Clients come into our office all the time saying that they feel chronically stressed, overwhelmed and burnt out yet do not know how to relax. This feels foolish to them because, “Who doesn’t know how to relax?” (their words, not ours). In reality, most people do not know how to relax unless they practice it […]
Why Is It So Hard to Relax? Tips for Managing Anxiety and Stress Read More »
It is estimated that around 12% of men are accessing mental health support in North America compared to over 21% of women. This is despite men having reportedly higher rates of suicidal ideation, substance use and Addiction issues. What prevents men from accessing mental health care at higher rates? What can we do to change
Tips for Improving Men’s Mental Health Read More »
Having intense emotions when navigating life is understandable and human. However, not everyone knows what to do with these big emotions and how to navigate them in a healthy way. In fact, not learning how to work with big feelings can lead to problems with substance use and problem behaviour, as people turn to these
Using Bilateral Stimulation to Deal with Big Emotions Read More »
Emotions can be a scary and overwhelming thing, especially if you have not been offered support and guidance on how to navigate them. A common trap people fall into is thinking that ignoring their feelings will be the solution and make them go away. The reality is that most mental health and addiction issues are
DBT Can Help Feelings Be Less Scary Read More »
The holidays are stressful. People have an immense amount of expectation on themselves and their families; they are rushing to provide an idyllic image of the holidays for self and others; there is an increased financial cost to these goals; and, overall, there is just a lot of pressure. In my experience, human beings don’t
Self-Care During the Holidays Read More »
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental depletion. It comes when the stressors and demands put on us outweigh our ability to replenish energy. The consequences of burnout can be profound and, in the worst cases, result in people being unable to function in their daily lives. On the less extreme end,
How to Recover from Burnout Read More »
Many people who present for Addiction and Mental Health problem have something in common: Challenges with their emotional world (or feelings). In my years of practice as a Registered Psychologist in Alberta, Canada, I have observed some general trends and thought it would be helpful to put forward some common myths vs. realities to support
The Top Myths About Feelings Read More »
Relationships require effort. Whether that relationship be with ourselves or an external individual, they are something we need to constantly invest energy in, with obviously a great payback. Sometimes, however, people get stuck in this pursuit. Conflict and triggers are difficult moments to navigate and can feel overwhelming even to the most open and eager
The ABC’s of Dealing with Conflict and Triggers Read More »
Things can and have gotten pretty ugly in the world and the news, of course, is all over their constant reporting of this. It’s impossible to escape from. With the advent of the 24 hour news cycle and the growth of the internet, there is a plethora of sites and resources and information that is
Coping with the Ugly News Read More »
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and more cities are recommending self-isolating as a precaution, it struck me that people who are normally busy and living an extraverted life are being forced by circumstance to live as an introvert. Introversion and extraversion are personality typing classifications that stem from the work of psychoanalyst Carl Jung. These
Living as an Introvert Read More »
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