Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has proven to be a helpful way to manage anxiety.
You might be ruminating (thinking about past events, “mistakes” or conversations) or worrying about future events “what if” thinking. These thoughts can cause you stress, make it harder to fall asleep and get in the way of your life. You might have a lot on your plate to juggle and need some help with stress and worry. I can help!
As a therapist specializing in CBT, I’d love to help you manage anxious feelings, thoughts or behaviours.
I have CBT exercises, tools and ways of re-thinking your anxiety that can really work. We work together to understand your triggers and symptoms, then learn coping techniques and tools to minimize, or make Anxiety and Worry go away.
Types of Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include:
- Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
- Being easily fatigued
- Having difficulty concentrating; mind going blank
- Being irritable
- Having muscle tension
- Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
- Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, restlessness, or unsatisfying sleep
- It can start interfering with your life and the things you need to do or want to do.
Panic Disorder
Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear that come on quickly and reach their peak within minutes. Attacks can occur unexpectedly or can be brought on by a trigger, such as a feared object or situation.
During a panic attack, people may experience:
- Heart palpitations, a pounding heartbeat, or an accelerated heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Sensations of shortness of breath, smothering, or choking
- Feelings of impending doom
- Feelings of being out of control
Social Anxiety
People with social anxiety disorder have a general intense fear of, or anxiety toward, social or performance situations. They worry that actions or behaviours associated with their anxiety will be negatively evaluated by others, leading them to feel embarrassed.
- Research on CBT and anxiety – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4610618/
- Self-screen online for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – https://www.hiv.uw.edu/page/mental-health-screening/gad-7
Other Therapy Methods I Use
- I can help you learn to calm your body and mind using DBT skills
- We might engage in gradual Exposure Therapy as needed. More on my approach to exposure therapy
- I will also help you learn mindfulness techniques to help with worry, stress and anxious thoughts.