Anxiety & Chronic Stress - Anxiety Counselling in Saskatoon & Across Canada
(In-Person & Online Counselling for Adults, Seniors, and Late Teens)
When Anxiety Feels Like It’s Running the Show
Anxiety can show up quietly or crash into your life like a storm.
Maybe your mind never stops spinning — worrying about the next thing before you’ve even finished the last.
Maybe your body feels constantly on alert — tight chest, uneasy stomach, shoulders that haven’t relaxed in months.
If you’ve been living with that restless “something’s wrong” feeling, you’re not alone. Anxiety and chronic stress are two of the most common reasons people reach out for counselling. They’re not signs of weakness; they’re signals — your mind and body’s way of saying, “I’ve been carrying too much for too long.”
Understanding Anxiety and Stress
Anxiety is your body’s built-in alarm system. It’s designed to protect you — to help you run, react, or prepare.
But when that system doesn’t turn off, it becomes exhausting. Chronic stress floods your body with adrenaline and cortisol, leaving you tense, tired, and wired at the same time.
You might find yourself:
Overthinking every decision
Avoiding situations that cause worry
Feeling irritable or emotionally drained
Struggling to focus, rest, or enjoy simple moments
Living in a loop of “what ifs” that never stop
In counselling, we take the pressure off the word “anxiety” and look at what’s really going on beneath it — the emotions, thoughts, and unmet needs trying to get your attention. Anxiety is rarely the problem itself; it’s the messenger.
Common Roots of Anxiety
Everyone’s story is different, but anxiety often has deeper roots:
Past trauma or emotional wounds that left your nervous system on high alert
Perfectionism or a fear of disappointing others
High responsibility or people-pleasing, where you carry everyone else’s load
Unprocessed grief or life changes that shook your sense of safety
Chronic stress from work, relationships, or financial pressure
Part of our work together is learning to separate the real threats from the learned alarms — retraining your nervous system to recognize safety again.
How Counselling Helps
My approach to anxiety and stress counselling blends neuroscience, mindfulness, and emotional awareness in a down-to-earth way.
Together, we’ll:
Calm your nervous system using grounding and breath-based techniques
Identify and reframe anxious thought patterns
Strengthen emotional regulation so your body doesn’t take over in stressful moments
Build daily tools for focus, rest, and mental clarity
Reconnect you to your confidence, curiosity, and calm
We’ll also explore how stress lives in the body — tight muscles, shallow breathing, headaches — and use practical tools to release it. Sometimes that means learning to pause; other times it means giving your body a healthy outlet for the energy it’s been storing for years.
A Holistic and Practical Approach
Anxiety isn’t just in the mind; it’s a full-body experience. That’s why I integrate a holistic approach that works with the body, emotions, and mindset together.
You might notice that once your body feels grounded, your thoughts quiet down naturally. Or once we explore what your anxiety has been protecting you from — rejection, uncertainty, loss — you begin to feel compassion for yourself instead of frustration.
Counselling isn’t about erasing anxiety. It’s about transforming your relationship with it, so it no longer runs your life.
When Stress Becomes Chronic
Stress is a normal part of life. It motivates us to grow and adapt.
But when stress becomes constant — when your foot never leaves the gas pedal — it turns into chronic stress, affecting everything from sleep and digestion to focus and mood.
Over time, chronic stress can cause:
Exhaustion or burnout
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability or anger outbursts
Physical symptoms like headaches or muscle tension
A sense of hopelessness or being “on edge” all the time
If this sounds familiar, counselling can help you reset your baseline — teaching your body and mind that it’s safe to slow down again.
Who Anxiety Counselling is For
You don’t need to have a clinical diagnosis to benefit from anxiety counselling. Many of my clients describe themselves as “high-functioning” — managing jobs, families, and responsibilities while feeling anxious underneath. Others come in feeling lost, drained, or unsure why they feel the way they do.
Wherever you are on that spectrum, we’ll start from where you’re at — with no judgment, no labels, just understanding and forward movement.
What to Expect in Our Sessions
Counselling sessions with me are collaborative, conversational, and practical.
You can expect:
A safe space to talk openly and without pressure
Simple, evidence-based tools to use between sessions
Space to explore both logic and emotion — head and heart working together
Gradual, steady progress — not perfection, but peace
You don’t have to “fix” yourself before showing up. We start with what’s real right now, and build from there.
Why Work With Me
Before I became a counsellor, I worked in the trades as an HVAC mechanic and grew up on a 4th-generation Saskatchewan farm. I understand what it’s like to live in a world where stress and self-reliance are worn like armor.
Now, as a Registered Professional Counsellor, I combine that real-world understanding with professional training to help others find balance, emotional intelligence, and direction again.
You don’t need to speak in “therapy language” — just show up as you are. Together, we’ll figure out the rest.
Begin Your Path Toward Calm
If anxiety or chronic stress have been running your life, there’s a way through it. With the right support and tools, you can feel lighter, clearer, and more in control again.
You don’t have to keep pushing through the panic or pretending you’re fine.
Reach out — let’s take the next step together.
📞 Book a Free 20-Minute Discovery Call to ask questions and see if this is the right fit for you.