​PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR ANXIETY
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​Debilitating anxiety is a malfunction of the body's natural fear response, also known as the flight-freeze survival response. This system is our body's alarm system and when it is working well, it warns us of danger and helps us stay safe. Anxiety is the anticipation of bad things happening, which can be useful in assessing risks and alerting us of potential pitfalls. In problematic anxiety, this alarm system is on overdrive, past the point of being useful. The alarm blares at every turn and rather than guiding us, it causes us to panic and freeze. It tells us that there is danger when in fact there is none. Understandably, we begin to avoid the situations that cause distress, we lose the opportunity to learn that the situations are not actually dangerous, and this serves to feed the anxiety even further.  Left unchecked in this way, anxiety can build until it becomes seemingly insurmountable. Our lives shrink as we continue to avoid in a desperate attempt to manage. 

However, anxiety can be conquered. We can challenge the anxious thoughts and develop a structured plan to address any avoidance that may be occurring. We need to change our views and our behaviours in order to gain mastery over our fears. 

Anxiety can also be secondary to other underlying emotions. Although on the surface, we experience anxiety, underneath there may be other emotions. When we allow ourselves to acknowledge and express all of our emotions, the anxiety can dissipate.

As a therapist with experience in this area, I can help you in your path towards recovery from anxiety. 

Please contact me by phone or email to schedule an appointment. I am now accepting new clients in Richmond Hill. ​

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