Anxiety
Anxiety Counselling in Stittsville & Online Across Ontario
When worry takes over, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
I’m Emily Corkery, a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #006695) and former teacher. I see children from age 4, teens, young adults, adults and families in person in Stittsville (Ottawa) and online anywhere in Ontario, and I’m accepting new clients. The first step is a free 15-minute call.
Do you find yourself worrying about things that haven’t happened yet? Does your mind have a hard time switching off? Maybe you’re constantly overthinking, anticipating the worst or feeling overwhelmed by everyday situations.
Anxiety can show up in many different ways. It might look like avoiding situations, needing reassurance, struggling with sleep, feeling irritable or having difficulty concentrating. For children, it might show up as frequent worries, difficulty separating from parents, emotional outbursts or challenges at school.
Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or your child, anxiety can feel exhausting. You might know your worries are bigger than the situation, but still find it difficult to manage them.
At Collaborative Counselling, I provide a warm, supportive space to help children, teens and adults better understand anxiety, develop practical coping strategies and build confidence in navigating life’s challenges.
What does anxiety look like?
Anxiety is a natural response to stress, uncertainty or situations that feel threatening. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, but when worry becomes frequent or begins interfering with everyday life, additional support can be helpful.
Anxiety can affect our thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviours. You might experience:
- Constant worrying or overthinking.
- Feeling restless, tense or on edge.
- Difficulty relaxing or switching off your thoughts.
- Fear of making mistakes or disappointing others.
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
- Avoiding situations that feel uncomfortable.
- Seeking frequent reassurance.
- Physical symptoms such as a racing heart or stomach discomfort.
Sometimes anxiety is easy to recognize. Other times, it can show up as frustration, perfectionism, procrastination or withdrawing from activities.
Anxiety in children and teens
Children and teens experience anxiety differently depending on their age, development and individual experiences.
A younger child might struggle with separation, worry about making mistakes or become upset when faced with something unfamiliar. An older child or teen might experience anxiety around school, friendships, social situations, academic expectations or the future.
As a former teacher, I understand how anxiety can affect a child’s ability to learn, participate, build friendships and feel confident at school. I also understand how difficult it can be for parents to watch their child struggle and feel unsure about how to help.
Counselling provides children and teens with an opportunity to understand their worries, develop coping skills and build confidence. I also work with parents and caregivers to help them feel more confident supporting their child’s emotional needs. See counselling for children, counselling for teens and parent and family support.
Anxiety in adults
Anxiety can affect more than just how you feel. It can influence your relationships, work, sleep, decision-making and ability to enjoy everyday life. You might find yourself constantly thinking ahead, replaying conversations, imagining worst-case scenarios or feeling like you always need to be prepared for what could go wrong.
Perhaps you appear to be managing everything on the outside, but internally you feel overwhelmed, restless or exhausted. Even when things are going well, it can be difficult to quiet your mind. Sometimes it’s clear what is causing your anxiety. Other times, you may feel on edge without knowing exactly why.
How can counselling help with anxiety?
Counselling isn’t about eliminating every worry or never feeling anxious again. Anxiety is a normal human emotion. The goal is to develop a healthier relationship with anxiety so it doesn’t have to make decisions for you.
Together, we can work toward helping you or your child:
- Better understand anxiety triggers.
- Recognize the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
- Identify unhelpful thinking patterns.
- Develop practical coping strategies.
- Build confidence in managing uncomfortable situations and uncertainty.
- Gradually approach challenging experiences.
- Improve emotional awareness and regulation.
- Find ways to create more balance in everyday life.
My approach to anxiety counselling
I draw on evidence-informed therapeutic approaches, adapting our work to each person’s age, experiences and individual needs.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) helps us understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviours influence one another. We explore unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical strategies for responding differently.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on changing how we respond to difficult thoughts and feelings. Rather than spending all our energy trying to get rid of anxiety, we learn ways to make space for uncomfortable emotions while continuing to do the things that matter to us.
- Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) can help parents better understand and respond to their child’s emotional experiences. Parents play an important role in helping children feel supported as they navigate anxiety and big feelings.
I offer individual counselling for children (age 4+), teens and adults, as well as parent and family support, in person in my Stittsville office or online anywhere in Ontario.
Sessions, fees and scope
Sessions are 50 minutes: $170 for individual sessions and $200 for family sessions. No HST, and I provide receipts for insurance. See Fees and the FAQ for details.
Counselling with me focuses on emotional and everyday mental health concerns. I don’t provide diagnoses or formal assessments; if another kind of support would serve you better, I’ll help you think about where to turn.
Common questions
Do I need a diagnosis to get help for anxiety?
No. You don’t need a diagnosis to start counselling.
Can you help my anxious child?
Yes. I work with children from age 4 and teens, and with parents, so they can support their child at home.
Can anxiety counselling be done online?
Yes. Online sessions are available anywhere in Ontario and work well for many teens and adults.
Related support
Let’s take the first step
You don’t have to let anxiety hold you back. Let’s take the first step together. A free 15-minute call is an easy way to ask questions and see if we’re a good fit.
Book a free 15-minute callPrefer to talk? Call 613-577-2275
50-minute sessions · $170 individual · $200 family · No HST · Receipts for insurance