want to understand a pattern, practise a new response or simply feel less alone with the worry. Agreeing on how you will notice change, and how the plan will be reviewed, keeps the work grounded in your own goals.

Taking the first step locally

Many people on the lower North Shore put off this kind of conversation for months. A first appointment at the Lane Cove clinic can be as simple as describing one recent week and asking what options exist from there.