Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Rockwood, ON.

Are you experiencing anxiety and stress, often from living in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing social environment? Do you struggle to multi-task and stay focused as you move through the day? Let us work together to lower your stress through various tools that can fit into your busy life. I can help you to incorporate these tools into your life.

More than ever today, anxiety and stress are on the increase. And anxiety and stress can take on many different symptoms, such as sleepless, racing thoughts, negative self beliefs, physical discomfort and what feels like irrational fear, to name a few. Working with people who are dealing with anxiety and stress is something I find rewarding, as we explore coping strategies and identify new boundaries to live a healthy life.

Anxiety is a pervasive mental health issue that can also be associated with a variety of factors including depression, low self-esteem, trauma, exposure to accumulative stressors, or acute situational stress. The experience of anxiety can exist in the absence of obvious triggers. Given the variables, it is essential to hear a client’s story fully to define a clearer map of psycho-educational needs. By exploring alternative ways of thinking and employing CBT-based, anxiolytic strategies (imagery, relaxation and breathing exercises), clients are better equipped to gain control–i.e., unlearn bad habits contributing to patterns of negative thinking, fears, and unwanted physiological responses.

We all face various sources of stress, but what is important is how we manage our response to it. Matt helps you identify what triggers your stress, why your body reacts the way it does, and how to interrupt patterns of over-reactions that keep you stuck. Learn to incorporate practical tools to manage the ongoing tension, racing thoughts, or overwhelm that’s been getting in the way of living your best life. Stressful situations will continue to arise, but let’s work together on keeping calm and confidently taking action to get to what’s most important to you.

In working with individuals who struggle with anxiety, I use both a cognitive behavioural therapeutic (CBT) approach and eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. The principal aim of cognitive behavioural therapy is to increase awareness that thoughts and behaviour drive emotion. My aim is to increase consciousness of distorted perceptions, and then assist individuals in rebalancing those perceptions to be more accurate. EMDR focuses specifically on reprocessing traumatic memories that are at the root of the anxiety. Through EMDR individuals can come to terms with traumatic and distressing memories that underlie anxiety.

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.

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.

We are living in a high pace, stressful world and it is easy for this to take a toll on our well being. We work with adults, children and teens in need of a place to work through anxiety and stress. Children also deal with stress and anxiety. We use developmentally appropriate approaches in our work with children. We integrate a cognitive behavioural approach into play and music therapy interventions to help children cope better.