Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in New Hamburg, ON.

Anxiety has many sources and can mean many different things. It is always experienced physiologically in the same way, no matter the source or meaning. Anxiety arises when we move into unknown territory. This is normal. It arises when something of value to us is threatened. We can think of this as "sacred" anxiety. Or we can become anxious about being anxious, worried about things over which we have no control. This is neurotic anxiety. I work with people to first understand the source and meaning of their anxiety. Then work to help them learn to calm the anxiety down in order to take appropriate action in dealing with its source.

Stress and anxiety trigger the internal alarm system, alerting us to a threat, and activating our nervous system, sending a flood of stress hormones through the body in preparation to fight the threat, or run from it. When the brain determines the threat is gone it sends the signal that the body returns to its natural calm state. But what if the brain fails to tell the body that the threat is gone? This is where stress and anxiety start to build and become seemingly impossible to endure. I work with my clients to reduce the presence of stress, to cope and mange it better, while learning how to intentionally activate the body's calming mechanisms.

Anxiety and stress are predominant in the world we live in; there is a lot to think about! But it does not need to be a source of anxiety or stress and you can learn to manage the impact the news, economy, environment etc. has on you. Likewise, if your worries are more general or anxiety has been around for years, we can work on managing how you think about things and how to calm your body so you can feel better!

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.

Anxiety and stress, sometimes they're manageable... sometimes they aren't. If you are having difficulty managing the anxiety and stress, I strive to work with people to navigate and explore their stressors to understand them and gain insight and perspective into those stress patterns so we can collaboratively devise empowering ways to manage them.

Embark on a journey of healing and resilience with anxiety and stress counseling. As a therapist specializing in anxiety, trauma, grief, and relationships, I offer a compassionate approach grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Theory, and Somatic EMDR. Together, we'll navigate your challenges, providing support and practical strategies to help you find peace and strength in the face of adversity. Take the first step towards a brighter tomorrow today.

For many of us, our stream of life is interrupted by events that are so stressful and scary that they create lasting change. This can be a single incident such as an assault or accident. Or, it could be recurring incidents that take place in the course of our work. It could also be trauma in our earliest years from our caregivers or in our first relationships. If you feel that something from your past is impacting your current life, trauma and stress focused therapy may be a good fit for you.

In my experience, the combination of schema therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective approach to dealing with anxiety. This method digs deeper than CBT alone and brings forth insights that guide us to specific stress and anxiety management priorities tailored to your needs. This is an amplified form of CBT that will open a new door to your recovery.

Anxiety and stress are often met with the thoughts that they are out of your control. Through Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. By learning how to identify the thoughts, feelings and body reactions that you experience, you will be able to develop an action plan to reduce these reactions in stressful situations. Recommendations are made to track your moods and emotions outside of therapy and practice strategies when situations occur.

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

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.

Unfortunately, the swift pace of contemporary life, coupled with demanding work settings and unexpected challenges, frequently gives rise to stress and anxiety. At Atlas Therapy, our commitment is to help clients develop effective tools and skills to manage stress and address anxiety before they escalate into overwhelming forces. Our therapeutic approach delves into a profound understanding of the nervous system's influence on the body, enabling us to customize methods based on each client's unique needs. Through this personalized approach, our goal is to offer unparalleled support, fostering the development of inner strength and overall well-being.

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.

Experiencing feelings of stress and anxiety can be overwhelming. Re-occurring thoughts, feelings of pressure, or worry because of work challenges, relationships, or experiencing a change or loss can sometimes be difficult to manage and process. Additionally, sometimes it is unclear what might be causing feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. In my work with you, I seek to help you understand the story of stress and anxiety in your life, its origins, the ways it impacts you and what kind of relationship you might want with it moving forward to be able to better manage it. Schedule a free consultation with me to see if we are a good fit.

Anxiety and stress have become quite common in today's world, thus, you are not alone. If you are experiencing either of these, and are finding it difficult to cope and manage, Growth Counselling Services can help. Together, we will work toward better understanding your anxiety, it's potential roots, and learning how to establish an alternate relationship with it. I believe in my clients' inner strengths and abilities to face the struggle that coincides with both. If you are tired of being defined by your anxiety, or are simply ready to make a change that allows you to regain control of your life, call Growth Counselling Services today, and let's get started.

Anxiety can come in many forms, such as: panic and anxiety attacks; extreme fear; worrying thoughts from which one rarely gets a break; sleeplessness either due to going over and over how one behaved during the day, and judging oneself, or, from dreading what the following day might bring; fear and avoidance of one's own intense emotions; fear of rejection of others, leading to intense social anxiety or avoidance of close relationships; performance anxiety, such as worries about exams, job interviews, or performance appraisals at one's place of work. I like to get a sense of the frequency, intensity, and duration of somebody's anxiety, and then to help them to reduce all 3.

Dealing with stress and anxiety can be a challenge for many and navigating GAD, SAD and OCD can feel like anxiety has the upper hand. There are many coping strategies available to help with anxiety. Research has shown that CBT can be as effective as medication (Source: APA Div. 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology). I use a blend of CBT and ACT to help with anxiety both of which are research-based and proven to be effective for many people.

Life can be stressful and sometimes the stress builds to a point where it is 'boiling over'. That is where anxiety and panic can begin to take over. My goal is to work with you first to find strategies to manage the immediate anxiety, but then also to address the root causes of the anxiety. Finally it is important to work together to find ways to move forward, living life with meaning, hope and freedom!

I believe we all have moments in our lives when we experience stress and anxiety. Every single one of us could benefit from tools taken from mindfulness exercises as I do in my personal life. I tend to address these issues from a teaching and practicing approach with clients. Its one thing to suggest and explain something, but there has been greater success when we try it out together in session. I have used role play exercises from time to time when the client feels it would be beneficial to decrease the intensity of their anxiety. I love when my clients confidence starts to build because they have implemented what we have practiced in session and learned that it works!

It's critical to understand that, even if you suffer from panic attacks, compulsive thoughts, ongoing worry, or a phobia, you don't have to live in fear and anxiety. In many cases, therapy is the most effective strategy to handle anxiety-related problems. Therapy gives you the skills and teaches you how to use them to overcome anxiety. If stress is not managed, it can become chronic stress and ultimately lead to burnout. While burnout leaves people feeling completely exhausted and unmotivated to keep going, stress often results in people feeling overwhelmed. Therapy provides coping mechanisms for stress symptoms, which may help to avoid burnout.

Anxiety is an inescapable emotion, we've evolved to have this signal emotion. However, when a person regularly feels debilitating or distracting levels of anxiety, it can really hold them back. We begin anxiety with cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns, and then tailor other types of Psychotherapy based on the individual's needs. We often focus on their relationships and communication patterns. By tailoring treatment, we're able to ensure each client gets help that meets them where they're at