Chronic Stress

Chronic Stress Counselling and Treatment in North Vancouver, BC and West Vancouver, BC

Does Chronic Stress have you Feeling Stressed and Overwhelmed?

Chronic stress can take a toll on your mental and physical health, leaving you feeling exhausted, irritable, and unable to cope. It's a common issue that can affect anyone, but with the right tools and support, you can manage it effectively.

Understanding the Science - The Impacts of Chronic Stress

When we experience stress, our bodies release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing us for a "fight or flight" response. While this reaction is helpful in short-term situations, chronic stress can lead to a constant state of heightened arousal, which can disrupt sleep, digestion, and immune function.

What does Chronic Stress feel like for you?

  • Fatigue:

"I feel constantly tired, even after sleeping."

  • Difficulty concentrating:

"It's hard to focus on tasks, my mind wanders."

  • Irritability:

"I'm easily angered or frustrated."

  • Physical symptoms:
  • "I have headaches, muscle tension, or stomach problems."
  • Sleep disturbances:

"I have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep."

  • Anxiety:

"I feel overwhelmed and anxious."

  • Loss of interest:

"I've lost interest in activities I used to enjoy."

Many clients pay little or nothing out of pocket — we direct bill Pacific Blue Cross, SunLife, Telus Health / Canada Life, GreenShield, and more. See all insurance & funding options → Direct billing available

Hope and Healing - Treating Chronic Stress

Our team of Registered Clinical Counsellors in North Vancouver and West Vancouver helps clients understand and address the patterns that keep chronic stress activated — even when circumstances improve. We use evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, and somatic approaches to build practical, sustainable tools for regulation. Biofeedback and Neurofeedback are also available to directly train the nervous system's stress response — measuring and rebalancing your physiological signals in real time.

Ready to reclaim your peace of mind? Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Need help finding the right counsellor for you? Get matched to one of our qualified Registered Clinical Counsellors

Work with our counselling team

Our counsellors help clients understand and address the roots of chronic stress — building lasting tools for resilience. Sessions in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and by secure video.

Maryam Mills

Maryam Mills

MA, RCC-ACS, CCC, BCN, EMDRIA-Consultant — Clinic Director

“My aim is to guide clients toward realizing their highest potential — drawing on EMDR, neurofeedback, and a deeply holistic understanding of what shapes each person's experience.”

EMDR Neurofeedback Trauma Couples Hypnotherapy Farsi Full profile →
Teresa Berkholtz

Teresa Berkholtz

MA, RCC

“I believe every individual has the capacity to grow through their struggles and emerge with clarity, strength, and purpose — I use EMDR and parts work to help clients find what keeps them stuck.”

EMDR IFS / Parts work Somatic Gottman Full profile →
Alireza Badri

Alireza Badri

MA, RCC

“I bring a calm, thoughtful presence — helping clients build self-awareness, strengthen coping skills, and reconnect with their sense of strength using EMDR, DBT, and ACT.”

EMDR DBT ACT Gottman Farsi Full profile →
Sogol Shams

Sogol Shams

PhD, MACP, RCC

“I'm dedicated to creating a culturally sensitive, supportive environment — drawing on CBT, EMDR, and play therapy to empower clients of all ages to build resilience and thrive.”

EMDR CBT Play therapy IFS Farsi Full profile →
Jackie McGregor

Jackie McGregor

MACP, RCC

“True healing involves attending to the whole person — I integrate IFS, somatic, and Gottman approaches to help clients achieve deeper self-discovery and lasting change.”

IFS / Parts work Somatic CBT Gottman Full profile →
Stephanie Stanton

Stephanie Stanton

MACP, RCC, RRT

“My background as a respiratory therapist shaped my understanding of how stress and anxiety live in the body — I work alongside clients to explore the patterns that may no longer be serving them.”

EMDR IFS Somatic Gottman Full profile →
Diba Ferdowsi

Diba Ferdowsi

Counselling Intern — available through our low-cost counselling program

“I offer a warm, non-judgmental space for clients navigating anxiety, depression, and life transitions — supervised by our senior clinical team.”

CBT DBT Mindfulness Farsi Low-cost program only Full profile →

Ready to get started? Not sure who to book with — we'll match you with the right counsellor.

Book a free 15 min. consultation

Chronic Stress — Frequently Asked Questions

Normal stress is a temporary response to a specific challenge — a deadline, a difficult conversation, a life change. It resolves when the situation resolves. Chronic stress is sustained activation of the stress response over weeks, months, or years, often with no clear endpoint. It takes a cumulative toll on physical health, mental health, relationships, and cognitive function — and often builds gradually enough that people don't notice how affected they've become until they're significantly depleted.
Both matter, but counselling addresses what lifestyle changes often can't — the patterns of thinking, relating, and responding that keep the stress response activated even when circumstances improve. Understanding why you react the way you do, building more effective boundaries, and processing the underlying drivers of chronic stress produces more durable change than willpower and habit alone. Neurofeedback can also directly regulate the nervous system's stress response as an adjunct.
Sessions typically explore what's driving the stress, how it shows up in your body and behaviour, and what's making it hard to step off the treadmill. Your counsellor will help you identify patterns — in how you think, how you relate to others, and how you relate to yourself — and build practical, sustainable tools for regulation. Modalities used include CBT, mindfulness-based approaches, somatic therapy, and IFS depending on what fits.
Yes — high functioning and chronic stress often go together. Many people maintain high performance while running on empty, using achievement as a way to manage anxiety or prove worth. The cost shows up in health, relationships, sleep, and eventually in burnout. Functioning well externally doesn't mean the internal cost isn't real or significant.

Community and Industry Resources for Chronic Stress

  • Anxiety Canada: A national charity dedicated to providing information and support for individuals with anxiety disorders.
  • CMHA North and West Vancouver: Local mental health organization offering a range of services, including counselling and support groups.
  • HealthLink BC: A provincial health information service providing reliable health advice and information.
  • Vancouver Coastal Health: The regional health authority responsible for providing health services in Vancouver and surrounding areas.