therapy blog
It’s hard to start the year without being inundated with messages of how to improve yourself. There is nothing wrong with self-reflection and setting goals for yourself, but there is a reason that new year’s resolutions often fail. Why are they so hard to put into practice if the desire for change is there?
Read MoreWhen it comes to food and our bodies, many people feel stuck between two extremes: on a diet or not on a diet. But what if there was a third option—one that focused not on restriction or rules, but on trust and self-care?
Read MoreChatGPT is being called upon for all kinds of help, from recipe ideas, budgeting, fact checking, to silly designs, and increasingly for therapeutic support. It’s been a beneficial mental health tool for many folks but there are limitations to AI, leading to a debate of whether ChatGPT is an ideal therapeutic tool or replacement. So let’s find out by taking a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of ChatGPT as therapy.
Read MoreMost of us want to do a good job, be liked, receive positive reactions, and not struggle with something new. But when our world revolves around avoiding mistakes or hiding perceived flaws, it can really get in the way of enjoying life and connecting with others. Here are some ideas to help challenge those high expectations and impossible standards.
Read MoreAn underlying aspect of perfectionism is fear. Of failure, abandonment, rejection, etc. But where do those fears develop? Like a lot of our behaviours, we strive for perfection based on messages we either internalize or somehow benefit from.
Read MoreThere is so much pain in individual lives as well as the world at large. So what do we do when we are holding and witnessing this kind of pain?
Read MoreWhether you are new to exploring strategies or need reminders of what’s worked for you before, this e-book hopes to provide some direction and resources so you have some support over the next few months.
Read MoreThe term "gratitude" gets bounced around a lot and a really simple definition of it (thanks to scientific gratitude expert, Robert Emmons) is "an affirmation of goodness." So how do you practice it?
Read MoreA lot of social media has picked up on therapy lingo, but it doesn't always get the definitions right - including professionals. The term "gaslighting" is frequently used incorrectly (if you're not sure what that is, you can read about it here) and more recently the term "self-gaslighting" has been gaining a lot of traction. So can you gaslight yourself?
Read MoreIt would have been less entertaining to watch, but truly this whole dilemma could have been solved by the following adjustment.
Read MoreWhile I’m so happy that mental health conversations are becoming more mainstream and many people are finding information and validation through social media, there are some terms that are getting misused. Gaslighting is one that I keep seeing online that is not always being used correctly.
Read MoreI think it’s fair to say that we’ve all had an apology that either didn’t feel sincere, the person didn’t take full responsibility, or they deflected to another issue.
Read MoreWhile rest may be peaceful, restoration allows us to rebuild our resources.
Read MoreYour body follows your mind and your mind follows your body.
Read MoreIf you are struggling to fall asleep because of a ruminating mind, can’t stay asleep, or wake up feeling exhausted, odds are you could use some changes to your night time routine.
Read MoreSo much of our grief falls outside these types of losses and ends up in what is called disenfranchised grief - i.e. a loss that is not recognized by social norms.
Read MoreOur bodies. They bloat, they stretch, they lose weight and gain muscle, lose muscle and gain weight. They sag, get injured, they scar and recover, they scar and don't recover. They protect us, they hold emotional pain, they play, they climb, they pump oxygen and blood.
Read More“Self-care” gets thrown around a lot, but what is it? Basically, it’s anything you do to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health, and allows you to show yourself the compassion and time that you show others.
Read MoreSelf-compassion acknowledges our struggles as normal and valid, and extends kindness to ourselves, especially when we perceive that we failed. It’s choosing to understand our experience and focus on validation rather than on judgment and shame.
Read MoreIt can be hard to swap panic, judgment, and forced breathing for letting go and mindfulness, but doing so can have a powerful impact.
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