“Is it normal to be so stressed?” “How do other people reduce stress? … Do they just breathe?!” These are some questions that stood out to me over the last few weeks since I…
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Anger is a normal part of grief but expressing it can be hard because we tend not to like to feel angry. Anger can be taboo especially for women, and especially as part of…
How do we change habitual unhelpful reactions? Or in simpler language, how do we change habits? I’ve been exploring possible approaches in a hands-on fashion. Here’s a story of (momentary) personal…
Whilst I’m no hardliner Cognitive Behavioural therapist, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be a useful tool. I recently found a freely available workbook that is well organised and practical. I would recommend it…
As mostly rational, fairly successful adults, most of us lucky enough to still have living parents hope that family dynamics during visits will be enjoyable, connective, potentially heart-warming experiences, at…
Do you wonder what’s at play when you, or others around you, get stuck in conflict or in wonky relationship dynamics? Perhaps you feel pulled into a caretaker role, or…
Adults who grew up in homes where one or both parents were alcoholics (aka Children of Alcoholics or COAs), or where there was other significant dysfunction, often have the hardest time navigating…
People seeking help with their mental and emotional health are often understandably confused about where they should go. Psychologists? Social Workers? Psychotherapists? Counsellors? Psychiatrists? What’s the difference? What’s covered by Ontario…
I recently wrote a page about emotional eating, which is a starting point if you want to get a better handle on the “what” and the “why” sides of things. This…
Emotional eating, sometimes known as stress eating, can be defined as using food to cope with life circumstances or feelings, typically difficult ones. Sometimes the terms emotional eating and binge eating are…