Anxiety Therapy Vancouver
Welcome to our practice. We offer anxiety therapy for people living in Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver and BC-wide. Learn about anxiety therapy and book a consultation to discuss your options.
Meet the Therapist
Dr. Bradley Murray, Psychoanalyst and Registered Clinical Counsellor, RCC, FIPA
I am a psychoanalyst and Registered Clinical Counsellor who offers online therapy for individuals living in greater Vancouver and throughout BC. I also offer in-person therapy sessions in North Vancouver. I often work with clients who would like help overcoming different types of anxiety, such as worry, panic, avoidance of feared situations, and social anxiety. I look forward to hearing from you if you are interested in starting therapy for anxiety.
Greater Vancouver Anxiety Therapy Services
One of the most common reasons people seek out therapy in Vancouver is because they are experiencing some degree of anxiety that is interfering with their functioning or making life less satisfying than it would otherwise be.
Anxiety can include excessive worry, in which the individual persistently overthinks negative things or has disproportionate concerns about everyday matters, leading to high stress levels.
A common subjective experience of anxious people is feeling restless, on edge, or hypervigilant.
Increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and other stress responses linked to the fight or flight instinct are physical responses that are hallmarks of anxiety.
People who feel anxious often have difficulty concentrating, as intrusive thoughts disrupt their focus. This can take away from productivity and impact performance at work or school.
Other features of anxiety can include sleep disturbances, which make it difficult to feel rested and function at an optimal level in daily life.
Psychodynamic therapy for anxiety explores unconscious factors that can exist at the root of anxiety. These can include inner conflicts, suppressed emotions, and difficult memories of past events.
Psychodynamic therapists will typically take an interest in a client’s earliest experiences of anxiety in order to understand developmental factors that may be relevant to their anxiety.
From the psychodynamic perspective, although it is important to understand here-and-now experiences and triggers of anxiety, the root causes of anxiety often lie earlier in a person‘s life. Part of therapeutic change includes developing greater insight into oneself.
Psychodynamic therapy places a strong emphasis on cultivating a stable and safe therapeutic relationship in which to process memories and emotions and face avoided situations that may be connected with fear and anxiety.
Common Goals and Benefits of Psychodynamic Therapy for Vancouver Residents
Work to understand and address psychological symptoms
Unaddressed depression, anxiety, stress, and other types of emotional distress can reduce life and satisfaction. These have also been found to be correlated with physical health problems.
Increasing self-knowledge
Getting to know ourselves better includes reflecting on how our past influences our present lives, getting to know longstanding personality traits, becoming familiar with fears that have been holding back progress, and figuring out what we most want in our lives.
Reflecting on relationships
Many people benefit from taking some time to think about their relationships, exploring themes such as closeness, distance, trust, and communication.
Self-expression
People often find that developing the capacity to talk freely and openly over the course of a therapy process can help them gain comfort exercising creativity and self-expression in various other areas of their lives.
Client Experiences of Psychodynamic Therapy
Everyone is different, and some people will find themselves especially drawn to psychodynamic therapy. A study in the journal Psychotherapy Research found that clients who most appreciate psychodynamic therapy are drawn to several features of this approach.
Psychodynamic therapy aims to help people gain insight through exploration, so they can understand themselves better than before
It seeks to help individuals develop a more coherent life story
It aims to help people foster self-acceptance through understanding
Integrative Anxiety Therapy
In our practice, psychodynamic approaches to anxiety are integrated with other helpful approaches in a way that is tailored to the individual.
The main approach we draw on, in addition to psychodynamic therapy, is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Clients may benefit from CBT strategies for managing anxiety, which emphasizes addressing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours.
One key technique involves identifying and challenging thinking traps, such as catastrophizing or black-and-white thinking, which often heighten anxiety. These thoughts can be reframed in more balanced ways. Another core component of CBT is behavioural experiments or exposure therapy, where individuals gradually face feared situations in a controlled manner.
This process helps reduce avoidance behaviours and reduce anxious responses over the long-term.
Online and Telephone Therapy for Anxiety in Vancouver and BC-wide
Many people in Greater Vancouver and throughout BC are juggling busy schedules these days. This can make it difficult to attend regular weekly in-person anxiety therapy appointments. If in-person therapy would be a challenge for you, the flexibility of online anxiety therapy may be a good choice for you.
Discuss Your Options
A 10-minute consultation allows us to discuss your concerns and ways therapy may help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety Therapy
Answers to help you get started.
Our practice is grounded in psychotherapy effectiveness research and specializes in psychodynamic therapy. We also value an integrative approach, incorporating techniques from other methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to best meet your needs.
Yes, therapy sessions are confidential. We prioritize your privacy and ensure all discussions remain secure.
No, a physician referral is not required. You can reach out to us directly to begin therapy.
Typically, therapy sessions are scheduled once per week. This regular schedule helps maintain consistency and progress in the therapeutic process.
Yes, research supports the efficacy of therapy in addressing anxiety and the underlying factors contributing to it. We tailor our methods to meet your unique situation.
Book a Consultation
Get started with a 10-minute consultation to discuss your concerns.