Gaslighting Therapy
Gaslighting: Let’s start with exploring WHAT Gaslighting is.
Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse in which the abuser manipulates the victim into doubting their own perceptions and memories. Gaslighting can take many forms, including denying events or information that the victim knows to be true, causing the victim to doubt their own memories or perceptions, and manipulating evidence to support their own versions of events.
Gaslighting can be very confusing and disorienting for the victim, as they may feel like they cannot trust their own perceptions or memories. They may begin to question their own reality and feel a sense of uncertainty and insecurity about their own experiences.
Symptoms of gaslighting can vary, but common symptoms include:
Difficulty making decisions
Difficulty trusting one's own perceptions or memories
Feeling confused or disoriented
Feeling like one is "going crazy"
Feeling isolated or alone
Difficulty expressing oneself
Low self-esteem
Gaslighting can have a severe impact on a victim's mental and emotional well-being, as it can cause them to doubt their own reality and experiences.
It can also lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and helplessness. If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing gaslighting, it is important to seek support from a registered/regulated Psychotherapist. This is vastly different from friends because the Psychotherapist is able to take a more objective position and highlight what’s going on in your emotional experiences.
We are also able to help you achieve clarity regarding confusing mental processes that can keep you in a loop.
It is also important to remember that gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse. With the right support, individuals who have experienced gaslighting can learn to rebuild their confidence and trust in themselves and their perceptions.
Psychotherapy can be a helpful treatment for individuals who have experienced gaslighting, as it can provide a safe and supportive space for them to process and heal from their experiences.
HOW do we manage gaslighting through Psychotherapy?
In psychotherapy for gaslighting victims, the therapist may help the client identify and challenge any negative thought patterns or beliefs that may have been reinforced by the gaslighting experience. The therapist may also help the client build self-esteem and a sense of self-worth, as gaslighting can often lead to feelings of self-doubt and low self-esteem. The therapist may also help the client explore any past experiences that may have made them more vulnerable to gaslighting, such as a history of abuse or neglect. This can help the client understand the roots of their vulnerability and develop strategies to protect themselves in the future.
We often use attachment theory to help frame gaslighting experiences. According to attachment theory, the way in which an individual's primary caregivers respond to their needs and emotions during childhood can have a lasting impact on their attachment style and relationships throughout life. In the context of gaslighting, attachment theory can help explain why some individuals may be more vulnerable to gaslighting than others. For example, an individual with an insecure attachment style, such as anxious or avoidant attachment, may be more likely to experience gaslighting due to their difficulty trusting others or their tendency to doubt their own perceptions and emotions.
The therapist may also help the client develop assertiveness skills and teach them how to set boundaries and communicate their needs effectively. This can be especially important for individuals who have experienced gaslighting, as it can help them regain a sense of control over their own lives and relationships.
Throughout the psychotherapy process, the therapist may encourage the client to set goals for themselves and track their progress. The therapist may also provide the client with homework assignments to complete between sessions, such as practicing assertiveness skills or journaling about their experiences. Your therapist will work with you to help you validate your experiences, heal, and rebuild yourself.
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Throughout the gaslighting psychotherapy process, the therapist may encourage the client to set goals for themselves and track their progress. The therapist may also provide the client with homework assignments to complete between sessions, such as practicing relaxation techniques or journaling about their experiences with gaslighting.
Your therapist will work with you to support you at your speed. Everyone’s experience of gaslightingis unique and that’s why Psychotherapy has to be tailored to the individual.
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Issues We Work With
At YYZ Talks, we offer comprehensive support for a wide range of mental health concerns and life challenges. Our experienced therapists are equipped to address various issues that may be impacting your well-being and quality of life.
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If your life is being impacted by your difficulty paying attention / impulsivity / hyperactivity / disorganization, reach out and we can help you figure out where to go from here. In some cases, formal assessment and medication are warranted. We go beyond coaching to explore how ADHD affects all domains of your functioning. We work with clients to understand and process the complex impacts that ADHD has upon their self-image.
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We provide anger management, PAR program, and various combinations for both Court ordered cases and personal development purposes.
We approach anger as a symptom, and work with you to uncover what's really going on. We provide strategies, and psychotherapy to help you better gain control of yourself. We don’t just explore anger in the here and now, but also the origin story of your emotional world
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There are different types of anxiety disorders, including phobias, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy is shown to be an effective approach to anxiety. One goal of therapy would be to learn how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours work together and to change the thought patterns that feed anxiety.
We also dedicate part of the process to understand how your anxiety came to be by exploring your childhood
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Being in a relationship can be challenging. Whether with a romantic partner, a good friend, or family members, each can be marked with struggle that can be confusing and frustrating. We can offer an unbiased external perspective, without any agenda other than your happiness and well-being, to help manage these relationships in the best way possible.
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Feelings of deep sadness, lack of motivation or interest, and apathy are all characteristics of
depression or a depressive mood and it can be very distressing. We can help manage this gray,
heavy, or empty feeling by implementing small changes in your day to day life, as well as
approach broader issues in a safe, supportive, and comforting environment.
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Gaslighting is a confusing process to be the victim of. Between the loss of self, confusion, and disoriented narrative, we can often feel erratic and out of sorts long after we've moved on from those relationships. Work with an experienced Psychotherapist to find yourself again and make sense of your narrative.
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Our grief and loss services are primarily provided by Laura, who holds an Advanced Grief Certification, and a certificate in emotional regulation strategies.
Loss can occur in many forms, from a sudden and terrible shock to a slow or painful decline. Some losses are literal, such as losing a loved one, relationship, job, or home, while others relate to one’s identity such as loss of identity, independence, and hope. Loss therapy focuses on helping individuals take the time to explore the impact of loss on one’s emotions, thoughts, and perceptions, to process emotional responses, and to empower clients with resiliency to move forward while preserving the memory of what has been lost.
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Interpersonal conflict is inevitable in our lives. How we deal with it, both within ourselves and in communication with others, can make all the difference. This form of therapy explores our reactiveness, helps to understand ourselves more deeply, and seeks to find compassion for ourselves and the other. Through learning how to navigate conflict, we aim to develop stronger, healthier relationships.
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Evolving views on religion and spirituality can unfortunately lead to conflict within social and familial groups. There can be the loss of support systems, loss of meaning making, and the loss of routines, roles, and responsibilities. Our approach for individuals going through this rooted in helping you pursue meaning in your life. This involves making sense of your relationship with multiple domains, and managing changes to your identity.
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We all know that life is full of change, but to really accept that and adapt to changing circumstances and expectations takes a lot of work. A new role whether it’s at work or at home requires us to adjust many variables such as expectations, hopes, and responsibilities. This can be quite stressful and lead to conflict, disappointment, and communication issues.
Our Psychotherapists can help you navigate this by helping you identify blindspots, manage expectations of yourself and others, and develop a greater insight into why you’re experiencing something the way you are.
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Unless you live in a hammock, you're going to face stressful situations. A little bit of stress is normal and the stress response can be helpful. Having a lot of stress all the time is not helpful. It means your mind and body are running in overdrive, and that is taking a huge toll on your resources. It's not sustainable and more and more studies are showing the negative impacts stress can have on you.
We work with you to create a custom stress-management plan. Together we'll identify your stressors and existing patterns, develop a self-care routine, find healthy outlets, and develop resilience.
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¼ of our caseload is students. We love working with you before the world has made you jaded. Being a student is a fascinating and difficult transition. Issues like feeling homesick, academic pressure, time management, test anxiety, social struggles, family and career expectations, and more can arise. Talking to a Psychotherapist can provide support and a safe space to problem solve to ensure you get the most out of your post-secondary experience.
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Traumatic events can have wide-reaching effects on your life. Whether you have been diagnosed with PTSD or not, whether your trauma stems from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, we can help. Traumatic events overwhelm the brain, and lead to symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, being easily startled, avoidant, numbness, emotional volatility, cognitive issues, and feeling distant from life.
Our team is experienced in working with trauma in all its forms to help you get back into your life and your relationships. For Individuals suffering from complex trauma, our Certified Clinical Trauma Professionals are always available to help you on your recovery journey
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Life is full of unknowable factors, and dealing with uncertainty is a part of life we can't avoid. Some people are more sensitive to uncertainty, hating it and trying to control it as much as they can. This can lead to a lot of avoidance, distraction, procrastination, impulsivity, and anxiety. We approach uncertainty through multiple angles to improve your insight, and tolerance and build better-coping strategies.
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If your struggle isn’t captured by this list, reach out to us anyway to discuss if we can help. If we can’t, we’ll try our best to find you help at another practice. We’re bad capitalists and will happily refer you to another practice if we think they can help you better than we can.
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