Bonnie Pedota Counselling

Early in 2002, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) began to change my life. In June of 1998 I had fallen into a very surprise pit of panic attacks and anxiety, and was slowly crawling out. CBT suggested to me that I didn’t have to believe every thought my brain offered up. I learned that I had cognitive distortions, or unhelpful thoughts that were really tripping up my psychology (AND my biology, because the cortisol that the thoughts caused to be released led to very ...uncomfortable anxiety symptoms.) Truth be told, I don’t review my CBT skills every day, or every week. But during COVID, I have been reviewing some inspiring podcasts and YouTube videos, and a few messages are resonating with me. The first is in line with this CBT concept. Rod Stryker suggests that we should be keenly aware of the story we’re telling ourselves. A single event (COVID-19) can have a million interpretations (this is going to last forever / I can’t handle this, etc.). These stories or thoughts can fly under the radar and impact us invisibly... until we catch them, question them, and decide to think something different. Secondly, I love the idea that Joan Borysenko offers up, that resilience comes when we have faith, and when we make meaning from difficult situations. She suggests that the soul is the MEANING MAKING organ. I love that SO much. When COVID began, I started calling my spiritually-inclined friends, asking: What do you MAKE of this? I know that many of us are really struggling. And that many of us have found treasures where we never thought we would. I would love to hear how you are making meaning at this time. Namaste.

If you have ever had the deep pleasure of hearing Joan Borysenko speak and tell stories, you will feel the importance and sparkle of her words below. If not, just trust me - she’s a gem

Amazing podcast about finding your dharma, or life purpose! Dr. Jason Loken is a trusted naturopath and osteopath in Brooklin (and online) who has supported me in various ways for fifteen years. He has interviewed Stephen Cope, a founder of the Kripalu Centre in Massachusetts. I highly recommend!

Anyone else feeling this?

I have loved Dr. Christiane Northrup’s approach since her groundbreaking book Women’s Bodies Women’s Wisdom. Listen to her words of wisdom every day during this awakening: