Beth Ryan Counselling Services
44 Torbay Road A1A 2G4 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, NL, Canada

It's Thanksgiving weekend in Canada and many of us are feeling grateful for how well we're doing in these chaotic times. But as you give thanks, allow some space for people to express less uplifting thoughts and feelings. We could try to cheer them on with good vibes but sometimes it's better to listen and acknowledge the person's experience - including the darkness and pain. This article from a pair of U.S. therapists offers great alternatives to "toxic positivity", an approach that can deny or minimize the "authentic human emotional experience ". Thepsychologygroup.com/toxic-positivity

People will sometimes tell me that they'd never heard of ADHD until their child was diagnosed. Or they will say that "no one had ADHD when I was in school". It's true that ADHD has not always been well-known or understood but that's changing, thanks in part to organizations like CADDAC, which offers great resources for Canadians. What's the most surprising or interesting fact you've learned about ADHD - either from research or personal experience? https://caddac.ca/adhd/understanding-adhd/in-general/

You might remember Maslow's hierarchy of needs from Psychology 1000 class. This series of cartoons uses the familiar graphic to offer a sense of the anxiety and unease that so many of us have been feeling in months since the pandemic began. Does any of this connect with you? https://www.facebook.com//pcb.27503037418/2750303565216572

Today, I had my first chance since March to see a client in my office. It's great to be back! We're practicing physical distancing and other recommended health protocols at our building to ensure that we all stay safe and healthy. If you'd like to book an in-person appointment, please call or text me. But if video or phone sessions still work best for you, I am also offering that option. Look forward to seeing you soon!

It's Mental Health Week - a great reminder to get us talking about how we're feeling during this challenging time. Talk with someone about how this crisis is affecting you. The stress associated with COVID19 can make existing mental health issues feel much worse. While we can't go for counselling appointment in person, there are ways to connect with counsellors and trained volunteers by phone, by text, or online. Tell someone how you're really feeling. https://www.gov.nl.ca//indivi/mental-health-and-wellness/

The COVID-19 crisis is stirring up a lot of feelings for most of us. And for the most part, we are all alone with them, turning them over and over and trying to figure them out. I like this conversation that frames our discomfort as grief. What is it that we lose during difficult times? https://hbr.org//03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief

Some of my clients have asked if counselling sessions are still available as we try to minimize social contact and limit the spread of COVID-19. The answer is yes - but we may need to try other ways to connect. If you'd rather not come to the office, we can certainly talk on the phone or through video chat (Zoom, Skype etc). If you have an appointment booked already, I'll be in touch to see how you'd like to proceed.... In the meantime, here are some helpful suggestions for protecting your mental health during a public health crisis. https://www.cdc.gov///prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html

You probably know someone with ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It affects roughly 5-6% of people and is not limited to children. I'm sure you've also heard some of the myths that circulate about ADHD. This list from Attitude Magazine offers a clear and concise introduction and gives you accurate information that helps makes sense of ADHD.

I'm not good at relaxing. Maybe it's socialization, being around busy people who never take a break, but I am uneasy about doing nothing. My current goal is to learn how to relax without feeling guilt, shame or discomfort. It will take practice - like all changes to thinking or behaviour. This article offered me some helpful suggestions about how to do it. How do you relax and recharge without guilt?

Some of my clients tell me they don't feel entitled to support, treatment, or acknowledgement of their trauma because they aren't war veterans or first responders. They say their suffering isn't as important as other people's and they worry about taking services away from "someone who deserves it". It's time to recognize that trauma comes in many forms and that the pain is real and destructive, regardless of the cause.

My younger clients often tell me that they struggle with the intensity of their emotional response to difficult situations - a romantic breakup, conflict with friends, or an academic crisis. Tolerating distress and regulating emotions can be difficult for all of us. But helping teens and young adults develop those essential skills is some of the most satisfying work I do. Dr. Alisa Crossfield shares some excellent strategies in this article.

When we find ourselves struggling with feelings of despair or overwhelmed by the competing demands we face, some of us will decide to suck it up. We put on a brave face for the world and act like we're doing fine when we're definitely not. But as this article explores, faking it only leads to greater physical and emotional distress. It's time to get real about how we're feeling!

Many of my clients talk to me about the long-lasting impact of their negative childhood experiences. Some fear they will never heal those emotional wounds and live in a healthy way. I found this article is helpful because it gives us all a sense of how we could see things differently - in spite of painful experiences that helped to form our view of the world. What do you think?

A client recently told me that one of the hardest things about being off work due to anxiety and depression was the isolation she felt from her workplace. No one sent a card or flowers. Only one person got to touch to ask how she was doing. Has she been in hospital for surgery or a stroke or cancer treatment, her colleagues might have reacted differently. It's a feeling echoed in this piece by Claudia Herrera about the ways we respond to physical and mental illness. https://wokesloth.com/womans-facebook-post-about-kate-sp//

After the recent suicides of high-profile people, everyone is talking about depression. But as Steve Sarfan notes in this very thoughtful blog post, those of us who haven't experienced depression have to really listen to those who have: "Depression is exhausting. And it’s cruel. It tells you terrible things about yourself. That’s why Ms. Spade and Mr. Bourdain died. I can’t speak for their experiences, but I can speak for my own and what I know to be true from many other patients with depression: our minds become ruthless bullies. They tell us the meanest things about ourselves. They stockpile ammunition and open fire. And we have to sit there and take it because, well, it’s coming from our own brains." https://bloomsandbubbles.blog//depression-isnt-sadness-an/

As of July 2017, I became a registered member of the Academy of Naturopaths and Naturotherapists of Canada Inc.. That means my counselling services are likely to be covered by your health insurance plan under the naturopath category. I hope this option makes counselling a little more affordable for some of my clients. If you need more information, please get in touch!

It's something I hear from my clients all the time - and from my friends, co-workers and family. We're keeping ourselves occupied to avoid dealing with difficult feelings. It can be helpful to distract ourselves sometimes to give us space and time while we wait for the intensity of a powerful emotion to ease off. But it can't be ignored indefinitely.

When people go for counselling or therapy, they are often a little unsure of what to expect. This article offers some practical advice on how to prepare for your first session. The best tip? Offer your counsellor or therapist feedback on the experience. That way, we can look for better ways to help you!

This year, one million men in Canada are trying to cope with the symptoms of major depression. But the stigma around mental illness, coupled with the way men have been socialized, means many of those men aren't seeking and getting the help they need. In this article, Dr. Ari Zaretsky, a psychiatrist in Toronto, explains why it's so important to talk about men's mental health.