Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation Anxiety - Psychologist Counselling Program
Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety, the fear of being apart from loved ones, is a natural and adaptive response crucial for survival. However, in children, this fear can sometimes become excessive and chronic, evolving into a condition known as separation anxiety disorder. Children with this disorder often cling to their parents, avoid sleeping over at friends' homes, and may resist attending school. Thankfully, effective treatments are available for children struggling with separation anxiety. While much of the research on separation anxiety focuses on children, recent studies reveal that this condition can also affect adults. Adults with separation anxiety experience intense and ongoing fears of being apart from loved ones, which may include children, partners, parents, or other close relationships.
When directed toward children, these fears can lead parents to become overprotective, struggling to let their children gain independence. If focused on romantic partners, the affected individual may exhibit controlling, dependent, or jealous behaviors. For adults anxious about their own parents, their lives may revolve around maintaining constant involvement with them, often at great personal cost. Despite its profound impact on social, emotional, and professional functioning, separation anxiety disorder in adults has historically been overlooked as a recognized condition. Fortunately, the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) now includes separation anxiety disorder as a diagnosable condition for adults, alongside children. Even so, adult separation anxiety often goes undetected or is misdiagnosed by researchers and clinicians. Its symptoms are frequently mistaken for those of other disorders, such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, or personality disorders, leading to suboptimal treatment.
The instinct to seek closeness to caregivers and those who provide protection during times of vulnerability is a trait shared by most mammals. In humans, fears of separation from close attachments—such as intimate partners, family members, or close friends—are deeply rooted. However, when these fears become excessive and focused on one or two specific individuals, they can be maladaptive, leading to significant distress and social dysfunction. In such cases, health professionals should consider the possibility of a diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder.
Clinical Indicators of Adult Separation Anxiety
- Repeatedly seeking excessive reassurance about the availability or contact with attachment figures, such as calling them multiple times during the day or needing detailed information about their plans and whereabouts in advance.
- Demanding specific timing and conditions for reunions after being apart from the attachment figure, including ensuring that safety measures are in place (e.g., information about companions, phone numbers, and emergency contact details) to guarantee reconnection.
- Hesitance to leave the home, often displayed as delaying, making excuses, or procrastinating before going out.
- Engaging in "sleep rituals" like sleeping with lights on, keeping the bedroom door open to hear familiar people nearby, playing music in the background, ensuring the attachment figure is available or reachable before bed, and experiencing difficulty sleeping alone.
- Actively seeking out key attachment figures, such as making unnecessary or prolonged phone calls or looking for familiar people associated with their close bonds when those key figures are not available. For adults, maintaining contact—either in person or via phone—can serve as a substitute for the clinging and shadowing behaviors seen in young children.
Manicavasagar, V., Silove, D. (2020). Separation Anxiety Disorder in Adults: Clinical Features, Diagnostic Dilemmas and Treatment Guidelines. Netherlands: Academic Press.
Emotion Focused Therapy - Counselling Services for York Region - Vaughan, ON
Our goal is to create a safe, egalitarian relationship with our partners. Emotional responses are shaped and constructed so each couple can feel safe when expressing themselves. We teach our couples how to respond in this way on an ongoing basis. Couples are taught to recognize that much of their behaviours are influenced by social learning and each of them participate in a ‘cycle’ that keeps them stuck from successful conflict resolution.
EFT meta-analysis studies suggest that 70-73% of couples describe themselves as recovered from marital distress and 90% report having significantly improved after treatment. EFT has also demonstrated success across cultures and social classes.
Substance Abuse Issues
Once our clients have become aware of the factors that influence their use, strategies are put in place to help reduce need and desire. Sessions focus on recognizing the ‘people, places, and things,’ that promote desire/need and provide client’s with tools to correct for thoughts and challenge behaviours. The goal for our program is to see that our clients reduce consumption and develop healthier behaviours to help cope with their abuse issues.
Clients will be encouraged through the use of positive reinforcement and personal health development. Our program will help clients recognize the need to measure commitment rather than progress.
Please note that clients must be interested in completing a substance abuse program and should not be forced. If they are not interested in attending counselling, an intervention is recommended. If you would like to arrange an intervention, please feel free to contact us to find out how we could help.
Couples Counselling - Communication - Vaughan, ON
Our goal at our clinic is to identify variables that may influence the dysfunctional communication you and your partner experience. Together, we will work with you in developing goals for treatment and ensuring you are on the right path to success. We do this by monitoring progress session-by-session and providing guidance every step of the way.
Our clinic will only teach you research supported communication skills and techniques. You will be exposed to material that will help you assess your own communication style (both healthy and unhealthy) and how to effectively use your new knowledge in best practice. We also help our clients learn how to listen and respond empathetically, use appropriate guidelines for decision-making, and teach skills to help deescalate a situation.
Books you may find helpful:
Getting the Love you Want - Harvill Hendrix
Emotional Alchemy: How the Mind Can Heal the Hearth - Tara Bennet Goleman
Love Sense - Sue Johnson
Study Skills
Our program has helped students see success academically by preparing them with time management skills, resources to help them better understand material, memorization techniques, and research based exam/ test taking strategies.
Our program is best suited for individuals who are interested in improving their overall academic performance. Counselling in this area is best suited for college and university students.
Note: We do accept some high school students, however this is dependent on their level of maturity.
For more information, please feel free to contact us at 416-999-3437. Our Vaughan and Maple counselling clinics are here to help!
Client Testimonials
"I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to finally come to counselling. My life has changed for the better. I definitely recommend their services."
