People are often surprised to learn that simple things such as cooking, solving abstract problems, gardening, or journaling can be forms of creative expression as well. Research has shown that creativity enhances subjective well-being

There is essentially no “right” way to do a first session. All you really can do is show up and try to be as open to the process as you are able. While trusting this process can be daunting, your therapist will be there to welcome you just as you are.

If you are a new mom navigating the incredible journey of motherhood and feel you may benefit from support, therapy gives you the space to process all that you are experiencing and help you navigate this time in your life. 

One simply needs to look outside their window to find a metaphor that can help them make sense of their experience.

Accepting that healing takes time, and that your old wounds may surprise you from time to time, allows you to be better equipped for the process of healing. It grants you the freedom to be human, to make mistakes, and be imperfect while holding yourself in a space of love.

Somewhere along the way, we begin to lose the carefree ability to play. We enter adolescence and become self-conscious, while our interests also naturally change

Feeling misunderstood, unseen, or devalued often causes us to feel distressed, angry, hurt, frustrated, or defeated. So, one of the overlooked skills in communication is to be able to ask for what you need and why you need it.

Most spiritual traditions call this ‘duality’, and encourage people to rise above the duality - to see the world not simply in black or white, light or dark, happy or sad, but instead as a synthesis of the two. If people are able to live non-dualistically, they are more likely to coexist; for example, conservatives and liberals, vaxxers and anti-vaxxers, religious folk and atheists, can all be friends.

When it comes to stress, there is a lot of awareness about how commonly adults experience it, along with the impacts of stress on our health and well-being, but children are impacted by stress too!

What does it mean to hear your compassionate voice? I have found many a client respond to this question with “I don’t know”, or “I’ve never heard this voice before”. This is often the case when the dominant story of our lives is one where we are somehow not enough, unworthy, bad, or defective

Biologically humans were built to watch for danger. This biological development was needed because we had to watch for predators while roaming the plains or jungles – it was a survival mechanism. However, we no longer need this trait to the extent that some use it. Several studies have shown that those whose outlook is more hopeful, are more likely able to deal with adverse situations and thus have improved mental health/wellness. Hence, the importance to cultivate hope

Bullying. It’s been talked about a lot over the years, but perhaps not like this. We often feel hurt, scared, or angry when someone bullies us and we want it to stop. So, why do we consent to bullying ourselves? Why do we sometimes berate ourselves, speak negatively to ourselves, criticize our perceived flaws, tell ourselves we aren't good enough and beat ourselves up for things? And why do we do this over and over?

How often do you find yourself reminding yourself to breathe? Maybe you’ve picked up the kids, and are thinking about what to make for dinner, while driving them over to swimming practice, all while worrying about the event that you are hosting tomorrow. Maybe you have finished a meeting, have 20 minutes to grab a bite, and are then presenting a big project at work. We live in a fast-paced world where slowing down to take a breath is a task that needs to be built into our day, a task that unfortunately most people forget.

I’ll have to say, 95% of the couples that come to me for counselling say their communication is the problem. Clients say they feel angry, annoyed, hurt, frustrated and eventually hopeless. Sometimes problems arise when your partner doesn’t agree with what you’re saying, or they have trouble understanding what you are trying to say.

When we become overwhelmed with stress, anxiety and/or emotion we revert to our basic survival responses. There are 4 primary survival responses - Which one does your brain tend to rely on?

Mornings. Some people love them, some people don’t. Do you wake up, rested, and ready to experience the possibilities of a new day? Or do you cringe when you hear the buzzing of the alarm clock, hit snooze, and pull the covers over your head to sleep a little longer? Perhaps you drag yourself out of bed, put one foot in front of the other and get going on the responsibilities of the day, lacking any real excitement. Whatever your morning looks like, how you start your day can have a dramatic effect on the rest of your day.

Addiction is “a state of psychological or physical dependence (or both) on the use of alcohol or other drugs” (American Psychological Association). Alcohol Addiction and other addictions often start as a way to cope with negative life events, trauma, and or emotions. Signs that you may have developed an addiction and what the road to recovery looks like…

One of the most important things we can do for our well-being is to put ourselves first. Many people may have a strong reaction to this idea - isn’t that selfish? Actually, no! Putting yourself first doesn’t mean you aren’t considering others. Here are some typical signs of how to tell when you’re not putting yourself first…

We have all been there. We have created a plan and it’s going along okay when all of a sudden, the unexpected happens- the proverbial curve ball. Coping with the unexpected…

Couples therapy.

It’s a term couples sometimes associate with a failed relationship, or when things aren’t going well. While this may be the reason that couples initially start to see a therapist, most couples wish they had done this earlier in their relationship- even when things were going well.