Ana Schlosser Psychological Services
231 6th Ave SE T1A-0H3 Medicine Hat, AB, Canada

A codependent person is one who has let another person’s behavior affect him or her and who is obsessed with controlling that person’s behavior. ~Melody Beattie

Many of us become highly emotionally activated when our childhood attachment wounding is triggered. Attachment wounding comes from our relationships with parent...-figures. When there’s mistrust, betrayal, or a consistent inability for a parent to meet our emotional needs as children we carry this wounding into adulthood. So does our nervous system. This looks like being hyper vigilant in romantic relationships, having consistent fear of betrayal or abandonment, avoidance or inability to truly connect. We can begin to confuse our nervous system responses as sexual attraction. We can also mistake a lack of nervous system activation with a partner as a lack of sexual attraction. Especially if we grew up with homes with chaos, instability, or emotional abandonment. Healing involves the process of becoming consciously aware to how our mind + body are responding. Reflections: 1. When do I find myself most attracted to this person? 2. Am I becoming activated by fear of abandonment, or am I feeling true (consistent) connection? 3. Am I seeking to be seen + heard by this person or am I seeking to be chosen? 4. Does this relationship means betraying parts of myself in order to be loved? 5. Is there an emotional addiction involved in the relationship with highs + lows? #selfhealers

ACCESS, ACCESS, ACCESS! What are some other factors to consider when you need to access mental health services?

Our Family School Liaison team will be facilitating a 10-week online Connect program this upcoming January. The Connect program is designed for parents who are having trouble connecting with their teens and pre-teens. #registernow #connect #teens #weareallprairierose

Our parent-figures teach us boundaries. They teach us by how they model them, themselves. Boundaries are our clear limits. They allow us to connect in healthy w...ays while also keeping our autonomy. I grew up in a home where there was severe enmeshment enmeshment is a lack of boundaries. When my mom felt an emotion, we all felt an emotion. There was no space, no allowing for different emotions, + lots of group think we Lepera’s like x or we don’t do x. There was also a lot of triangulation which often happens when there’s lack of emotional boundaries. My mom would get angry with one of us + go into silent treatment. My dad would be involved, passing notes if she needed to tell us something. In homes without boundaries, there is no such thing as disagreement or conflict that doesn’t involve the whole family unit. Of course, none of the copdendency conditioning seemed abnormal to me. It’s what I was used to. It’s no wonder that as an adults I didn’t have clear boundaries. I didn’t understand them. I would feel waves of guilt + fear for even wanting time or space to myself. Most of us have to relearn boundaries as adults. We have to come to see them as an act of loving self-care, not punishment or abandonment. Holidays can show us a LOT about the boundaries (or lack) we’ve had growing up. Any ‘ah-ha’ moments for this community? #selfhealers

Merry Christmas! I know it's not going to be the easiest day for a lot of us, but I am thinking of you. You're not alone.

Next week is National Addictions Awareness Week and this year’s theme is Change Begins With Me On Tuesday November 24 from 7-8 PM Addictions and Crisis Team mem...ber Ryan Oscar will be participating in a FREE online community event aimed at ending the stigma regarding substance abuse and raising the awareness about community resources available to assist you or someone you love Register via Event Brite https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/moving-from-stigma-to-resilienc #NAAW #changebeginswithme #endthestigma #medhat

If you’re like me, you’re having a hard time organizing and motivating yourself lately? Busy cluttered mind trying to hold on to a million different things at once? Try the 4 square Brain Dump to dump your thoughts out on paper to organize and prioritize. Then, try the Pomodoro technique to get it done!

I am pumped about this addition to The Collective! Tracy and I have worked together in the past and I am so looking forward to this collaboetation to bring more treatment options amd support to individuals big AND small to reinforce their treatment. You will see her lovely face for some groups in the future as well! Her creativity and ability to engage people where they are is top notch!

Woo hoo!! Officially official!

https://www.facebook.com/29092950651/posts/10164503923500652/?d=n

https://www.facebook.com/111567110545875/posts/176761394026446/?extid=rqCMbxoA29Sk8BS6&d=n

Keep in mind that working on the selfgoes best when we approach this challenge with curiosity and self-love. Personal growth doesnt flourish in an atmosphere of terminal seriousness and self-blame.

Here is some non twelve step scientific recovery for people who dont like NA or AAWhatever works for you!

Ive been dropping a lot myself lately. Have grace with yourself and others. And if I said I would do something for you, dont be afraid to message and remind me because I likely forgot. not because its not important but because my brain is saturated.

This. Anger is a necessary stage of the healing process. Anger is a sign that something needs to change. And change we will. Better together.

ALOT of people are feeling this kinda way...dont forget to take care of yourself first! And then you can be there for others when you feel able to. Theres a reason why the pilot tells you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first.

We are SO HONORED that For All The Brothers Canada reached out to us!! They will be utilizing the compound for their meetings EVERY Sunday at 6PM. They stres...s they are not professionals, but I can only imagine they are an AMAZING outlet to help conquer Mens mental health! #forallthebrothers WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Share the heck out of this, and lets get our men (and any others that require support) the HELP THEY FINALLY DESERVE! Every little bit helps. EVERYONE WELCOME-Including your dogs!

Finding a grief therapist can be tricky. Most people dont realize therapists do grief work ALL the time. Many therapists dont even realize THEY do grief work ALL the time. Grief is not only related to death. It can be the loss of a 20 year marriage or losing your beloved family pet, or changing careers, losing a friendship/relationship to wanting to have self respect. Grief can be the hollow feeling in your heart and stomach even when you know the decision is good for you o...r youve lost one of the most important things in your life. Most therapists dont label themselves Grief Therapist. This is why its confusing to find a Grief Therapist. Some therapists have extra training in that area. Most receive very little grad school training but still we are practiced in the experience of loss EVERY. SINGLE.. DAY and not only in relation to death but definitely death is a different kind of loss. And frankly, a good therapist isnt ashamed to intentionally take extra training to be better equipped. So, if it feels overwhelming to find a therapist, ask a friend to help you or friends, offer to go with your friend to a first appt. Interview the therapist. Take recommendations from people you know. Try before you buy because fit means everything. https://youtu.be/ie1RwrIet6U See more

Believe it or not, your story could change someone's life!

Believe it or not, your story could change someones life!

This! Wanna know what to do to reach out?!? Try these things!

You can't spell wholehearted without A-R-T. Thank you Andrea Pippins for using your talent and creativity to help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of the #TheG...iftsofImperfection by bringing the 10 guideposts to life. You can download this gorgeous flower and a version YOU color here: https://bit.ly/2GN8MAp

In response to our community crisis, Sashbear has so graciously offered to provide Medicine Hat with an immediate opportunity to support friends and family of loved ones who struggle with mental health, anger and/or addictions. This program is FREE and will be available starting in the next couple weeks online to meet some of our communitys immediate needs. This program is led by local facilitators who are family members themselves and understand where you are coming from. Sign up ASAP here as it WILL fill fast. https://sashbear.wildapricot.org/event-3980990 *edited Monday sept 14-only 7 spaces left!

Even the therapeutic and professional relationship has challenges at times.

Free and offered via zoom! https://chatnewstoday.ca//chronic-pain-workshop-starts-n/

Positive social and emotional connections are important now, more than ever. Here are some great ways to connect with your KIDS over the weekend. #MHPSDfamily #MHPSDfamilySTRONG #medhat #communication #connection #courage #hope

You cant spell wholehearted without A-R-T. Thank you Andrea Pippins for using your talent and creativity to help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of the #TheG...iftsofImperfection by bringing the 10 guideposts to life. You can download this gorgeous flower and a version YOU color here: https://bit.ly/2GN8MAp

Did you know... https://www.facebook.com/groups/1789194921352640/?ref=share

I am planning to offer an arts-based therapeutic group for children ages 6-12 who are struggling with grief and loss. I know the conversations in our community... recently have focused around suicide. This group is not exclusive to, nor is it focused on the topic of suicide, but rather on helping children access, identify, understand, and process feelings of grief and loss of a loved one. Dates and times TBD. Please contact me directly by phone (403) 458-4451 or email [email protected] if you would like more information or would like to place your name on a wait list for an upcoming group.

Yes! This! https://www.facebook.com//a.45251141147/3882040858524355/

https://www.facebook.com/119414834879699/posts/1733021306852369/?extid=pwGRZhyZ4SSBtJz6&d=n

What Im reading Wednesday...

You begin to learn to exist in new ways WITH the ball.

Our team member Angela Irvine talks about upcoming community vigil https://chatnewstoday.ca//silent-candlelit-vigil-planned/

Immense gratitude to LONG Creations for the original concept and Tag Concepts for personalizing a logo for Medicine Hat #WSPS2020MH. Id love to see this flooding our news feeds. Use for your profile or cover photo and tag #WSPD2020MH please share!

Sport your red shoes tomorrow in support of FASD awareness. #redshoesrock

This week for Mental Health Monday we are sharing some facts regarding the mental health of Fathers. Did you know that fathers can suffer from Post-Partum Depression too?

#latibulecounseling - graphic credit

Trauma informed Tuesday

Please join us Thursday evening this week for World Suicide Prevention Day events. Please share and use the hashtag #WSPD2020MH https://www.facebook.com/events/1227467860943862

Ok, I can see this happening in my office... And I said heeeeeyyy eyyy eyyy eyyyy

Our amazing office mate Carla created this very easy user friendly step by step guide to talking to your kids. PLEASE SHARE!

Know some men who are willing to engage in tough convos if it means saving lives? This is a great place to start...our local chapter does community meet ups like at the dog park, and events at tattoo shops etc. Be a part of the brotherhood of men uplifting one another through connection and community. Share with your dudes-this is the Canadian chapter. Just normal dudes, looking to connect with other normal dudes and doing normal dude things. Below in comments is the original chapter https://instagram.com/forallthebrotherscanada

*not everyone can afford $200/hr private therapy sessions. Often times psychologists will work with you if your circumstances change to help make an agreement s...o that your services are not disrupted. *Drs offices here in Med Hat PCN network have Behavioral consultants for brief short term behavioral support. You can access for free at walk in or by appt. *Alberta has a Disaster Response Network for first responders and anyone who has had COVID. See comments for info *Wellness Together Canada offers free counseling to EVERY Canadian 24 hrs a day. See link below *Most colleges/universities offer short term mental health counselling for free.

Wise words from our colleague Greg Godard https://www.facebook.com/1069992410/posts/10221570426544575/?extid=M1eyGzl8bzKuqDZc

https://www.facebook.com//a.184043628980/586276925423445/