Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Bon Accord, AB.

Anxiety and stress are experiences that many of us face, and it's completely normal to feel overwhelmed at times. These feelings can trap us and impact our relationships, work, and overall quality of life. In my therapy practice, I prioritize a compassionate and understanding approach, utilizing various cognitive therapies, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT can be a powerful tool for addressing anxiety and stress. It helps to identify and shift negative thought patterns and behaviours and empowers individuals to develop effective coping strategies. If you're ready, I invite you to book a free 15-minute phone consultation to explore how I can support you.

Anxiety and stress can be ongoing issues that are challenging to manage. Learning how to identify thoughts and emotions and effectively address them can lead to decreased levels of anxiety and stress. Then, learning how to actively move toward higher levels of relaxation can increase overall functioning and capacity to manage stress levels! We call this emotional fitness and clients report that they did not realize how much it mattered for feeling better.

It is important to identify when the challenges we are facing are beyond the normal threshold of storm and stress. After we did that, in order to preserve our mental and physical health, it is important to make a decision to reach out and find a caring professional support. A person who will give as a safe environment, and work with us on overcoming the challenges we face.

Anxiety often feels like constant overthinking, tightness in the body, or an inability to rest—even when nothing is technically wrong. Stress builds silently until it affects focus, sleep, and relationships. In therapy, I help clients understand their stress responses, interrupt anxious thought loops, and develop tools that bring relief and control. My approach is structured, practical, and grounded in real-world application. Together, we reduce pressure and build emotional clarity so you can respond—not just react—to life’s demands.

We live in a fast passed society with a lot of time lines and pressures. Many people are unaware of how their approach to these stressors can increase the sensations of anxiety. Fortunately, there are many ways of decreasing anxiety. Identifying ways of thinking and behaving that increase anxiety introduces the possibility of change. It is life changing to discover that the fearful thoughts and beliefs that have been leading you to anxiety, can be uncovered and transformed into more helpful beliefs that enable you to feel happier and improve relationships.

Anxiety and stress can be adaptive in small doses- it can help give us the motivation to study harder for a test, or practice before an important presentation. In large doses, however, anxiety can be paralyzing. It can cause us to miss work, have panic attacks, or feel irritable or moody. This is when treatment becomes necessary. We use evidence-based therapy to help you achieve results. We will help you identify your own triggers, and teach you skills and tools that you can use to help you manage your anxiety.

Anxiety and stress can negatively impact client's ability to deal with daily challenges and stressors. Anxiety is excess activation in the nervous system so helping clients to release the activation in turn reduces their anxiety and then they can experience a sense of calm and feeling settled. Toxic stress affects the way we think and perceive reality so addressing the anxiety allows us to retrain the brain to manage the stress and perceived threat which reduces fear, worry, and panic.

Anxiety can feel debilitating when feelings of fear, worry, or nervousness develop into a day to day excessive, irrational dread and impacts a person’s daily functioning. As a registered psychologist I draw on various approaches to help individuals develop the skills to feel more in control of anxiety and stress. I assist individuals in understanding how anxiety or panic attacks develop and how to manage better by assessing needs, limits, and triggers for anxiety and stress. www.stalbertcounselling.com

As a psychologist I try to provide a safe, confidential environment within which my clients can explore their feelings and values. People seek therapy when they are in pain, when they feel overwhelmed by stress and when they are struggling in relationships. I try to help my clients to resolve these issues by looking within themselves and by allowing debilitating wounds to heal.

My experience supporting clients with anxiety, stress, and burn out involves helping them understand the nervous system’s natural responses to stress and fear. Through grounding techniques, body awareness, and cognitive-emotional integration, I support clients in developing tools to calm the body and reframe anxious thoughts. Using these skills as a way to close the stress response cycle allowing our bodies to come to its natural resting state. This approach helps clients cultivate safety, confidence, and greater trust in their ability to manage life’s challenges.

My approach to treating anxiety is based on learning skills and strategies to help you accept instead of get rid of your anxiety. As you stop trying to fight against feeling anxious you will notice that all of your anxiety symptoms become easier and easier to manage. Anxiety is kind of like quick sand the more you fight against it the worse it gets.