Become a better you.

Anger is a natural emotion, but uncontrolled, anger can damage your mental and physical health, and be lethal to relationships, employment, life successes, as well as one’s overall happiness and well-being. Though it may seem as though anger is automatic, anger is actually an emotional reaction that can be changed, like any other. Sayu assists in gaining insight into the underlying causes for an individual's anger, learning techniques to cope with irritability and frustration, and practicing more appropriate ways to express emotion. Through anger management therapy, discover the power to eliminate unwanted, aggressive reactions and to replace them with more productive responses. Learn to gain control of your emotions, and ultimately, your life.

At Sayu, we provide individualized counseling sessions with a registered clinical psychologist and supervised therapist to teach cognitive-behavioural techniques to cope with anxiety.  General Anxiety is defined as excessive worry that does not pertain to any one specific event, but rather, everyday life events that do not normally warrant such level of concern - Those with generalized anxiety tend to anticipate unfortunate events, and their level of worry is often unrealistic or disproportionate to the situation.  We also treat Social Anxiety (excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations, including intense nervousness and self-consciousness due to fear of being closely watched, judged, and criticized by others); Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (having unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations, and/or behaviours that make people feel driven to do something); Panic Disorder; and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  

Depression is a psychological mood disorder that results in many emotional, physical, behavioural, and cognitive symptoms, which can severely impact an individual's level of functioning.  Depression can result from one factor or a combination of many, including an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, history of trauma or abuse, hormonal changes (i. e. post-birth), difficult life events (such as divorce, loss of job, or low income), chronic illness, or substance abuse.  People with a family history of depression are also more likely to develop the condition.  "Seasonal" Depression is a form of depression that occurs in association with a loss of daylight, affecting adults during fall or winter months. Sayu offers individualized counseling sessions with a registered clinical psychologist and supervised therapist. 

Emotional and psychological trauma results from a traumatic or deeply stressful event that compromised one’s sense of safety, security, and confidence in the world. Traumatic events may include directly experiencing actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence, or learning that the event occurred to a close family member or friend, accidentally or violently.  Sayu offers a safe haven, where you can learn to emotionally heal from your trauma. We acknowledge the hardships that victims of trauma have endured, and the difficulties involved in changing patterns of behaviour, thoughts, and emotions.

Bullying can have devastating emotional and psychological impacts on adolescents and young adults, and at times, leads to suicide.  In these cases, parents and families are left emotionally scarred and traumatized, scanning and re-scanning the events that led to the tragedy, and wondering whether there was more they could have done to prevent it.  If you or your child are suffering due to bullying, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask for help. At Sayu, we offer much-needed support and guidance, as well as counselling to assist in building self-assertiveness, self-esteem, confidence, and conflict resolution, and overcoming the traumatic effects of abuse. 

Sayu's Healthy Eating Program is designed for those who wish to improve their eating patterns and develop a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.  The program is customized to meet the specific needs of each individual, with the assistance of registered clinical psychologists, medical physicians, supervised therapists, naturopathic doctors, fitness professionals, registered dietitians, and nutritionists. Once specific needs are determined through an initial consultation, each client benefits from the integrated and coordinated efforts of our staff, in order to ensure that goals are achieved.  We will assist you in taking an active role in your health and achieving sustainable results that will foster greater energy levels, a positive outlook, and a stabilized mood.

When faced with so many options, choosing a career can be very challenging.  At any age, individuals can be faced with the difficulty of finding a career that suits their interests and skills, while also meeting their financial needs and providing enough means to survive.  Whether you are a young adult planning to apply for colleges or universities after secondary school, or are choosing to switch career paths later in life, career counselling can be advantageous for you.  Sayu has the tools and options to assist you in determining your inner strengths, interests, and aptitudes. First, individuals will be interviewed by a career counsellor.  Once an appropriate career direction is established, we will guide you through the steps to attaining your goals, while offering support and effective ways to cope with the stress involved.   

Chronic pain can take a grave toll on one’s emotional health and well-being, leading to depression, anger, and anxiety, especially since our ability to cope with pain seems to diminish over time.  Depression is by far the most common emotion associated with chronic back pain. Pain often impacts one’s sleep patterns, resulting in excessive fatigue, low mood, and frustration and irritability. Pain-related restrictions typically lead to social isolation and a lack of enjoyable activities, which further detracts from one’s level of recreation, joy, and quality of life. Because the mind and body are interconnected, treatment for chronic pain requires tools that address both the psychological and physical aspects of the condition.  At Sayu, we offer the psychological means to learn how to manage or reduce pain more effectively.