Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Cloverdale, BC.

Anxiety and Stress are approached with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Education and coping / management techniques are explored, as well as 'homework' in the form of skills practise. People should expect a clear therapy plan to reduce their experience of anxiety and increased confidence in learning how to manage and cope. With children / youth often Art Therapy and / or Play therapy is integrated into the counselling. Parents of kids should expect to be involved and supported in their awareness of anxiety and stress and how to assist their children in management.

Our focus is to support individuals who are struggling with anxiety and stress to a more relaxed and manageable way of being. Not only is stress and anxiety hard on our health and energy, but it also can have a significant impact on our world around us. We will work in a collaborative manor to break apart the building blocks that have contributed to the imbalance of anxiety and stress in your life, and empower you with the tools and techniques to remain in balance.

While our bodies are perfectly designed to adapt and react to stress, modern problems mean that we tend to detect life threatening dangers in very ordinary places. Conflicts at work, arguments in our relationships and uncertainties such as the post-Covid world activate old survival mechanisms. We may be stuck in the buzzing, fear states of ‘fight-flight’ or the numb and paralyzed states of ‘freeze and shut down.’ The good news is that I have a long history of safely and successfully helping individuals and couples to reduce and release stress using a variety of CBT and mindfulness techniques, as well as trauma-informed therapy. You have my commitment to compassionate and educated care.

If you're up against anxiety, I offer an empowering and collaborative approach. There is an opportunity to explore your experience and to begin to see yourself as separate from anxiety. Through conversations, you may begin to identify alternative stories that challenge anxious thoughts and beliefs. We'd attend to your capacity and establish coping strategies to foster a sense of possibility. Together the we would co-create a new narrative that emphasizes the your resiliency, self-compassion and a greater sense of calm.

In therapy sessions clients will benefit from exploring the causes and contributing factors underlying the feelings of anxiety they are experiencing. Clients will identify stressors in their lives and identify how these stressors are effecting their emotional and physical well-being. They will learn strategies and skills to more effectively manage stress and anxiety, and learn to change their emotional reactions to stressful situations. It is my hope that clients will discover the capabilities that exist within themselves to create the peace and calm they wish to attain in their lives.

My office is a safe space to express any thoughts and feelings about your life in complete confidence. Sharing painful experiences under the Witness of an empathic human being has incredible healing power. Within this therapeutic relationship, we can use mindfullness practices, progressive muscle-relaxation, and Cognitive Therapy to transform your experience of stress into the present, balanced, and relaxed way of living that you have not had in a very, very long time.

I approach anxiety counseling with a professional and evidence-based methodology, ensuring that you receive the utmost quality of care. Drawing from a robust background in psychology, education, and therapy, I am well-prepared to navigate the intricacies of anxiety and its impact on your life. While anxiety is a natural response to stress, I recognize that, for some, it can become overwhelming and disruptive. It may manifest in various forms, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, or specific phobias. Together we will implement proved techniques to relieve you of the anxiety that is impacting your well-being.

Anxiety for the most part is an important part of life as the Fight-or-Fight response is a powerful survival tool. If walking in the forest and you are confronted by a bear a surge of adrenaline is helpful. However, if one is experiencing this same intense response while walking through a shopping mall their quality of life rapidly diminishes. There are several effective treatments for anxiety, such as: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Systematic Desensitization, EMDR, and the development of positive self soothing skills. I incorporate these, customized for each person and their own unique experience with anxiety. You will be surprised at how fast your life can change.

Angela understands that most everyone can relate to having felt some degree of anxiety or stress in their life. In fact, some anxiety & stress comes along with positive experiences or helps us to meet our goals. However, if anxiety or stress has been impacting your day to day functioning, Angela would like to help you gain confidence to cope with your thoughts/feelings and choices that may be impacting regular sleep patterns, regular/healthy eating, physical health, performance at work/school, relationships with others, perception of yourself or your overall ability to cope. Call today for your free consultation-no obligations