If you are looking for support with anxiety or depression, you do not have to do it alone. My practice is based in Waterloo, Ontario, and while I work locally, I also serve adults across the entire province through secure virtual sessions. This means you can receive therapy from the comfort and privacy of your own space anywhere in Ontario.
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common concerns that bring people to therapy. They often appear together, feeding into one another in ways that can feel overwhelming. Many people describe feeling trapped in what is known as the anxiety depression loop. When anxiety is high, it often leads to exhaustion and hopelessness. When depression sets in, it can drain energy and motivation which in turn makes it harder to cope with stress and uncertainty. This cycle can make life feel heavier with each passing day. Understanding how these two experiences interact is often the first step toward breaking the cycle and finding relief.
Schema Therapy
In my practice I integrate different depth therapy approaches that work together to address the roots of anxiety and depression. One of the key frameworks I use is Schema Therapy. Schema Therapy helps identify and heal long standing emotional patterns that were often formed in childhood or through difficult life experiences. Some schemas are primarily anxiety based and tend to keep people in a state of hypervigilance, worry, or self criticism. Others are more depression based and lead to withdrawal, feelings of failure, or a sense of emptiness. Many schemas combine elements of both, creating patterns that fuel both anxiety and depression at the same time. Schema Therapy offers practical tools as well as deep insight, making it a powerful approach not only for anxiety and depression but also for related concerns like OCD and self esteem challenges. By exploring these schemas, we work toward emotional freedom and healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Another powerful modality I use is Emotion Focused Therapy, often called EFT. This approach is grounded in the belief that emotions are not just symptoms to be managed but a source of information and healing. In EFT, we pay close attention to the emotions that surface during sessions. Instead of avoiding or suppressing these feelings, we explore them safely and with compassion. For example, someone who feels intense anxiety might discover that underneath the anxiety is sadness, anger, or a longing for connection that has been ignored. Someone living with depression may find that hidden emotions like grief or disappointment have never been fully processed. Working with these core emotions helps to create healthy shifts in the brain and body. This process can lead to lasting change because it works from the inside out. Unlike some approaches that try to change thoughts alone, EFT believes that deep emotional change creates new patterns of thinking and living.
Psychodynamic Therapy/ Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic Therapy is another approach I draw from in sessions. This method looks at how unconscious patterns and early relationships influence how you feel and cope today. Many people with anxiety or depression notice that they repeat certain patterns in relationships or hold onto critical inner voices without fully knowing why. In psychodynamic work we explore these patterns with curiosity and compassion. For example, someone might notice that they always feel on edge around authority figures, or that they avoid intimacy because it stirs up old fears. By bringing these patterns into awareness, therapy helps release their grip. You gain insight into the deeper layers of your mind which leads to a greater sense of choice and freedom in your day to day life. Over time, this exploration often reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression because it resolves the underlying tensions that have been carried for years.
Integrative Therapy
Combining these talk therapy approaches creates a layered and personalized plan for healing. Some sessions may focus more on identifying schemas and practicing new coping skills. Other sessions may involve deeper emotional processing through EFT or exploration of childhood experiences through a psychodynamic lens. This integrative process respects the fact that no two people are exactly alike. Anxiety and depression do not exist in a vacuum and therapy is most effective when it looks at the whole person.
Virtual therapy makes this work accessible for anyone living in Ontario. Whether you are in a busy city, a smaller community, or a rural area, you can connect with depth therapy that is tailored to your needs. Many people find that meeting virtually allows them to relax more easily in their own environment. It also makes it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule since there is no commute.
Anxiety and depression can feel like they take over every part of life, but healing is possible. Through a blend of Schema Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy, we work together to understand what drives your symptoms and how to move beyond them. The goal is not only to reduce distress but also to help you build a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Moving Through Anxiety and Depression
If you are ready to explore therapy for anxiety or depression and you live anywhere in Ontario, I invite you to reach out. My practice is rooted in compassion, insight, and respect for your unique journey. Together we can begin a process that supports your growth, your healing, and your future.
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Meet Rebecca Steele: Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist (MA, MSW, RSW, CCC)
Rebecca Steele is a Waterloo-based trauma therapist offering virtual counselling to adults across Ontario. With over a decade of experience, she provides individualized, one-on-one support. Rebecca helps individuals work through trauma, grief, major life transitions, relationship stress, low self-esteem, boundary issues, and depression. She has a special focus on treating anxiety-related concerns including: generalized anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, anxious attachment style, health anxiety, separation anxiety, performance anxiety, perfectionism-related anxiety, and postpartum anxiety. She also supports Highly Sensitive People (HSP) and those living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) —including "Pure O" OCD, Relationship OCD, and Religious OCD/Scrupulosity. Her goal is to create a safe and welcoming space where you can explore the deeper roots of your struggles, develop meaningful self-understanding and self-compassion, and move toward lasting change.
Ready to begin? You can book an appointment here or learn more about Rebecca’s online therapy services across Ontario here.
Rebecca Steele
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