Individual Therapy
Are you struggling to understand the root of your stress?
Do you feel stuck in a pattern of sadness, anger or worry?
Individual psychotherapy is a form of talk therapy that can help.
At Mind Path Therapy, the main type of therapy I practice is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an evidence-based approach aimed at helping people identify and overcome negative thought patterns and behaviours. Through CBT, clients learn to refocus their energy on things that fulfill them while developing the coping skills necessary to achieve their goals.
In addition to CBT, I incorporate principles and techniques from Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) in my practice. As the name implies, ACT is a mindfulness-based approach that helps people grow more accepting of themselves and their situations. Through ACT, clients learn to unhook from negative thinking patterns and focus on what matters in the present.
Overcoming Anxiety
It’s natural to feel anxious and afraid. As human beings, fear is built into our nervous system as a way of keeping us safe from imminent harm. In some cases, however, this ingrained “fight-flight-freeze” response can evolve into a common but serious mental health condition known as anxiety.
Anxiety looks and feels different for everyone. For some, it’s a chronic sense of worry or nervousness while for others, it’s a feeling of intense shyness or discomfort brought on by social situations. Many people with anxiety experience physiological symptoms like shortness of breath, heart palpitations, muscle tension and light-headedness.
Whatever form of anxiety you’re experiencing, there is most likely a pattern to it. CBT psychotherapy can help uncover your pattern and how it perpetuates. Most importantly, you will learn to break free of this cycle by learning how to ground yourself and respond effectively to situations and thoughts that may trigger you.
Excessive Worrying
Everyone worries from time to time. Worrying can even be helpful by prompting us to address an important or urgent problem. Excessive worrying, however, can impede our quality of life and bring about significant anxiety if left unchecked.
Beyond being repetitive and time-consuming, excessive worrying can trigger other issues like sleeplessness, irritability and frustration over being unable to “turn off” troubling thoughts. Many people who suffer from excessive worrying experience anxiety symptoms like muscle tension, gastrointestinal discomfort, and headaches.
Through CBT psychotherapy, you’ll begin to understand the root of your worry, how to challenge and change your thought patterns and how to shift your attention from negative and repetitive worrying to more constructive and practical problem-solving.
Shyness and Social Anxiety
Do you avoid speaking up at staff meetings or second-guess yourself in social situations? Does the idea of dating, meeting new people or generally “putting yourself out there” make you feel self-conscious? If these situations ring familiar, it’s possible you are suffering from social anxiety.
Social anxiety disorder is a common but highly treatable mental health condition. A CBT-trained therapist can help you learn to take the spotlight of yourself in social situations and refocus your attention on the company or conversation at hand. In time, you’ll start to feel more confident and relaxed in social situations and develop a renewed interest in making social connections.
Moving Beyond Depression
Have you lost interest in activities you once enjoyed? Do you feel tired or unmotivated regardless of how much you slept the night before? Are you struggling with constant sadness but can’t seem to figure out why? We all feel down from time to time but these symptoms suggest something bigger is going on.
Depression affects people in different ways. For many, it’s characterized by a lack of motivation or low self-confidence while others experience overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and failure. Many people with depression judge themselves harshly and feel less worthy than those around them.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms of depression, Mind Path Therapy can help. Using CBT, ACT, and mindfulness techniques, we will work together to gently challenge any negative thought patterns and behaviours that may trigger your depressed mood. This combination approach will help you overcome your depression and start you on the path towards a purposeful and meaningful life.
Low Self-Esteem and Self-Worth
You’ve tried positive affirmations but your self-esteem is low. Despite what other people say, you struggle with your self-worth and feel like an imposter most of the time. You find it hard to accept compliments and kindness from other people; deep down, you just feel flawed and unlovable.
If these traits sound all too familiar, it’s possible you’re suffering from low self-esteem or low self-worth. At Mind Path Therapy, we combine CBT, ACT, and principles from Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) to help you identify and let go of these false or self-limiting ideas. In time, you will be able to move forward with greater self-acceptance, self-compassion and a renewed connection to your values.
Healing Relationships
Relationships are fundamental to a healthy and rewarding life, but they’re not without their challenges. Mind Path Therapy can help you navigate the dynamics and complexities of your relationship(s), including the following:
Dissolution of a relationship or the loss of social connections
Feeling alienated or estranged from your spouse or partner
Struggling to set boundaries with family members, colleagues and friends
Difficulty with anger management, becoming angry with your spouse or children
Separation and/or thoughts about leaving your partner
Communication
Are you struggling to express your feelings with a loved one? Do you find it difficult to talk about sensitive issues like parenting, intimacy or finances? Do conversations with your spouse tend to devolve into arguments where neither side feels heard or respected?
Relationship counselling can help you identify your relationship needs and concerns while equipping you with the communication tools to convey yourself more effectively.
Boundaries
Are you struggling to set boundaries at work? Do you feel like people are taking advantage of you and disrespecting your time? Is a family member or friend constantly crossing the line and you can’t figure out what to do?
Setting healthy boundaries in our personal and professional lives is often easier said than done. Relationship counselling can help you identify your boundary needs and empower you with the confidence to create them.
Anger Management
We all get angry sometimes and it’s natural to feel mad or annoyed when something doesn’t go our way. But how do you know if what you’re feeling goes beyond that? If you’re having trouble controlling your anger and have heard more than once that you tend to cross the line, it could be a sign you’re struggling with anger management.
Relationship counselling can help you pinpoint your anger pattern and clarify how to deescalate from intense anger in a constructive way. Through counselling, you will learn to better express yourself so you can go about your day-to-day interactions with confidence and calm.
Lack of Intimacy and Meaningful Connection
Are you and your partner struggling to connect? Does it seem like you don’t really hear or understand one another anymore? Do you feel a lack of desire towards your partner or sense they feel a lack of desire towards you?
It’s not always easy to ask for help when it comes to romantic relationships, but getting help can make all the difference in the world. Not only will relationship counselling shed light on the patterns and dynamics that led to this point, but it will also help you communicate your needs in a healthy and constructive way.
Are You Ready to Get Started?
Asking for help isn’t always easy, but you’ve taken the first step just by being here. Call or email to see how Mind Path Therapy can help you with individual therapy on your path to positive change.
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If you’re ready to talk, I’m ready to listen.
Schedule your free 20-minute consultation today.