Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Smiths Falls, ON.

Stress and anxiety are normal responses to the pressures and constraints of everyday life. They can be helpful signals to us to slow down or to introduce some lifestyle changes. For some people, these simple changes do not alleviate the stress and anxiety. I work with my clients to explore any thinking they may be engaging in (CBT) or exploring other lifestyle or relational issues which may be problematic and work with them to manage the anxiety/stress through relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or lifestyle changes, and explore whether referral to their family doctor might be beneficial.

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!

I love working with people who wrestle with anxiety and stress, I love it because of the difference I witness in the lives and experiences of my clients. Employing a blend of mindfulness, somatic experiencing and neuroscience (polyvagal) techniques, the felt experience of anxiety can be managed in an entirely new way for you, and can lead to profound change in your life. I can not make it so that you never feel anxious again, but we can work to help you learn what to do when you experience the familiar sensations of anxiety, so that it doesn't take over your thoughts, body and life.

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.

Fear is a situational-based, positive emotion that prepares us for a sudden and unexpected external event. Since fear is such a common emotion, its presence can often go from being connected to a specific experience (a baby crying, a car horn blowing) to something omnipresent and an overwhelming sense of anxiousness. Anxiety can cause us to feel shame, guilt, and worry because we do not believe we can stand up to the concerns that have brought it into our lives. Psychotherapy is a safe place to explore the causes of shame, guilt, worry, and anxiety. If you are ready to unpack your worry bag, I am here to help! Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Anxiety and stress can be ever present in the hustle and bustle of today’s society. I know first-hand how consuming these experiences can be and how much it can take to overcome them. When working with anxiety, it can be helpful to get to know the root causes of the anxiety so that we can identify and tackle it in any situation. In my work, I support clients in developing and applying individualized tools that best fit them, their lifestyle, and their experiences to manage and overcome the anxiety. Connect with me today for a free consultation to see if we are a good fit.