Anxiety Therapists in Kitchener, ON

I support individuals with depression, anxiety , relationships, disabilities, and overall health. I have over 21 years experience within the mental health sector providing support and counselling to those with a wide range of challenges.

I understand and admire the courage it takes to reach out for support and am committed to respecting your time, effort, and trust. Our work together will be based upon transformational approaches that get to the root of the symptoms and concerns you are experiencing so that lasting change becomes possible. I believe our symptoms make perfect sense when they are better understood and, at one time, they served a helpful and protective purpose. Together, we will explore the unconscious learnings and narratives that are holding you back and find the meaningful growth you are looking for.

Practical, collaborative, brief therapy to help you create the life you want.

You are a goal oriented individual who is feeling stuck. Perhaps your vision needs clarifying, your mindset refined, a root issue examined or your self doubt interrupted. As a Registered Psychotherapist (qualifying) and certified life coach, I work with ambitious clients who have lost momentum on their path to achieving their next steps. Clients see me for challenges like anxiety , depression, and ADHD to help get their vision back in focus.

Life is beautiful, in part because of its challenges which can help us to grow and learn more about ourselves. There are times when we can feel overwhelmed and experience increased stress, anxiety , low mood or various other things that have us feeling less like ourselves. Simply put, those are all signs that you have done the best that you can with the skills and supports that you have to navigate this part of your life. My hope in this role is to support each individual to realign with their strengths and the development of the skills needed to thrive during these seasons.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do your thoughts keep racing from one thing to another? Do you find you are excellent at taking care of everyone else but keep neglecting yourself? I would like to help. I am passionate about helping people to move past the "shoulds" and move towards creating the kind of life they want to live. Most of the time when we are distressed we are worrying either too much about the past or the future, or are overly preoccupied by what we imagine other people are thinking about us.

I have been a psychotherapist for the past 30 years. I specialize in a somatic (body-mind) approach to resolve issues that interfere with one's happiness and well being. We will look at how early life experiences affect us and our relationships. This helps in developing a greater understanding in how one behaves in their current life, creating more options for lasting change. This work is very effective in treating depression by helping one feel more aliveness, energy and a sense of well being.It helps with anxiety by providing tools to create a sense of calm and presence.

Reaching out to a complete stranger to share your deepest fears and issues can be overwhelming, and I want to start off by congratulating you on taking that first step towards positive change and healing. Whether you want to improve your relationships, manage your thoughts, mood and stress, set and meet new goals, gain clarity and insight, or move through a life transition, engaging in therapy can be helpful. I am known for having a kind, non-judgmental and compassionate approach, while providing you with the necessary resources and life-long skills for you to apply on your own long after therapy has ended.

*** ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS *** I aim to create a safe and comfortable space that supports my client’s growth and leads to positive change and overall wellness. My priority is to treat each person with kindness and respect and allow them the space to share openly and be their authentic selves. I am known for my warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental approach and integrative therapy style that is collaborative and person-centered. I incorporate various modalities and interventions to meet my client’s needs, including Brainspotting, Narrative, Solution-Focused, CBT, Play-Based, Mindfulness-Based, and Trauma-Focused approaches.

There are valid reasons behind your behaviour and emotions. We function best in an environment where we feel safe, loved and valued and can develop healthy relationships and a positive sense of self. We can then better explore life from a position of mental and emotional well-being. Perhaps this has not been your experience. Trauma and distress can affect your feelings and behaviour. The hurt may have left you feeling unsafe, devalued and negative towards yourself. You may struggle with poor coping options that have caused harm and suffering to yourself and those around you. You might be finding it difficult to navigate life.

Laura uses psychotherapy and music therapy working with individuals who struggle with anxiety , depression, grief, trauma, and autism. Meeting every client where they are on their life journey, Laura enters each new therapeutic relationship with passion, prepared to learn her clients’ stories and what makes them who they are. Laura strongly believes that the therapeutic relationship must be built on mutual respect, trust, and unconditional positive regard, and that these are central to any therapy process.

***ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS*** Recognizing you want help and reaching out for it takes courage and isn’t easy. I believe that we all do the best with what we know and when we know better we do better (Maya Angelou). When you are ready I would be honoured to be the one who helps you know and do better. My approach is client centered and I work with you where you are at, at your pace and on what you are ready to focus on. I also practice from a strength based and trauma informed perspective. I aim to provide a space to do this that is comfortable, open and free of any bias or judgement; where you feel respected and empowered.

Insight and understanding are crucial components to living a meaningful, fulfilling, and rich life. My approach is intended to help you achieve insight, make change in your life that you find meaningful and significant, and heal from current or past experiences that are affecting you. For 8 years I have worked to assist people in overcoming a wide range of challenges, including stress, trauma, anxiety , depression, emotional difficulties, relationship frustrations, grief, and loss. I feel honoured to work with individuals on their healing journey.

I know first hand what it is like to live with anxiety , depression and chronic pain. For me it has felt like a lack of control over my life and, at times, total hopelessness for my future. Even though I still have hard days, through my own personal work, I have cultivated resiliency and agency within my life. This lived experience has allowed for deep and transformative work with my clients. As your Therapist, I will connect to your choice of words, your expression of emotions and body language and ask pointed questions to bring awareness to the root causes of your presenting issues.

For 10 years, I have worked with people experiencing trauma, anxiety & depression. As we work together, you will shift from feeling trapped by overwhelming fears and sadness to knowing why you feel this way and what to do about it. You will recognize your emotions and have the ability to stop them from taking over.

I became a social worker because "your life is worth my time.” This is something I live by as I value each and every client I have had the opportunity to work with. I always feel blessed to join clients on their journey towards healing and wellness, and it takes immense bravery to take that first step and reach out for help. I work hard to create an environment that fosters safety and growth, and approach my practice from a strengths-based, anti-racist, collaborative lens. I have also begun the process of becoming trained in Brainspotting and have completed Phases 1 and 2.

I am a warm and compassionate registered psychotherapist in the field of individual, and family therapy. I work from an evidence-based yet creative and intuitive stance. I am an insightful and hard-working therapist. I work compassionately yet diligently to ensure I am a strong force in us identifying together, what changes and methods of change are necessary in order to find the healing you hope for. I look forward to welcoming you or those in your life to my practice.

COVID-19 has caused unprecedented measures including school shut downs and working from home. This has resulted in enormous stress on adults, children, teens, and parents. Whether you are worried about the state of the world, stressed out by juggling the demands of working and teaching your children, or are dealing with preexisting mental health concerns, we are here to help. I am the director of Kitchener Psychology Centre, a team of dedicated, caring psychologists and associates who are committed to quality care. We work from an evidenced based orientation and consult with you to determine goals and treatment plans.

When you find yourself struggling, its good to have a confidential space to explore your complex feelings and experiences. Often, anxiety , depression and addiction are symptoms of deeper unresolved issues. Together, we explore the landscape that has hindered your sense of well being. With the clarity of insight, depth techniques and tailored action steps, you can move in a direction of clarity and profound healing. Whether you are struggling with loss, change, discontent or emotional struggles, growth and well being are within reach.