Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Abbotsford, BC.

Experiencing stress and anxiety, especially over long periods, can become overwhelming. Building an understanding of ourselves and the best ways to manage these concerns can be a significant first step toward healing. I approach anxiety through the lens of the nervous system and work towards building compassion for its work to keep us safe while exploring ways to let it know that its defences are not always needed. I integrate modalities that work best for each individual; these often include concepts from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), a Strength-Based approach, Attachment Theory and more.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective way to help us examine the building blocks of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. We are not irrational beings who behave in random ways; we just operate on belief systems that may not be serving us very well. Understanding why we are how we are offers us the choice to be different. This same approach can help us to understand the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours of other important people in our lives as well.

n my approach to anxiety and stress treatment and counseling, I prioritize fostering a collaborative and empathetic therapeutic relationship. I aim to create a safe space where clients feel understood and supported as they navigate their anxiety and stressors. Through evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and relaxation techniques, clients learn to identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, develop effective coping strategies, and cultivate resilience in the face of stressors. By providing tailored interventions and ongoing support, clients can expect to gain a deeper understanding of their anxiety and stress.

Anxiety comes in many forms - constant worrying, a sense of loss of control, or the overwhelming feeling that something is going to go wrong. As humans, we all experience some level of anxiety, it's a part of our normal stress response to help motivate us and even keep us safe by thinking ahead to danger. However, when we get stuck in this experience and feel held back, it can be helpful to talk to a therapist. My approach to anxiety starts by helping clients understand their body's unique response to anxiety. This awareness will be the key into understanding triggers, which helps us work together on regulating and coping with anxiety in a way to push you forward.

Anxiety can severely impact the quality of a person's life. It can impact their sleep, work, relationships, school, and their physical health. Sometimes, anxiety can become so intense that people experience physical symptoms like sweating, heart racing, dizziness, nausea, etc. The good news is that there are effective psychological treatments for anxiety. CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy), which is the type of therapy I practice, is an evidence-based approach that provides individuals with skills to help manage their anxiety and get control over their lives back.

Our clients consistently share high rates of anxiety, worry, stress and overwhelm. We understand that these states can profoundly impact the nervous system. Our team will work to understand the context of these things (what are they in response to?) and provide insight and interventions to best support individuals and families. Our therapists provide individualized support including EMDR.

We live in a fast paced 24/7 world dealing with social media, technology and lots of things to worry about in the media. No wonder we are all a little anxious these days. I will help you change your relationship with your thoughts so they have less power and control over you. When we give in and avoid things due to anxiety we end up feeling pretty isolated. I will teach you tools and strategies to get through your stress and anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is often the modality of choice with issues of anxiety or depression. When the roots of either are found in thought distortions, CBT will be used. At times anxiety and depression might mask deeper concerns such as unmet needs, unspoken pain, frozen anger or other trauma wounds. Family systems, Compassionate Inquiry and CBT are used in these more complex situations.

Often people do not understand what triggers an anxious moment. It is essential to work with clients on historical events. Everyday life brings about different levels of stress. There are global events, professional upheavals, and personal challenges. I work with clients to create strategies and plans that will help them deal in the now with difficulties in their lives.

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.

We all have anxiety and stress! It is a matter of how we manage this challenge in our daily lives. Often the anxiety and stress overwhelm us to the point of feeling hopeless! But there certainly is hope and with some consistent therapy and support one can be feeling significantly better after only a few sessions. Once we dissect the overwhelming feelings we begin to understand the underlying issues at the root cause. While medication is an option, quite often it is not necessary as psychotherapy is effective.

Dealing with anxiety and stress can feel overwhelming. Day-to-day tasks can be overwhelming. In our sessions, we'll employ evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you identify triggers and thought patterns, giving you practical tools to manage your anxiety. The road to a calmer mind may have its ups and downs, but please know that you're not alone on this journey. With consistent effort and support, you can regain a sense of control and peace in your life.