There’s a dark and a troubled side of life. There’s a bright and a sunny side too. But if you meet with the darkness and strife, the sunny side we also may view.” – Keep on the Sunny Side of Life Since 1899 when Keep on the Sunny Side of Life was written, artists like Johnny Cash have belted out … Read More

Setting personal boundaries is a familiar topic in counselling sessions. Whether it is with a partner, friend, colleague, or extended family member, relationships often become strained when we feel our own needs are being neglected to meet the needs of others. Consider the following scenario: Cindy is exhausted. In addition to working full-time and parenting three young children, she has … Read More

Just over a year ago I began bouldering – a form of rock climbing that involves climbing shorter walls (approx. 3-4 metres high) without ropes or harnesses. I was apprehensive to try it, but once I did, I loved it! In the year since, I’ve been climbing 2-3 times a week. As a result, my climbing has improved, and I’ve … Read More

The COVID-19 pandemic has been undeniably challenging for many but has also presented the opportunity for learning new skills – either by choice or as a requirement. If I am completely honest, I have become increasingly resistant to learning new skills as I get older! To be clear, I love the learning once it has actually occurred, but in those … Read More

Everyone is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and “everyone” is inclusive of the global community. This isn’t to say all of the impacts are uniform or evenly distributed – while we may all be experiencing the same storm, we are not all in the same boat. My 15-year-old daughter made an interesting remark after supper the other day, which caused … Read More

What is self-care and why does it matter? Self-care includes all the things you do to take care of your well-being in four key dimensions – your emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual health. If you are a counsellor, social worker, therapist, health care professional, leader, educator, change agent, caregiver, parent, purpose-driven entrepreneur – a person who gives a lot of … Read More

I’ll admit that I sometimes like to watch true crime documentaries or listen to podcasts. When I do, my mind often generates more questions than conclusions about the people involved. Questions like, “Who are the person’s family and loved ones?” “Where were they raised?” “Where do they call home?” “What do neighbours and coworkers have to say about them?” and … Read More

Have you ever been pulled along by the force of change or felt like you have no control over it? We all know the one thing we can count on in life is change. It’s always going to show up. Whether it’s unexpected or something we go looking for, it is always somewhat stressful! Recently, I’ve chosen to make some … Read More

Do you have anything you would like to change? Is there something you do too much of? Or, is there something you do too little of? Would you like to change the way you interact with someone close to you, but feel like you are short on the willpower needed to take action? Maybe it feels like you’re in a … Read More

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (January 2015), stress and stress-related illnesses are on the rise. Stress is so commonplace in our fast-paced society that it seems like a way of life for many. Individuals, workplaces, and society as a whole are paying a high price for unmanaged stress. Stress can hit when we least expect it. It … Read More