A Holding Place
111 Pennywell Road A1C 2L2 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Canada

If you've come to see us before, you'll probably recognize Adriannah! As one of our wonderful Administrative Assistants, she may be the first friendly face you see when you come in for your session. Adriannah understands that it can be difficult to put yourself out there and try counselling, so it's very important to her that our clients feel safe and comfortable here.... Many of our clients say that A Holding Place is like a home away from home for them. It's a place where they feel relaxed and safe and can really open upand our amazing team is a big part of what makes that possible.

Young children often find it difficult to put their feelings into words. Our clinicians use play therapy to help our young clients work through their feelings and experiences in a safe, healthy, and fun way! According to the Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute, play therapy can help children:... Develop more successful coping strategies Learn alternate ways of expressing their emotions Develop empathy and respect for others Learn new interpersonal skills Develop confidence in their abilities If you think your child would benefit from play therapy, get in touch with us: https://aholdingplace.ca/contact-us/

We thought Monday morning would be the perfect time to introduce you to our wonderful Administrative Assistant, Maggie! She makes sure our clients feel comfortable and welcome when they come to see us. One of the things our clients love most about Maggie is her positive attitude and helpful nature. An interesting fact about Maggie? She was born in South Africa and lived there until she was 4!... In addition to working with us, Maggie is completing her Bachelor of Social Work at Memorial University. She also loves spending time with her two adorable wiener dogs, Penelope and Amelia. Maggie has been with us for 5 years and we are so happy to have her on our team.

We know that reaching out for help takes courage. That's why we provide a warm, welcoming, safe space for our clients. You can learn more about our team and how we can help you here:... https://aholdingplace.ca/about-us/ See more

Did you know that sunflowers are known for being "happy" flowers? It's no wonder we love them so much! What's your favourite flower?

Do you think this is true for your relationships?

These "relationship recipes" from The Gottman Institute are a fun and unique way to strengthen your relationship.

Let's end the week with a positive affirmation. What's one loving, healthy, positive, or prosperous thought you can share with us?

As we move into the colder months, try these tips to get more sun in your life: Set your alarm a few minutes earlier and take advantage of the morning light Spend your lunch break outside at midday when the sun is strongest... Move your workspace closer to a window Try light therapy, if possible Do you find that sunshine helps boost your mood?

What are you proud of today?

It's #WorldKindnessDay! The perfect day to put a little good out into the world. A smile, a kind word, or a thoughtful gesture can go a long way.

Laughter has been known to: Improve your mood Relax your body Strengthen bonds... Inspire hope Release stress Reduce anger Is laughter important to you?

If you need to talk, we can help. You can easily book a session with one of our counsellors here: https://aholdingplace.ca/

Our video and telephone counselling sessions are available to anyone in Newfoundland and Labrador. However, we are also offering sessions at our office for those who prefer to meet in-person. Either way, you can easily book your session directly from our website: https://aholdingplace.ca/

Did you know that our "beach" room is named Kenton after Kenton-on-sea in South Africa? It's a beautiful small coastal town on the Sunshine Coast, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Our owner, Helen, lived in South Africa for 6 years before coming to NL, and spent plenty of time at the beach. ... The ocean and the beach have been to known to make you feel: Calm Safe Peaceful Relaxed We wanted to help our clients feel this way when they come to see us!

Even in the strongest of relationships, disagreements are inevitable. When disagreements happen between you and your partner, try adopting these 4 Mindful Listening Principles from The Gottman Institute: Approach with curiosity... Tune into your inner silence Listen to understand rather than respond Cultivate heart-centeredness Want to share these with your partner? Tag them below.

Tomorrow is #WorldMentalHealthDay! This year, for the first time ever, World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting a global online advocacy event, "The Big Event for Mental Health". This looks like a great opportunity to keep the conversation about mental health open and to learn more about what we can all do to improve our mental health.... The event will be streamed live tomorrow on WHO's social media accounts. Is this something you'll check out?

On National #StressAwarenessDay, we remind you to take some time to focus on you. Here are some simple ways to reduce your stress today: Pay attention to your breathing... Fit in some exercise such as a walk or simple stretches Eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water Video chat with a friend at lunch Check in with your co-workers Think about the positive things in your life We all experience stress, but being overwhelmed by stress is not good for your body or your mind. If you are feeling overwhelmed and would like to speak with one of our counsellors about managing your stress or anxiety, please let us know. We're here to help!

"It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine." - Eeyore

Have you heard of play therapy? Young children often find it difficult to put their feelings into words. Play therapy gives them the opportunity to express themselves in a way they can understand, while working through their issues with a trained clinician.... As Garry Landreth says, "in the play therapy experience, toys are like the child's words, and play is the child's language". Our clinicians have been offering play therapy through their virtual sessions and it's been going really well! Children feel comfortable being in their own space and get excited about using their own toys during play. If you think your child would benefit from play therapy, you can book directly with our clinicians here: https://aholdingplace.ca/

Some positive affirmations to help you start your week off right.

Today marks the beginning of Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in Canada. MIAW is coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health with the goal of helping to "open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness". Now, more than ever, it's important to talk about and value your mental health.... If you need support, we encourage you to reach out and talk to someone you trust. You can also schedule a session with one of our counsellors here: https://aholdingplace.ca/

Now, more than ever, it's important to take time for yourself. Many people like to read as a way to unplug, recharge, and learn something new! What are you reading right now?

Have you thought about couples counselling but weren't sure if it was right for you and your partner? You may find this The Gottman Institute article helpful.

Don't you usually feel better once you've talked about your feelings with someone you trust?

Now that we're back in the building for limited in-person sessions, we're showing off our favourite masks. Heather's is this adorable Snoopy mask! Do you have a favourite mask? Drop a photo below

Did you know that we're now offering limited in-person sessions? We're doing everything we can to keep you safe, including: Increased cleaning and disinfecting practices Ample room for physical distancing... Helpful signage Easily see our clinicians availability and choose the time that works best for you here: https://aholdingplace.ca/

Did you know that plants can make you feel better? They've been known to: Increase air quality Reduce stress... Boost your mood Increase attentiveness Induce calm Do you have plants in your workplace/home office?

Did you know that 1 in 5 Canadians live with arthritis? Living with a chronic condition like arthritis can affect your day-to-day life in many ways. Most people with arthritis experience chronic pain, fatigue, and restricted movement. Symptoms like these can certainly affect your mood and your mental health.... We often have people come in for help and support as they learn to cope with their chronic pain. No one understands arthritis better than those who live with it everyday, including our owner, Helen, who was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. September is Arthritis Awareness Month in Canada and we wanted to help bring attention to the millions of Canadians living with arthritis every day. We've made a donation to the Arthritis Society Research Stars Fund to help invest in the future of Canadian arthritis research. Right now, all donations are matched dollar-for-dollar! Learn more about how you can help here: https://impact.arthritis.ca/site/Donation2