Counselling services

Anxiety Counselling

If you are struggling with the pain of anxiety, we would like to help you with our counselling services. Anxiety is
treatable, and seeking help as soon as possible allows you the greatest chance for recovery.

 

Reach out to us to book a session today.

What is Anxiety Counselling?

Anxiety counselling helps people overcome the experience of many forms of anxiety.

Anxiety is normal-it’s something everyone experiences at times. It’s also adaptive. Anxiety is the body’s way of helping you deal with real danger (like allowing you to jump out of the way of a speeding car) or perform at your best (like motivating you to prepare for a big presentation).

If your anxiety response is incongruent to the threat at hand, you may be dealing with anxiety that isn’t normal or healthy. Trust yourself. If it feels wrong, it is-and that’s the best time to seek help.

Common Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can cause numerous symptoms in your heart, mind, and body as it prepares for danger. These sensations are called the fight or flight response, and it happens when the body’s natural alarm system is activated to keep your body safe from a real or perceived threat.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of anxiety include:

The Different Types of Anxiety Disorders

If depression is a sadness disorder, then anxiety is a fear disorder. It’s characterized by being overcome by overwhelming feelings of fear, feeling unsafe, and being out of control in a world that lacks complete safety. 

There are many different types of anxiety disorders:

General Anxiety Disorder

General anxiety disorder (GAD) occurs when an individual is worried about everyday life events for no reason. People with symptoms of GAD tend to expect the worst—that some catastrophe will happen regarding their health, money, kids, family, work, or activities.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by an excessive fear of the bodily sensations associated with panic. Panic attacks occur unexpectedly and surprise people with symptoms like a racing heart and hyperventilation, which is what tends to be so upsetting. There is often no real danger, which can make panic attacks seem strange.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety is used to describe anxiety that occurs in response to connection with others or a fear of being in front of others. It may occur when you’re in a situation with another person or even thinking about going to a party, attending a job interview, or walking around on the street. 

Phobias

Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder that cause an individual to experience extreme irrational fear about a situation, place, or object with which they have a deep sense of terror. This often causes panic attacks.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder that occurs when individuals have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as:

With PTSD, these traumatic experiences get trapped in the memory networks. When our ‘threat system’ is active, the hippocampus doesn’t work so well. It can forget to bring those memories forward in time, which means they are sometimes stored incorrectly. When we remember them, it can feel like they are happening again. 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder with an underlying cause of traumatic, unprocessed memories. 

are unwanted, uncomfortable, and intrusive thoughts, images, emotions, or urges that trigger intensely troubling feelings. 

are behaviours that an individual participates in to try to decrease distress.

This becomes a vicious cycle of obsessions and compulsions.

How Does Counselling Help with Anxiety?

Therapy for anxiety can help to calm your nervous system, giving your body a coping strategy and reassuring you that you won’t break down from the perceived threat. 

Many people don’t recognize their anxiety for what it is and instead think there is something “wrong” with them.

When Should You Get Help for Anxiety?

When you feel that it’s time to reach out, that’s when you should get help.

You know when you’re struggling. Recognizing anxious behaviours that make you uncomfortable and finding ways to manage those situations differently can help you be in control of your anxiety, rather than letting it control you.

Our Approach to Anxiety Counselling

Our therapists, based in Calgary, Alberta, have years of experience and expertise in providing counselling sessions and psychological services to treat anxiety.

Methods include:

We’ll also consult with your doctor if you’d like. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, or beta-blockers to help manage anxiety symptoms.

Get in touch with us today to book your first anxiety counselling session. 

Begin Your Anxiety Recovery Journey Today

Recognizing the physical symptoms of anxiety is the first step towards changing them.

Ask yourself:

This begins your road to recovery.

Book an Appointment for Anxiety Counselling

Our Anxiety Counselling is led by highly-trained registered psychologists from our office in Calgary, Alberta.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anxiety and depression are both negative emotional states that can be accompanied by a range of negative body reactions, thoughts, and behaviours.

 

  • Sadness is the main characteristic of major depression
  • Fear and worry are the main characteristics of anxiety

Both states are nervous system conditions. Depression is experienced as hypo-arousal whereas anxiety is experienced as hyper-arousal.

Mental illness is similar to physical illness in that there are symptoms, a history, triggers, and ways to make it better. Anxiety is no different. During times of stress, most people experience some level of anxiety. But it’s curable, and that’s why it’s so important to get help.
Yes, anxiety can come on suddenly. But it can also be low-grade, ongoing hyperactivity of your nervous system that you just can’t shake. Many people with anxiety disorder experience feelings of fear, dread, and trying to feel safe. Discomfort from anticipatory anxiety is also common.
It’s common for many people suffering from an anxiety disorder to go years without a proper diagnosis. Our psychologists have extensive experience and can help you with a diagnosis and treatment plan to support your unique needs and create long-lasting results. You do not need a referral from a family physician to receive a diagnosis for anxiety.
Yes! Anxiety isn’t a lifelong sentence—it can be treated so that you are free of the often debilitating symptoms. Get in touch with us to book your first session and start your journey to better mental health.
The length of treatment varies depending on the individual. Factors include what you’ve been through and your timing and pace for healing. Psychological healing isn’t so different from physical healing. The heart, mind, and body know their timing and it’s important to honour this.