Anxiety treatment options Treating Anxiety and Depression

At Trickett Psychotherapy, we recognize that while anxiety is a normal and sometimes beneficial response to stress, it can become overwhelming and debilitating when it interferes with daily life. This heightened state of anxiety may indicate an anxiety disorder, which is not just one condition but includes several distinct types, such as phobias, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, acute stress disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. These disorders share common features including irrational fears, tension, agitation, and difficulty with daily tasks.

Anxiety triggers the "fight or flight" response, affecting cognitive, physical, and behavioral systems. This can manifest as heart palpitations, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping, and behavioral avoidance, which can significantly impair quality of life.

The causes of anxiety disorders can be cognitive, where individuals may catastrophize situations; behavioral, linked to learned responses from past trauma; developmental, influenced by childhood experiences; and biological, involving genetics and brain chemistry.

Our approach treating anxiety and depression at Trickett Psychotherapy involves Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy—both highly effective in managing and reducing symptoms. Medication may also be used to help control symptoms and improve overall functioning.

Our goal is not to "cure"  but controlling anxiety to significantly reduce its impact, enhancing the individual's ability to function and improving their quality of life through comprehensive, personalized treatment plans or anxiety treatment options. Whether through in-person therapy sessions in Guelph or via our online therapy options, we are dedicated to supporting our clients in managing their anxiety for the long term.