Mental Health & Stress Management
Anyone’s mental health may be compromised, regardless of age, gender, culture, ethnicity, or social class. Studies indicate that in any given year, one in every five Canadian adults under age 65 will have a mental health problem. Indirectly, all Canadians are affected by mental health issues because we know someone in the family, a friend or fellow worker who has an illness. In spite of these startling facts, most people know very little about mental illness aside from what the media tells us, or from word of mouth. Twenty per cent of the people in our communities experience mental illness at some time.
Good mental health is not as simple as being void of serious mental illness. In today's modern world, many external factors influence our mental health, causing stress, depression, anxiety and unbalanced moods. In cases of stress, it often becomes a problem when we are unsure of how to handle an event or situation. Learning how to think about and react to certain events as well as determine what may trigger your stress can greatly affect your mental and physical health. Therapy can often aide people in understanding themselves; figuring out what produces stress in them and how they can handle stress effectively.
Each of us is different, and so, there is no one “correct” way to cope with stress. There are a number of different things that can be done, with both short and long-term solutions to reducing stress being tailored to your individual needs and lifestyle. It is essential for you to learn how to deal effectively with your emotions and reactions to stressful events. In counselling, you will identify what your problems are that cause you stress. Is it your job, your relationship with someone, or money worries? Are unimportant, surface problems masking real, deeper ones? Talking about your problems, exploring possible solutions and learning new strategies to reduce tension are all helpful ways to manage stress.
Good mental health is not as simple as being void of serious mental illness. In today's modern world, many external factors influence our mental health, causing stress, depression, anxiety and unbalanced moods. In cases of stress, it often becomes a problem when we are unsure of how to handle an event or situation. Learning how to think about and react to certain events as well as determine what may trigger your stress can greatly affect your mental and physical health. Therapy can often aide people in understanding themselves; figuring out what produces stress in them and how they can handle stress effectively.
Each of us is different, and so, there is no one “correct” way to cope with stress. There are a number of different things that can be done, with both short and long-term solutions to reducing stress being tailored to your individual needs and lifestyle. It is essential for you to learn how to deal effectively with your emotions and reactions to stressful events. In counselling, you will identify what your problems are that cause you stress. Is it your job, your relationship with someone, or money worries? Are unimportant, surface problems masking real, deeper ones? Talking about your problems, exploring possible solutions and learning new strategies to reduce tension are all helpful ways to manage stress.
"If you do not resolve your stress problems, the body’s need for energy will become greater than its ability to produce it, and you will become chronically stressed. At this stage, you may experience insomnia, errors in judgement, and personality changes. You may also develop a serious sickness, such as heart disease, ulcers or mental illness."
- The Canadian Mental Health Association
Walk & Talk Therapy
Clinical studies show that walk and talk therapy speeds up the process of therapy and allows the therapist and clients to get to the issues more quickly. Walking together allows the therapist and client to build a better relationship in a faster time frame than in traditional therapy, thereby allowing the therapeutic process to work faster. The biological benefits of exercise combined with the psychological benefits of therapy along with the social benefits of interacting with a therapist can offer more for the client than traditional therapy alone.
Therapeutic topics include (but are not limited to):
Therapeutic topics include (but are not limited to):
- Personal Growth & Life Coaching
- Stress Management
- Mild & Moderate Depression
- Anxiety
- Relationship Challenges
Personal Growth & Life Coaching
Personal growth involves challenging your personal beliefs and attitudes that inform your perception of the world. It is about gaining insight into understanding what drives you to make certain decisions in your life. By improving your level of self-awareness, you are able to recognize the barriers and patterns that keep you from reaching your goals and having a better quality of life. Often, we are faced with challenges due to unforeseeable circumstances and sometimes, we get stuck and are unable to move forward. Life coaching facilitates personal growth and positive change faster than might happen on its own. The emphasis in coaching is about moving forward and improving personal effectiveness, which leads to personal growth. With the support and guidance of a coach, you will learn to remove or reduce what no longer is effective and replace it with new processes and perspectives.
“You can never solve a problem with the same kind of thinking that created the problem in the first place.”
- Albert Einstein
Anxiety & Depression
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The feelings can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. There are several different types of anxiety disorders. Examples include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders can be successfully treated through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), medication and lifestyle choices. CBT is very effective in helping anxiety disorders as it assists individuals in identifying their anxiety-producing thoughts and then in evaluating their validity. Individuals are challenged in small, manageable steps, to face the situations that provoke their anxiety, and through gradual exposure, learn to manage their fears. Depending on the disorder, CBT may be recommended as one of the treatment approach.
Anxiety disorders can be successfully treated through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), medication and lifestyle choices. CBT is very effective in helping anxiety disorders as it assists individuals in identifying their anxiety-producing thoughts and then in evaluating their validity. Individuals are challenged in small, manageable steps, to face the situations that provoke their anxiety, and through gradual exposure, learn to manage their fears. Depending on the disorder, CBT may be recommended as one of the treatment approach.
"Anxiety disorders are not the “fault” of the person experiencing them, nor are they a weakness in character. In fact, research shows that these disorders are most likely a combination of complex biological and psychological factors, as well as exposure to challenging situations earlier in life. Anxiety can be treated through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, medication and lifestyle choices."
- The Canadian Mental Health Association
Despite what many people believe, depression is very different from a simple case of "the blues.” It can be defined as having intense feelings of sadness, including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless. These feelings persist for extended periods of time and can keep you from functioning normally. Almost every aspect of your life may be affected, including emotions, physical health, work, school, and relationships. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, "a combination of factors can make a person more susceptible to depression. These include a physical illness; certain medications; stress; biochemical imbalances in the brain, hormones or immune system; and a genetic pre-disposition towards a negative view of life. A family history also seems to contribute towards the likelihood of someone developing a clinical depression."
Depression, however, is a very treatable condition, therapy is a very beneficial form of care. It provides much-needed emotional support and a place to share concerns, learn wellness, and give you the knowledge and tools to help yourself.
Bereavement & Grief (Loss)
The loss of someone close to us is one of the most difficult of things to deal with. Each of us responds differently to such tragedy, but one thing remains constant: it takes time to heal. Coping effectively with bereavement is vital to our well being and usually necessitates help in the form of support - be it through family, friends, co-workers, therapists etc. Few people can cope alone with the pain of bereavement - and talking about their loss and sharing their pain is essential to the grieving process. If reactions are extreme, counselling is often necessary to assist in taking positive steps towards healing.
There are multiple stages of grieving. The three stages outlined below are from The Canadian Mental Health Association and are the stages that most people experiencing loss will encounter. These stages do not follow a logical order and it is not uncommon for people to move back and forth between them. The length of time it takes to go through the different stages varies.
Stage I: Numbness or Shock – Immediately after news of death, you will likely experience a period when you feel very little except a sense of unreality. Some people have described this period as being enclosed in a cocoon, or as “sleepwalking”, through the funeral and necessary details which follow death. This stage may last for several weeks or several months.
Stage II: Disorganization – Eventually, nature’s protective shock begins to wear off, and feelings begin to come alive again. You may have some physical symptoms such as tightness in the throat, shortness of breath, the need to sigh frequently and extreme fatigue. Emotional symptoms can be even more distressing. Anger at the loved one for dying and the accompanying guilt may be overwhelming. You need to review the life of the deceased person and the events leading up to the actual death. You may agonize over things you believe you did wrong or things you think you should have done for the deceased. Most frightening of all can be the feeling of losing emotional control. It is a painful period of emotional upheaval but a normal and necessary part of grieving. Most people will recover but it can take weeks, months or, to some degree, several years.
Stage III: Re-organization – Eventually, there will be periods when you do not dwell on your loss, and you can focus on daily tasks. A great hurt is never completely forgotten; rather, it takes its place among life’s other, more immediate demands. Deeper friendships may be formed through the process of sharing. You may have a new awareness of the preciousness of life and of the value of people and experiences.
There are multiple stages of grieving. The three stages outlined below are from The Canadian Mental Health Association and are the stages that most people experiencing loss will encounter. These stages do not follow a logical order and it is not uncommon for people to move back and forth between them. The length of time it takes to go through the different stages varies.
Stage I: Numbness or Shock – Immediately after news of death, you will likely experience a period when you feel very little except a sense of unreality. Some people have described this period as being enclosed in a cocoon, or as “sleepwalking”, through the funeral and necessary details which follow death. This stage may last for several weeks or several months.
Stage II: Disorganization – Eventually, nature’s protective shock begins to wear off, and feelings begin to come alive again. You may have some physical symptoms such as tightness in the throat, shortness of breath, the need to sigh frequently and extreme fatigue. Emotional symptoms can be even more distressing. Anger at the loved one for dying and the accompanying guilt may be overwhelming. You need to review the life of the deceased person and the events leading up to the actual death. You may agonize over things you believe you did wrong or things you think you should have done for the deceased. Most frightening of all can be the feeling of losing emotional control. It is a painful period of emotional upheaval but a normal and necessary part of grieving. Most people will recover but it can take weeks, months or, to some degree, several years.
Stage III: Re-organization – Eventually, there will be periods when you do not dwell on your loss, and you can focus on daily tasks. A great hurt is never completely forgotten; rather, it takes its place among life’s other, more immediate demands. Deeper friendships may be formed through the process of sharing. You may have a new awareness of the preciousness of life and of the value of people and experiences.