Basic Counseling Skills
  • Home
  • A. TECHNIQUES
  • Pattern of Sessions
  • Active Listening
  • Body Language
  • Asking Questions
  • Paraphrasing/Tone
  • Summary
  • Note Taking
  • Homework
  • Goodie Bag/Fun Stuff
  • Technique References
  • B. THEORIES
  • Client Centered
  • Holistic/Biopsychosocial
  • Strengths Based
  • Cognitive/Behavioral
  • Solution Focused
  • Existential Therapy
  • Letting Go
  • Theory References
  • C. SAMPLE SESSIONS
  • 1. Client Centered Counseling
  • 2.&3. No Show/Cancellation
  • 4. Strengths Based
  • 5. Cognitive Beh. Counseling
  • 6. Holistic Health Counseling
  • 7. Solution Focused
  • 8. Existential Counseling
  • 9. Becoming Unnecessary
  • D. SELF HELP
  • Journaling
  • Mood Mapping
  • Whole Health Check In
  • Community Resources
  • Ten Things I Like About Me
  • Common Lies We Tell
  • Goal-Setting
  • A Why to Bear a How
  • Happy People
  • Self-Help References
  • E. CONTINUING EDUCATION
  • F. SITE MAP
  • G. CONTACT ME!
  • H. READERS' CONTRIBUTIONS
    • Addiction and Sleep - Jessica S
    • Alcohol Counseling - Carol G.
    • Depression and Addiction Rehab - Katherine C
    • Quit Smoking and Alcohol Rehab
    • Reducing Stigma - Patricia S.
    • Suicidal Thoughts and Alcohol Abuse - Julia W
    • Recovery Village - William B.
    • Bereavement Counseling - Sally W
    • Personality Traits - Sally W
    • 3 Solutions to Worst Fears - Paige M
    • 30 Min Reduce Anxiety - Paige M
    • Restorative Power of Arts & Crafts - Sally W
    • 3 Ways - Rid of Sunday Scaries
    • Conquer Fear of Flying - Sally W.
    • Document Anxiety through Journaling - Sally W
    • Career Options - Sally W
    • School Counselor ToolKit - Serena K.
    • Psychology Degrees - Lindsay F
    • Depression and Addiction Rehab - Katherine C
    • Diagnosing Depression - Melissa M
    • PostPartum Depression - Tracey F
    • Assisted Living Options for People with Disabilities
    • Wheelchair Home Safety - Michael M
    • Cerebral Palsy Resources
    • Counseling and Persistent Pain - Sally W
    • Mesothelioma Guide - Corine F.
    • Mesothelioma Resources
    • Finding Start Up Success - Eva B
    • Cleaning House for Better Health - Cheryl C.
    • Destress/Clean Home - Cheryl C
    • Financial Stress - Sally W.
    • Financial Debt - Sally W
    • Be Happy - Hazel G.
    • Gut Health & Mental Health - Sally W
    • How Having a Skincare Routine
    • Counseling the Impoverished - Sally W
    • Conquering Interviews - Eva B
    • Daily Journal Routine - Paige M
    • 4 Journaling Tips for Beginners - Shristi Patni
    • Drug Dangers - Rebecca P.
    • Recall Report - Laura P.
    • Living Mindfully - Mollie Wilson
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Sally W.
    • Couns. Resources - Tim C.
    • Practical Financial SKills - Johanne H
    • Nutrition to Help Anxiety - Sally W
    • Retirement Career Change - Sally W
    • Managing Phobias - Sally W
    • Healing Power of Pets - Sally W
    • Geriatric Counseling - Sally W
    • Counseling Seniors with Anxiety - Sally W
    • Senior Resources - Claire S.
    • Addiction and Sleep - Jessica S
    • Better Sleep - Better Health - Cheryl C
    • Treating Insomnia - Sally W
    • Tuck Sleep - Kellen S
    • De-Fogging Brain - Sally W
    • Recovery from Sports Injury
    • Improving Mental Clarity - Sally W
    • Indoor Air Quality Can Affect Mental Health - Sally W
    • Stress on Health - Sally W.
    • Stress Management - Sally W
    • Suicidal Thoughts and Alcohol Abuse - Julia W
    • Summer Side Gigs for Teachers - Joyce W
    • Tobacco in 2017 - Mary G.
    • Take Control of Your Life - Dorothy Watson
    • No More Winter Blues - Rufus Carter
    • How I Put Anxiety Attacks on Pause
    • 8 Effective Tips for Improving Mental Health - Camille Johnson
    • Manage And Reduce Stress For Your Employees With These Tips - Rufus Carters
    • Moving Forward When Grief Intrudes in Your Life - Camille J
    • Working Remotely - Emma Grace Brown
    • Unlock Greater Confidence - Rufus Carter
    • Coping With a Mid-Life Crisis - Rufus Carter
    • 6 Self-Care Tips - Laurie Abner
    • Help a Loved One After the Loss of a Spouse - Rufus CarterNew Page
    • Relocating After a Tragic Loss - Lucille Rosetti
    • Guidelines for Teens Who Want to Thrive as Entrepreneurs - Lucille Rosetti
    • 5 Common Lifestyle Habits That Can Cause Skin Damage - Andrew Mark

Using Nutrition To Help\ Your Clients Overcome Social Anxiety Disorder - Sally W.

Research has found that Social Anxiety Disorder affects up to 13% of Canadians. Common triggers include speaking in public, eating in front of someone, meeting new people, going on a date and even going to school or work. The physical symptoms, such as sweating, trembling, stomach problems, dry mouth, dizziness and blushing can often help fuel the anxiety. The emotional symptoms include fear, panic attacks and negative emotional cycles. Part of being a counsellor is not just to help clients conquer their anxieties through therapy and CBT techniques. It is also to take a holistic approach and consider how fitness and diet can help in the battle against worry and anxiety.  

Considering medication

In more serious cases when severe social anxiety is inhibiting someone from living an ordinary life where they can go to work or do their shopping, then anxiety medication can be prescribed. Before this, however, it is worth considering how diet can affect mood. Research has found that having a healthy diet that is rich in the nutrients, vitamins and minerals, can help reduce anxiety. It is also worth considering taking a regular nootropic supplement to improve vitamin intake. Nootropics that contain zinc, omega-3 and the B-vitamins can be particularly effective to help boost mood. 

Cutting out negative foods 

It is important to cut down on sugar, alcohol and caffeine, if you want to combat social anxiety, which all affect mood levels drastically. They can all mimic the symptoms of anxiety, including the shakes and heart palpitations. It is worth considering that many brands of soda contain high levels of caffeine and sugar, so these should be swapped for water. Many people that are living with anxiety will drink alcohol in an attempt to calm their nerves. This isn’t advisable — not only is alcohol a depressant, but in the long term, alcoholism comes with its own set of issues, both emotionally and physically. 

Keeping A Food Diary

It is worth asking your client to keep a food diary of what they are eating and when they are eating it. You can then assess whether diet could be contributing to their anxiety. Ultimately you want your client to get to the stage where they are eating three well-balanced meals a day, that have all the vitamins and minerals they need to boost mood, helping them to cope with everyday situations. The timing of these meals is also important — eating dinner too late in the evening can cause weight gain and digestive issues. It is worth suggesting to your client that they follow a simple Mediterranean diet that is free from additives, colorings and refined sugar and you can even devise a meal plan with them with healthy suggestions for alternatives to high-calorie snacks.  
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When social anxiety is affecting how a person can function on a daily basis then counselling can be an enormous help. You will need to look at not just the initial symptoms, but take a holistic approach, assessing both the emotional and physical triggers. Changes in diet will help to keep the body fit and healthy, improving mood and helping balance the response to everyday social situations. 
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