Understanding Anxiety: a mini course on what anxiety is, how it shows up, and how to treat it
Reviewed By
Dr Lizzie Leahy - Clinical Psychologist, CBT Therapist, NHS and Private Practice
A practical introduction to anxiety 0 what it is, why it happens, and what helps. It covers the different types of anxiety, how to recognise the signs in yourself, and the treatments that have the strongest evidence behind them. On Offload it is interactive and self-paced, so clients can work through it between sessions and return to it whenever they need a reminder.
Free to try · Responses are private & encrypted
Related tools
What does the Anxiety Mini Course cover?
- What anxiety is and why we experience it
- The different types of anxiety - including generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and more
- Common signs of anxiety - physical, emotional, and behavioural
- Evidence-based anxiety treatments and what the research says
- Practical skills for managing anxiety day to day
Who is this Anxiety Mini Course for?
Helpful if you:
😰 Feel anxious and want to understand why
🌀 Are unsure what type of anxiety you experience
🔍 Want to know what treatments are available
For therapists:
Assign as early psychoeducation to establish a shared formulation of anxiety before beginning structured treatment. Particularly useful for clients who are ambivalent, pre-contemplative, or presenting with mixed anxiety presentations. Accessible via the Offload companion app. HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Dr Harriet Mellotte
Clinical Psychologist & CBT Therapist, BABCP
“Offload is a fantastic resource for both clients and therapists. The world of CBT has been lacking an app which enables the sharing of CBT worksheets and homework tasks between clients and therapists, but Offload completely does this, making the service we offer more professional and the benefits to clients greater.”
Frequently asked questions
What are the different types of anxiety?
There are several recognised anxiety conditions including generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, health anxiety, and specific phobias. Each has distinct features but shares common underlying mechanisms. This mini course introduces the main types and helps you identify which may be most relevant to your experience.
How long does this mini course take?
Most people complete it in 5 to 8 minutes. It is broken into short sections so you can pause and return at your own pace.
Can professionals assign this mini course to their clients?
Yes. Offload lets professionals assign this mini course directly to clients as part of a personalised care plan — particularly useful as early psychoeducation before structured anxiety treatment begins. Clients complete it in the companion app. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Is this mini course evidence-based?
Yes. The content draws on the most widely researched approaches to understanding and treating anxiety, including CBT, ACT, and NICE-recommended treatments. It was clinically reviewed by a qualified, experienced therapist.
Are you a therapist?
Assign this therapy tool and 200+ other interactive tools directly to your clients. Build personalised care plans, customise tools, and review client responses before sessions. HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Explore Offload for therapistsReferences
Barlow, D. H., Sauer-Zavala, S., Farchione, T. J., Latin, H. M., Ellard, K. K., Bullis, J. R., Bentley, K. H., Boettcher, H. T., & Cassiello-Robbins, C. (2017). Understanding your emotions—What is an emotion? In D. H. Barlow et al., Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (2nd ed., pp. 41–52). Oxford University Press. Carpenter, J. K., Andrews, L. A., Witcraft, S. M., Powers, M. B., Smits, J. A. J., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depression and Anxiety, 35(6), 502–514. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2011). Common mental health problems: Identification and pathways to care (CG123). NICE.
