Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Havelock, ON.

Anxiety and stress are responses to either internal or external forces in the client's life. Hearing the client's story is the first part of the process of therapy and can often be helpful in alleviating some of the symptoms of anxiety stress. One part of working clients who are experiencing anxiety and stress is to teach some coping skills which relate to their particular situation. Another part of therapy would be to learn relaxation techniques to help the client manage their anxiety on a regular basis. Some examples of relaxation techniques are; meditation, breathing exercises, visualizations, and learning how to listen to their inner voice for what they need. Art therapy is also used.

I’ve been helping people lead more intentional lives for over 20 years. Anxiety can cause thoughts to be out of proportion to reality, stop you from doing what you want to do, and make you feel out of control. I’m trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, developmental models,and anxiety and depression management. I will support you in creating a set of tools to help you manage your anxiety. Most importantly, you're a distinctive person, with distinctive needs. My goal is to work with you as a unique individual, and focus on YOUR goals.

As a Somatic (SE) therapist- mental & emotional health follows the state of the nervous system. If it is flowing seamlessly between sympathetic and parasympathetic; arousal and settling, within a “manageable range” there’s a deep, internal sense of well-being, emotional stability, confidence, clear thinking, aliveness, trust in self and others, and mastery. With SE we will focus on: Your experiences... in the body Learn to track, observe, describe what is going on for you Regulate internal arousal states, shift locked patterns into action, increase body awareness. Encourage emotional engagement with attention to: mindfulness, sensations, movements and impulses. Here & Now find YOU!

Anxiety and stress, sometimes they're manageable... sometimes they aren't. If you are having difficulty managing the anxiety and stress, I strive to work with people to navigate and explore their stressors to understand them and gain insight and perspective into those stress patterns so we can collaboratively devise empowering ways to manage them.

In these difficult times, and before, anxiety and stress can sometimes sneak up on us until we are surprised to find that we are catching colds, experiencing muscle aches and pains, or even are having difficulty eating or sleeping regularly. I will help you get to the root of what ails you, whether it is past trauma, current life stressors, an impending life transition, or generalized anxiety. By helping you uncover your strengths and teaching you tools to manage your stress or anxiety, I can assist you in rewriting the story you tell yourself about your past and your future.

Depending on the source (if it can be identified) most anxiety can be effectively treated with various forms of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Behavioural experiments and exposures, combined with thought analysis and restructuring can bring about swift positive improvements. However, CBT for anxiety is hard work and involves willingness to experience discomfort as one learns to tolerate their fears and then experiences the powerful safety feedback which counters them. With practice, anxiety can be nearly completely extinguished. If panic is related to trauma, a longer and involved process may be needed using EMDR, imagery re-scripting or dialectical behavioural interventions.

Anxiety and stress can impact your health, relationships, and sense of fulfillment in life. In therapy, you can learn more about anxiety and stress and how they impact your daily life. With the support of a therapist, you can develop insights, strategies, and resources to help you thrive amid external stressors and challenges. I work with individuals, couples and families. Book a free consultation to explore if we are a good fit for therapy.

Our emotions work to provide us with information about a situation, environment, or relationship. When we feel anxious or stressed, our brain is signaling to us that there is a real or perceived danger and/or that our current coping strategies will not be able to work at this moment. Together, we will explore the circumstances surrounding your anxiety and stress symptoms to develop an understanding of them. This will assist us in identifying new ways of reducing and managing these emotions, to improve your daily functioning and overall quality of life.

Anxiety is the most common issue in mental health. Worrying has a protective value, usually to keep us and our loved ones safe, but when it goes above and beyond what it necessary for the situation, it becomes quite overwhelming. I will help by listening to your story and understanding your unique situation. I can help you learn better coping strategies to manage the thoughts, feelings, and reactions to stress.

In working with clients on their anxiety and stress I primarily aim to promote understanding: understanding of why we are feeling so anxious and stressed, what factors contribute, what can be done to better manage or eliminate anxiety and stress from our lives, and most importantly, how to eliminate ambiguity from our lives. I specialize in working with clients on their stress and anxiety, whether it stems from work, relationships, family, trauma, lifestyle, or beliefs. It is only through understanding that we can promote comprehensive and meaningful change in our lives. I utilize principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, solution-focused work, and psychodynamics in my work.

Do you feel a lot of worry or hypervigilance? Do you sometimes freeze or shut down and have difficulty thinking clearly or completing tasks that felt easy? Anxiety and stress can be debilitating. Sometimes the cause can be trauma or a nervous system response. Anxiety is not something you can think your way out of. It is more about having compassion for yourself and how scared your body feels. I approach anxiety with compassion and love to help you find a sense of safety and support. I am a trained and experienced in cognitive, behavioural and somatic (body-based) ways to heal from trauma and reduce stress and anxiety.

Welcome! I have worked with a number of clients who experience anxiety and stress. How I operate it working with you to find out the goals you have for your life and work on coping skills and healing from the anxiety and stress so you can live the life you dream of. The reality is, is everyone has stress and anxiety how we manage these two things is helps to make life more enjoyable.

Anxiety and stress often result from people feeling that they are out of control in their lives, they have too much to do and not enough time, or there are excessive demands being made on them. They often have a need to simplify and streamline their lives to make things more manageable. I will give you the tools to help you de-stress and regain a sense of inner balance.

Anxiety and being fearful are often confused. Fearfulness is often based on an external situation. Anxiety is more internal and focuses on “something bad” is going to happen. Treatment for anxiety requires a focus on reducing your bodies response to the “something bad” through using coping skills. In as much the physical response to anxiety is part of our genetic “survival tool kit” it is how our minds distort the reality that is debilitating. Learning skills, strategies and alternative ways to perceive the event all help. I would be delighted to discuss with you a treatment plan to assist you in managing your symptoms.

Anxiety and stress are symptoms of underlying repressed emotions; unresolved trauma; sadness; anger; grief etc. They can also be a normal response to living in a society that doesn't value or nurture connection. In my therapeutic approach, we will explore the underlying emotions behind your anxiety while also taking into consideration societal pressures that induce stress.