Life Transitions, Stress Management Psychodynamic Therapy

Life Transitions, Stress Management

Life transitions can be rewarding, but that doesn't mean they are necessarily easy. Change usually comes with mixed emotions, challenges and stress. It's natural to feel anxious, confused, unsettled and fatigued, no matter how you have looked forward to a change. While promotions at work can be positive and exciting, there are also negative transitions that could make you feel hopeless and negative, anxious and unable to see the solutions to the inevitable problems you face.


Some of the common transitions that people face include moving house, divorce, remarriage, empty nest syndrome, concerns about aging, adjusting to a new job, illness, or death of a loved one.

During periods of transitions, it's common for emotions from some of your past experiences to be triggered, which can make the current situation feel so much worse. That's when confusion takes over, leaving you feeling out of control and confused.

Transition counselling can help you deal with your life changes and the emotions that you are feeling in a safe and effective manner. You will be able to find the root causes of your reactions and you will be able to face the changes head on. You may even be able to push past your self-imposed limits to broaden your horizons and find a strong, new you.

You will gain clarity and understanding, as well as self-confidence to help you feel more grounded and you will develop a sense of purpose in your life. Transition therapy  has helped hundreds of thousands of people to come to terms with difficult issues in life and you can too.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who addresses transitions, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

While stress is a normal part of our modern, everyday lives, it can also have dramatic side effects. Chronic stress can lead to behavioral issues, such as drug abuse that can harm relationships. However, most commonly, chronic stress can affect a person's physical health in a number of ways. Many people avoid asking for help in coping with stress management, accepting it as a common hazard of today's fast-paced life.

Yes, at some point everyone suffers from challenges with stress management, but if at any point in time you feel like you have trouble handling it, it is time to get help. Signs that you are not coping with stress management includes a change in your sleeping or eating habits, feeling physically unwell (headaches, ulcers, frequent colds and flu), reduced productivity and decreased pleasure in activities you enjoyed before.

Stress is common when dealing with life changes or situations such as job losses, getting married, breakups or divorces, discrimination, parenting, moving house, death of a pet or loved one, being diagnosed with a serious medical condition.  

Therapy can help you to better deal with stress management issues. Negative moods reduce the quality of several aspects of our lives, including productivity and interpersonal relationships. Through cognitive restructuring, negative thoughts can be challenged and rescripted to help you create a more positive mindset.

Stress can often cloud the validity of our interpretations of certain events and circumstances, and cognitive restructuring challenges those assumptions. In the case of invalid interpretations, the way we think about situations naturally changes, which has a positive effect on our moods and ability to handle stress better.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who will help you manage stress more effectively you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Psychodynamic Therapy, Non-Duality Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy can help clients to become aware of feelings of vulnerability that have been repressed from their conscious awareness. This approach is based on the theory that every person has an unconscious which stores vulnerable and painful emotions that are too deep to handle on a conscious level.

Psychodynamic Therapy addresses the defense mechanisms that  have been developed. Defense mechanisms can sometimes do more harm than good. By resolving vulnerabilities such as repression and denial, painful emotions and memories can be processed in order for the defense mechanisms to be resolved, or reduced.

Therapists use a range of core principles in Psychodynamic Therapy, based on the client's needs. It will help the client to gain perspective while recognizing behaviours, actions, responses and character traits that can be transformed.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Psychodynamic Therapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Christina McGill

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Christina’s work with clients focuses on helping them connect with their innate capacity to heal, supporting them to learn to trust themselves, and developing their ability to reflect on their inner self.... Read more

Anthony Cave

M.A., R.Psych
    • In-Person Sessions
About me My private practice consists of psychotherapy services for youth, adults and elders. An appointment usually lasts an hour and takes place in a confidential office setting. I also provide clinical consulting... Read more

Alita Dommann

M.D., RCC
Alita is an Adlerian Psychotherapist providing Individual and Couples Counselling. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Canadian Certified Counsellor, and Adler University Alumni. After working as a medical... Read more

Bonnie Zargari

M.A., CCC
    • Online booking
Bonnie Zargari is a Canadian Certified Clinical Counselor who sees clients in person, online or via telephone.  Her main clinical focus is working with adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety and/or... Read more

Lucia Pecnikova

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Creating a safe space where you feel heard and seen is my priority and I consider my work a privilege as we create a secure therapeutic relationship to support your healing process and inner exploration. I have a master... Read more

Jane Wyllychuk

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome to Olive Counselling! I offer virtual counselling for Couples and Individuals. My areas of focus include Anxiety, Boundary setting, Infertility and Postpartum, People Pleasing, Stress and Grief and Loss. I am a... Read more

Kirsten Reid

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Would you like help to find some relief and an overall sense of lightness? Whether you believe your life challenges to be major or minor ones, including a specific event or a reoccurring problem pattern that you... Read more

Andrew Huber

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Are you hoping to make positive changes in your life but fear is getting in the way? Are you feeling stuck in a familiar pattern of doubt, confusion, indecisiveness, or unsure how or where to begin ... Read more

Adrienne Moya

M.S.W., RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome, I'm Adrienne, owner of Camas Mental Health. Camas offers therapy services with a specialization in supporting reproductive mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan through... Read more

Florence Ling

M.A., RCC
    • In-Person Sessions
    • Online booking
* Languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, English. * Accept ICBC clients. * Helping clients understand their difficulties and inner world. * Discovery of their inherent strengths so as to encourage the development... Read more

Amrita Dhoot

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome! Do you come from a family with complex dynamics and feel like people don’t quite understand you? Have these experiences led to you being anxious, and struggling to trust yourself or others? My unique... Read more

Meagan Maddocks

M.Couns., RCC
Meagan is a registered clinical counsellor who has over 20 years of expertise in working with clients who live with chronic illnesses. Balancing life’s stressors and joys can be a difficult task. When... Read more

Jan Fleming

M.A., RCC
I help people become more calm and clear. I use a strengths-based approach and tools for self regulation that support steadiness in life’s ups and downs. I know that when we’re solid and well-resourced, we... Read more

Eileen Peterson

M.S.W., RCSW
    • Online booking
  NOTE: Both in-person and virtual sessions are available  If you are feeling worn out by life and/or struggling with your relationship, I can help.  I'm a Registered Clinical... Read more

Sarah Hickinbottom

Ph.D., RCC
CURRENTLY NOT ACCPETING NEW CLIENTS Counselling for Individuals Facing Significant Personal and/or Professional Transitions Sarah's practice is focused on working collaboratively with clients facing unexpected... Read more

Jeff Ross

M.A., RCC
 Feel good about the possibilities that life has to offer. Are you seeing life clearly? Do you tell your family and friends “I’m fine” even though you know you are not? Do you feel... Read more

Elizabeth Holland

M.A., RCC
Elizabeth Holland is a Registered Clinical Counsellor practicing in Victoria, British Columbia. With a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology (UBC), she works with adults and young adults from diverse... Read more

Valerie Caldeira

Ph.D., R.Psych
I am a Registered Psychologist providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults in Vancouver, BC. I provide evidence-based treatment for clients with a range of difficulties including anxiety, depression, stress,... Read more

Michele Francis

MCP, RCC
You are important and what you have to say matters! Taking the first step to looking for counselling tells me your mental and emotional wellbeing matters to you. You are not willing to sit by and let challenges... Read more

Aleesa Sutton

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Hi, I’m Aleesa. I provide counselling for individuals and couples who want to understand themselves better and improve their relationships. If you’re unhappy with your life; unsure about where you’re... Read more
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Feeling lost, misunderstood, stuck? I have been there. Besides being an experienced therapist, I am also a child of divorce, immigrant, wife, and mother. My own healing journey and continuing professional... Read more

Renee Bartkiewicz

M.A., RCC
  Renee Bartkiewicz is both a Registered Clinical Counsellor and an Art Therapist. In her inclusive, creative, and collaborative practice, she sees individuals that present with a variety of  issues... Read more

Alistair Gordon

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor on the team at Wellspring Counselling Inc. I am also a former Adjunct Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of British Columbia. My therapeutic... Read more

Maureen Lee

Ph.D., RCC
Dr. Maureen Lee is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who sees clients in North Vancouver. She practices a client-centred approach to therapy which means you, the client, decide the outcome, goals and direction... Read more

Dorota Hedzelek

Ph.D., RCC
    • Online booking
*Offering In Person and online video Zoom sessions* *My practice is currently accepting new clients, to book please visit online booking on website or email dorota@paincounselling.com RECOVERY FROM PAIN IS... Read more

Ellahae Keshmiri

M.A., RCC
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over 14 years of experience in the field of mental health and therapy.  I currently offer in person and virtual sessions in Vancouver (Broadway and Cambie area... Read more

Donna Vidas

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Some issues I regularly work with in therapy include: Overcoming recent or life-long patterns that may be interfering with your enjoyment of life resolving traumatic experiences managing life transitions... Read more

Carolyn Jarvis

B.S.W., RSW
If one thing is true about life, it will throw us unexpected curve balls. Throughout my career, I have developed an expertise in counselling people going through distressing or unexpected life changes, or... Read more

Susan Higgs

MCP, RCC
Susan is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with a Master of Counselling Psychology (MCP) from Adler University.  Susan brings a diversity of... Read more

Andrew Herfst

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
*I provide an Online / Telephone counselling option* I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian... Read more