Areas of Specialty

Psychotherapy, or counseling, is a process in which an individual, couple, or family collaborate with a trained professional to create a private and nonjudgmental environment for the purpose of discussing and resolving problems and issues with confidentiality (please see the “Contact us” section for information on confidentiality).

While the terms psychotherapy and counseling are sometimes used interchangeably, psychotherapy typically indicates a more in-depth analysis of the behaviors and personalities involved. This kind of consultation with a trained professional has been shown to drastically increase objectivity, clarification, and insight into most any problem an individual, couple, or family might experience. York Region Therapy offers Counseling and Psychotherapy Services by Expert Psychotherapist – Dr. Rose Schnabel MA, MSW, RSW, BCB, RP, Ph.D. in Aurora, Ontario, Canada.

This process furthers the understanding and acceptance of self and others by allowing for the expression of ideas, opinions, and emotions with a feeling of safety that might not exist in other situations.

The result is a new perspective based on new information, a better understanding of the issues and personalities involved, an increased awareness of self and available resources, and the ability to make more rational and reliable life choices.

Psychotherapy allows an individual to become the author of his/her own life and is a process from which we all can benefit from time to time.

Your attitude towards your therapy and your willingness to be open with your therapist are most important in determining the outcome. A willingness to work at therapy and a commitment to the therapeutic process for a period of time will greatly increase the likelihood of success in achieving the designated goals.

The personal approach, style and philosophy of your therapist is important. Rose Schnabel’s approach to therapy is summarized in the “Our Approach” section.

Therapy sometimes requires the sharing of highly personal, painful, or embarrassing information with the therapist. Discussions of a very personal nature usually involve some anxiety in the beginning. Once a client understands the professional confidentiality and nonjudgmental attitude offered by Rose Schnabel, fears along these lines are usually resolved. In fact, one of the main goals of strict confidentiality is to create an environment in which the client feels totally free to discuss any event, behavior, emotion, opinion, etc., that they are experiencing or have experienced in the past. With the more objective self-observation that occurs during the therapeutic process, Rose’s clients gain more control over their thoughts, feelings, and behavior through increased self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Personality disorders and mood disorders may contribute to life problems, usually without the individual’s knowledge. Increased self-knowledge alone allows many people to have more control over their symptoms, their personality and behavior, and their life choices setting the stage for personal improvement and growth.

Individuals who have not experienced therapy before may feel some apprehension about the process. This is very common and quite understandable. Any concerns you have regarding both the potential benefits of therapy or fears of possible harmful effects should be discussed with Dr. Rose Schnabel during the initial session, or at any other time if these concerns surface.

From time to time, everyone experiences such difficulties in life and can benefit from the help and assistance available through professional psychotherapy. Therapy offers the client the opportunity to examine, confront, clarify, and reassess their understanding of themselves and their situation. Psychotherapy can be extremely effective in helping people with problems as diverse as major or minor depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, parent-child / adolescent conflict including spousal or child abuse, parenting skills, marital strife, separation/divorce transition, problems with extended family, loss of a loved one, self-esteem issues, career issues, stress management, etc.

If any other resources are required to help with individual issues, York Region Therapy will assist in helping you identify needs and provide information and direction to help bridge other areas of expertise.

1. Psychotherapy is a proven technique for resolving issues including chronic problems which may have festered for years. Do you worry over issues that are affecting your happiness, relationships with family or friends, your job, your physical health, etc.? Are you feeling stuck in life or are you experiencing some decision paralysis because of limits you unconsciously place on life choices and decisions? Are you so uncomfortable alone that you accept one dysfunctional relationship after another? 

Biofeedback and Neurofeedback has been shown to be an effective treatment for many of the difficult-to-treat problems of adults as well as children, including many emotional and behavioral disorders such as ADD and ADHD. Biofeedback is a computer based, brain-training technique that can help you develop more control over brainwave activity resulting in improved life functioning.

Biofeedback treatment teaches the client to produce more normal EEG patterns and is been recognized by the medical community as an effective drug-free treatment for many seemingly intractable disorders. Biofeedback has been researched in university labs for over 25 years and many people have had success in reducing or eliminating the symptoms for such disorders as:

• ADD / ADHD
• Depression
• Anxiety / Panic Attacks
• Sleep Disorders
• Digestive Disorders
• Hypertension
• Chronic Pain
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Through neurofeedback, your brain “learns” to self-regulate the strength and frequency of the electrical activity that controls all aspects of attention, thought, mood, arousal, and behavior. The treatment occurs via computer software which measures brainwaves through sensors that are harmlessly attached to your scalp. When brainwave activity changes in the desired direction, a positive “feedback”, or reward, is given to your brain.

Your brain automatically “learns” to modify the brainwaves being monitored into a more efficient form with a corresponding reduction in symptoms. This is operant conditioning for the brain. Over time, positive changes in brain functioning become permanent. Treatment is designed individually and takes between 20 and 60 sessions for optimum results. Sessions are usually held two or three times per week so that the effects carry over from session to session. Each session lasts about 45 minutes. The changes are usually permanent although brief booster sessions may be needed in the future.

Top Mind is a peak performance training facility designed to facilitate brain training.

Top Mind trains the brain to reach peak performance through a series of specialized programs, comparable to aerobic and anaerobic exercise used for optimal physical fitness. Top Mind brain training programs are designed to direct the ability of an individual or team to perform at their highest level

Top Mind uses the latest brain training technology.  NeuroTracker is a scientific innovation originally developed for measuring and improving cognitive performance in sports. Using a 3D display screen Top Mind guides clients through a series of exercises that build multiple object-tracking skills.

Top Mind challenges athletes, professionals and others seeking optimal brain performance to spread their attention by tracking many targets at high speeds. Top Mind has expanded the application of the NeuroTracker from athletes to individuals seeking to improve mental processing capabilities, maintain brain health and enhance mental performance.