It’s September which means our new cohort of interns has joined us for the coming semesters! We’re going to be sharing more about all of them with you, but to start with we have Henry Voskuil who is joining us from the MSW program at the University of Toronto. He’ll be with us supporting children, teens and adults with issues of self-esteem, trauma, grief, stress and more
Read MoreWalk and Talk Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that incorporates walking outdoors while talking about issues and problem-solving with your therapist. Depending on your preferences, your therapist may also incorporate aspects of mindfulness that integrates physical movement and observation of your natural surroundings.
Read MoreWhen we are scrolling through social media, we may face the overwhelming urge to compare ourselves, our friends, possessions, and even our mental health to the "picture perfect" people we see on these platforms. While this is normal to do, it can start to impact our mental health if we don’t stay aware of how we might be internalizing the content we are consuming. Let’s talk about how you can try to limit the impact that has on you.
Read MoreJoy and happiness are emotions everyone feels in a variety of situations - maybe we feel them because someone gives us a gift, or tells us something kind, or helps us with something! Emotions can be felt in our bodies and influence the way we think and act. We can have positive or negative emotions, but all of them are useful. If you need help talking about this with your kids, Toni has some tips and information that might help!
Read MoreToday we’re getting to know Tabitha Dovell, MA CYC Candidate from Toronto Metropolitan University. Tabitha is completing her internship practicum with us working primarily with children and youth. She supports issues like trauma, family dynamics, bullying and peer pressure, self-esteem and more. We’re thrilled to share more information with you so you can get to know her while she’s with us!
Read MoreFor those of you who may not know or do not believe it, sleep is actually very important to keep our bodies healthy. There are many theories that go into explaining why sleep is important, but the most common one almost everyone knows is that sleep rejuvenates and repairs the body. After a hard day of processing and functioning, going to sleep refuels us. Our bodies need to shut down to remain in top shape for the next day. And if they don’t, there are a number of ways our body and mind can be negatively impacted.
Read MoreEveryone experiences sadness from time to time. It can be because something happened, or something was said to us, or because our thoughts got caught on something that worries us. If you need help talking about this with your kids, Toni has some tips and information that might help!
Read MoreSelf-care refers to the idea of taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy and functional. When we think about self-care a lot of people immediately think of things that feel good or relaxing - taking a bath, having a snack, reading a book or lighting a candle and practicing mindfulness. While these can be components of self-care, there are other areas it’s important to focus on that attend to your overall wellbeing not just your state of happiness or calmness. In this article we are going to break these down into four domains of self-care to consider when making a plan to support yourself.
Read MoreSandtray can be a way to process memories, dreams, experiences and goals in session with your therapist without (or in addition to) engaging in traditional talk therapy. It can be used with individuals of all ages and backgrounds, though tends to resonate most with clients who are open to connecting with their more child-like self, who are willing to let go of addressing issues purely on a cognitive level, and who are ready to follow their instincts and senses without needing to justify or intellectualize them. Click here to learn more about this approach!
Read MoreAnger is a regular emotion, one that comes out explosively for some people and slowly builds up and creeps out of us over time for others. Some people get angry because they are scared or don’t know what to do, others experience anger when someone is mean or hurtful to them. If you need help talking about this with your kids, Toni has some tips and information that might help!
Read MoreVaveena walks us through the theoretical principles and some of the basic interventions used in Narrative Therapy, an approach numerous clients find helpful for exploring issues of depression, trauma, complex grief, self-image and anxiety.
Read MoreObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurring intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours that attempt to alleviate distressing thoughts. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a therapy technique that has been found to be effective in treating OCD, which involves in part working to safely expose the patient to feared stimuli in a way that supports them to build up their tolerance to that stimuli, and reframe their related thoughts and fears. This exposure can be done in two ways: through in vivo exposure and imaginal exposure.
Read MoreToday we’re getting to know Chelsea Hack, MSW RSW. Chelsea is one of the newest members of our team, providing individual and family therapy both in office and online around issues including self-esteem, self-confidence, stress, life transitions and relationships.
Read MoreDeath is a heavy topic, and for many people the fear of death is often so threatening or overwhelming that individuals avoid thinking or talking about it all together. This sometimes results in the outright denial of one’s mortality, making it that much more difficult to face death when it is time, whether of oneself or a loved one. Existential Therapists believe that death, and more importantly confronting it, can enrich one’s life and allow an individual to reach their full potential while living.
Read MoreHopelessness is a common issue in therapy for those who experience depression or have experienced trauma in their life. Abramson et al. (1989) developed The Hopelessness Theory, which describes how hopelessness develops. In this article Aleena breaks down the components that can lead to feelings of hopelessness, and the impacts this feeling can have on a person - including feelings of depression and thoughts of suicide.
Read MoreResearch has shown that having structure in your CBT sessions, especially setting an agenda, is an important element to effective therapy. This skill of structuring sessions can be quite helpful to both client and therapist as it provides order and organization to the therapy session. It helps to ensure your goals are being met, and that your time in therapy is used effectively.
Read MoreFear is a regular and common emotion - we might feel it when we have a presentation, when we meet a new person, or when we think we’ve made a mistake. Emotions can be felt in our bodies and influence the way we think and act. We can have positive or negative emotions, but all of them are useful. Emotions can tell us something about ourselves or tell us what to do next. They are here to take care of us! If you need help talking about this with your kids, Toni has some tips and information that might help!
Read MoreHeather Bray, RD, is one of the newest members of our team! We sat down with her to understand more about her practice, her philosophy, and her experiences as both a human and a mind-body practitioner. Heather provides support around intuitive eating, nutrition planning, the intersection of nutrition and mental health, and more.
Read MoreWhen seeking out support around nutrition and eating habits, you might notice there are a variety of professionals that advertise they can support you. Two of the designations we see most frequently are “dietitians” and “nutritionists.” What’s the difference? Is one better than the other? Who should you see if you’re looking for support? We’re here to help answer these questions.
Read MoreThere are several theories as to why getting adequate sleep is required: for body rejuvenation and repair, memory consolidation, and energy conservation and restoration. To put it simply, sleep is required to keep the body healthy and functional. In this article Aleena breaks down for us the impacts of sleep deprivation, and the importance of addressing it if it’s a concern you’re finding yourself dealing with.
Read More
