Vancouver Couselling Services provides counselling services in the following areas:
Chronic Pain- is pain that persists for months or years despite the healing of the initial injury or physical problem. It is understood as a "sensitization feedback loop" that nerves become stuck in. Living with chronic pain often causes secondary problems such as depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, relationship problems and stress. EMDR, hypnosis and relaxation can help to "turn off" nerve systems that are "stuck on" and help to decrease secondary pain symptoms. Contact for a free consultation.
Anxiety- is a state of nervousness or dread ranging from generalized fear to phobias. It is caused by a PERCEIVED threat, that may or may not be irrational (i.e. going outside). Symptoms of anxiety can include: nervousness, jitters, difficulty sleeping, constant worry, heart palpitations, overwhelming feelings of dread, and depression. Anxiety can be successfully treated with cognitive/behavioural therapy, EMDR and medications. Contact for a free consultation.
Depression – is a state of lethargy and hopelessness that is ongoing and often seems unrelated to a cause. Symptoms of depression can include: lack of enjoyment in things that were previously enjoyable, excessive or difficult sleep, irritability, change in appetite, feelings of hopelessness and detachment, negative thoughts about self/future/world, lack of energy, suicidal feelings. Depression can be successfully treated with psychotherapy and medications. Contact for a free consultation.
Grief – is a natural process of adjusting to the loss or ending of anything of value in life. Grief often takes months or years to complete itself and typically includes a period of numbness, sadness, anger and remembering. Complicated grief occurs when the person grieving becomes stalled or traumatizing. Symptoms of complicated grief include depression, severe anxiety, dissociation, impaired functioning in life, lack of resolution of the grief process. Grief can be treated successfully with psychotherapy, EMDR and group therapies. Contact for a free consultation.
PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a set of symptoms resulting from being exposed to an event or events which overwhelms normal coping strategies. Traumas can range from single events (car accident) to ongoing events (childhood abuse/ neglect). Symptoms can include: intrusive memories of the event, nightmares, avoidance of anything associated with the trauma, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, rages, substance abuse, jumpiness, suicidal thoughts. PTSD is successfully treated with EMDR, psychotherapy, group therapy and medications. Contact for a free consultation.
Low self-esteem – often results from receiving on-going negative messages about self-worth and value, such as from verbal or physical abuse or neglect. Symptoms of low-self esteem include: self-criticism, hopelessness, lack of risk taking, anxiety, passivity, angry outbursts, lack of self-care, feeling like a “doormat”. Low self-esteem can be successfully treated with psychotherapy, interpersonal skill building, and assertiveness training. Contact for a free consultation.
Stress – occurs when personal coping resources are depleted by overwhelming life events. Symptoms include fatigue, irritability, crying, sleep difficulties, low immune system, lack of humour or enjoyment, substance use, over-eating, feeling overwhelmed, anxious, angry or depressed. Often during times of stress, people revert back to old patterns of behaviour. Stress can be treated successfully with therapy which includes relaxation and resource building. Call for a free consultation
Addiction – defined as the continued use of a substance despite recognizing that it is causing problems in life. Symptoms of substance dependence are: increased tolerance, withdrawal when not using it, unsuccessful efforts to cut down, a great deal of time and effort spent on activities related to it, and other aspects or opportunities in life given up for it. Symptoms of substance abuse are: failure to fulfill obligations at work, school or home (i.e. absenteeism, suspension, neglect), use of substance in situations that are physically dangerous (i.e. operating machinery), recurrent substance related legal problems, continued use despite persistent social or interpersonal problems related to substance use. Addiction can be successfully treated with group therapies, EMDR, and psychotherapy. Contact for a free consultation.
Relationship problems – range widely from common disagreement to abuse. Signs of problems in a relationship include: lack of communication, feeling disrespect or mistrust for other, keeping significant secrets, lack of intimacy, feeling powerless (over money, friends, decisions, etc.), feeling lonely in the relationship, engaging in extramarital sexual interactions, persistent anger toward partner, sexual problems, verbal abuse, physical abuse, in-law problems. Relationship problems can be successfully treated with couples/marital therapy. Contact for a free consultation.
Adolescence issues - the developmental imperative during adolescence is to achieve full individuation from caregivers, thereby entering into adulthood. This shows itself in typical teenage behaviours such as questioning authority, risk-taking, craving autonomy and increased responsibility. At the same time, adolescents are still developing physically, morally and socially. Although they feel invincible, teens are particularly vulnerable to traumas, addictions and unhealthy behaviours. If these occur without remediation, the developmental process may become delayed, leading to decreased autonomy and responsibility. Starting counselling at this age can provide the teen a foundation of honest self-reflection, added resources and strategies, and the experience of connecting with a neutral, safe adult. Contact for a free consultation.