We all face challenges at times. You are not alone, help is here.
If you are experiencing anger, anxiety, or depression that is impacting your daily functioning, counselling can help you feel back in control of your life. Chantelle Beach uses Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) an evidence-based, experiential approach that is well-researched and shown to be successful in treating relationship issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, anger, grief and loss and more.
Anxiety Treatment begins with understanding how anxiety affects both the body and the brain. Physically, anxiety triggers the stress response, causing symptoms like a racing heart and muscle tension, while neurologically, it disrupts brain areas involved in fear and rational thinking. Managing these symptoms involves using calming techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, along with grounding exercises to stay present and reduce overwhelm.
Addressing the cognitive aspects of anxiety is crucial, too. This includes challenging irrational thoughts through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and exploring underlying emotions like fear of failure. Avoiding anxiety-provoking situations can worsen anxiety, so gradually facing these situations is essential. Using anger as a coping mechanism is counterproductive; instead, adopting healthier coping strategies is key to effective emotional management. Overall, a comprehensive approach that integrates understanding, managing symptoms, and confronting anxiety leads to better emotional regulation and improved daily functioning.
Traumatic Experiences can significantly disrupt various aspects of life, leading to challenges such as poor concentration, sleep disturbances, and difficulties in relationships, among others. Trauma arises as a profound emotional response to distressing events or experiences, and its effects can vary greatly from person to person. Factors such as individual resilience, support systems, and the nature of the trauma play a crucial role in shaping how someone responds and recovers.
Addressing and processing trauma is essential for healing and moving forward. If you have endured trauma—whether through sexual assault, abuse, domestic violence, a serious accident, or witnessing traumatic events—seeking counselling can be a vital step in reclaiming your life and finding a path to recovery.
Anger Management Anger is a powerful and often intense emotion that can play a central role in how we experience and respond to challenges. However, it is frequently not the primary emotion but rather a secondary response that masks deeper, underlying feelings such as fear, hurt, or insecurity. Understanding this distinction is crucial for addressing the root causes of anger and fostering more effective emotional management. At Vital Soul Counselling, we focus on uncovering the emotions that fuel anger. By delving into the underlying feelings—such as unresolved fear, past trauma, or emotional pain—we help clients gain insight into what is driving their anger. This deeper exploration allows for more meaningful processing and healing, rather than simply addressing the surface-level expression of anger.
Adoption issues require specialized knowledge and experience: Chantelle Beach brings over 20 years of both professional and personal experience in the field of adoption, working with all members of the adoption circle and possessing deep, intimate knowledge in this area. For adopted individuals searching for or reuniting with their birth families, or those navigating their adoption journey and re-establishing their identity, counselling with an experienced psychologist can offer invaluable support and healing. Similarly, individuals who have placed a child for adoption and are grappling with feelings of grief and loss, or managing relationships within adoptive families, can benefit from counselling to help process these emotions. Adoptive parents also have access to guidance and support, whether they are establishing their parental role, dealing with infertility loss, or navigating adoption relationships.
Individual Counselling can also help with:
Processing grief and loss
Processing past trauma
Providing parenting support and guidance
Supporting caregivers of aging parents or children with disabilities
Boundary setting/healthy relationships
Stress management
Anger management
Problem-solving/decision-making
Goal setting and living the best version of yourself
Individual counselling is always tailored to your unique needs. Chantelle Beach is flexible and will work with you to discover and nourish your own Vital Soul!
What is important to know about Trauma?
Trauma is a complex and multifaceted experience that can impact individuals in various ways. Understanding the different types of trauma can help in recognizing its effects and seeking appropriate support. Here's an overview of the main types of trauma:
Acute Trauma: Acute trauma results from a single, intense event or experience that is shocking and distressing. The trauma is usually immediate and the emotional response is often intense, but it may resolve over time with appropriate support. Examples: A car accident, a natural disaster, or witnessing a violent crime.
Chronic Trauma: Chronic trauma refers to repeated and prolonged exposure to distressing events over an extended period. The effects of chronic trauma can be more pervasive and lasting, impacting an individual’s emotional and psychological well-being over time. Examples: Ongoing abuse, long-term neglect, or persistent domestic violence.
Complex Trauma: Complex trauma involves exposure to multiple, varied forms of trauma, often experienced over a long period, typically in childhood. This type of trauma often leads to significant difficulties in emotional regulation, self-perception, and relationships. Examples: Long-term emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, neglect, or growing up in a highly dysfunctional environment.
Developmental Trauma: Developmental trauma occurs during crucial periods of psychological and emotional development, typically in early childhood. This trauma can interfere with normal development and impact self-esteem, emotional regulation, and relational patterns throughout life. Examples: Neglect, abuse, or exposure to parental substance abuse or mental illness during formative years.
Secondary or Vicarious Trauma: Secondary or vicarious trauma occurs when individuals are indirectly exposed to trauma through their work or relationships with trauma survivors. This type of trauma can cause emotional distress and impact the well-being of those providing support to others. Examples: Therapists, first responders, or caregivers who are exposed to the traumatic stories and experiences of those they support.
Historical or Intergenerational Trauma: Historical or intergenerational trauma refers to the cumulative emotional and psychological wounds passed down through generations within a community or family due to collective or historical events. This trauma can affect entire communities and influence cultural identity, relationships, and mental health across generations. Examples: The impact of slavery, genocide, or colonization on descendants of affected populations.
Self-Trauma: Self-trauma involves self-inflicted harm or self-destructive behaviours that cause emotional or physical pain. This type of trauma often stems from internalized pain or unresolved emotional issues and can be both a response to and a perpetuator of trauma. Examples: Self-harm, substance abuse, or eating disorders.
Medical Trauma: Medical trauma is associated with distressing or painful medical procedures and experiences. This trauma can lead to fear and anxiety related to medical settings or procedures and can affect one’s overall sense of safety and well-being. Examples: Severe illness, invasive medical treatments, or traumatic childbirth experiences.
Impact of Trauma Trauma can affect individuals differently, leading to a range of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms. Common responses include:
Emotional Symptoms: Anxiety, depression, anger, or emotional numbness.
Cognitive Symptoms: Intrusive thoughts, difficulty concentrating, or memory issues.
Behavioral Symptoms: Avoidance, withdrawal, or self-destructive behaviors.
Physical Symptoms: Sleep disturbances, chronic pain, or somatic complaints.
Seeking Support Recognizing the type of trauma experienced is an important step toward healing. Professional support from therapists, counsellors, or trauma specialists can help individuals process their experiences, develop coping strategies, and work towards recovery. Trauma-informed care approaches ensure that support is sensitive to the impacts of trauma and aims to create a safe and supportive environment for healing.
What is important to know about anxiety?
Anxiety comes in various forms, each with its own characteristics and triggers. Here are some common types:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent and excessive worry about a variety of things, often without a specific cause. It can lead to restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating
Panic Disorder: Characterized by sudden, intense episodes of fear or discomfort, known as panic attacks. Symptoms can include a racing heart, sweating, trembling, and feelings of impending doom.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): Extreme fear of social situations or performance situations where one might be embarrassed or judged. This can lead to avoidance of social interactions.
Specific Phobias: Intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights, spiders, or flying. The fear is often disproportionate to the actual danger posed by the object or situation.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Involves obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Develops after exposure to a traumatic event. Symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD): Similar to PTSD, but symptoms occur within three days to one month following a traumatic event. It can lead to severe anxiety and difficulty functioning in daily life.
Separation Anxiety Disorder: Excessive fear or anxiety about separation from home or attachment figures, often seen in children but can affect adults as well.
Agoraphobia: Fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable in the event of a panic attack. This can lead to avoidance of places like public transportation, open spaces, or crowded areas.
Each type of anxiety disorder can vary in severity and impact on daily life, and many individuals may experience symptoms of more than one type. If anxiety is interfering with daily functioning, seeking help from a mental health professional can be beneficial.
What's important to know about anger management?
Effective anger management involves several key components:
Identifying Triggers: Understanding what specifically triggers anger is a critical first step. This involves recognizing situations, people, or events that provoke intense emotional reactions and assessing why these triggers affect us so profoundly.
Developing Bodily Awareness: Anger often manifests physically before it becomes consciously apparent. By becoming more aware of bodily sensations—such as tension in the muscles, a racing heart, or changes in breathing—individuals can identify when anger is starting to build. This early awareness allows for timely intervention.
Implementing Healthy Strategies: Once triggers and bodily signals are recognized, developing and practicing healthy strategies to manage and diffuse anger is essential. These strategies might include techniques such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, cognitive restructuring (reframing negative thoughts), or engaging in physical activities that help release pent-up energy.
Processing Underlying Emotions: Addressing the root causes of anger involves exploring and working through the deeper emotions that lie beneath. This might include discussing past experiences, exploring personal vulnerabilities, and developing emotional resilience.
By focusing on these areas, Chantelle Beach supports clients in not only managing their anger more effectively but also in achieving greater emotional understanding and well-being. Our goal is to help individuals move beyond reactive anger and towards a more balanced, healthy emotional state.