Do you struggle with worries that are stuck on repeat in your mind?
Do you find your mind racing or your heart pounding and have trouble calming down?
Do you tend to avoid situations where you are afraid you might panic and embarrass yourself?
Struggling with anxiety can cause us to feel robbed of our freedom. You may find yourself stuck at home, afraid to socialize with friends for fear you might say the wrong thing, or look stupid in front of someone you want to impress. You may notice that you stay silent instead of sharing your opinions and thoughts for fear your ideas won’t fit in with what your friends are saying. How often do you get together with friends or family and then afterwards find you are kicking yourself for not speaking up and sharing your thoughts?
Anxiety isn’t just in the thoughts in your mind. Anxiety shows up in the body in really uncomfortable ways. Many people with anxiety feel like they are stuck in a swirl of nervousness, sweating, heart pounding, chest tightening panic. Anxiety can cause you to be sick to your stomach, have the shakes, or feel like your throat is closing and you can’t breathe. The body feelings of anxiety sometimes take people to the Emergency Room fearing they are having a heart attack.
Anxiety and Your Sense of Self
Anxiety can feel overwhelming and all consuming. It can feel like you’ll never have peace of mind again and that you’ll never get away from past mistakes. Anxiety can make it difficult to have confidence to truly do what you want and share with others who you really are.
You are not alone if you experience anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges. The pressures of trying to get ahead in this world, trying to exceed in your career, earn enough to live comfortably and do all the things you want to do in this life are overwhelming. There are huge demands everywhere you turn that make you question, “What if I’m not doing it right?”, “How am I going to make it all work?” “What happens if I lose my job?” “What if I let my family down?”
Through Social Media we are bombarded with images of people living their best lives, while we struggle and sweat and feel like we are being left behind. Comparing ourselves to others often makes us feel like we just aren’t doing well enough and this causes us to spin in “what if I can’t fit in” thoughts.
Research shows that one in four Canadians report having mental health challenges. Among people with mental health challenges it has been shown that 80% have anxiety. Struggling with worries and anxiety is very common in our society. A percentage of people with anxiety also experience panic attacks where the physical symptoms of anxiety in the body take over and cause a number of frightening sensations in the body.
Fitting in is tough.
Many people feel like they’re being left behind while others look like they have it all. High expectations are everywhere and it feels normal to struggle and blame yourself for not being somehow good enough. Our society sets high standards that can seem like you can never tick off all the boxes of how to be accepted in this world and this feeling often causes worry and panic.
The good news is that anxiety doesn’t have to take over your life and keep you feeling stuck, panicked and miserable. Counselling can help you manage anxiety and strengthen how you feel about yourself so you feel more confident to tackle life’s demands. Counselling offers new tools for moving forward and lessening the negative impact of anxiety on your life.
What We Believe About Counselling
At Transforming Tides Counselling we believe the client is at the center of our work together and everything we do as therapists is designed to support and strengthen the resilience of each client we work with. Our counsellors are first and foremost compassionate. We have all been there, and we know how hard it can be to talk with a stranger and try new things when you are already feeling overwhelmed.
We believe we are there to guide and support you by using a variety of approaches, tools and strategies to help you find the way to minimize your distress and strengthen your confidence and ability to move forward.
Treatment Approaches
At Transforming Tides Counselling we offer anxiety treatment and counselling using approaches that have been researched and shown to make a difference in people’s lives. The main treatment approaches we use are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of therapy that helps you be mindfully present in the moment and accept the difficult thoughts and feelings that are happening to you without judging and criticizing them. ACT helps you move through difficult moments where difficult thoughts and feelings are present so that you can put your energy into strengthening, healing and living the life you want, rather than being stuck in the negative thoughts, feelings and struggles.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps you become aware of the thoughts you are having and how they cause upsetting emotions. CBT helps you see how thoughts can be distorted and it helps you change your thoughts and not be stuck in problem habits or behaviours that may encourage negative emotions.
Counselling Sessions
Counselling Sessions are helpful for people struggling with anxiety and who feel stuck in worries. The conversations you have with your therapist will help you find ways to calm difficult emotions and help you move through times of fear and worry so that you can focus on what really matters to you in life. Counselling helps people feel like they can breathe again and can build the confidence they need to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Sessions at Transforming Tides Counselling are approximately 50 minutes in length. Sessions can be in person in Truro, Nova Scotia or through a video link from anywhere in Nova Scotia.
When you begin working with one of our therapists you will discuss how we carefully protect your privacy and confidentiality, and we will explain the limits of confidentiality that we are legally and ethically bound to uphold.
We will talk with you about your struggles and explore how these struggles are impacting you and how they are holding you back from living the life you most want. We will offer skills, tips and strategies that help you lessen the impact of your symptoms, and that help you move beyond the struggles that are holding you back.
Can I bring a Support Person with me to my counselling session?
You are welcome to bring a support person with you to your first session. Clients who are youth are most welcome to bring a parent or guardian along in the first session. This support person can help explain the struggles you as the client are facing and talk about the picture of health they most want for you to grow into.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
The number of sessions you may need varies with every client, and it depends on many factors. Some people who come for counselling only want to focus on learning strategies to feel better quickly. Other clients want to go deeper and work on how they feel about themselves, and perhaps address painful parts of their history that have been bothering them for a long time. Whatever the case, our therapists will discuss a plan with you for the length of time you may work together.
Fitting in is tough.
Many people feel like they’re being left behind while others look like they have it all. High expectations are everywhere and it feels normal to struggle and blame yourself for not being somehow good enough. Our society sets high standards that can seem like you can never tick off all the boxes of how to be accepted in this world and this feeling often causes worry and panic.
The good news is that anxiety doesn’t have to take over your life and keep you feeling stuck, panicked and miserable. Counselling can help you manage anxiety and strengthen how you feel about yourself so you feel more confident to tackle life’s demands. Counselling offers new tools for moving forward and lessening the negative impact of anxiety on your life.
What We Believe About Counselling
At Transforming Tides Counselling we believe the client is at the center of our work together and everything we do as therapists is designed to support and strengthen the resilience of each client we work with. Our counsellors are first and foremost compassionate. We have all been there, and we know how hard it can be to talk with a stranger and try new things when you are already feeling overwhelmed.
We believe we are there to guide and support you by using a variety of approaches, tools and strategies to help you find the way to minimize your distress and strengthen your confidence and ability to move forward.
Treatment Approaches
At Transforming Tides Counselling we offer anxiety treatment and counselling using approaches that have been researched and shown to make a difference in people’s lives. The main treatment approaches we use are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of therapy that helps you be mindfully present in the moment and accept the difficult thoughts and feelings that are happening to you without judging and criticizing them. ACT helps you move through difficult moments where difficult thoughts and feelings are present so that you can put your energy into strengthening, healing and living the life you want, rather than being stuck in the negative thoughts, feelings and struggles.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps you become aware of the thoughts you are having and how they cause upsetting emotions. CBT helps you see how thoughts can be distorted and it helps you change your thoughts and not be stuck in problem habits or behaviours that may encourage negative emotions.
Counselling Sessions
Counselling Sessions are helpful for people struggling with anxiety and who feel stuck in worries. The conversations you have with your therapist will help you find ways to calm difficult emotions and help you move through times of fear and worry so that you can focus on what really matters to you in life. Counselling helps people feel like they can breathe again and can build the confidence they need to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Sessions at Transforming Tides Counselling are approximately 50 minutes in length. Sessions can be in person in Truro, Nova Scotia or through a video link from anywhere in Nova Scotia.
When you begin working with one of our therapists you will discuss how we carefully protect your privacy and confidentiality, and we will explain the limits of confidentiality that we are legally and ethically bound to uphold.
We will talk with you about your struggles and explore how these struggles are impacting you and how they are holding you back from living the life you most want. We will offer skills, tips and strategies that help you lessen the impact of your symptoms, and that help you move beyond the struggles that are holding you back.
Can I bring a Support Person with me to my counselling session?
You are welcome to bring a support person with you to your first session. Clients who are youth are most welcome to bring a parent or guardian along in the first session. This support person can help explain the struggles you as the client are facing and talk about the picture of health they most want for you to grow into.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
The number of sessions you may need varies with every client, and it depends on many factors. Some people who come for counselling only want to focus on learning strategies to feel better quickly. Other clients want to go deeper and work on how they feel about themselves, and perhaps address painful parts of their history that have been bothering them for a long time. Whatever the case, our therapists will discuss a plan with you for the length of time you may work together.
With well over twenty years of experience in the field of Social Work, Psychotherapy and Counselling, our therapists have countless examples of how their work has helped clients and changed lives in their communities. We have seen first hand how our work has moved clients from being stuck and isolated in emotional pain to living productive, confident and meaningful lives.
With our lived experience and through training in anti-oppressive, trauma informed and client centered practice we bring a holistic understanding of the struggles people face in everyday life. We know that our clients have experiences beyond that of their mental health that impact their sense of self and their identity within their communities. This understanding helps us support our clients comprehensively and advocate for wellness within the broader community.
Counseling Works
Counselling works when clients are committed to the process of learning and putting into practice the tools and techniques their therapist shares with them. When clients take time to reflect in a safe space and work through difficult thoughts and situations in their lives they experience a profound sense of renewal. Using the support of an experienced therapist is an opportunity to be open to new perspectives that are free of the judgment many of us carry around with us every day.
Working with a therapist that chooses techniques that fit your unique situation and circumstances is a real way to make change in your life. When clients work with the therapists at Transforming Tides Counselling they tell us they feel like they matter and they feel cared for no matter what they share or what difficult circumstances they have experienced in the past.
Common Questions
What if I can’t get time off work to come for counselling?
No problem. At Transforming Tides Counselling we offer evening and weekend sessions. We work hard to offer you appointment times that work for you and your lifestyle. We also offer appointments over video so that you can attend a counselling session without travelling to a location that may not be convenient for you.
What if I’m asked to talk about my childhood and I’m not comfortable with that?
At Transforming Tides Counselling our therapists support you where you are at. They walk with you on your journey of strengthening and healing by appreciating what is most important to you. They work with whatever you give them. They won’t push you to work with areas of your life that you aren’t ready or interested in working with. Doing counselling is your time, it is for you and led by you.
What if I went to counselling before and didn’t have a good experience with my therapist.
Feeling a fit with the therapist you chose is important for creating a safe and comfortable space. We know that you need to feel connected to your therapist and know that they get you, and have your best interests at heart. We have a variety of therapists at Transforming Tides Counselling and we can move you to a different therapist if you don’t feel a fit with the first therapist you meet.
Have questions or are interested in exploring counselling with Transforming Tides Counselling?
Click this link to book a free twenty minute phone consultation. In this consultation you can start to get to know your therapist and explore what working with them would be like.
