Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Gravenhurst, ON.

Anxiety and the resulting stress can create what feels like an unsurmountable barrier to contentment. By exploring the origins of anxieties I guide clients to a recognition of these emotional states so they can develop innovative coping tools, practice relaxation techniques and ultimately create fresh perspectives that re-evaluate their view of the path ahead.

In these difficult times, and before, anxiety and stress can sometimes sneak up on us until we are surprised to find that we are catching colds, experiencing muscle aches and pains, or even are having difficulty eating or sleeping regularly. I will help you get to the root of what ails you, whether it is past trauma, current life stressors, an impending life transition, or generalized anxiety. By helping you uncover your strengths and teaching you tools to manage your stress or anxiety, I can assist you in rewriting the story you tell yourself about your past and your future.

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.

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.

In my approach to work with anxiety and stress, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and Somatic Experiencing to help people engage fully with their present experiences and bodily sensations. This encourages you to observe and accept their feelings of anxiety and stress without judgment, fostering a greater sense of control. By learning to stay grounded and present, you can develop more effective coping strategies that align with your values, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

If you're struggling with anxious thoughts, you may find it hard to focus. The fight or flight alarm is going off in your brain, constantly sending you messages starting with "what if...." If worrying is keeping you trapped in a hamster wheel, tired, but unable to rest, you may find yourself turning to addictive substances or behaviours to cope. As an addiction counsellor, I help clients cope with the anxious thoughts keeping them trapped in addictive behaviours. By uncovering these underlying thoughts, I help you develop coping skills so you can gain a sense of focus, clarity, confidence, and freedom from constantly overthinking. Send me a message and I'll guide you through the next steps.