Depression & Anxiety Counselling in Vaughan
According to Statistics Canada, the COVID pandemic has greatly impacted the mental health of Canadians 18 years and older. One in five Canadians struggles with depression, anxiety and/or other mental health issues in addition to others who struggle with various daily stressors. At the Pain and Wellness Centre, our experienced psychotherapists address problems that impact people’s ability to cope with daily stressors, interact positively with their environment, and to enjoy their lives, all with the goal to help them achieve a more positive sense of well being and positive mental health.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Depression and anxiety can manifest itself in a number of ways. It can have a huge impact on your attitude, outlook on life, and physical health. Symptoms can be persistent or intermittent and mild to severe.
Symptoms can include:
- Indecisiveness
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Sleep disturbance
- Fatigue
- Crying episodes
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Feeling unmotivated
- Lack of productivity
- Loss of interest in daily activities that used to be enjoyable
- Low self-esteem
- Increased irritability
- Excessive worrying
- Feeling easily overwhelmed
- Hopelessness
- Helplessness
- Social isolation or withdrawal
- Restlessness/agitation
- Poor focus/concentration
Benefits of Counselling for Depression and Anxiety
Psychotherapy for depression and anxiety can be extremely effective in reducing symptoms that interfere in a person’s quality of life or ability to engage in daily activities. Research has shown that psychotherapy can be more effective in treating depression and anxiety than with treatment using medication alone.
At the Pain and Wellness Centre, our psychotherapists have extensive experience in supporting patients on their journey towards optimal recovery. We also have the flexibility to offer other integrative services, if needed, to support to complement the counselling services and improve overall well being. Treatment goals for depression and anxiety can include:
- Identifying triggers and learning effective coping strategies to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression and daily stressors;
- Providing a safe, non-judgemental and supportive environment to express and process emotional distress and work towards overcoming it;
- Repairing and building healthy relationships;
- Gaining new perspectives on the challenges in your life;
- Enhancing self-esteem, sense of purpose and establish goals;
- Creating opportunities for feeling more joy, inner peace and fulfilment;
- Developing an improved sense of well being and quality of life
We know that each client’s case is different, and everyone has different goals when it comes to mental health. Our tailored approach to mental health counselling means that we can help you reach your own personal goals in a way that makes sense for you and your personal challenges.
Therapy and Counselling for Anxiety and Depression in Vaughan
The first session of psychotherapy is to gather pertinent information that will help the psychotherapist have a better understanding of your situation and needs and to work together to formulate your treatment goals.
Our psychotherapists at the Pain and Wellness Centre use several evidence-based treatment approaches, and we tailor our treatment according to the needs of our clients, their situations, and goals. This means that at times, we combine elements from different treatment approaches to create customized strategies that work for a particular client. For example, we use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and reframing negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that keep you from feeling better about yourself and your life. Working collaboratively with your psychotherapist, you can find new ways of looking at issues that can give you a greater sense of control, get a better understanding of yourself, and develop more adaptive strategies to cope with negative thoughts/feelings and situations in your life. Other treatment approaches include learning to accept certain feelings/thoughts without struggling against them, setting value-based goals, learning to be more mindful and present, and strategies to improve on sleep and physical activity.
FAQs
Does insurance cover mental health counselling?
The financial cost of psychotherapy can be covered partially or wholly through extended health benefits if psychology/psychotherapy is part of your plan. Other ways to manage the cost of psychotherapy is to assess whether or not you can establish a budget for it and if so, let the psychotherapist know your budget to determine how many sessions can be accommodated. This will also determine the focus of therapy if sessions are limited due to funding restrictions.
Who can seek counselling for depression and anxiety?
Our psychotherapists are trained to provide counselling to people with a variety of mental health issues, and life struggles, including but not limited to: depression, anxiety, obsessive and/or compulsive thoughts/behaviours, post-traumatic stress, adjustment difficulties following a car or work accident, driving fear or other phobias, relationship difficulties, job troubles or job loss, chronic illness or chronic pain, problems with alcohol or drugs use, bereavement, difficulty managing various stressors in their life, and feeling lost about who they are or their life goals.
You do not need a referral from your family doctor in order to seek psychotherapeutic support at our clinic.
How many visits do I need?
At The Pain and Wellness Centre, our first session focuses on understanding your issues and problems by asking a number of questions. Working collaboratively, we identify treatment goals and the number of sessions required to help reach your goals. This can vary anywhere from four to sixteen sessions, depending on the nature and severity of symptoms or problems. Our treatment plans are tailored to the problems and needs presented by our clients.