Supporting you during Life transitions. Life transitions are often unexpected and may turn your life upside. You may feel lost and that you have no clear path to a desirable future. Major life transitions may include finishing high school or college, retirement, unemployment, developing a chronic health condition, loss of a valued relationship, divorce, or children moving away from home. To help you navigate this challenging time, my aim is to create a safe environment where you can process your loss, explore your values, and create a new path to a desirable future.
More ways we can help:
Providing Emotional Support. Sometimes the safe, confidential environment you need, to discuss life’s challenges, is not available within our social networks. Maybe you have shared your struggles with friends and family and the feedback received was not helpful, or pushed you in directions you did not want to go. You may also be worried about burdening loved ones with problems, and this may stop you from asking for the support you need. I can provide a safe, confidential environment where you can share your struggles, and explore possible solutions with an unbiased listener.
Treating Anxiety. If you’re struggling with anxiety you may have noticed that 1) situations feel threatening, 2) you are questioning your ability to cope, 3) you feel jittery and tense, and 4) you’re avoiding events and people in a manner that is making your life smaller or gets in the way of your success. Anxiety is very common and can be successfully treated through counselling. To treat anxiety, I can help you become more aware of thoughts and feelings that are getting in your way. I will engage you in activities that reduce the power anxious thoughts and feelings have in your life. I will also aim to create a supportive environment that allows you to take risks and move toward goals that you value.
Managing Depression. If you’re being weighed down by depression you may be 1) having difficulty finding the motivation and energy to engage in your daily responsibilities, 2) beating yourself up and feeling guilty for not meeting your expectations or the perceived expectations of others, 3) not finding enjoyment in previously enjoyed activities, and 4) isolating yourself from family or friends. To treat depression, I aim to create a supportive, compassionate environment to enhance hope when you may have very little. I will help you better understand depression and the effects it has on your daily functioning. We will work together to set small goals so that you can take the steps needed to overcome symptoms of depression. My aim is to help you gain skills and resources so you can maintain a valued life during the ups and downs of depression.
Navigating Couple relationship struggles. Your relationship with your romantic partner may be the most important and most difficult relationship you have to navigate. If your interactions are driving you further apart, rather than bringing you closer together, couple therapy can help. I will work with you and your partner to identify patterns in your relationship that are harmful. With support, you and your partner can learn new ways of navigating struggles that will bring you closer together creating a greater sense of calm and safety in your relationship.
Enhancing Family Dynamics. Are you struggling with one or more of your children? Does if feel like they have shut you out and you cannot reach them? Are you witnessing behaviours that make you worry about the wellbeing of your child or family? I can help you identify and address the family dynamics that are making family life difficult. I aim to provide parents with the skills needed to create an open and safe environment for their children, while setting the limits needed to create a home environment that is comfortable for the entire family. This includes sessions for parents, and sessions for the entire family to learn and practice new skills.