How Emotion Focused Therapy can help you face difficult emotions Courtney Bell, MA How often do you experience a difficult emotion and lean right into it? You are not alone if your answer is rarely, or never for that matter. Difficult emotions (sadness, fear, anger, loneliness for example) often elicit the same response as putting our hand on a hot stove top: we pull away in the opposite direction! However, what if I told you that facing and leaning into difficult emotions can bring great ...read more
Family Therapy and Building Blocks
Family Therapy and Building Blocks Robyn Manzano, MA When was the last time you played with Lego blocks? Recently, I have rediscovered this nostalgic childhood activity. There is a certain relaxation that comes with just sitting and building. Although there are no real rules or expectations (despite what the strong Type-A people might argue!), it is an opportunity to engage our creativity, imagination and innovation (areas of our brain that are often neglected). Being around ...read more
Understanding Healing
UNDERSTANDING HEALING We have all experienced some kind of hurt, pain and discomfort in our lives and it’s because of this commonality that we can relate to one another. Whether it is pain in the form of having your heart broken by a loved one, facing rejection in school, at work or among friends, loss of some kind, mistreatment or a lack of support when it’s most needed, we have each faced some form of such difficulties. How we cope with undesired relational events can ...read more
Counselling Was the Best Gift I Gave Myself – and My Family
Discussing mental health issues is still an uphill battle for our society. This mom shares her story about how counselling made her a better parent, employee and partner. Source: Counselling Was the Best Gift I Gave Myself – and My Family | Learning BY ASHLEY MACINNIS PHOTO BY NULLPLUS/GETTY IMAGES FEB 5, 2018 I still remember sitting in the waiting room, imagining a chaise lounge waiting for me in the therapist’s office on my first visit. Instead, I found an ...read more
Words to live by
Words To Live By How words have an impact on your healing Sara Alia, MC R. Psych (provisional) - Refresh Counselling Words to live by. With so many words in the English language, it can be difficult to find the ‘right words’ in describing a feeling, an experience or one’s insight when delivering a message - particularly in the counselling context. Some words are positive life-giving ones, while others are draining and harmful to one’s mental and emotional well-being. A ...read more
Finding the Right Psychologist
Finding the Right Psychologist What your favourite jeans and your psychologist have in common Karyn Zuidhof, MA R.Psych Finding a psychologist can be just like finding good jeans. If you’ve spent fruitless hours at the mall, you know exactly what I mean – finding good jeans can be hard. So can finding a psychologist who fits for you. There are a few things, your favourite jeans and psychologist should have in common – they need to be comfortable, with the perfect amount of ...read more
Putting it into practice: a look at homework use in therapy.
Putting Therapy Into Practice A look at homework use in therapy Sara Alia, MC - Registered Provisional Psychologist, Refresh Counselling Practice makes perfect—a popular saying we hear and often use in our North American culture, also a helpful one that I find informs a critical piece of counselling. Think of a boxer who prepares for a match —he/she spend hours putting into practice the specific moves and ...read more
Anxious? Worry a Lot? Here’s How It Can Be Good For You!
Written By Douglas LaBier Anxiety is rampant in our society. As a psychiatric symptom, it brings many people into psychotherapists’ offices, and/or into seeking medication relief. The same is true for chronic, often pervasive worrying about life situations, especially those you can’t really control or have impact over. But two recent, unrelated studies provide some helpful information: that anxiety and worrying can be beneficial...if you know how to “use” them. For ...read more
Mentally Strong Kids Have Parents Who Refuse to Do These 13 Things
Give up the bad habits that rob kids of mental strength. Source: Mentally Strong Kids Have Parents Who Refuse to Do These 13 Things Raising a mentally strong kid doesn't mean he won't cry when he's sad or that he won't fail sometimes. Mental strength doesn't make you immune to hardship and it's not about suppressing your emotions. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Mental strength is what helps kids bounce back from setbacks and it gives them the strength to keep going, even when ...read more
Is Therapy Right for Me? 8 Signs You Should Seek Counseling
Is Therapy for me? Have you ever asked this question. We are sharing this article to give people some food for thought. If you - or someone close to you - is experiencing any of these issues, or if you'd simply like more insight into yourself, consider seeking a therapist's support. In our fast-paced society, more and more people find it challenging to juggle unrealistic work and home life demands. We frequently have to deal with high levels of daily stress, which negatively affects our ...read more