Mental Health
Couples Therapy isn’t about the Garbage
Anika looked out of the window and saw the garbage crew picking up garbage from every neighbour, but not theirs. She slammed the dishwasher shut hard enough to rattle all the dishes and cutlery, turned round, and screeched at her husband. “You didn’t bother to put the garbage out! Again!” Think about that statement for…
< Read More >WE’RE MOVING BACK TO IN-OFFICE APPOINTMENTS!
Some of our therapists now offer in-office appointments again, while continuing to offer video and telephone sessions. Most of our clients have found video and telephone appointments effective and highly beneficial and we will continue to offer them. Some clients prefer in-office appointments and we are pleased to be able to provide them again. Here’s…
< Read More >Apps That We Recommend For Mental Health
App & Print Resources Psychological First Aid Psychological First Aid The PFA Mobile app can assist responders who provide Psychological First Aid (PFA) to adults, families, and children. This app is helpful in that it talks about trauma in all ages and provides helpful education and links.
< Read More >Coping with Seasonal Patterns & Bipolar
If you feel a shift in your mood as the seasons change, you’re not alone. Many people, whether they have bipolar disorder or not, are affected by the changing of the seasons. You may notice changes in your sleep, activity level, and mood. While the mechanisms by which these changes occur are still being studied, you may adapt your treatment plan to help cope with these transitions.Many individuals with bipolar disorder experience depression during the fall and winter months.
< Read More >Harnessing the Power of Stress
Our understanding of stress has come a long way over the last couple of decades; arguably much further than the daily practice of stress management for most people.Harmful effects of stress are well documented in scientific literature. High blood pressure, headaches, stomach problems and a compromised immune system are a few examples of what stress can do to us.Employers and policy makers are starting to pay attention. Stressed workers are more likely to be unhealthy, poorly motivated, less
< Read More >To Tell or Not to Tell? Disclosing Your Mental Illness to Your Employer
Currently, 1 in 5 Canadians are experiencing a mental illness or addiction and 1 of 2 Canadians will have, or have had, a mental illness by the time they reach 40 years of age1. Although these numbers tell us that mental illness is quite common, the stigma tied to mental illness continues to impact our perceptions of mental illness and our decisions around when or with whom to share our diagnoses—especially when it comes to disclosing to our employer.If you are looking for a cut-and-dry answer…
< Read More >Over-Scheduling Mental Health Goals
When we begin to feel better, it can often be tempting to take on too many “self-improvement” goals or to try to commit to too many things at once. In this video, Samantha will discuss the importance of choosing 2-3 goals at a time, even if they are considered “small” goals – so movement towards mental health will continue…
< Read More >Helping Children Through Grief
It is not always easy to know how to support children when they are grieving. Supporting them can become even more difficult when you are grieving yourself. In this video, Samantha will highlight some of the things you can do to support your child and help ensure they experience grief in a healthy way…
< Read More >Helping Children Cope After a House Fire
Recently our province, Alberta, has been dealing with a major fire in Fort McMurray. Due to the size and destructive impact of this fire, many of the people living there have lost their homes and have had to be evacuated. This “Coping After Fire” series was created to address the concerns and questions that many people impacted by the fires now have. In this video, I will work you through some of the basic, but very important strategies that you can use to help your children cope after a house…
< Read More >5 Ways to Cope After a House Fire or Crisis
If you are reading this post, then it is likely that either you or someone you know has been impacted by a house fire. Due to the recent fire that is being fought in Fort McMurray, I created this series to address some of the main concerns and questions that are being asked. In this video, I will walk you through five key strategies you can use to help make it easier to cope after a house fire. Coping After Fire Series Video 1 – Normal Reactions After a House Fire or Crisis Video 2…
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