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Anxiety Counselling
In the Comox Valley and online throughout British Columbia
Anxiety feels like an alarm that you can't turn off.
Anxiety can leave you on edge - even when you know that you are safe.
Your mind won't stop thinking. Your body won't stop reacting.
And you're struggling to hold it all together.
Anxiety is exhausting, and can create unwanted limitations in your life.
Anxiety is very common, and is one of the main reasons that people come to counselling.
Therapy can help you understand why anxiety happens
and teach your nervous system that you don't need to stay on high alert.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety has incredibly important functions in our life. It is a normal human response designed to protect us from danger. In our day-to-day lives, anxiety and stress motivates us to respond to life's challenges.
The problem isn't anxiety itself. The problem is when our nervous system begins to read threat in everyday situations.
Anxiety has many faces. It can show up as:
Mind
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overthinking
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catastrophizing
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perfectionism
Body
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panic attacks
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health anxiety
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trouble sleeping or relaxing
Heart
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unneeded fears
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phobias
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difficulty trusting the world
Relationships
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social anxiety
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anxious attachments
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needing to control others
Anxiety is Trying to Protect You
Many people blame themselves for their anxiety, shaming themselves for being weak or mentally unwell.
But anxiety symptoms are the result a nervous system that's working very hard to protect us from threat. Somewhere along the way, usually through a mix of genetic factors and lived experiences, your nervous system has gotten confused about how to properly read threat and safety signals.
Sometimes, anxiety can be a sign that something in your life needs to change. You may be holding on to painful emotions or beliefs that need your attention, and anxiety is the alarm bell telling you that something isn't right.
Anxiety isn't the enemy.
It is often your nervous system
trying to protect you.
Together, we get curious about anxiety and explore what it's trying to do for you. We help your nervous system to find healthier ways of responding.
How Anxiety Affects the Nervous System
Anxiety isn't only something that we think - it's something we experience throughout our entire body.
When your nervous system believes that danger is nearby, it prepares you to survive. Your muscles tighten, your heart races, your attention narrows to scan for possible threats.
Over time, this survival response gets patterned into your nervous system until it becomes your default mode - even when everything around you is perfectly safe.
That's why working with insight and thoughts alone sometimes doesn't ease anxiety symptoms.
By working with the mind, the heart, and the body together, we can help your nervous system to become more flexible and resilient.
Calm is Possible
You don't have to live on high alert.
We can meaningfully reduce anxiety symptoms and create a stronger sense of safety and peace in our lives.
My clients learn how to prevent their anxiety symptoms from occurring, and how to manage symptoms when they arise.
They learn how to let go of the emotions and beliefs that may be causing their anxiety to flare up.
They learn how to build an internal foundation of trust in themselves and the world around them.
Learn how to regulate your emotions
Bring rest and relaxation to your body
Make friends with your own mind
Embrace your imperfections
Create faith and trust in the world
My Approach to Anxiety Counselling
I take a holistic approach to supporting clients who struggle with anxiety. Drawing from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-based interventions, and Somatic Experiencing®, we help you to better support your thoughts, emotions, and your nervous system.
Together We May:
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understand the patterns that maintain anxiety
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learn nervous system regulation
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quiet your inner critic
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build self-compassion
We May Also:
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change lifestyle habits
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challenge perfectionism
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explore the role of trauma in your life
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reconnect with your sense of self and your purpose
What is Somatic Experiencing?
This healing approach helps your nervous system to release stored stress and trauma. It supports your body's natural ability to restore balance and resilience - without necessarily needing to relive difficult experiences. You learn how to experience felt senses of safety and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you going to tell me to "just breathe"?
It can be hard to hear "just breathe," or to "try to relax" from others who don't understand how intense anxiety can feel. I do encourage breathing as a strategy for regulation, but it is a small part of the picture. We also need to work on mental, emotional, and physiological patterns.
What if I have a panic attack in session?
Panic attacks feel awful, and we can be terrified of experiencing one in front of others. In my experience, panic attacks in session are rare, and I am skilled in helping people regulate panic before it gets too much.
Will I have to take medication?
No. Whether or not to take anti-anxiety medication is a very personal decision. Some people find it very helpful, while others have tried it and had negative experiences. Others want to try counselling first before trying medication, while others prefer to have both. You are free to do what feels right for you.
Can we fully get rid of my anxiety?
No. Anxiety is an essential part of being a human being. We need fear and cautiousness to keep us safe, and stress is a necessary motivator. However, we don't need to be constantly hijacked by anxiety patterns. In therapy, we learn how prevent, identify, and respond to anxiety with gentleness and skill.
