Counselling for Women
Oakridge Counselling London Ontario specializes in Counselling for Women with a focus on Emotional and Mental Health. We help women manage their feelings, relationships, boundaries and their overall sense of self (identity). With therapy sessions in-person, on the phone, online and Walk & Talk Therapy in London Ontario. And online counselling throughout Ontario.
Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough?
Do you wish you didn’t care what others think of you?
Are you more easily irritated than you used to be?
Answering Yes to these Questions…
Answering yes to these questions, or similar ones is common for women and it is okay. I know, it doesn’t feel okay and you would rather not feel like this – I get it. Please know that having these feelings or thoughts does not mean that something is wrong with you. In fact, I asked the above questions because so many people struggle with these things. I offer counselling for women to help you manage these and other troubling questions, feelings and thoughts.
In therapy I will teach you how to live alongside of your feelings, especially the ones you don’t like, WITHOUT allowing the feelings to take over and ruin your day. And without allowing them to be in charge. We can’t get rid of feelings, but we CAN manage what we do when we have feelings we don’t like and be more in control or our actions, lives and relationships as a result. Would you like to know more about this? Book a Free 15 minute Consult Call with me. You can ask a few questions and see how it feels to talk with me.
Making sense of your experiences and feelings is important for women and usually brings them some relief. Especially when you feel heard and understood and are supported in nonjudgemental ways while talking with someone about it. In counselling we will work at a pace that feels right for you. As we get to know each other better and you know what to expect in our meetings, we’ll decide how best to move forward. You really can be more settled. Together we will build upon the coping skills you already have to help you manage your experiences and feelings in ways that support you better. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions. And please book a Free Consult Call or an in-person, phone or online session. I would love to meet you.
Table of contents
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Self talk
Please take a moment to notice the story you’re telling yourself about what you just read above. Notice how you feel about that story and what you do, or want to do when you feel that way. Then see if you can “turn the down the volume on that story” and soothe yourself if need be.
I would love to work with you and help you turn down the story volume. When stories make you feel bad about yourself or your situation, please don’t let them become the whole story. This is not easy to do but, it’s something you CAN do to start feeling better right away.
For Example:
Let’s say you’re in a group talking when you notice a subtle reaction of a person in the group. Your brain starts trying to figure out what the reaction was about. It goes over and over it until you can’t stand it anymore.
How does your self talk affect you?
You might ask the person about their reaction, but you’re more likely to ask others in the group. Some will have no idea what you’re talking about. And the ones you know saw the reaction, won’t want you to feel bad, so may down play it. You may end up wondering if you are “too sensitive” or “too emotional” and could get stuck in a “what’s wrong with me” loop on repeat.
You might think and feel the things in the questions above, partly because of the level of awareness you have about what happens around you. And even more so if you are also good at reading nonverbal communication and predicting how people are feeling and the behaviour that’s likely to follow.
Acceptance and Self Care
I understand that it’s exhausting and it feels bad but, what if you could accept that this is a predictable response for you given how you are wired? And what if you could develop a self care plan for when your predictable response happens? A plan to keep you from feeling badly about yourself and to tolerate being in the presence of unpleasant feelings? Would you be interested in trying that?
If so, I invite you to book a Free 15 min Consult Call with me to further discuss it.
What happens in Counselling for Women
This example above highlights what might happen for women that answered yes to those questions. Your experiences may be different than this and that’s okay too. Much of the counselling I do with women involves one or more of the following:
- learning to view and accept your reactions/responses and feelings as somewhat predictable, given the circumstances
- recognize when your feelings have led a thinking/feeling spiral and what you can do to get out of it and prevent it from happening less often
- learn ways to disengage from anxiety producing stories and fears that certain experiences trigger
- learn about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and how it can help you work toward acceptance of yourself as you are and improve your sense of yourself and your mental health
Does Counselling Help?
Yes, counselling helps but, if you’re asking if counselling changes the way you are wired. No it will not do that. Counselling can help you predict and manage your reactions/responses to what comes into your awareness.
Counselling can help you “regulate your emotions” and teach you how to interrupt “harsh self judgements.” In counselling women learn ways to “manage and reduce the amount of triggering stimulation” they are exposed to. And yes, counselling will help you “accept yourself as you are” and live a good life within your strengths and limitations.
We use Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Walk & Talk Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in counselling for woman.
Get your Free 15 min Consult Call and see for yourself how it feels
Women’s Mental Health Counselling is our Business
At Oakridge Counselling London Ontario we have been passionate about emotional health for almost 20 years. Our founder Elizabeth Lacey started Oakridge Counselling in 2004 after working in child protection for five years.
Our Mission is to support and promote women as the expert in their own lives. We help women create, reestablish and maintain core connections. First within themselves and then with their chosen people.
Do you have questions?
Maybe you’ve been to counselling and didn’t find it helpful. Or maybe you did find therapy helpful but you ran out of benefit coverage and couldn’t pay out of pocket? Or you want to try therapy but you get overwhelmed with the number of therapists available and give up before finding one?
We Have Answers
These are good questions and you’re right. Counselling isn’t always helpful.
It might seem odd for a therapist to say that, but I do agree that it isn’t always helpful. Many of the reasons are about the quality of fit between client and the counsellor. This is not something to compromise on or hope it will get better. If it doesn’t feel like a good fit – it’s isn’t. Please trust yourself. While it’s hard to meet another therapist, it’s the better choice. You need to find a counsellor that you have a good fit with.
Too many options
It’s good that there are lots of therapists to choose from, bit it makes it hard to decide which one to go to. I recommend narrowing your choices first by how you pay for counselling. If you have benefit coverage for counselling with Registered Social Workers, then narrow your choices down to the RSW’s you liked. Then narrow it down further to the ones that offer a free consult call. So you can talk with the therapist first to help you decide.
Are you ready to take the next step?
You don’t have to keep wondering if there is something wrong with you and feeling the awful feelings that come along with it. Let’s meet and talk about it. We’ll see if we can make the difficult things happen less, or not at all and help you develop some more skills to handle it when it does happen.
Choose a time that works and I will call you
It’s normal to be nervous about counselling
Most of the women I work with are nervous when starting counselling. However, once they start they often say they wish they hadn’t waited so long. I hope you will join them in getting started.
You decide what the next right step is for you. You really can take just one step in this moment.
If you’re ready for this step go ahead and click the pink button, pick a time that works for you and I will call you then.
I look forward to talking with you soon.
Preparing For Your Free 15 min Call:
Please note: We are not taking any new couples counselling clients but will give you recommendations. We still do individual relationship counselling for women.
When booking your call, you will be prompted to complete an online consent form. You can do it later, as long as it’s within 48 hours. We can’t confirm your call until it is completed.
Once completed, you will get an email asking you to confirm your email address and a separate email welcoming you and confirming your appointment time and phone number.
For your Free Call, Elizabeth Lacey will call you from a private number or from Oakridge Counselling. If you don’t answer she will not leave a message as this would be a breech of your privacy.
More information about in-person sessions is available here.
Oakridge Counselling location for In-person Sessions
More information about online sessions is available here.
If you have any question please contact us. We will get back to you within 1-3 business days
Read More About Elizabeth Lacey MSW RSW here
Oakridge Counselling offers in-person, phone, online, Walk & Talk Therapy, Walk & Talk for Wellness Group and Clinical Supervision & Consultation for Couples Therapists in London Ontario and online throughout Ontario.
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