Below are some of the common issues that we deal with at Shore Therapy. Please contact us if there is something specific you wish to discuss even if it is not listed below.
See below for information on:
- Anxiety/Stress
- Eating Issues
- Depression
- Bipolar I and II Disorders
- Marriage Counselling
- Couples Counselling
Anxiety/Stress
Anxiety can be a very serious issue for a number of people. Stress or Anxiety can come in all shapes and forms and can be very difficult to cope with, particularly as it is often linked to significant life changing events. Such as the death of a loved one, trauma, change in employment situations, change in financial circumstances, moving house or the ending of a relationship (Hunt, Andrews & Sumich, 2010).
Stress can display itself in a number of different ways. Many people have identified the following list as the most common symptoms of stress:
- Feelings of tiredness or fatigue
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Sweating
- Irritable mood
- Restlessness or nervousness
- Inability to relax
- Excessive worry about the future or feeling on edge
- Difficulty concentrating
There are also a number of Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders that can affect how a person functions in their every day life. Such as:
- Panic Disorder – unpredictable attacks of anxiety or panic
- Agoraphobia – anxiety about being in a place where escape may be difficult or embarrassing
- Social Phobia – a fear of being judged by other people, and may act in a humiliating manner in public (eg. eating in public, speaking in public, using public toilets)
- Specific Phobia – an irrational fear of a particular object or situation (eg. spiders, heights, small spaces etc)
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder – persistent and generalised and excessive feelings of anxiety without a known cause
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – persistent, intrusive, unwanted thoughts that are difficult to control and uncontrollable urges to perform particular acts (eg. Washing hands over and over, turning on and off light switches, checking and re-checking locked doors)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -– long lasting anxiety following a traumatic event (eg. physical/emotional/sexual abuse, natural disasters, life-threatening illness, car accidents)
How we can help
Shore Therapy has a wide range of experience working with clients who struggle with Anxiety or Stress-Related Disorders and those having a tough time coping with stressful personal situations.
The Therapists at Shore Therapy each have their own unique way of working with this issue, ranging from breathing control, relaxation training, mindfulness strategies, to sensory modulation, gradual exposure and talking therapy.
Hunt, C. J., Andrews, G, & Sumich, H. J. (2010). The management of mental
disorders: Handbook for the anxiety, stress-related and somatoform
disorders. World Health Organization Training and Reference Centre.
Anger
Anger is an emotion that we all experience, though each of us expresses our anger in different ways. Some may explode, and become aggressive or lash out at others, while others, may repress or smother their anger as they feel unsafe to express this. Anger is often seen as a negative emotion, one we should not feel or express. However, anger is a healthy and natural emotion to feel, the trick is to find a safe, healthy way to express this. It is about finding how you can become assertive, rather than aggressive or repressive.
How we can help
Shore Therapy has a number of different ways to encourage and develop strong, healthy ways to express our anger. We offer individual psychotherapy sessions where you will work with your chosen therapist to uncover and discover the personal, historical or familial dynamics that have encouraged your anger issues. We also provide a Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) skills group with an emphasis on anger management. It is up to you whether you decide that individual psychotherapy or the DBT skills group is your treatment preference, but it is highly recommended by those at Shore Therapy that the combination of the individual therapy and the group work is the best way to develop new ways to manage your anger.
Eating Issues
Eating issues are a very common problem for a number of people. Often during times of stress or anxiety we can find our eating habits change. For some, this means over eating as a way to self-sooth, for others this could be restricting our eating or forgetting to eat. This can cause a number of issues around how a person feels about themselves. Self -confidence and esteem often decrease when our weight changes. It is therefore, important for us to develop strong and healthy strategies to find new ways to self-sooth or manage our eating issues.
There are also number of Eating Disorders that can affect a person’s wellbeing. Each of these disorders can often be a way of coping with the feelings of powerlessness and overwhelming emotions.
- Anorexia Nervosa – deliberate weight loss with a fear of weight gain and obesity.
- Bulimia Nervosa – uncontrolled and repeated binge eating with a focus on food, body weight, size and shape.
How we can help
Shore Therapy has experience working with both types of eating disorders and general stress related eating issues. The therapists at shore therapy use a variety of different techniques to manage these issues. Such as, empathetic intervention, basic education, food/behaviour diaries, eating plans, development of new coping strategies, sensory modulation, distress tolerance skills, and development of insight. Each of these is based on a safe, strong and trustworthy therapeutic relationship that is developed between you and your chosen therapist.
Depression
Depression is a very serious issue that is becoming increasingly common in New Zealand society. Depression can be described as feeling very low and having no interest or pleasure in activities that in the past have been a source of enjoyment. Depression can affect people in different ways and often has a large affect on people’s lives. The following are some common symptoms of depression:
- Remarkably low mood
- Loss of interest and enjoyment
- Ideas/thoughts of self harm or suicide
- Disturbed sleep
- Disturbed eating habit
- Decrease sexual appetite
- Tired
- Low concentration
There are also a number of disorders that are associated with depression. These disorders can also have a huge impact on your everyday life. These are some of the common disorders:
- Major Depressive Disorder – extremely low mood that is very consistent from one day to the next.
- Postnatal (postpartum) Depression – low mood, anxiety, feelings of guilt/anger/hopelessness, suicidal thoughts/behaviours within 3-6 months following childbirth.
How we can help
Shore Therapy has extensive experience working with all forms of depression. The Therapists at Shore Therapy work to understand and resolve personal or historical issues that may cause or maintain your low mood. The therapists also have behavioural skills to help with motivation and identifying aspects of behaviour that may be affecting your depression.
Bipolar I and II Disorders
Bipolar Disorder is often a very exhausting and emotional experience for the individual. Bipolar is a mood disorder that can present in a cyclical manner. There are two distinct episodes that are often associated with bipolar; depression and mania. The depressive episode appears much the same as Depression. However, the Manic episode is usually associated with impaired judgement, inappropriate/bizarre behaviour, risky behaviour (financially, physically, sexually) and difficulty with personal insight into un-wellness. People who experience Bipolar often have periods of remission or ‘normality’ in between these episodes.
Bipolar can be a very stressful disorder for both the individual and those around them. It is extremely important that people who suffer with this disorder have healthy natural support networks and are able to manage their emotions, particularly in their manic episodes.
Bipolar I and II are almost identical. They each present in a similar manner as mentioned above. However, with Bipolar I there is often the presence of delusions (false belief that are held firm despite contradictory evidence. Eg. Thinking they are Jesus Christ) or hallucinations (seeing, hearing, smelling, sensing or toasting things that other people do not see, sense, hear, smell or taste. Eg. Hearing Voices)
Here are some common mania symptoms associated with Bipolar Disorders:
- Increased energy
- Rapid speech (can be difficult to understand)
- Impulsive behaviour
- Less need for sleep
- Decreased concentration
- Delusions or Hallucinations
- Grandiosity
- Impaired judgment
- Elevated mood
- Enhanced sexual drive
How we can help
The Therapists at Shore Therapy have a number of years experience working with this diagnosis. Shore Therapy specialises in talking therapy. It is important for people with Bipolar to feel as though they have a safe and contained space for them to express their feelings around their experience and potential difficulty with personal relationships. Shore Therapy is able to provide this experience for those willing to work on gaining insight into themselves and their relationships with others.
Marriage/Couples Counselling/Therapy
Marriage/relationships are not always easy. Sometimes they are just down right hard! Experiencing issues with your significant other can severely impact every part of your life, whether it be work, family, social life, home life or even alone time! Often in our busy schedules we find it difficult to find time to work on our relationships, yet these are the people that we turn to in time of need. So therefore, it is essential that we look after our relationships so they are strong, healthy and resilient to all that life can throw at you.
How we can help
Shore Therapy can offer you both an allocated time for you and your partner to sit down with a professional and work on your relationship. Your therapist will offer you a calm, neutral and contained space for you both to hash out your issues and work towards a more resilient relationship. Your therapist may offer you insight into your behaviour, emotions and past experiences that may be affecting the health of your relationship.
Immigration/Cultural Issues
New Zealand is home to many people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities.
Immigrating offers the hope of a fresh start and new opportunities. At the same time it is an extremely challenging experience.
Immigration and mental health
Moving to a different place means having to face many uncertainties. The process of adjusting to a new culture can lead us to question almost everything we took for granted, including our identity, strengths and accomplishments, as well as personal/cultural values and beliefs. Even well settled migrants face ongoing cultural and communication barriers. Some of the common issues that affect immigrant and refugee communities include major depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress, gambling problems, family violence and addiction. They may feel isolated, discouraged, overwhelmed or even helpless. However, it is common to become preoccupied with the practical issues of settling in, and fail to notice that their mental and emotional well being is declining. Many fail to reach out for support because of a sense of shame or feelings of failure.
Impact of immigration on family and couple relationships
Each member of a family or couple will go through their personal challenges with adjusting to a new environment. In addition, family members and couples may find that their role in the family or relationship changes as they take on new responsibilities. This can put additional strain on family or couple relationships, and lead to misunderstanding and conflict. Members of families or couples can feel very isolated, especially as they no longer have the social structure they had back home or the support of extended family and friends.
How we can help
At Shore Therapy we are committed to practicing in a cross-culturally responsive way. You can speak to a trained, sensitive, open minded professional who will support you in your struggle to adjust to the practical, cultural and emotional challenges involved in settling in.