Conscious Counselling
3300 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 32 L4K 2Y4 Vaughan, ON, Canada

A LOT of people are dealing with all kinds of anxiety right now. It’s important to take a step back & see what the facts are around the situation creating stress. A lot of times we’re more anxious about the distortions we’re experiencing than the event itself. For example, you have to give a presentation that’s anxiety provoking. You psych yourself out and think that you’re going to bomb it- could you be magnifying the negative? Perhaps. What’s the worst thing that can happen? Play it out. Then what? Then what after that? & then? You may realize that you’ll be able to deal with it if you play it all the way to the end. & then- what can you do right now to help yourself? What is the most likely situation? Challenge your thoughts. It’s not easy but it often helps! Want to learn more about challenging your thoughts? Book a consult.

Wishing you & your families the very best & more. Love, the conscious team.

Anxiety is hard- it creeps up on you like a dinosaur- filled with thoughts that can feel like the end of the world. When we work with anxiety- we want to break down the thoughts and feelings to really challenge them. We want to find hope in moments that feel hopeless. We want to separate the story from the reality. Do you need help with managing your anxiety?

With the holidays around the corner- the pandemic in full swing- people need connection more than ever. Think about your loved ones, your friends, your old friends- ask yourself- how can I make their day better? A thoughtful hello can go a long way. Stay connected. It’s important for everyone.

Shame- a fully loaded word. It’s painful- toxic- and self deprecating. It limits you from seeing yourself apart from something that happened or something you did. It attacks the self & it doesn’t help anyone. It’s one thing to take responsibility, acknowledge your mistakes, repair, learn & do better- it’s another to believe you can’t be better or that it’s because of who you are as a person that something occurred. We don’t want that for you. We want you to try to step into c...ourage to transform shame into self empathy and kindness- to learn from mistakes and to move forward. You can’t change what happened but you can change the stories around it. We want you to transform your relationship with yourself and your behaviours to learning experiences on your path as opposed to fundamental flaws in yourself. We know it’s hard- we know it hurts. Self deprecating talk doesn’t help- it hurts even more. If we can transform the way we talk to ourselves and how we see our shortcomings/ lessons- we are being courageous. YOU CAN DO IT. Disclaimer: this is not counselling/ psychotherapy nor a replacement for treatment.

Guys... this is STILL going on. We know- it sucks. Remember- we are social beings and now more than ever, people need your support. Please reach out to loved ones or people who live alone. We all need to stick together to move through this. We need each other. Think Maslow’s hierarchy of needs-first comes physiological needs, then comes safety needs & then comes BELONGINGNESS!!! It’s crucial for our survival that we strive to connect in whatever ways we can. Your words may just be the thing that allows someone to keep going for one more day.

For whoever needs to hear this today.

Take a second- close your eyes, take a deep breath and notice how it feels. You may think of someone in your life or maybe someone on tv.. or maybe even a stranger. Take some time. Do you feel the warm fuzzies? Do you feel a sense of deepening or embodying yourself? Observe. Take some time. Reflect. Moments like these help us to come back to a securely attached place- a way to re-embody ourselves in healthy, loving, kind ways, which is necessary for living a full, connected life.

-The rollercoaster ride that never ends. -The days filled with on edge meetings and dissatisfied customers. -The icky feeling that lets you think you’re safe when you’re not. -The partner that keeps you on edge. -The continuously changing environment and rules.... -The global pandemic. It can be daunting to sit there and accept all the emotions and figures that come with what anxiety really is. I believe anxiety is an evolutionary adaptation that extends too far- designed to keep your fight or flight mechanisms on- to keep you alive when the dinosaur is chasing you. But- with all the intensity of life & instant gratification, our systems are overwhelmed. It’s time to go deeper to slow down to see what’s really going on & what we really need. Is it connection? Safety? Something greater? Or maybe it’s an understanding of our thoughts affecting how we think and feel. Break it down. See if you’re getting caught in a loop that keeps replaying. Are the facts there or nonexistent? Check yourself. If it wouldn’t hold true in court with solid evidence, it may be time to dismiss the case. If it does hold true- it may be time for some self compassion. Other people probably feel the same. Validate yourself.

Sometimes acknowledging what’s really going on is painful- it means really tapping into what may feel buried deep. It can be downright scary. Take your time- be with yourself. Check in & notice what you may be avoiding or not attending to. Are there deeper insights at play? Is fear a factor? Is shame holding you back? Perhaps it’s something you’re unaware of. Take some time to journal what your thoughts are & ask yourself what feelings you associate with those thoughts. What behaviours result from those thoughts and feelings? Are they empowering or disempowering you?

Hi friends! In case you haven't already- would you like to join our email list? We don't send emails too often but we do try to check in. Inside, you will find some tips, tricks, videos or sentiments to help you on your healing journey. Happy October!

With the weather changing & the sun going down earlier- it IS very common for moods to start to dip. Ask yourself: are you practicing good self care? Are you overwhelmed? Are you doing too much? What are you doing it for? Is there a sense of energy in your day or a sense of depletion? Take some time. Reflect. Ask yourself what you need & how you’ve been coping. Know you’re not alone & it’s not all black & white. Take care of yourself- nurture yourself. You need it & that’s okay.