Parenting Anxiety Support in Nanaimo & Across BC

Parenting is meaningful, but it can also feel overwhelming—especially when anxiety starts to shape how you respond to your child. Many parents who meet with Clinical Counsellor, Farnaz Farrokhi-Holmes, RCC, CCC, come in describing guilt, overstimulation, frustration, self-doubt, or fear that they’re “messing things up.” Parenting anxiety is incredibly common, and it is highly treatable with the right support.

A theme that shows up often is: “I feel like a bad parent.” This belief fuels anxiety and makes everyday moments feel like tests you’re failing—even when you’re doing your absolute best.

Most moms who work with our clinical counsellor share how anxious and guilty they feel when they are:

• over-touched or physically overwhelmed by their child 
• hit with multiple needs or demands at the same time 
• unable to give their all during big behaviours or meltdowns 
• torn between one child’s needs and the rest of the family
   

Feeling “touched out” or overstimulated is extremely common. Your nervous system becomes overwhelmed long before your love for your child runs out. This is human—not a parenting failure.

Our trauma counseling services can help you overcome the effects of traumatic events. Our licensed therapists use evidence-based techniques to help you heal from the psychological impact of trauma, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. We provide a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your experiences and develop strategies to move forward.

Parents supported by Clinical Counsellor Farnaz Farrokhi-Holmes, RCC, CCC,  often describe:

• constant guilt or second-guessing 
• reacting quickly, then feeling ashamed 
• avoiding conflict, emotional conversations, or setting healthy boundaries
• feeling overstimulated or “on edge” 
• struggling to stay calm during big emotions 
• worrying about being judged or not doing enough
   

These are signs of an overwhelmed nervous system—not signs of inadequacy.

These patterns form to help you cope—not because you’re a bad parent:

• Overprotective (“Helicopter”): Stepping in too quickly to prevent discomfort or struggle.
• Avoidant/Shutdown: Withdrawing or going numb when things feel too intense.
• Reactive/Irritable: Quick frustration followed by guilt and self-blame.
• Perfectionistic: High expectations, fear of mistakes, and pressure to keep everything “just right.”

Parents often seek support from our clinical counsellor to:

• stop feeling like “bad parents” 
• break intergenerational patterns 
• manage overstimulation and sensory overload 
• stay calmer during big behaviour moments 
• support neurodivergent children with ADHD or autism 
• navigate blended-family or co-parenting dynamics 
• reduce guilt, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm
   

Parenting frequently triggers old wounds. As someone who grew up in a conflict-affected region, Clinical Counsellor Farnaz Farrokhi-Holmes, RCC, CCC, understands how deeply anxiety can live in the body—and how it resurfaces in parenting.

Parents often seek support from our clinical counsellor to:

• stop feeling like “bad parents” 
• break intergenerational patterns 
• manage overstimulation and sensory overload 
• stay calmer during big behaviour moments 
• support neurodivergent children with ADHD or autism 
• navigate blended-family or co-parenting dynamics 
• reduce guilt, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm
   

Parenting frequently triggers old wounds. As someone who grew up in a conflict-affected region, Clinical Counsellor Farnaz Farrokhi-Holmes, RCC, CCC, understands how deeply anxiety can live in the body—and how it resurfaces in parenting.

At Soma House Counselling & Wellness, Clinical Counsellor, Farnaz Farrokhi-Holmes, RCC, CCC uses gentle, evidence-informed approaches to help parents understand their anxiety, feel more grounded, and reconnect with themselves and their children.

Through a blend of EMDR, somatic therapy, attachment-based work, CBT, mindfulness, Internal Family Systems (IFS) / Parts Work to understand triggered parts and heal inner child wounds, narrative therapy, and practical parenting strategies, therapy creates a compassionate space where you can:

• calm and regulate your nervous system 
• understand what triggers reactivity or overwhelm 
• reduce guilt, shame, and “bad parent” beliefs 
• navigate overstimulation and sensory overload 
• stay grounded during big emotions 
• strengthen attachment and co-regulation 
• support neurodivergent children with confidence and compassion
   

Parents often share that, over time, they feel more patient, present, and connected—moving from survival mode to feeling more like the parent they hope to be.