ANXIETY
Everyone feels anxious sometimes. In fact, the COVID19 pandemic has triggered anxiety for many people who may have never struggled with anxiety before. So, whether recent or ongoing anxiety (anxious feelings, nervousness, being on edge, or constant worries) becomes too much, I’m here to help.
I will help you relieve your anxiety first by actively listening in aa safe space. Then, I will create with you a step-by-step approach to feeling better. I use a combination of strategies from evidence-based modalities (such as CBT, DBT, ACT, Mindfulness, and exposure therapy) to ultimately build your confidence, and restore inner peace and happiness.
DEPRESSION
Living with depression can lead to predicting an unhappy self. Everyone feels down sometimes. However, when this feeling doesn’t leave or change into other pleasant feelings it may be an opportunity to reach out for support.
Perhaps, you have heard of living in a “Black Cloud” or having a “Black Dog or Shadow” follow you everywhere. If this sounds like you, I can help.
Depression can look differently for everyone. Others may not understand why you have these feelings.
So, why go through the trouble with starting therapy?
The World Health Organization created a video to help explain depression.
How Therapy Helps
At Cherish’s Oasis Counselling, therapists are highly trained to infuse your therapy sessions with evidence based research of helpful interventions that go beyond simple “talk therapy.”
Particularly, 1) Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, (CBT), 2) Dialetical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) , 3) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), 4) Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and (MBCT)/Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) modalities of treatment are most effective (in conjunction with medication) in decreasing symptoms of depression.
It is time to get back to your true self and start living your life again.
“We are not the survival of the fittest.
We are the survival of the nurtured.”
— Louis Cozolino
RELATIONSHIP ISSUES
Unhealthy or toxic intimate relationships can aggravate depression & anxiety and heighten our stress levels…
After hearing from numerous clients about their self reported insecure attachment styles and sharing their results from random quizzes found online, I knew that I needed to better understand this dynamic. To do this, I went back to the rudimentary infant and caregiver studies to understand how we seek emotional safety and form emotional bonds. To locate the most credible source to undergo further training, I looked up John Bowlby (founder of Attachment Theory) and Mary Ainsworth (Strange Situation and Adult Attachment relations) training facilities. Mary Ainsworth contribution to UC Berkley and her intern, Mary Maine led me to sign up for a course directly offered by UC Berkley.
In July 2021, I completed an intensive certificate in Attachment at an Attachment-Based Institute (Centre for Attachment Research) through UC Berkley with New York, New School Trainers Dr. Howard and Miriam Steele. (Note: my reliability portion is pending)
This training provided me with expertise in conducting Adult Attachment Interviews. The purpose of these (AAIs) is to help you identify intergenerational attachment patterns and internal models being used. Furthermore, completing this assessment (AAI) can provide a clearer pathway for attachment based therapy to support insecure attachment category to earned secure attachment. What this means in your series of attachment based therapy sessions we will discuss other self reports to discuss attachment styles and concepts from emotions focused therapy to understand relationship conflicts and ruptures. The main attachment styles are: anxious/preoccupied, dismissive, unresolved loss/trauma, or secure.
The good news of course is that just because you suspect you have an insecure attachment based and perhaps had a difficult childhood in regards to what type of love was modelled to you as a child, you do have the opportunity to develop an “earned” secure attachment.
This is why I am so passionate to work with attachment!
In the meantime, I provide support and stress management for various relationship issues such as:
· Dating with value clarity and confidence (online or in-person)
· Navigating an unhappy relationship
· Adaptively “letting go” and moving on after a breakup
Here are the top 15 concerns/questions brought to me by my clients in our counselling sessions.
Sound familiar?
1. Why do I keep dating the same abusive person?
2. Why am I tempted to cheat?
3. Why do I verbally abuse my partner whom I love?
4. Why do I feel alone?
5. Why am I scared deep down to date?
6. I feel so numb and cannot connect emotionally with my partner.
7. How do I know I am in love?
8. I always get ghosted.
9. I am afraid of being abandoned.
10. What is emotional abuse exactly?
11. I lose myself in romantic relationships.
12. I’m divorced and unsure if I can EVER date again.
13. I don’t feel confident with my sexuality.
14. I have been struggling with sexual shame.
15. I am afraid my relationship is codependent.
Sometimes, relationship issues don't get better with time.
Click here to book a free consultation with me today.
SELF ESTEEM & CONFIDENCE
“Sometimes I like myself, and other times not so much. Does that mean I have low self-esteem?”
"Everybody thinks I’m great but me."
Low Self-esteem can seriously impair your ability to love and accept yourself. We need a healthy sense of self in order to have a wonderful quality of life – filled with all the things we want deep down.
I will help you by using an approach that emphasizes shame resilience work (coined by Brene Brown) and compassion-focused therapy to support you in this meaningful commitment to yourself.
LIFE TRANSITIONS
Some common worries shared by clients:
-“I just graduated from college/university and I feel lost…”
-“I just left Canada and I am feeling homesick…”
-“I think I want to quit my job…”
-“I feel guilty to move back into my parents house…”
Contact me today to learn about how you can learn more about how I can help you feel more in control of your life. You don’t have to go through this alone.