Specialties
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” —Robert Louis Stevenson
Treatment Areas of Expertise include:
- Men’s Issues (Current statistics on depression and rates of suicide are higher in males).
- ADHD
- Anxiety Disorders (Panic disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Social Anxiety.
- Anger Management
- Fears
- Career Counseling
- Depression
I tend to draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help you resolve your challenges.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (or ACT for short) emphasizes mindfulness and acceptance as crucial tools in dealing with burnout. Mindfulness helps you become aware of the present moment without judgment, allowing you to better understand your thoughts and emotions. Acceptance teaches you to acknowledge and embrace difficult feelings rather than resisting or suppressing them. This can be particularly helpful when dealing with workplace stressors.
Set Meaningful Goals:
In ACT, setting goals that align with your values is essential. Instead of focusing solely on external achievements, consider what truly matters to you in your career. Your goals should reflect your values and guide your actions. For example, if personal growth is a value, set a goal to acquire new skills or take on challenging projects.
Take Committed Actions:
The ‘C’ in ACT stands for commitment. Once you’ve identified your values and set meaningful goals, it’s time to take committed actions. This involves making choices and decisions that are in line with your values, even when faced with adversity. By doing so, you regain a sense of control and purpose in your work, making burnout less likely to take hold.
Information on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to anxiety and other mental health conditions. This approach has been shown to be effective in the treatment of panic disorder, helping individuals to identify and challenge the thoughts and beliefs that trigger panic attacks.
If you are struggling with panic disorder in Ottawa, or across Ontario it is important to seek professional help. I am skilled at providing a sensitive and effective treatment for this condition. I can offer you the support and guidance you need to overcome your symptoms and improve your overall quality of life and treatment using Cognitive Behavioural therapy.
In addition to seeking professional help, there are also many self-help strategies that can be effective in managing mental health disorders. These may include practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and plenty of rest.
Small Acts of Bravery Can have a huge impact on your well-being.
Try doing something that makes you anxious, even in a small way. For example, if public speaking makes you anxious, put together a small presentation for your friends or family. Success with small acts of bravery can help you manage your anxious feelings for bigger acts of bravery.
Avoiding anxiety triggers can make you feel better in the short term, but it can make you more anxious in the long term. Another idea: Speak with a stranger, let them know you don’t usually do this.
Behaviour Activation (Could it be this simple?)
“Action precedes emotion??!’
We often wait to feel better or more motivated before doing something.
Remember that anxiety and depression come from parts of our brain that are really trying to protect us by getting us to avoid or isolate. This means that as long as we are following the lead of the anxiety and depression, we will continue to feel less motivated and want to avoid and isolate. activating changes our brain state and can make us feel better, right away. For example, exercise can produce “good chemicals” in the brain that lift mood while they are in the bloodstream. Secondly, the more that we activate, the more situations we find ourselves in that can give us positive experiences.
