Anna Pluck Counselling

Anna Pluck Counselling I help people recover from anxiety and move towards feeling calm and clarity.

You can tell yourself “I’m safe” until you’re blue in the face, but your Amygdala isn’t listening. 💭Think of this part o...
20/04/2026

You can tell yourself “I’m safe” until you’re blue in the face, but your Amygdala isn’t listening. 💭

Think of this part of your brain: the bit responsible for that "fight or flight" panic: as an over-enthusiastic, slightly paranoid bodyguard. It doesn’t speak English. It doesn’t understand logic or those 3 a.m. mental to-do lists you’ve created to “solve” your anxiety. It speaks one language: Action.

If you’re tired of knowing better but not feeling better, this is the gap. Your logical brain can explain your patterns perfectly, but your nervous system didn’t get the memo.

The Amygdala only believes you’re safe when it sees you doing the thing you’re afraid of and: spoiler alert: surviving it. It’s about "doing" and "responding" differently, rather than just thinking your way out of a paper bag. 🛡️

It’s messy and occasionally uncomfortable, but it works.

I’m in Birkenhead on Mondays for in-person sessions, with other availability across the Wirral and Chester (or online).

Pop over to my website to book a session.

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It’s 3 AM. The house is silent, the cat is asleep (usually on my feet), and suddenly your brain has decided that a minor...
20/04/2026

It’s 3 AM. The house is silent, the cat is asleep (usually on my feet), and suddenly your brain has decided that a minor awkward moment from 2014 is a life-threatening emergency.

Meet your Amygdala. Think of it as your slightly paranoid, highly caffeinated night watchman. This almond-sized part of your brain is responsible for your survival, scanning for danger 24/7. When the world is quiet and there are no external distractions, it starts poking at your internal thoughts instead.

It’s not trying to ruin your life; it’s trying to keep you safe. But in the middle of the night, your "bodyguard" can’t tell the difference between a real threat and a lingering to-do list.

You might be tired of knowing better but not feeling better. You understand logically that you’re safe in bed, but your nervous system didn’t get the memo.

Therapy isn't about "fixing" the watchman, but helping him stand down when there's no actual danger. I have in-person sessions available in Birkenhead on Mondays if you want to chat: I'll provide the empathy (and likely a lot of coffee).

Pop over to my website to book a session or find out more: annapluck.com

Why does one tiny piece of feedback stick more than a hundred 'well dones'? Our amygdala is wired to prioritise the nega...
20/04/2026

Why does one tiny piece of feedback stick more than a hundred 'well dones'?

Our amygdala is wired to prioritise the negative to keep us safe from future 'attacks'. It’s not your fault you overthink the bad stuff: it’s just your bodyguard being overzealous and filtering out the good.

I’m over in Birkenhead today if you need a supportive space to focus on the wins and quieten that inner critic. Online sessions are also available!

annapluck.com

The 'I should' trap is a heavy burden to carry. 🎒When we criticise ourselves or set impossible standards, our amygdala r...
20/04/2026

The 'I should' trap is a heavy burden to carry. 🎒

When we criticise ourselves or set impossible standards, our amygdala reacts as if we are under internal attack. It can’t distinguish between an outside threat and our own harsh inner critic, so it stays in high-alert mode. This is often why high achievers feel so burnt out.

Switching to a more compassionate internal dialogue acts like a soothing hand on your bodyguard’s shoulder, letting it know it can finally stand down.

Ready to break the cycle of overthinking? I'm in Birkenhead today for in-person sessions.

Pop over to my website to book a session: annapluck.com

Tired of knowing better but not feeling better?You’re bright, self-aware, and your mental to-do list is a work of art. Y...
18/04/2026

Tired of knowing better but not feeling better?

You’re bright, self-aware, and your mental to-do list is a work of art. You can explain your patterns perfectly, but your nervous system didn’t get the memo.

When anxiety hits, it demands certainty. So, you seek reassurance. You ask a partner if they’re mad, check the door again, or let Google diagnose a twitch.

It works: for five minutes. Relief hits. Your brain exhales.

But here’s the snag: your amygdala (the over-dramatic smoke alarm in your brain) just learned that you only survived because you checked. By seeking reassurance, you’re feeding the monster. It’s a ‘safety behaviour’ that keeps you on high alert.

To break the loop, you have to ‘act differently’. That means sitting with the uncomfortable ‘maybe’ without scratching the itch. It’s bananas difficult, but it’s how you retrain your brain to realise that uncertainty isn't a threat.

Ready to stop the checking? Pop over to my website to book a session.

(BACP Accredited. Coffee addict. Cat servant.)

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Ever find yourself suddenly possessed by the urge to scrub the skirting boards or alphabetise your spices when you’ve go...
13/04/2026

Ever find yourself suddenly possessed by the urge to scrub the skirting boards or alphabetise your spices when you’ve got a massive deadline looming?

Welcome to Productivity Theatre. 🧼

It’s not laziness, and you’re not "broken." It’s your amygdala: that tiny, almond-shaped bit of your brain that acts like a jumpy bodyguard: deciding that a scary email is actually a sabre-toothed tiger.

Your brain views the big, scary task as a threat to your safety. So, it steers you toward "safe" productivity instead. You feel busy, but you’re effectively just running on a hamster wheel to avoid the "predator" in your inbox.

It’s the classic trap: tired of knowing better but not feeling better. You know the cleaning can wait, but your nervous system didn't get the memo.

Therapy isn't about "optimising" your life into some perfect, polished version of yourself. It’s about teaching that jumpy bodyguard that you’re actually safe, so you can stop cleaning and start doing what actually matters.

I’m in Birkenhead today (Monday) for face-to-face sessions, or we can catch up online.

Pop over to my website to book a free intro call: annapluck.com

Ramblings from the desk,
Anna

Why does walking into a room full of people sometimes feel like stepping into a battleground? 🛡️Your amygdala (the brain...
13/04/2026

Why does walking into a room full of people sometimes feel like stepping into a battleground? 🛡️

Your amygdala (the brain’s built-in alarm system) can mistake social situations for physical threats. To 'protect' you, it might nudge you toward 'safety behaviours': like staying near the exit, checking your phone constantly, or staying quiet.

The tricky part? While these feel safe in the moment, they actually tell your amygdala the danger was real, keeping the anxiety loop going. Let’s work together to show your brain that you’ve got this.

I'm in Birkenhead today for sessions, or we can connect online.

Schedule your free call: annapluck.com

If you’re waiting to feel “ready” before you start living, you’re stuck in a trap.Your amygdala: that almond-shaped alar...
13/04/2026

If you’re waiting to feel “ready” before you start living, you’re stuck in a trap.

Your amygdala: that almond-shaped alarm in your brain: isn't interested in your goals. It’s a bodyguard focused on survival. It wants you inside where it’s safe, not doing the things that actually make life worth living.

Welcome to Post 4: Taking the Bodyguard for a Walk.

In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we stop trying to “fix” the anxiety before we move. Instead, we take it with us. You acknowledge the bodyguard is shouting, tuck it under your arm like a grumpy toddler, and move towards what matters anyway.

If you’re “tired of knowing better but not feeling better,” you’ve hit the intellectualisation trap. You can explain your patterns perfectly, but your nervous system didn’t get the memo. Healing isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the presence of action despite it.

I'm in Birkenhead for in-person sessions today (Monday) if you’re ready to get moving.

Pop over to my website to book a session: annapluck.com/booking

Anna (BACP Accredited) ❤️

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Got a 2pm appointment and suddenly the whole morning feels 'blocked'? That’s the Amygdala keeping you in 'waiting mode' ...
13/04/2026

Got a 2pm appointment and suddenly the whole morning feels 'blocked'? That’s the Amygdala keeping you in 'waiting mode' to ensure you don’t miss the 'threat' (or the meeting).

It’s your brain’s way of staying on high alert, but it makes relaxing impossible. If your inner bodyguard won’t stand down, let’s look at some ACT techniques to help you move through the day more freely.

I’m in Birkenhead every Monday for face-to-face support. Grab a spot: annapluck.com

Ever found yourself suddenly needing to tidy your desk or alphabetise your spice rack *right* when you’re feeling anxiou...
11/04/2026

Ever found yourself suddenly needing to tidy your desk or alphabetise your spice rack *right* when you’re feeling anxious? 🧹

It feels like being responsible, but it’s usually 'Productivity Theatre': a clever way our brain avoids the actual feeling of anxiety.

In our Saturday series on Relearning & Behaviour Change, we’re looking at 'safety behaviours.' While they feel useful, they’re actually 'props' that stop our nervous system from relearning that we can handle discomfort without the distraction.

You might be tired of knowing better but not feeling better. That gap between insight and change is where the real work happens.

Next time you feel the urge to scrub the floor instead of facing the 'What Ifs,' try this: Sit still for 3 minutes. No cleaning, no scrolling. Just you. It’s in that stillness that relearning happens. 🧠

If you’re ready to drop the 'Just In Case' rituals and regain control, I’m here. I offer in-person sessions in Wirral and Chester, or online.

Pop over to my website to book a session.

What if we stopped fighting our anxiety and started thanking it? 🛡️❤️It sounds counterintuitive, I know. But your amygda...
06/04/2026

What if we stopped fighting our anxiety and started thanking it? 🛡️❤️

It sounds counterintuitive, I know. But your amygdala: that 'misunderstood bodyguard' (the part of your brain responsible for your fight-or-flight response): is only trying to protect you. It’s reacting to what it perceives as a threat because it cares about your survival.

When we approach our anxiety with compassion instead of frustration, something shifts. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we learn to say, "Thanks for looking out for me, bodyguard, but I’ve got this one."

It’s about moving from 'fixing' ourselves to understanding ourselves.

If you're tired of the battle, I'm here to help. I'm in Birkenhead today for face-to-face sessions.

Pop over to my website to book a session.

Ever spent 20 minutes staring at the pasta sauce aisle, feeling weirdly stressed? That’s your amygdala treating a simple...
06/04/2026

Ever spent 20 minutes staring at the pasta sauce aisle, feeling weirdly stressed? That’s your amygdala treating a simple choice like a predator in the bushes.

When we’re anxious, our 'bodyguard' (the amygdala, or the part of the brain that scans for danger) sees uncertainty as a threat, making even small decisions feel heavy. It’s called analysis paralysis, and it’s exhausting. Let’s dial down the alarm together.

I’m in Birkenhead today for in-person sessions if you want to chat about reclaiming your headspace, or we can catch up online.

Book here: annapluck.com

Address

Maritime House Business Centre, 16 Balls Road
Birkenhead
CH435RE

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 12pm - 7pm
Thursday 10:30am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+447772874242

Website

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