How common is anxiety?
The World Health Organization reports that 470 million people had an anxiety disorder in 2023, about 5.8% of the world's population, and that only about 1 in 4 people who need treatment receive any.
How anxiety is treated
NICE guidance in the UK recommends offering CBT or applied relaxation when a person with generalised anxiety disorder chooses a high-intensity psychological treatment, and CBT for panic disorder. The US National Institute of Mental Health describes exposure therapy, a type of CBT, as a treatment used for anxiety disorders.
What Angela works on
- Anxiety disorders in adults and young people
- OCD, phobias, social anxiety and test anxiety in children and teenagers
- Separation anxiety, and telling typical from atypical anxiety in children
- Anxiety alongside ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, depression or trauma
How therapy for anxiety starts
For adults, session 1 is a full assessment and session 2 explains the model and your formulation. The treatment plan starts at session 3. Children begin with a session for parents, and teenagers begin directly and confidentially.
Written by Angela Barhouch, licensed clinical psychologist and psychology instructor at the American University of Beirut. Last updated November 2026. This page is general information and doesn't replace an individual assessment.