Individual Counselling

People come to counselling for a variety of issues. Whether you are struggling in a relationship, having difficulty being happy and aren’t sure why, or going through a life transition, we often feel better when we get support. Sharing difficult feelings with a therapist in a safe and comfortable setting can alleviate stress and improve quality of life.

Another reason people contact a therapist is because they have thoughts that they find upsetting and are affecting their feelings about themselves and the people around them. Talking to a therapist can help you identify your thoughts and explore your options if you decide that your life that isn’t in line with the goals and values you have for yourself. You may discover that you need to make a work/life balance change, shift the dynamics in your couple relationship, or set boundaries with family or friends.

Sometimes people also discover that they get very upset and have strong feelings when situations happen, and would like to know more about why they end up feeling so sad or possibly insecure about themselves. I can help you define your thoughts and feelings, and how you can understand why you react with such strong emotions when situations happen. Having a better understanding of why you think and feel the way you do can lead to feeling less reactive and more in control, introducing a more mindful and purposeful way of being.

At times most people struggle with depressed or anxious thinking. You may feel that it’s time to reach out and start coming to counselling when the way you think and react to life situations begins to interfere with what you want in your life. Depressed and anxious thinking can interfere with our relationships, employment, and our daily functioning. Often when our mood is low we can’t sleep or sleep too much, our appetite changes, we are disinterested in things we used to be passionate about and we tend to isolate ourselves. You can develop skills and begin to become aware of the patterns you may have in the way you think and react to events.

Some examples of why people seek individual counselling are:

I’ve been feeling sad, can’t put my finger on why. I’m having a hard time sleeping, not hungry, and just not interested in things that I usually care about. Sometimes I can’t get out of bed in the morning and I’m missing work, this has really begun to affect my life.

I’m worrying so much and want someone to help me stop all of the negative thoughts. It’s begun to interfere with everything. I’m avoiding situations because I don’t think I can handle them, I’m exhausted from worrying and I just want it to stop.

I’m thinking about leaving my relationship, or have just ended my long term relationship. I think my friends and family are sick of hearing me talk about how sad and scared I am. I would like to come in and talk to someone that isn’t in my personal life.

Areas of Individual Counselling Specialty are:

• Anxiety and depression
• Recovery from abuse and trauma
• Grief and Loss
• Separation and divorce recovery
• Communication skills
• Building and managing healthy relationships
• Stress management
• Self-esteem issues