Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Cranbrook, BC.

One helpful approach to dealing with stress and anxiety is to calm the sympathetic nervous system, and one of the most effective techniques for doing this is to learning to breath slowly and deeply, while cultivating mindful, present awareness. In treating anxiety we learn to face our emotions and to develop active ways to manage unhelpful thoughts and unpleasant and distressing emotions. Discerning what we can influence and what lies beyond our control is also important. In addition, it is critically important to maintain social connections, to deliberately regulate our intake of information through social media, and seek out stories of hope and compassion.

Our focus is to support individuals who are struggling with anxiety and stress to a more relaxed and manageable way of being. Not only is stress and anxiety hard on our health and energy, but it also can have a significant impact on our world around us. We will work in a collaborative manor to break apart the building blocks that have contributed to the imbalance of anxiety and stress in your life, and empower you with the tools and techniques to remain in balance.

We live in a fast paced 24/7 world dealing with social media, technology and lots of things to worry about in the media. No wonder we are all a little anxious these days. I will help you change your relationship with your thoughts so they have less power and control over you. When we give in and avoid things due to anxiety we end up feeling pretty isolated. I will teach you tools and strategies to get through your stress and anxiety.

Anxiety causes worry that is hard to control. You feel irritable, and makes it hard for you to sleep, relax or be present. Anxiety can make you feel alone so talking about it with someone who cares and doesn't judge is important because you can learn to manage and reduce anxiety. I can help you understand what anxiety is and identify early warning signs before you become overwhelmed or panicked so you can use skills to calm your nervous system. We can create a practical and effective toolkit for managing stresses in everyday life which can make you feel more in control, capable and hopeful.

Chronic stress and anxiety when untreated can make just 'regular human function' feel like an unsurmountable task. Anxiety tends to be a downstream symptom of other psychological dynamics and experiences, so understanding how we got here can help us process their impact and develop tools to increase resiliency, improve insight, and manage feelings and emotions.

Olivia excels in helping clients navigate anxiety and stress, whether brought on by life’s natural demands, unexpected changes, or anticipated transitions. She understands how these challenges can impact emotional and physical well-being and offers a safe space for clients to process their experiences. Through counseling, Olivia provides practical coping mechanisms and strategies to help clients manage their stress and reduce anxiety effectively. Her approach emphasizes understanding the root causes of anxiety while equipping clients with tools to build resilience. Olivia’s compassionate guidance empowers clients to face life’s uncertainties with confidence and balance.

While our bodies are perfectly designed to adapt and react to stress, modern problems mean that we tend to detect life threatening dangers in very ordinary places. Conflicts at work, arguments in our relationships and uncertainties such as the post-Covid world activate old survival mechanisms. We may be stuck in the buzzing, fear states of ‘fight-flight’ or the numb and paralyzed states of ‘freeze and shut down.’ The good news is that I have a long history of safely and successfully helping individuals and couples to reduce and release stress using a variety of CBT and mindfulness techniques, as well as trauma-informed therapy. You have my commitment to compassionate and educated care.

Counselling plays a crucial role in addressing anxiety, providing a safe and supportive environment where individuals can confront the intricate psychological and emotional factors contributing to their anxious feelings and behaviours. Therapists specialized in anxiety disorders utilize various therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Therapy, to assist individuals in uncovering the root causes of their anxiety, challenging irrational thought patterns, acquiring effective coping strategies, and promoting emotional resilience. Through counselling, individuals can develop a deeper understanding/management of their anxiety.

Do you feel anxious, worried or on edge? Are you unable to stop worrying at times? Do you worry about many different things? Do you worry about something awful happening? Do you lay awake at night worrying? Anxiety and stress is very hard to cope with at times. It can cause fatigue, muscle tension, and an overall feeling of being unwell. Bettina uses a number of different approaches to help alleviate anxiety and stress. EMDR and CBT are empirically validated therapies to help you with both anxiety and stress. Sometimes trauma or emotional childhood experiences can cause the anxiety that we feel as adults. EMDR can help heal the wounds of trauma and lessen the anxiety we feel in our lives.