To say emotions are big is an understatement. Although shame, fear, sadness, and anger can sometimes be overpowering in a counselling session, I believe that sitting with people as they experience their emotions can be healing. But I also know that clients sometimes feel overwhelmed by their feelings. They want to regain control so they can carry on with the … Read More

As someone who struggles with depression and anxiety due to PTSD and other life experiences, I know how easy it is to get caught up in rumination. As a trainer, therapist, employee, husband, and father, rumination has brought me more pain than it has ever alleviated. In this blog, I want to give you some ideas on how to disrupt … Read More

“I just don’t want to do this anymore,” an exhausted grocery worker uttered as he hung his head against his arms before cleaning carts for the next round of angry and anxious customers. It’s a story that numerous frontline workers are telling as they face the onslaught of frustrated customers, family members, and coworkers who are also facing the ever-changing … Read More

The usual rituals and ceremonies of funerals, memorials, and gatherings provide something to hold on to when we are experiencing grief and loss. These shared experiences and connections with others hold a healing power. But now, those rituals and ceremonies are denied to us because of the necessity for physical distancing to beat COVID-19. We can’t even visit our loved … Read More

Anxiety is our body’s natural alarm system. It is a normal and useful emotion when we feel threatened. It can save your life when you run to make it across the road because a car is speeding too fast towards you. However, when the threat is in our minds rather than a real physical danger, problems arise. Most times, the … Read More

How can you find the most accurate and credible mental health information? It’s often easier to go ask Dr. Google what you’re going through than talk to someone you know. The problem is, when you google “anxiety,” you get 456,000,000 results! The internet is fast, anonymous, and available 24 hours a day. However, the sheer volume of information out there … Read More

When did we start believing that expert help is required for life’s stress and struggles? I recently heard a radio segment on eco-anxiety, and at the end of the story, the radio announcer advised people who felt emotionally impacted by climate change to contact a mental health professional. I countered out loud for people to first try building their psychological … Read More

Andrew was tired. Tired of how much effort even the smallest tasks took, tired of feeling inadequate, tired of the aches and pains in his body, and tired of well-intentioned friends and family saying things like, “You just have to think positively and count your blessings” or “You have so much going for you, why are you so sad?” Most … Read More

Bipolar disorder is a term I hear many people use conversationally or as slang, without understanding what it means. But bipolar disorder is more than just wide mood swings. Learning accurate information about this disorder is the first step to getting help for yourself or others who may suffer from it. Here are some experiences or characteristic feelings often reported … Read More

Have you ever had a confusing conversation with someone that left you questioning your own perceptual abilities? As a professional helper, this is often the case when working with people who have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It can be quite an uncomfortable experience for anyone, particularly if you take pride in your strong intuitive and interpersonal skills. I recently had … Read More