We know it can be hard for people who are struggling with their own -or a loved one’s - mental health to find the resources they need. Whether you are looking for a safe space to anonymously explore your feelings or research your options, we hope to provide you with the knowledge that you are not alone.
During these uncertain times, we do need ideas for coping, but we also need to identify our uncomfortable feelings and possibly even allow those feelings to inform how we move forward. If that sounds a little daunting, it’s because it is a huge responsibility both to ourselves and to the world around us.
Read MoreThe difference between now and the past is that there is no getting away from how dark the world feels even without watching every newscast and reading every headline. Even though we need to know what is going on, we also need a mental break from the relentlessness of watching the news of today and accepting the reality of the state of the world and the fear of what could happen in the future.
Read MoreI got the message, as many of us have, that menopause was something to dread and endure silently, not to celebrate in the same way we may have done when we got our periods. Menopause always felt like an ending to me, not the beginning of something. I could not have been more wrong.
Read MorePerimenopause and menopause are natural stages in a woman’s life, but that doesn’t make them any less daunting. In fact, these transitions often come with a complex combination of physical and emotional challenges that can feel overwhelming. Yet, despite how common these experiences are, many women find themselves navigating these stages with little support, leaving them to battle not only the symptoms but also a sense of invisibility.
Read MoreSomehow we have absorbed the idea that being tough on ourselves, including putdowns and insults, is the best way to motivate ourselves to make change, evolve and grow. We have internalized the idea that being nice or kind is letting ourselves off the hook and if we do that we won’t move forward in life.
Read MoreYou survived every single moment of every event, challenge, emotion, gift, and fear of this holiday season — of this YEAR!! The struggle and effort and sleepless nights and ribbons and bows and highs and lows have all come to end and there is only one thing left to do — sign up for a new HIIT workout and try to be better, right?
Read MoreSomething about the holidays can make emotions feel heavier, and to-do lists more urgent — a phenomenon that can make otherwise manageable triggers feel harder to hold. Giving ourselves permission to be especially compassionate to our needs during these times is the greatest gift we can give.
Read MoreIn a perfect world, mental health would be treated the same as physical health in Canada and it would be covered by a national health system supporting both body and mind. But at this point it is not the case. Many people either pay for their therapy sessions out of pocket or through their work’s benefits programs. Recognizing that sometimes the cost of therapy can be a barrier to a person reaching out for support, many therapists offer affordable counselling to make therapy accessible to as many people as possible.
Read MoreHygge (pronounced "hoo-ga") is a Danish term that refers to a cozy, comfortable, and contented state of being. It is often associated with a sense of well-being, warmth, and togetherness, particularly during the colder months. Journaling about hygge and mental health can be a deeply reflective and calming practice.
Read MoreCultural adjustment goes beyond learning new customs or language. It can bring up deep emotional struggles, particularly when you feel caught between family traditions and the need to adapt to a new culture.
Read MoreIn the wake of the U.S. election news, it would make sense if women, BIPOC, queer, and other equity seeking individuals were feeling some amount of emotional discomfort today. That discomfort could be stress, grief, anger, hopelessness, etc. If this is happening to you, know that you are not alone and that there are other people out there who are also feeling low, or feeling emotionally activated today.
Read MoreMy divorce wasn’t the solution to a mistake, it was the response to evolution. Separating didn’t negate my marriage or challenge the love that carried it for years, it was the necessary next step to ensure my partner and I - and our children - continued to be in our best space possible.
Read MoreSelf-care is not an activity to be checked off a list. It’s a practice of slowing down, tuning in, and responding to our inner needs with compassion. In a culture that values speed and productivity, true self-care often requires us to move in the opposite direction.
Read MoreWhile OCD is often associated with behaviours like needing a clean desk or arranging items symmetrically, many people with OCD face struggles that are less visible but equally distressing.
Read MoreAs parents, this is what all that work of raising our kids has been for - to get them to the point where they are ready to launch and to create an independent life of their own.
Read MoreMindfulness and meditation are two therapeutic powerhouses that can help you reframe your reality, even if not one thing changes in how busy you are this summer.
Read MoreSo much around money fear and shame relates back to the concept of scarcity both in finances and in our lives in general. A scarcity mindset goes beyond fear related to money, and is often expressed as a broader feeling of lack in a person’s life - they might focus mainly on the lack in their life in areas such as time, opportunities, or possessions.
Read MoreWhen I started to explore offering couples therapy it became important to me that the approach I use be affirming and that it would help me honour brain differences not rail against them. I was skeptical of modalities that asked partners to learn communication techniques or relied heavily on conforming to a certain version of what a relationship should look like.
Read MoreWhen caring for a person with cancer, the focus is being there for the person you love, witnessing their pain, their fears, and their uncertainty about the future. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, and as a caregiver, you're right there beside them, holding their hand through it all.
Read MoreCancer isn't just a disease; sometimes it can feel like a collection of traumatic experiences – from the stigma and misconceptions that surround it to the sheer terror of the unknown. It's a journey marked by loss – of health, of identity, of the illusion of invincibility. Yet within this, seeds of resilience can be sown, and from them can sprout moments of profound personal growth, illustrating the transformative power of post-traumatic growth, leading to newfound strength, purpose, and fortitude.
