Burnout rarely happens all at once. As a counsellor, I often see people reach out only when they are completely exhausted emotionally, mentally, and physically. They have been coping for a long time, pushing through stress, and telling themselves they will slow down later. This reflects a common pattern. We tend to take physical health […]
What Creates Real Holiday Joy (and What Doesn’t) Spending money can create a brief rush, especially when there’s anticipation involved. But that rush fades quickly. The feeling most people hope for during the holidays – warmth, closeness, meaning, ease- comes from a different place entirely. Research and clinical experience both point to the same core […]
For generations, men have been taught to be strong, steady, and self reliant. To man up. To keep emotions private and push through pain. Over time, that message often turns into silent suffering, and can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors or painful emotional experiences. Even with growing awareness around the benefits of mental health support, […]
Change is one of the few constants in life. Completing high school or levels of college, career shifts, moving to a new city, starting or ending a relationship, becoming a parent; these are just a few examples, but all of these transitions carry both opportunity and uncertainty. Even when change is positive, it can shake […]
Growing up too fast can mean taking on responsibilities and emotional awareness before you were ready. As an adult, this may show up as over-responsibility, perfectionism, or disconnection from your needs. Healing is possible. You can reconnect with the parts of you that carried these burdens and find compassion, balance, and safety. The Hidden Impacts […]
The New Year: Reflections on Growth, Gratitude, and Renewal Each New Year, I like to pause and reflect—especially on the interview I did back in 2023 about New Year’s resolutions. Revisiting the chapters of my life has shown me that most things, even the difficult ones, carried purpose. I’ve gained self-esteem that had far less […]
When I suggest that a client may be sensitive, or even highly sensitive, they wince when their sensitivity is mentioned. As if I called them an asshole or some other unsavory name. Shame washes over them, as if I have suddenly discovered the secret they’ve been hiding from the world. When did it become taboo […]
I have talked about how I think self-care is a myth. How we have been conditioned (especially as helpers and empaths) to give all of our good away and then use self-care to fill ourselves back up. I have developed my thesis: self-care is a way of life, not the pampering activities or self-soothing techniques […]
Imagine you are you working out with a new trainer at the gym. You don’t know one another well yet, and the trainer is still trying to get to know what your body can and can’t do. She tells you to get down onto all fours for some bird dogs. Now, you know that your […]
In recent times, the concept of attending to one’s inner child to heal oneself has been gaining popularity in psychotherapy. Therapeutic approaches such as the Internal Family System (IFS) and Parts Work, as well as various books and worksheets, have emphasized the importance of understanding one’s fragmented self and piecing it together like […]
