Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Port Hope, ON.

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 can be, in a word, scary! They can leave us feeling overwhelmed and alone. Therapy can provide a safe and supportive space to explore these concerns and learn new skills that can restore your sense of freedom and control. I offer a free 15-minute consultation for individuals aged 14+ to see if I am a good fit to help you manage your anxiety and stress.

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.

Anxiety falls along a continuum from acceptable to crippling, debilitating anxiety requiring professional intervention. The major forms that anxiety takes are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Phobic Disorders, Social Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD). A variety of proven therapeutic interventions are well established now, eg., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Yoga, Tai Chi, Breathwork. By diving into therapy clients regain a sense of optimism, courage and confidence in relationships, workplace and career, driving, aging, life transitions and more.

Anxiety prevents you from being present and puts you in a position where you are either ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. In the moment, it can feel impossible to get out of it, and one cannot simply snap out of it. Similarly, stress can permeate multiple aspects of your life. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as mindfulness exercises to help you manage your anxiety. Eventually, we would also work together to understand why the anxiety shows up and how we can address the original source. Reach out today to book a free consultation.

Dealing with stress and anxiety can be a challenge for many and navigating GAD, SAD and OCD can feel like anxiety has the upper hand. There are many coping strategies available to help with anxiety. Research has shown that CBT can be as effective as medication (Source: APA Div. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology). I use a blend of CBT and ACT to help with anxiety both of which are research-based and proven to be effective for many people.

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.

If you're struggling with anxious thoughts, you may find it hard to focus. The fight or flight alarm is going off in your brain, constantly sending you messages starting with "what if...." If worrying is keeping you trapped in a hamster wheel, tired, but unable to rest, you may find yourself turning to addictive substances or behaviours to cope. As an addiction counsellor, I help clients cope with the anxious thoughts keeping them trapped in addictive behaviours. By uncovering these underlying thoughts, I help you develop coping skills so you can gain a sense of focus, clarity, confidence, and freedom from constantly overthinking. Send me a message and I'll guide you through the next steps.

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 is our body’s way of getting us ready for action, getting us ready to fight or flee in a given situation which, while helpful in keeping us alive, can be very unhelpful when it negatively impacts our ability to live our daily lives. I work collaboratively with clients to explore how anxiety and stress show up in their lives, and to strengthen and develop strategies to minimize the impact they have on living the life you want to live. Book a free consultation to learn more about my approach and explore if we are a good fit.

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.

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.