Connected Counselling Services
515 Pembroke Street West Pembroke, ON, Canada

Your pace towards healing is perfect- whether you are inching forward or sprinting ahead, keep going, youre doing great!

This is true for adults too!

I highly, highly recommend this program.

Get outside, preferably to somewhere green!! Its the easiest way to improve your mood :)

Thought for today...

Mistakes are so very human. Lets just accept them and move on by making better decisions :)

Yes!! I agree wholeheartedly.

To all my clients, past, present, & future. This is for you. Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Sometimes something huge happens that makes us stop and completely re-evaluate the way we live our lives, causing us to focus on relationship and fulfillment rather than emptier and less satisfying pursuits. I love this authors take on that. Happy reading :)

A fabulous article about feminine sexuality and aging.

Teaching children to control their emotions, especially anger, is difficult. We look at how another culture accomplishes this and learn about a powerful tool that American parents may be overlooking.

What are your questions for this year? I love this approach to the new year, as an alternative to the standard resolutions and goals. The journey is the destination!

As we get nearer to the constructed start of a new year according to the Gregorian calendar, setting boundaries is a great new goal to set yourself! What are so...me of your boundaries and how do you enforce them? Illustration by: IG - @crazyheadcomics [image description: An illustration titled, "My Boundaries." Each boundary is accompanied by a different type of plant. The boundaries are: I will take care of myself first I will not allow others to guilt or manipulate me into doing things I'm not comfortable with I will stand up for myself and voice my opinions with confidence I will not hold myself responsible for the things beyond my control I will communicate openly and when I need to, assertively I will not let my happiness depend on other people]

Boys can be... (Image via Elise Gravel - English)

Many people report having a difficult time coming off of their depression medication. In particular the SSRI or SNRI class of medication can cause a myriad of withdrawal symptoms when they have been forgotten or when they are reduced purposefully. A new study has captured this experience. If this happens to you you aren't alone!! http://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com//meds-for-dep/

Sometimes when I ask clients if theyve heard of or tried mindfulness meditation, they roll their eyes because its so trendy right now. But theres a reason why we are being bombarded with articles and recommendations for it: mindfulness meditation (and meditation in general) can actually change the way your brain works, and alter its structure in beneficial ways. Its effects can help counteract depression, chronic pain, anxiety, stress, distractibility, and a myriad of other symptoms and conditions. [ 56 more words ] http://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com//mindfulness-/

This article about potential new treatments for mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and depression kinda gave me goosebumps. Happy Sunday!

Flaws. We all have them. From a young age we are taught that our flaws are terrible, and that we need to be as perfect as possible. We develop a harsh inner critic that tells us we are "not right". As adults we have the urge to fix our flaws. Sometimes this leads to healthy self-reflection, or growth. But sometimes, we try to battle our flaws in an unhealthy way. [ 144 more words ] https://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com/20//05/flaws/

I've recently experienced a devastating loss. And it's been hard to talk about, because it's work related. Someone special sent me this link, to remind me about how important it is to talk about your pain. So true! But this video by @refugeingrief is so much more than that. It explains the concept of acknowledgment, in a fantastic way. Acknowledgment is when we simply say to a person who is in pain: I see you, and I see that you are in pain. [ 33 more words ] https://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com//how-to-help/

I just finished a masterclass on Happiness by researcher Shawn Achor on my Calm app (which I highly recommend for those of you looking for a good app for helping with sleep, mindfulness and self-help). You can find Shawn's fabulous Ted Talk about workplace happiness here. Shawn sees happiness as a team sport; when we make positive choices for increased happiness ourselves it can have a ripple effect on those around you. [ 343 more words ] http://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com//take-2-minut/

... and not only is he one of my favourite humans; he's canadian too! All behaviours of addiction, from drugs to gambling to gaming, either directly soothe pain or distract from it. Temporarily, they all ease discomfort with the self. Hence my mantra: the first question is not, Why the addiction? but Why the pain?"- Gabor Mate I absolutely love Gabor Mate's ideas about addiction. [ 147 more words ] http://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com//gabor-mate-a/

Everyone experiences trauma differently. There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to deal with trauma. And, everyone deserves a chance to heal from trauma in the way that works best for them. http://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com//your-trauma-/

Brene Brown is one of my favourite researchers and thinkers. Her ideas about vulnerability and shame have deeply influenced the way that I live and work. She's also a social worker like me! Here, she describes her take on the "Midlife Crisis" in a way that really captures the beautifully messy unfolding that it truly is. Enjoy! http://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com//brene-browns/

For those of you who have ever been a client of mine, you probably know that I am a *big* fan of journalling. I recommend it to help clarify or figure out problems, move through and process trauma, and more generally as a tool towards self-discovery and development. I came across this great set of questions, which can be used as journalling prompts (on Pinterest of course) and it comes from the Follow Your Own Rhythm blog - you can find the original post here: [ 423 more words ] http://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com///journalling/

When your life seems to be unravelling, bursting at the seams, or just plain stressful, here are some strategies to use to build up the incredible resilience we all have but don't always make use of. http://www.connectedcounsellingservices.com//what-to-do-w/

Anxiety is overwhelmingly common these days, in children and teens. This article points to a few things we parents can be aware of to help prepare our kids for real life. What do you think?

A powerful article challenging what we have been taught to believe about depression. A great read!

I am excited to announce that I will be offering a Hold Me Tight workshop for couples in Pembroke, starting on February 1st, 2018 and just in time for Valentine's Day! Please share far and wide - everyone welcome!

Community yoga class starting this Monday, November 6, free, for all those who would like to practice yoga but may have trouble affording it. This class will be gentle and is for all levels, abilities and bodies! See poster for details. Please PM me with any questions you may have. Namaste!

I really liked this brief talk about how we can better support our boys at school, in a system that has largely evolved to be less inclusive of them. A different and challenging perspective that really made me think. I hope you like it :)

Hold me Tight workshop for couples being held in Ottawa by colleagues Wyn Fournier and June Kvamme! Check it out, and please share widely!

My friend Kate blows me away all the time with her all around amazingness. I hope that this blog post she wrote a few years back will blow you away too with its raw honesty and its important reminder that WE ARE NOT SHE-RAs. We are human, beautifully flawed and imperfect. Today, try to let go of the feeling that you need to be a superhero, even just a little bit. Enjoy!

This Ted talk just blew my mind! The way we think about stress turns out to be a big determinant in whether stress is bad for our health!

I Brene! We all have stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves.... but we don't have to believe them! Check this out.