Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Milton, ON.

Anxiety and stress are often treated as isolated problems but, in reality, they are signals from a system that has been running in survival mode for too long. My approach does not focus solely on symptom management but on helping clients understand why their system feels chronically unsafe, overwhelmed, or hypervigilant. Often, anxiety arises from relational injuries, unresolved emotional tension, or existential dislocation that lead to feeling trapped in a life that no longer fits. Together, we work to understand the architecture of your anxiety: what it is trying to tell you, how it was built, what it protects you from, and how to grow from it.

Living with anxiety or having a high stress can have an impact on every area of our lives. Emotional health, physical health, relationships and careers can all suffer as a result. I use a poly-vagal informed approach to help my clients cope with and reduce their anxiety and stress while learning to gain control over their nervous systems. This approach is both educational and practical. If you would like to improve your quality of life by reducing anxiety and stress contact me for a free consult.

It is normal to worry and feel stressed about life's problems and pressures. But when compounded symptoms begin to overwhelm us to the point where we are getting headaches, heart palpitations, a churning stomach, cold sweats, sleepless nights, weight loss, obsessive thoughts, a distressed GI tract - then we need help to break the adrenaline-fear cycle. Anxiety feeds on fear and needs to be confronted, appropriately and safely, with relaxation techniques, new perceptions and constructive thinking patterns. A counsellor can help you do this.

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.

All associates with New Leaf Psychology Centre offer therapy for stress and anxiety. Although the initial treatment approach for anxiety is often Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), treatment is individualized to address your personal situation. Therapy can help you reduce worries, increase your ability to face fears, and allow you to approach life more optimistically. Dr. Strauss specializes in work related stressors, such as overwork, increasing demands, interpersonal challenges with colleagues and management, and career decisions. Dr. Gilani specializes in health related anxieties and stress.

Therapy can help by providing a safe and confidential space to discuss what is happening in your life. You will learn to be more in tune with your symptoms and the messages they may be trying to convey. We will gradually explore your history to bring order and understanding to it while helping you to process and contain difficult emotions and over time finding strategies to manage and decrease these symptoms.

There are many approaches that are considered effective in addressing anxiety from: exploration of thoughts, behaviour, relaxation and/or mindfulness techniques, exposure therapy or exploration of unresolved issues/past conflicts contributing to present stress. The first step is building a trusting therapeutic relationship.Based on your unique goals for therapy, we will take an individualised approach to address your current experience of anxiety and/or stress.

Is anxiety or stress overwhelming your life? You don't have to face it alone. I’m Simona Ilieva, a Registered Psychotherapist specializing in anxiety and stress management. Together, we’ll explore the root causes of your stress, learn techniques to reduce anxiety, and create personalized strategies to regain control. Whether you're facing daily pressures or chronic anxiety, I’m here to support you in finding balance and inner calm. With the right tools and guidance, you can break free from the cycle of stress and start living a more peaceful, fulfilling life. Let's take that step together. Book a free consultation today.

Stress and anxiety when present within healthy limits can stimulate, motivate, challenge, warn and activate our bodies to react accordingly to the situation. When it's too much, too intense and for too long, stress and anxiety lead to poor functioning, impairment and exhaustion resulting in stress and anxiety overload, contributing heavily to triggering anxiety disorders. In my therapy, I use therapeutic approaches and techniques that help reduce stress and anxiety and enhance the quality of your life and build your emotional resilience. You develop skills to minimize distress and maximize efficacy in many areas of your living and live life in a happier and healthier manner

My approach to anxiety and stress focuses mainly on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as it is an empirically-tested, evidence-based technique. It includes recognizing and addressing distorted thinking, grounding techniques, mindfulness, maintaining a journal, and self-care. Alongside CBT, we can explore the roots and possible causes of the anxiety. I have had great successes with clients who came to me with anxiety. One client in particular had social anxiety so severe, she would become physically sick, experience awful gastrointestinal issues, and eventually faint when in a social situation. As a result of therapy, her coping skills improved, until her anxiety all but disappeared.

Stress and anxiety can feel overwhelming, leaving you drained and unsure where to turn. I offer a supportive and empathetic space where we can explore your challenges and strengthen strategies together. My approach is rooted in compassion, helping you uncover the underlying causes of your stress and anxiety while equipping you with tools to manage them. I’m here to guide you toward balance, peace, and greater resilience. Please schedule a free consultation with me to see if we are a good fit.