Anxiety

If you are feeling anxious, it might help to know that you are not alone. At Roya Counselling, we focus on providing tools to our clients to help them deal with anxiety. More importantly, we deeply explore the roots of our client`s anxiety to lessen the frequency of their anxiety symptoms.

Why Roya counselling for ANXIETY?

  • With years of experience in treating anxiety, we will tailor our  approach to your specific needs
  • Our goal is not limited to giving you tools, we aim to target the deeper roots of your anxiety
  • We will explore tools together to regulate your nervous system
  • Our designation (RCC) means we have met important requirements and abide by ethical guidelines

Common forms of anxiety:

Social Anxiety

People with social anxiety tend to feel anxious and uncomfortable in social situations. They tend to avoid social situations due to the fear of experiencing anxiety symptoms such as sweating, shortness of breath, or dizziness. The avoidance usually creates a vicious cycle which leads to more social anxiety over time. Therapy for social anxiety helps clients develop tools to regulate their anxiety symptoms and also understand what beliefs and life experiences might be underlying their social anxiety.

Panic Disorder

Individuals with panic disorder experience episodes of intense anxiety and dread called panic attacks. Panic attacks are usually very intense and include physical sensations such as chest pain, heart palpitation, sweating, shortness of breath, and dizziness. People experiencing panic attacks sometimes feel “out of body” and disconnected and worry that they will die. Sometimes the anxiety symptoms are so scary that a client ends up in a hospital`s emergency room.
Anxiety counselling helps clients to learn how to cope with panic attacks when they arise. More importantly, anxiety therapy helps clients process what underlies their panic attacks so that their nervous system becomes more regulated in the long run and does not go into panic as often.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

People with generalized anxiety disorder feel a general sense of anxiety, restlessness and being on edge on a regular basis. They have common anxiety symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, digestive issues, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, irritability, difficulty concentrating and sleep issues. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder often think of the worst-case scenarios, overprepare for an upcoming situation and avoid any situation that involves uncertainty.
An anxiety therapist will help a client with GAD to develop coping skills as well as understand the root of the heightened arousal of their nervous system. Clients with severe generalized anxiety disorder might benefit from combining therapy with an anxiety medication.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Trauamatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is anxiety disorder that happens when a person has witnessed or experienced a life-threatening and terrifying event which was inescapable. People with PTSD have common anxiety symptoms along with flashbacks (reliving the traumatic moment), intrusive thoughts/memories about the traumatic event and avoidance of potential triggers. Trauma for PTSD includes helping the client to heal the emotional, physical and cognitive footprints of the trauma by processing the traumatic event in the safety of therapy sessions.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder that involves recurring, intrusive thoughts , urges or images that cause distress and anxiety (obsessions). The obsessions are accompanied by repetitive behaviours and rituals (compulsions) to lessen the anxiety . Although compulsions lead to temporary relief of anxiety symptoms , they interfere with a person’s functioning and mental health. Therapy for OCD helps clients to develop tools to cope more effectively with the obsessions and compulsions by using mindfulness skills. An anxiety therapist will use exposure and response prevention (ERP) to lessen a client`s OCD symptoms.

Phobia

Phobia is an anxiety disorder which involves an intense, excessive, persistent and unrealistic fear of an object, animal, situation or activity. People with phobia experience intense anxiety when faced with their feared object and will go to extreme lengths to avoid the object of their phobia, which increases their symptoms of phobia. One of the most effective therapy approaches to treating phobias is “desensitization “therapy in which clients are gradually exposed to their object of phobia over time to reduce anxiety.

SEE A THERAPIST IF YOU HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS

  • Bodily anxiety symptoms such as heart racing, sweating, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and trembling
  • Cognitive anxiety symptoms such as overthinking, constantly thinking of worst-case scenarios, OCD symptoms, difficulty concentrating, and procrastination
  • Emotional symptoms such as moodiness, irritation, anger outbursts, hopelessness and depression

Common questions about anxiety:

Are anxiety disorders treatable ?

Yes. Anxiety disorders are in fact highly treatable with the right support. Most patients see improvements in their anxiety symptoms and lead normal lives when they receive the proper support. This includes receiving anxiety treatment through psychotherapy , lifestyle changes or medications. The combination of all of these supports is usually most helpful.

What are some common anxiety therapies ?

There are different evidence-based approaches to treating anxiety such as cognitive behavioural therapy , mindfulness-based therapy, IFS therapy and AEDP. My training in all of these approaches allows me to choose what works best for your anxiety symptoms.

Can therapy alone help me to treat my anxiety ?

Research has shown that therapy can be very effective in reducing the symptoms of anxiety. It is important to remember that changes with therapy happen gradually and there is no fast cure. It is also important to remember that anxiety therapy is most effective when combined with healthy lifestyle changes.

How common are anxiety disorders ?

Anxiety disorders are the most common types of mental disorders. If you are experiencing anxiety , you are not alone.

What happens if I don’t get anxiety treatment ?

Untreated anxiety often gets worse over time as our nervous system becomes chronically dysregulated. Untreated anxiety can also lead to depression.

What is the main cause of my anxiety ?

There is often not a single factor that causes anxiety. Anxiety disorders usually arise through a combination of current and past life events , childhood traumas, temperament , genetics and medical conditions.
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About Roya Counselling

At Roya Counselling, we are committed to providing professional, ethical, and evidence-based counselling services that prioritize your well-being. We understand that seeking therapy can be a difficult and brave decision, and we honor the trust you place in us. We have personally experienced the transformative power of therapy, and we will never take your desire for healing lightly. 

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We believe in the inherent resilience of our clients, and our stance towards our clients is non-judgmental, compassionate and curious.
We feel very privileged to hear about our clients' hopes, goals and pains and witness them slowly recovering their peace, happiness and livelihood.

Counselling Services

Anxiety

Let’s find the calm place within you together.

Depression

There is always hope, even when it is hard to see it.

Trauma

Trauma , when processed , can become a history rather than a destiny.

Relationship Counselling

Relationships, like gardens , require constant care and attention.

Grief and Loss

Grief can be profoundly painful. You can get through the pain.

Anger management

Your anger has a lot to say. Let’s listen to your anger together.

ICBC Clients

Make use of ICBC counselling sessions available to you to recover from an accident by sending your claim number.

CVAP Program

As a victim of crime, you deserve professional therapy to heal. Contact CVAP for more information.

Clinical Supervision

Develop professionally in a safe, non-judgemental and caring supervisory relationship.