One of the most powerless feelings in the world is seeing someone you love struggling with their mental health and not being able to help them. Our natural inclination is to encourage, or sometimes even demand, that they access the therapy that we believe they will need to feel better. However, when it comes to …
Low self-esteem is a very common symptom that brings people into therapy. People are usually aware of the very critical voice that is taking up too much space in their mind but most people don’t know how to turn it off! Low self-esteem can have a negative impact on many areas of a person’s functioning …
Introduction: “Why do I need to pay for a therapist when I can just talk to my friend for free?” “How many sessions of therapy do I actually need?” “How often will I need to attend to therapy to see any changes?” These are very common questions that may be asked by new clients who …
Animals In Therapy Animals have been accepted into our homes as family members for quite some time. Animals can help reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression simply by being a part of our life. Dogs for example can make someone smile simply by wagging their tail or greeting us at the door after a …
Connection To Others As human beings, we are wired for connection. Our survival as a species has often depended upon being part of a community for safety and protection. When we are unable to connect with others, as most of us have experienced over the past year or so during the pandemic, we can be …
Legacy of Residential School Learning that the bodies of 215 aboriginal children were discovered on the grounds of a residential school in Kamloops, BC has been horrifying for our country. As Canadians, we have gladly accepted the persona of being a kind and caring nation. The fact that the massacre of these young, innocent lives …
In order to heal from trauma, it is helpful to understand how our nervous system gathers information from our environment and responds to it. Polyvagal theory, created by Dr. Stephen Porges, offers this explanation and can enhance trauma therapy approaches. Sympathetic Nervous System It’s easy to recognize when our autonomic nervous system is activated in …
One of the best parts of this work is witnessing the healing that occurs when people reach out for trauma counselling.
Most of us recognize the value of attending talk therapy sessions as part of our healing process. But what about the impact on our body?
“Our mental health care system is failing!” How often have we heard this cry after the suicide death of a yet another person who did not receive the care they so desperately needed in order to live. Tragic, angry and heartbroken – we feel the ripple effect through our communities over and over again. Yet …
