Anxiety and Stress
For both Anxiety Disorders and Stress Related Symptoms I offer individual counseling and therapy in my Vancouver and Burnaby offices (serving Coquitlam, New Westminster, Port Moody and Maple Ridge). In most cases we use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is an evidence based, scientifically supported method for teaching individuals the skills and tools they need to overcome anxiety and stress related disorders. In addition to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) I often also teach skills commonly called “Mindfullness.” Mindfulness is a set of behavioural and cognitive skills designed specifically to help reduce daily stress and anxiety and address the problem of relapse, often associated with anxiety or stress disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Isn’t anxiety or stress normal? Why am I having trouble with it now?
People often call asking just this question about therapy or counseling for anxiety. Anxiety and stress are actually normal parts of everyone’s life. They are normal reactions to stressful situations, for example, feeling anxious about a test. Anxiety is actually a helpful and necessary warning system we wouldn’t do well without. In some cases we might actually enjoy some level of anxiety, such as when watching a scary movie, reading a suspenseful book or riding a roller coaster. If there were no anxiety during these activities we wouldn’t be doing them! Sometimes, however, anxiety levels can grow to a point when it is hard to control, it might interfere with our thinking and mental processing, make it difficult to make decisions, and last much longer that the incident itself. In this way both anxiety and stress can cause significant difficulties in our daily functioning. We can also, over a period of time, begin to react with anxiety to things that should not be causing anxiety at all. The anxiety seems to spread to new areas of concern. When anxiety rises to this level it is likely that you have developed one of several types of Anxiety Disorder. Anxiety, luckily, is something we can provide both medical and psychological treatment for.
You should know that Anxiety Disorders are common, affecting approximately 40 million adults per year in North America alone. And most people are treated effectively with therapy, sometimes medication, or a combination of the two. Cognitve Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness have been found to be highly effective in most situations. (CBT and Mindfulness Training are offered in both my Vancouver and Burnaby offices serving Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam and Maple Ridge.)
Are There Different Types or Kinds of Anxiety Disorder?
While the term Anxiety Disorder is often used, it actually refers to a family of anxiety problems which including the following: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Phobias.
Do You Treat Children with Anxiety Disorders?
Yes. We have new and highly effective means of teaching children as young as 5 the techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and often suggest texts and stories such as “When My Troubles Get Too Big,” and “The Incredible Five Point Scale.” Treating children and teens often involves the entire family and the school staff. I provide parent education, teacher training and school based consultations on stress, anxiety and related disorders. Most of the materials I use are available for classroom wide programs and are commonly found in school settings. Specialized programs addressing anxiety for children and teens with Autism Spectrum (ASD) and Asperger’s Disorder are also available. Children and adolescents are seen in both my Vancouver and Burnaby locations.)
Summary
Anxiety Disorders and Stress are treatable and often respond to medication as well as counselling and therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role that our thoughts, beliefs (cognitions) and behaviors play in determining how we feel and behave. CBT has been shown to be effective in treating Anxiety Disorders. As a psychologist I have received specialized training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York, including over one year of clinical supervision in providing CBT and obtaining an advanced certificate in CBT from The Albert Ellis Institute.
LINK: Self-Help Tips for Generalized Anxiety Disorders (click here)
………………………………………
Psychological services (including assessment, testing and therapy) provided in my offices include (covered by most extended health care insurance):
ADHD (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/adhd-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/)
Anxiety and Stress (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/anxiety-stress/ )
Autism and Asperger’s Disorder (Click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/autism/)
Individual Counselling (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/individual-therapy/)
Child Counselling / Therapy (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/child-therapy/)
Testing and Assessments and Learning Disabilities (Click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/testing/)
Couples Counselling / Therapy (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/couples-therapy/)
The Angry Child (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/dealing-with-angry-aggressive-and-explosive-children/)
Anger Management (Click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/anger-management/)
Pain Management and PTSD (Click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/pain/ )
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Isn’t anxiety or stress normal? Why am I having trouble with it now?
People often call asking just this question about therapy or counseling for anxiety. Anxiety and stress are actually normal parts of everyone’s life. They are normal reactions to stressful situations, for example, feeling anxious about a test. Anxiety is actually a helpful and necessary warning system we wouldn’t do well without. In some cases we might actually enjoy some level of anxiety, such as when watching a scary movie, reading a suspenseful book or riding a roller coaster. If there were no anxiety during these activities we wouldn’t be doing them! Sometimes, however, anxiety levels can grow to a point when it is hard to control, it might interfere with our thinking and mental processing, make it difficult to make decisions, and last much longer that the incident itself. In this way both anxiety and stress can cause significant difficulties in our daily functioning. We can also, over a period of time, begin to react with anxiety to things that should not be causing anxiety at all. The anxiety seems to spread to new areas of concern. When anxiety rises to this level it is likely that you have developed one of several types of Anxiety Disorder. Anxiety, luckily, is something we can provide both medical and psychological treatment for.
You should know that Anxiety Disorders are common, affecting approximately 40 million adults per year in North America alone. And most people are treated effectively with therapy, sometimes medication, or a combination of the two. Cognitve Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness have been found to be highly effective in most situations. (CBT and Mindfulness Training are offered in both my Vancouver and Burnaby offices serving Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam and Maple Ridge.)
Are There Different Types or Kinds of Anxiety Disorder?
While the term Anxiety Disorder is often used, it actually refers to a family of anxiety problems which including the following: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Phobias.
Do You Treat Children with Anxiety Disorders?
Yes. We have new and highly effective means of teaching children as young as 5 the techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and often suggest texts and stories such as “When My Troubles Get Too Big,” and “The Incredible Five Point Scale.” Treating children and teens often involves the entire family and the school staff. I provide parent education, teacher training and school based consultations on stress, anxiety and related disorders. Most of the materials I use are available for classroom wide programs and are commonly found in school settings. Specialized programs addressing anxiety for children and teens with Autism Spectrum (ASD) and Asperger’s Disorder are also available. Children and adolescents are seen in both my Vancouver and Burnaby locations.)
Summary
Anxiety Disorders and Stress are treatable and often respond to medication as well as counselling and therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role that our thoughts, beliefs (cognitions) and behaviors play in determining how we feel and behave. CBT has been shown to be effective in treating Anxiety Disorders. As a psychologist I have received specialized training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York, including over one year of clinical supervision in providing CBT and obtaining an advanced certificate in CBT from The Albert Ellis Institute.
LINK: Self-Help Tips for Generalized Anxiety Disorders (click here)
………………………………………
Psychological services (including assessment, testing and therapy) provided in my offices include (covered by most extended health care insurance):
ADHD (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/adhd-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/)
Anxiety and Stress (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/anxiety-stress/ )
Autism and Asperger’s Disorder (Click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/autism/)
Individual Counselling (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/individual-therapy/)
Child Counselling / Therapy (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/child-therapy/)
Testing and Assessments and Learning Disabilities (Click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/testing/)
Couples Counselling / Therapy (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/couples-therapy/)
The Angry Child (click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/dealing-with-angry-aggressive-and-explosive-children/)
Anger Management (Click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/anger-management/)
Pain Management and PTSD (Click here: http://www.relatedminds.com/pain/ )
