Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Selwyn, ON.

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.

If life were a video game, anxiety would be the boss at the end of each level. We might hide from it, or run from it, but sooner or later we're gonna have to face it. Like any heroic tale, we seldom start at the beginning and jump right to the end. Along the way we'll make sure you're equipped with the tools needed to confront even the most intimidating and powerful adversaries. Plus, what journey would be complete without help from trusted advisors and friends. No hero does it alone, and I look forward to joining you on your worthy quest.

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!

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 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.

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.

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 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 a normal response to stress, but can become debilitating when the stress is ongoing, overwhelming and inescapable. Learning how to manage anxiety is a critical life skill because it affects both the mind and the body. Dwelling on the future prevents us from living in the moment, and psychotherapy can offer tools and coping skills to help re-regulate the nervous system and find relief from overthinking and relentless mental chatter.

Anxiety, stress and panic attacks can be debilitating and life-limiting. Anxiety is a specialty area for me and I work to get at the root of the problem as well as provide practical and powerful tools to help eliminate or significantly manage these issues. Some anxiety may be trauma-based and I utilize a trauma-informed approach to therapy in general. You don't have to let stress anxiety rule your life - there is effective help here!

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.

Low levels of anxiety can motivate us to accomplish goals and perform at our best. As the level of experienced anxiety creeps higher, it robs us of our joy and can make us feel overwhelmed resulting in either inactivity or a compulsion to be overactive yet not experiencing any lasting relief. Our sense of internal peace and calm is replaced by perpetual overthinking and fear. Let's work together to gain insight into the root cause of your anxiety so that we are able to empower you to reclaim your experience of joy and a sense of internal calm.

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.