Developing Self-Compassion

“Being human is not about being any one particular way; it is about being as life creates you—with your own particular strengths and weaknesses, gifts and challenges, quirks and oddities.” Kristin Neff “Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” Louise L. Hay […]

Simply Parenting – Adolescent Anxiety – Part Two: What can you do?

“When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm, not join their chaos.” L.R. Knost At the outset it is important to understand what happens in the body when we experience anxiety. In part one, we talked about how anxiety evolved to keep us safe. Part of that evolutionary […]

Simply Parenting – Adolescent Anxiety – Part One: Understand

Anxiety, especially among adolescents, is at an all-time high. For parents and young adults, understanding how anxiety functions, and strategies to address it, are the first steps to a less anxious future. The first thing to understand is that anxiety is a natural psychological and physiological phenomenon. Anxiety evolved to keep us safe from danger. […]

Our Natural Negativity Bias – It takes work to be positive

“The brain is like Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for positives ones.” Dr. Rick Hansen Do you find that you tend to focus on the negative aspects of life? Whether it’s negative aspects of yourself, others, situations, or even negative versions of the future, you’re not alone. In fact, research has shown that, as […]

How Habits can Change Your Life – Part Two

“The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” – Samuel Johnson As promised here are some more tips for establishing whatever positive habit you’re looking to integrate in your life. Remember, these habits don’t just have to be lifestyle related (exercise, eating well), in fact, […]

How Habits can Change Your Life – Part One

From ancient thinkers like Aristotle and the Buddha to modern self-help gurus, the power of habits has been recognized for a long time as important to who we are and how we feel. This idea not only speaks to the power of tiny acts to create big changes over time, but also to the power […]

Thoughts on Family for the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

By Dr. Amanda Stoner It seriously is for me, the most wonderful time of the year. I love Christmas! And this year, I am feeling especially grateful for the gift of family. I am so excited to travel to Ontario where my family lives, where we will celebrate Christmas together. However, I realize that this […]

Breaking the Stigma: Embrace the Unknown with Ignacio Serricchio

Even when you have the means to have it all (money, fame, and time to do the things you love), at the end of the day, you are still human.  Hollywood actor, Ignacio Serricchio, shared his human story with us. We talked about embracing the unknown, educating ourselves on mental health as a fundamental step […]

Occupational Therapy: A Holistic View on the Job of Life

Still wondering what occupational therapy means? No, it is not about helping you find a job…. But it can help you do your job… better. Listen in as we chat with Louise, Occupational Therapist (OT) at Simply Counselling Services.  She shares her views on the importance of having a holistic view of health and how, […]

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) & Attachment Theory: The Meaning, The Impact and The Group

Can a statement have two truths? Is everything black and white? Can you repair a concerning attachment? Najwa shares how DBT group therapy can support people struggling with impulsiveness, high-risk behaviours, mood swings, relationship and intimacy issues, suicidal thoughts and behaviours, identity confusion, as well as thoughts, behaviours and emotions causing distress and despair. If […]