Sleep. We Need It-How Do We Get It?
We are over a year into a pandemic, and many of us are still struggling with the changes in our lives. All of these changes and the stress we may be encountering can leave us feeling exhausted. There are many things that may be contributing to our levels of stress, but one thing is for […]
Attachment
Attachment theory is a popular framework for understanding how we tend to relate to ourselves and others. You may have already come across this model yourself. Perhaps you were encouraged to facilitate a “secure attachment” within your child, or to consider how your “attachment style” influences your romantic relationships and friendships. But what do these […]
Asian Families – A Life of Acculturation
The challenges of moving to a foreign land is one that is appreciated by many in Canada with immigration marking over 80% of Canada’s population growth. Ethnocultural diversity is on a continual rise. Among the many ethnic groups Asians make up for 7 of the top 10 countries of immigrants in recent years. There are […]
When Stress Won’t Quit: Chronic Stress during COVID-19 Pandemic
March 2021 marks a year since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. This month, many of us have found ourselves reflecting on the past year and the ways in which our lives have been impacted as a result of the pandemic. For many of us there are big things that we miss, like seeing the […]
COVID-19, Holiday celebrations and Winter blues
As the holiday season approaches and the restrictions of socially distancing continue to be in place, it is becoming evident that this holiday season will not be like any other. As therapists, we often gear up to support our clients through the holiday season which is often a challenging time without having the social distancing […]
Connection and COVID
We are living in difficult and uncertain circumstances right now. As humans, we are wired to connect to others. From an early age, we learn that other people can help us to find calm: babies are rocked and soothed by caregivers, toddlers run to loved ones when hurt, hugs from partners or friends leaves us […]
Conditional Love and Self-Compassion
Many of us have heard, and use, the term “conditional love.” Conditional love occurs when we express our love or approval when others act or look a specific way, but withhold approval and affection when criteria are not met. It may look like a parent providing praise to their child only when they receive above […]
Helping Your Loved One Eat
For some families, meal time can become a battle field. For individuals with eating disorders, food, the kitchen, the dinning room table, the fridge, and meal time in general can be terrifying. Sometimes this fear may come out of your loved one as anger, screams, ultimatums, slamming doors, or swear words. As a result, meal […]
The Connection Between Emotion Avoidance and Physical Health
The impact of emotions and emotional avoidance is commonly associated with the development and maintenance of mental health illness. However, the link between emotion avoidance and physical illness is generally less commonly known and accepted. This is very interesting given the robust evidence demonstrating a relationship between emotional avoidance and the development of physical illness. […]
Empathy – what it is and AND what it isn’t
Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity. Pema Chodron What is empathy? Empathy is feeling with people. It a sacred space […]
