Years ago our family took a trip. Four of us left for Toronto. Three of us returned. My son Nicholas’ (age 2 at the time) favourite stuffy – Tbear – unexpectedly found a new home after he was accidentally left behind in the twisted bedding of our hotel room. So began Nicholas’ relationship with loss. He was devastated. Flowing tears … Read More

As a therapist working with individuals who are struggling as well as a parent of young children, I think a lot about how to help kids develop a healthy relationship with food. By healthy, I mean balanced, flexible, and peaceful. Here are five tips that I have found to be helpful in this aim: Avoid categorizing foods as “good” or … Read More

“Mom, I’m so stressed! I can’t stop. I can’t take it anymore. I hate my life!” were the words uttered by a 13-year-old male after his parents confronted him for lying about the amount of time he spent playing his favorite video game. His parents attempted to set limits on his gaming after they noticed he was becoming more irritable, … Read More

It’s almost summer vacation – the roughly eight weeks each year that kids live for and parents often dread. Cries of “I’m bored” and “There’s nothing to do” can send many parents over the edge. But with a bit of pre-planning and the consideration of a few guidelines, the summer can not only be a great opportunity for children to … Read More

My parents are so stupid. I can’t believe they are making me meet with you. This f..king sucks. They think I am addicted to video games. She’s on her phone all the time! So begin many of my initial meetings with families.  Parental and caregiver concerns over their child’s relationship with technology is a very common theme in my practice … Read More

In my household this school year, both of my kids are entering pivotal times in their young lives. My son is in grade 12 and will be expected to make some big decisions about what he will be doing with his life post-graduation. My daughter, however, is in grade 9 and is at the very beginning of her high school … Read More

I am a mother to two sons, Jackson, age 11, and Jesse, age 12.  In the early years of my social work career, I worked in child welfare and children/youth mental health as a crisis response counsellor.  As both parent and professional, I care deeply about the mental health and overall well-being of children and youth in our families and … Read More

I’ve always aimed for transparent and honest conversations with my children. When they were younger, I felt secure in talking about almost anything. When it came to sexuality, we named body parts correctly, looked at anatomy books and discussed the bodily changes they could anticipate. Then the game changed. The rules changed. And my children changed. Puberty arrived! What they … Read More

When we lose our understanding of how a child develops, we no longer provide or support appropriate opportunities for learning. I think back to my own daughter, who is now almost 14 years old. Ten years ago, I was the volunteer soccer coach for our community association team. The practices we had once a week were a lot of fun. … Read More

Dogs have long been considered our most faithful companions. I did not fully understand the rewards of being a dog owner until my son and daughter (ages 13 and 10 at the time) convinced me it was time to find a canine companion. We decided to adopt the first dog we met through a local rescue agency. Enter Judy, a … Read More