Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Thorold, ON.

In my work with people with anxiety, I take a two-fold approach. First, we work on developing set of strategies that help manage anxiety, including mindfulness techniques, distraction and self-soothing. At the same time, I work on acceptance of anxiety with a focus on moving towards valued goals in spite of the discomfort of anxiety. In my experience, the struggle that often accompanies anxiety can be as debilitating as the anxiety itself.

Anxiety can be a productive and useful tool in helping us understand and interpret our environment. However, when anxiety is chronic, it can take a significant toll on both physical and mental health, ultimately effecting all facets of our lives. I like to examine the causes of anxiety and understand what anxiety is attempting to communicate and protect one from. In doing so, I hope to reframe anxiety, foster acceptance and welcome healing and change. I am also a strong believer in self-care and giving oneself permission to rest, which is imperative in stress and anxiety management. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure we are a good fit.

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.

Anxiety and Stress are a fact of life for many of us. And honestly a little bit of both is a good thing - it can motivate us and move us forward. However, too much of either can be detrimental to both physical and mental health. I find that talk therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, mindfulness-based therapy and values-based therapy can help clients cope and even lower their anxiety and stress levels. Oh and how can I forget - Breathing! It may seem simple but learning how to breathe in stressful moments can be very effective. However, too much stress can lead to burnout - both at work and at home, and can lead to depression. So there are big benefits to addressing it early on.

Psychodynamic support for anxiety and stress involves exploring past experiences and unconscious processes that may be influencing your current struggles. By examining how early relationships and life events have shaped your patterns of thinking and behaving, we can gain insight into the root causes of your anxiety and stress. Through this deeper understanding, we aim to help you develop healthier coping mechanisms and build resilience to manage these overwhelming feelings. The therapeutic process may involve delving into unresolved conflicts, addressing defense mechanisms, and fostering self-awareness to promote lasting emotional healing and growth.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with stress or if are feelings of anxiousness getting in the way of you fully participating in life? If so, help is available to you. I will work with you to develop strategies to manage stress and to establish balance in your lifestyle. I am experienced in working with people with various types of anxiousness including: generalized anxiety social anxiety panic attacks obsessive compulsive disorder Together we can work to gradually develop skills that will help you manage difficult and anxious, thoughts and feelings so you may feel more relaxed as you participate more fully in life.

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 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.

Anxiety falls along a continuum from acceptable to crippling, debilitating anxiety requiring professional intervention. The major forms that anxiety takes are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Phobic Disorders, Social Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD). A variety of proven therapeutic interventions are well established now, eg., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Yoga, Tai Chi, Breathwork. By diving into therapy clients regain a sense of optimism, courage and confidence in relationships, workplace and career, driving, aging, life transitions and more.

As a Somatic (SE) therapist- mental & emotional health follows the state of the nervous system. If it is flowing seamlessly between sympathetic and parasympathetic; arousal and settling, within a “manageable range” there’s a deep, internal sense of well-being, emotional stability, confidence, clear thinking, aliveness, trust in self and others, and mastery. With SE we will focus on: Your experiences... in the body Learn to track, observe, describe what is going on for you Regulate internal arousal states, shift locked patterns into action, increase body awareness. Encourage emotional engagement with attention to: mindfulness, sensations, movements and impulses. Here & Now find YOU!

Stress can motivate you, but anxiety can dominate your life. I want to help bring your life back into balance. There are many ways we can address habitual anxiety because each person perceives and analyzes his or her world differently. Each person has his own history, habits, and ingrained viewpoints. Each person has certain prejudices and automatic reactions which he may not recognize. To gain a clearer view we need to get to know ourselves. Then we may decide to practice changing. The idea behind Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the best known group of anxiety treatments, is that mind, body and emotions are all connected in the brain. Change one, and you can effect the others.

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.

Some degree of anxiety and stress is normal. However, persistent and chronic anxiety and stress can interfere with the ability to cope with adverse situations. It can damage an individual’s health, mood, productivity, relationships, and quality of life. Mastora works with individual to find a more effective ways to deal with anxiety and stress through various therapeutic techniques and take back control of your life.

Being stressed or anxious all the time can make you feel like you cannot cope with life’s demands. And what’s worse is that you may come to believe that you can’t stop or control worry. Anxiety & stress are common problems these days and according to a study affect 1 in every 5 people. The good news however is counselling can reduce your stress or anxiety symptoms and help you take back control of your life – and usually in quick time. Our therapists can help you: - Identify your triggers - Gain awareness and learning to manage your anxiety or panic - Finding your comfort level - Identify unique ways to deal effectively with your problem Contact today to know more about how we can help!

In my approach to anxiety and stress treatment and counseling, I prioritize creating a safe and supportive environment where clients feel empowered to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By employing evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and relaxation techniques, I work collaboratively with clients to develop personalized strategies for managing their symptoms. By addressing the underlying causes of anxiety and stress, clients can gain insight, build resilience, and develop coping skills to navigate life's challenges more effectively. Through therapy, clients not only learn to alleviate distressing symptoms but also cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves, leading to enhanced well-being and improved quality of life.

Disappointments in life, conflict in relationships, challenges in the workplace, debt or health issues or any combination of things can contribute to stress and anxiety. When you feel overwhelmed, life becomes confusing and solutions are hard to see. Many day to day problems are easier to resolve, manage and avoid when you have the tools and support you need. Through counselling I help you understand your fears, frustrations, disappointments and experiences, while equipping you with effective skills and tools to cope with challenges from a position of inner peace and strength.

Anxiety and stress are common elements in most people's life. It is a necessary element to keeping us alive and safe; however there are points in our life's journey where stress can increase and change how we choose to move through our life's journey. Connect with Nicole to explore how stress and anxiety could be impacting you; why it maybe happening and how you can use various strategies, body based methods (Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga, somatic methods) and/or therapy methods such as CBT, mindfulness and meditation to move continue on your life's journey.