Emotional Difficulties
Stress, anxiety, and depression are the largest causes of lost time from work, according to insurance company statistics for disability claims. Most of us will experience problems with one of these in our lifetime. Today, there are many easy-to-learn cognitive behavioural techniques that can help you live a happier and healthier emotional life. Research has shown that medication alone is not as effective as medication, combined with counselling. While medications can help to reduce the symptoms of emotional distress, they will not address the underlying causes. Counselling provides tools useful in contending with emotional issues long after you have stopped taking medication or if you don’t want to use mood modifying drugs, and also gives you future tools for the prevention of recurrences.

Anger Management
Anger is a normal human emotion. However, because of the intense way it is sometimes expressed, it can work against us, rather than for us. By learning new thinking and behavioural strategies, you can begin dealing with your anger in a healthier way and become more aware of the impact of your anger on others. Tools such as reality testing assumptions, improving empathy skills, and not personalizing events, as well as learning to relax, problem solving, and being a more active listener can put you more in control of your emotions and help you be more effective in getting your message across to others - your spouse, your children, or your boss.

Bereavement
The loss of a spouse, child, or parent is among one of life’s most stressful events. You will experience many emotions including anger, deep sadness, anxiety, and sometimes guilt. Your grieving process can be complicated if the death is sudden and accidental or unexpected or if you have unresolved issues from the past with the person who has died. No one can tell you how long it will take you to “get over it.” However, if you find that your grief is lasting over a year, that you are having suicidal thoughts, that your crying has not diminished in months, and that you are still having interrupted sleep and have not resumed your normal eating patterns, then you may wish to call for bereavement counselling. Most communities offer group help as well - such as Bereaved Families of Ontario and Widow to Widow. For all of us, the pain of loss is an integral part of life and results from our ability to both give and receive love.

Sexual Abuse
Roughly 60 percent of our female population has experienced some form of sexual abuse. We are unsure of the percentage of male victims, but it is likely higher than is commonly believed. Become a survivor of abuse rather than a victim by boldly and courageously confronting your past. Learn how to take appropriate control of your life by addressing your trust issues. Stop the past controlling you through your anger, pain, and guilt.

Individual counselling can also help you with a wide variety of personal problems, including:

• difficulty with social relationships
• issues in your work place
• the stress of caring for elderly parents
• unresolved past or childhood issues
• sexual/gender identity and orientation

Resolve your difficulties, stop your cycle of ineffective behaviour patterns and begin to live life more fully and to your maximum potential.