Addiction
An addiction is a loss of control over substance use. It is a behavior that is motivated by emotions that range from cravings to compulsions. The addictive behavior continues despite its negative consequences. An addiction can be a psychological and/or physiological dependence. A Brief Treatment of Addicitons program (5 sessions) is also offered.
Counselling is an opportunity to feel listened to, understood and supported within a professional, safe and confidential environment.
Anxiety: involves a combination of emotions that include fear, apprehension, and worry.
Some symptoms include:
a) physical sensations such as heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, or tension
headache.
b) chronic anxiety, worry, and apprehensiveness about a variety of life circumstances.
c) having great difficulty pushing unnecessary worries aside and eventually becomes very fatigued and
unfocussed.
Depression: is a state of intense sadness, melancholy or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living.
Some symptoms include:
a) an inability to enjoy things that use to provide pleasure such as hobbies, work, family, food.
b) feelings of being run-down, exhausted, drained.
c) increase or decrease in sleep, appetite, and sexual interest.
d) exaggerated feelings of low self-esteem, inadequacy, and failure.
Trauma: Post-Traumatic Stress is an emotional condition that develops after a severe trauma such as combat, assault, serious accidents, natural catastrophes.
Some symptoms include:
a) re-experiencing the traumatic event in disturbing dreams, intrusive thoughts or images, flashbacks, or reenactments of the trauma. Reminders of the event through certain smells, dates, situations may trigger intense anxiety and physical distress.
b) avoidance of situations, thoughts, feelings, or activities related to the event. Important parts of the actual trauma may not be remembered.
c) a sense of detachment, estrangement, and emotional numbing is common. Pessimism about the future is common. Emotions and feelings may become restricted, particularly those involving love, intimacy, and sexuality.
Anger management: the term anger management refers to therapeutic techniques and exercises by which someone with excessive or uncontrollable anger can control or reduce the triggers and effects of anger. This program lasts usually 10 weeks.
Chronic Illness: counseling is offered to individuals and/or their loved ones during time of chronic or life limiting illness. Some issues addressed are one’s sense of loss, feelings of fear, anxiety, hope, sadness and guilt.
Grief and Loss: grief is a multifaceted but normal and natural reaction to either physical loss (death of a loved one) or social loss(divorce). Emotional symptoms can be anxiety, guilt, despair, sadness and physical symptoms can be sleeping problems, appetite changes, or illness. Although each individuals coping style is unique, some stages of grief are commonly experienced such as numbness, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
Couples Counseling: conflict is a common part of a couple’s life. Useful
techniques and strategies focusing on communication, interaction styles,
intimacy issues and emotional blocks will help couples regain their
closeness, trust, satisfaction and happiness.
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