Counselling for Anxiety
“I feel anxious” is one of the most common things a therapist hears. It might show up as racing thoughts or a tight chest that won’t ease. Many women brush it off as life’s usual chaos, but if worry starts affecting your mood, relationships, or sleep, it may be time to reach out for support.
- Target feelings of anxiety, worry, and fear
- Learn how to take charge and feel more in-control of your thoughts
- Reconnect with yourself and establish a sense of calm
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is an instinctive response to perceived threats , whether they’re physical, emotional, or mental. It’s part of your built-in survival system designed to keep you alive. When your brain detects potential danger, it triggers a series of reactions in your body. Your heart beats faster, your muscles tense up, and your senses sharpen so you can respond quickly and get to safety.
While this fight-or-flight response was a vital survival mechanism for early humans facing physical predators, our brains haven’t evolved as quickly as our world has. Today, the “dangers” you face may look more like a tense email from a boss, financial stress, or uncertainty about the future. Your brain is simply doing its best to protect you in a world of everyday stressors.
Therapy for anxiety
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CBT helps you notice the automatic thoughts and beliefs that feed anxious feelings and replace them with more realistic, balanced perspectives.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT helps you change your relationship with anxiety by accepting difficult thoughts as temporary mental events, freeing you to take meaningful action aligned with your values.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-based therapy trains you to observe anxious thoughts and bodily sensations without judgment, creating distance from anxiety rather than getting caught up in it.
Find a counsellor who can support you with anxiety
Get help from a counsellor experienced in supporting women navigating anxiety.
Dayle McMillan
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Geri-Lynn Rempel
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Kristy Riley-Perry
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Sierra Terhoch
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Inclusive Support
We’re committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’re allies of LGB2TQIA+ and BIPOC individuals, and support those who self-identify as women, non-binary or gender non-conforming.
Personalized Care
Your needs and experiences are unique to you. Our counsellors are trained in a wide range of therapeutic techniques to ensure you receive the effective, high quality support you deserve.
Qualified Professionals
Every counsellor on our team is a licensed professional with a masters-level education and extensive experience supporting the needs of women.
Types of anxiety
While everyone experiences stress or nervousness at times, are more persistent and can significantly impact daily life.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
People with GAD experience ongoing, excessive worry about everyday matters — from relationships and finances to work or world events. This uncontrollable worry often shifts from one concern to another, even when there’s no reason to be worried.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder involves sudden, intense fear that can appear without warning. These episodes may cause a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, intense dread or a feeling of losing control. The fear of another attack can cause a person to avoid certain places or activities.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety involves a fear of being judged, humiliated, or rejected in social settings. Everyday interactions, such as speaking up in a meeting or going to a social event , can trigger shaking, sweating, or stomach problems. Many people avoid social situations to escape the discomfort.
Postpartum Anxiety
Some women experience postpartum anxiety after giving birth. They have intrusive worries and an ongoing sense of danger. New parents may feel on edge, unable to relax, or preoccupied with fears of something happening to their baby. Perinatal counselling can offer comfort and support during this time.
Causes of anxiety
Although there are different types of anxiety disorders, they often share common roots. Understanding the causes of anxiety can help us see that it is not a personal failure or weakness. It’s a human response shaped by biology, environment, and life experiences.
Biological factors
Hormones play a key role in why women are more likely to experience anxiety than men. Fluctuations in oestradiol and progesterone throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum period, and menopause can influence brain chemistry and increase the risk of anxiety symptoms.
Genetics also contribute. If you have a close family member with an anxiety disorder, you are more likely to develop one as well.
Environmental factors
Life experiences have a strong impact on our emotional well-being. Early childhood experiences of trauma or separation anxiety can contribute to an increased risk of anxiety.
Ongoing stress, such as work demands, financial strain, or family expectations, can overwhelm our nervous system. Women, in particular, may feel pressure to meet multiple roles simultaneously: professional, caregiver, partner, and friend.
Psychological and Social Factors
Many women have learned to carry more than their share of the emotional and mental load. Traits like perfectionism, people-pleasing, or low self-worth can lead to chronic stress and self-doubt. Social media, while connecting us to others, can also amplify unrealistic standards and comparisons.
Gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination remain significant risk factors for anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and depression. Studies show that women experience these forms of harm at far higher rates than men — often silently, and with lasting emotional consequences.
How common is anxiety in women?
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns in Canada, and it’s affecting women at higher rates than ever before. According to Statistics Canada, the proportion of Canadians aged 15 and older living with generalized anxiety disorder has doubled over the past decade, rising from 2.6% in 2012 to 5.2% in 2022.
Research also suggests that anxiety can have a more severe impact on the emotional, physical, and social health of women. These differences likely reflect a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors , including hormonal changes, caregiving roles, workplace pressures, and gender-based expectations.
Anxiety affects 1 in 4 women, with one third describing their anxiety as high to extremely high.
What's on your mind?
How do I know if my anxiety is serious enough to need therapy?
If worry or tension is interfering with your sleep, focus, relationships, or sense of peace, therapy may help. You don’t have to wait until things feel “bad enough”. Counselling can be beneficial at any stage, whether you’re feeling mildly overwhelmed or deeply anxious.
What’s the difference between stress and an anxiety disorder?
Stress is often a response to a specific situation , like a deadline or conflict , and tends to resolve once the situation is over. An anxiety disorder, on the other hand, can linger even when there’s no clear cause. It often feels like ongoing dread or uncontrollable worrying that’s hard to shake.
Can my anxiety go away on its own?
Mild anxiety may go away with rest, self-care, or life changes. But when anxiety becomes chronic or begins disrupting your daily life, professional support can make a significant difference.
How long do I need therapy to feel better?
Everyone’s journey is unique. Some people notice changes after a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term therapy. The goal isn’t just symptom relief — it’s building tools and insight that are sustainable.
Can therapy really help if I’ve felt anxious for years?
Absolutely. Even long-standing anxiety can improve with consistent support and the right therapeutic approach. Change is definitely possible. It often begins with one conversation.
If you’re ready to feel calmer, more confident, and supported, we’re here to help. Reach out today to get matched with a counsellor who understands what you’re going through and can guide you toward lasting relief and balance.
Take the first step toward managing your anxiety
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