Dig A Little Deeper, Psychotherapy & Counselling

Sleep, exercise or diet? 1 factor was most linked to better mental health. Of three pillars of health," one stood out when it came to predicting well-being. https://www.today.com//how-have-good-mental-health-role-sl

Athletes with #ADHD tend to perform better in sports that require hyper focus, i.e. short and intense bursts of attention. They can be in the moment, with a heightened awareness of their immediate environment. They excel in chaotic conditions and thrive under pressure. They are risk takers who can come up with creative, out-of-the box solutions, and they don’t over think, enabling them to make a play without hesitating over possible consequences. Their impulsivity, if controlled, can also lead to quicker reaction times, saving precious microseconds that can mean the difference between losing or winning. Dr. Dale Archer https://www.forbes.com//how-adhd-puts-athletes-in-the-zo/

This is cool! Our government has redesigned the Second Career program to make it simpler, faster, and more effective. These changes will help people laid off get back to work with up to $28,000 for tuition costs, training materials, and living expenses. https://www.ontario.ca/page/second-career

We’re working from home with the kids again! (Some of us never stopped!). If you need some support on how to balance, talk to your boss or tell if the kids are alright, check out our #Agile Parenting article! #pandemicparenting https://digalittledeeper.ca//agile-parenting-working-from-

CADDAC is asking that everyone (parents and caretakers of children with ADHD, individuals with ADHD, professionals working in the field of ADHD and education, and our allies) ....

Hello friends! The team at Dig A Little Deeper is still here for you over the ‘winter break.’ (Christina - me - is now off until Jan 4th, but you might still catch the tiktok fun ). Everyone else is mostly still working! Please give us a bit of extra time to get back to you if you have emailed or called. Please remember if you are already a client, you can book or change appointments, download receipts, or send secure messages by logging into your account (https://digal...ittledeeper.ca/book-online.html ). If you are a new client, or just have questions, you can book a free consult with any therapist through the portal, or get in touch with our admin for further support. Have a safe & cozy holiday season. #DigALittleDeeper

It's back to school! If your child has an IEP, ensure you're working with your child's teacher to get the most of it! A recent study showed that during the first lockdowns due to the pandemic: (US data, but I imagine we are not too different). ... - 22% of families incurred financial costs to support remote learning. - only 59% of school-based services received before COVID-19 continued during COVID-19 remote learning. - Adolescents with ADHD had fewer routines and more remote learning difficulties than adolescents without ADHD. - Parents of adolescents with ADHD had less confidence in managing remote learning and more difficulties in supporting home learning and home-school communication. - 31% of parents of adolescents with ADHD with an (IEP) reported remote learning to be very challenging. - Fewer adolescent routines, higher negative affect, and more difficulty concentrating because of COVID-19 were each associated with greater adolescent remote learning difficulties only in adolescents with ADHD. https://www.sciencedirect.com//a/abs/pii/S1054139X20305231

Things we inherit from our parents: Curly hair Free or attached ear lobes Freckles... Dimples Handedness Hair color Eye colour Trauma Coping skills Resilience Attitude Dyslexia ADHD Autism Major Depression Schizophrenia Bipolar disorder Sense of humour Apptitudes Being Highly Sensitive Neuroticism Openness Near-sightedness Blaming someone for their ADHD is as silly as blaming them for being near-sighted. # Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more daily #mentalhealth tidbits and reflections. #healthyrelationships #mindfulnessmatters #startwhereyouare #mentalhealthmatters #therapyworks #innerchildwork #adhdcheck #raiseyourconsciousness #parentingyourself #selfcompassion #beyourownadvocate #blm #therapyrocks #maskup #selfreflection #lifelonglearner #innermotivation #genetics #selfmanagement #yougotthis #brainscience See more

Important new data supporting what people with lived experience already know .... #ADHD Meds May Boost Treatment Retention in Comorbid #Addictionmedicine #addictionpsychiatry #aaap2020

Is it really a news flash that symptoms of medical conditions in girls & women, than they do in boys & men? Research supports girls & women with ADHD brains are missed and underdiagnosed. What actually happens is that they usually have something else as well, usually anxiety (b/c living with undiagnosed ADHD is frigging anxiety-inducing!), and the anxiety is first to be identified and treated. And when the anxiety doesn’t go away? No one thinks to l...ook at it could be. Women just blame themselves. ITS NOT YOUR FAULT. We ALL adapt to our environments & life circumstances. Research shows girls get missed because their symptoms are far more , rather than externalized (like boys/men). Meaning: we blame ourselves. The issue even culminates in even a higher mortality rate. Maybe it IS just anxiety. But if it’s been treated, and you have it, my PSA for today is that (not to be confused the anxiety of just being alive) . It’s ok to get curious about your brain and your potential. # Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more daily #mentalhealth tidbits and reflections. #neuroscience #boundariesarehealthy #grief #PTSD #anxietyrecoveryhappenshere #ADHD #mentalhealthresilience #ruok #sciencematters #healthyfamilygoals #relationshipgoals #healing #instamood #happycomeswithgrowth #itwillbeokay #anxietysupport #selfcompassion #emotionalbrain #anxietywarrior #recovery #endthestigma #nervoussystemhealing See more

Lest we forget.

Welcome to our 3rd location! This is Tracy’s cozy new spot, in downtown Alliston, New Tecumseth. We are really happy to continue to support our community as we do our best to transition back to limited in-person sessions. Tracy will continue to offer video sessions as well accommodating in-person, with covid19 safety protocols in place. ... If you haven’t met her yet, Tracy offers child, teen, adult & family therapy, with some specialized areas of expertise. Follow her on FB at @talking with Tracy or book here: https://digalittledeeper.ca/tracy-frazer-bio.html We look forward to continuing to support our community as we expand our locations, our wide range of services & fees and keep the 2020 pivot happening! # #healthyfamilies #growthmindset #mentalhealthmatters #stressmanagement #boundariesarehealthy #psychotherapy #telehealth #pandemicstress #maskup #anxietyrelief #healthanxiety #connectionheals #Orangeville #Caledon #Bolton #CaledonEast #Alliston #NewTecumseth #Beeton #Tottenham #Movember

Did you know we are a team of 8? Meet John Foulkes - a similarly oriented brain detective like me. John loves to unpack the non-sensical and help you of what is happening in your life. Link in bio to book a FREE consult call with him, or read his full bio! #DigALittleDeeper ... We span 3 locations in Ontario, serve all of Ontario virtually support people Canada wide as well. We are trauma therapists, adhd coaches & therapists, couples therapists, depression & anxiety guru’s, parenting coaches and OCD specialists. We serve kids, teens, individual adults, and families too! And DUDES. It’s #Movember - maybe it’s time. Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more daily #mentalhealth tidbits and reflections. #menshealth #boundariesarehealthy #grief #PTSD #ADHD #mentalhealthresilience #ruok #sciencematters #healthyfamilygoals #relationshipgoals #instamood #letstalk #happycomeswithgrowth #itwillbeokay #selfcompassion #anxietywarrior #recovery #endthestigma #movember2020 #suicideprevention See more

Dear DIL’s & MIL’s .. we can throw the word toxic around too freely at times. Toxic usually implies intent or maliciousness; sometimes intentions are genuinely good, and its simply a lack of self-awareness and relational skill. However, in this article, there ARE some great boundary crossing warning signs and some good healthy boundary suggestions! Enjoy!

You would think according to (any) Social Media relationship feed that *everyone’s* ex is a narcissist - a pandemic explosion! Just so you know, there are a lot of things that can SEEM like narcissism, but things aren’t always what they seem. One group of people really vulnerable to misdiagnosis (officially or Instagram) are neurodiverse brained people. People with neurodiverse (ND) brains, are people who do not have neurotypical (NT) brains. The Venn diagram of N...D brains includes #Autism (including Aspergers), #ADHD , and things like #dyslexia , #dyscalculia , #dyspraxia , #ODD falls in here and also people with #Tourettes . Having a neurodiverse brain isn’t necessarily a medical problem - but being ostracized by a neurotypical world might very well make you feel anxious and depressed (at a minimum). We do tend to think everyone else thinks the same way we do. So when you’re in a relationship with someone who clearly thinks differently and you don’t have a way to talk about that, we can run into a lot of problems. Someone is right, and someone is wrong. Someone must have something wrong with them, if they don’t feel how you feel. If they have a different experience? If they think differently? The problem with the DSM for ND brains, is it assumes the problem is with the . Sometimes it is, and a lot of times, it just isn’t. An analogy? What if the reason a plant is wilting is because the plant is in the wrong soil, unbalanced soil? Dry soil? In a dark corner with no sunlight? It’s too crowded. It’s overwatered & the roots are rotting. It’s too hot and bright, and it was a shade plant. Just so you know, the actual prevalence of Narcissistic Personality Disorder is only from 0.5% to 5% according to the APA. (It can be more prevalent in comorbid conditions). But much, MUCH lower than IG would have you believe. # Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more #mentalhealth real science. #ADHDOctober #ADHDawareness #neurodiversesquad #neurodiversity #ADHDsupport #adhdexplained #BPD #endthestigma #ASD #sciencematters #Aspergersmom #aspiegirl #narcissism #NPD #misdiagnosis

It's #Movember and there are lots of ways we can both elevate the stories of boys and men, and offer them supports, encouragement and understanding - in ways they want to receive it. Sharing a courageously written story about one young man's journey, growing up with #latediagnosedADHD . https://adhdrollercoaster.org//one-mans-rugged-reality-of/

close to 90% of adults with #ADHD don’t know they have it. Which means the symptoms are all there, making a mess of your relationship, but neither of you is aware of what’s going on - Melissa Orlov It is SO critical for #couples therapists to screen appropriately.

Women & girls ‘fidget’ differently than boys. There are A LOT of reasons why women & girls are undiagnosed and now we even have new mortality data for women & girls with undiagnosed/untreated #ADHD . It ain’t pretty and this ain’t child’s play. Internalizing these symptoms without knowing its NOT YOUR FAULT is devastating and 100% avoidable. ... Learn everything you can about yourself, your family history and your physiology. You are not alone and it doesn’t have to be so hard. # Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more daily #mentalhealth tidbits and reflections. #ADHDOctober #ADHDawareness #neurodiversesquad #adhdbrain #neurodivergent #ADHDhacks #hyperfocus #cantsitstill #adhdexplained #ADHDparenting #ADHDwomen #resilience #endthestigma #ReclaimYourLife #getthefacts #sciencematters #connectionheals See more

Dani’s work is so great, a wonderful example of one person’s ability to make sense of seemingly confusing or independent symptoms. If you might have either undiagnosed ADHD, or another neurodiverse lens, her graphics resonate. A great resource for teaching and understanding. #ADHDOctoberAwarenessMonth

Nothing can make us nuttier than trying to be perfect parents, or trying to ‘protect’ our kids, or trying to make their lives less painful than ours were - because thats what we’re supposed to do right? Nope. We’re supposed to be sorting ourselves out first. If you’re drowning in parenting stress, @sabrinabelo_coachandcounsellor is your person. ... Learn more about Sabrina and what she offers, from her page, or the link in our bio. If you know, you know. # Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more daily #mentalhealth tidbits and reflections. #attachmentparenting #healthyrelationships #mindfulparenting #consciousparenting #takecareofeachother #healyourselffirst #startwithyou #boundariesarehealthy #coparenting #stepmom #pandemicparenting #twohomes #selfawareness #connectionbeforecorrection See more

Check out our article on The Invisible Symptoms of ADHD to help make sense of common challenges. Ultimately, the invisibility is what allows this unique condition to go undiagnosed for most, as long as it does, making the struggles of it not obvious to both the person with ADHD as well as those in their life.

Its #WorldMentalHealthDay today, in the middle of our Canadian #Thanksgiving long weekend. We are to be counting our blessings at this time of year, being mindful of what the most fortunate of us have, and to give to others who have less. If 2020 has reinforced anything it might be, if you don’t have your health, nothing much else matters. We know this includes #mentalhealth . The coronavirus ** discriminate in many ways - those most vulnerable and with...out privilege are suffering much higher rates of infection, comorbidity and death. And it turns out we can add those with mental illness to the list of vulnerable populations who have worse outcomes. Even people who outwardly fine, like people with #ADHD brains, have significantly higher rates of infection. 2020 has ripped many a band-aid off, and while I do have my list of things the pandemic has clarified for me, for which I’m grateful for, this weekend I’m spending more time thinking about those who aren’t buffered by the same privilege as I (formerly called good luck). Be compassionate toward yourself, your loved ones and give each other the benefit of the doubt. There are a lot of very invisible wars waging amid this pandemic. We have to be there for each other. #DigALittleDeeper #HappyThanksgiving #CanadianThanksgiving #Gratitudes #WhatImGratefulForin2020 #whitepriviledge #blm #maskup #pandemicThanksgiving #Thanksgiving2020 #gratefulheart #mindfulnessmatters #kindnessmatters #compassionmatters #intersectionalitymatters

Here’s the thing about ‘ Symptoms’ like - ... it manifests in different ways. To an ADHD brain, time-blindness means there is . We want where we want to be in 20 years, next week. ... We really struggle with the concept of . We hear the words slow down but we don’t quite know how to slow. When symptoms are invisible, others will blame us for what they assume is willful or a lack of will. But the invisible symptoms of ADHD are an outcome of different . Analogy? Like if you want to yell at a type 1 diabetic’s kidney’s for not making insulin, knock your socks off. But its much more effective to just address the issue - the insulin deficit. (T1D: Insulin = ADHD:Dopamine). Address ADHD with the evidenced-based strategies that work. Speak to clinicians with specific training and expertise. Read free blogs from clinicians and ADHD coaches and ADHD brains with LIVED EXPERIENCE. And buy an egg timer. And use your phone alarms. And set your clocks early by 5 minutes everywhere. And turn your phone onto airplane mode to get work done. And drink lots of water so you are forced to get up and go pee. # Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more daily #mentalhealth tidbits and reflections. #ADHDOctober #ADHDawareness #neurodiversesquad #adhdbrain #neurodivergent #ADHDsupport #adhdexplained #ADHDparenting #ADHDwomen #resilience #endthestigma #ReclaimYourLife #getthefacts #sciencematters #connectionheals #Orangeville #Caledon #Brampton #Bolton #CaledonEast #Toronto #Alliston #Burlington #NewTecumseth #Beeton #Tottenham See more

A really common experience these days! It’s still #ADHDawarenessmonth - girls & women are the most underserved, under and misdiagnosed population. https://www.fastcompany.com//i-was-diagnosed-with-adhd-at-

Humans are wired to be human. #firstrespondersstrong https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5768163

An important on advocacy message on #worldmentalhealthday2020 : There are people in the wellness space..who deny the existence of mental illness..who shame people for taking medication. If you are going to talk about mental health, you need to be aware of what is going on in mental health. https://kulturehub.com/mental-illness-shaming/

Happy Tuesday friends! We are happy to announce we are opening a new location as of November 1, which is where Tracy (@talkingwithTracy.macp) will be located. Tracy’s full bio is on our site; she offers much needed support for children and youth in our community, as well as adults and families. Tracy is trained in grief counselling, is a certified Family trauma therapist, supports #ADHD coaching and at risk youth. ... Tracy will continue to offer online services (Ontario-wide) and will SLOWLY start to incorporate in-person sessions as safety permits. Skip the middleman and book your appointment online! Hit up the link in our bio to book directly today. # Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more daily #mentalhealth tidbits and reflections. #neuroscience #boundariesarehealthy #grief #PTSD #traumarecoveryhappenshere #ADHD #mentalhealthresilience #ruok #relationaltherapy #healthyfamilygoals #relationshipgoals #healing #itwillbeokay #anxietysupport #selfcompassion #emotionalbrain #anxietywarrior #recovery #endthestigma #nervoussystemhealing #AllistonTherapy #familytherapy #couplegoals #childtherapy

Yes Cheryl Hickey! Maybe *this* is why ‘mom’ self-care isn’t working?! Can we get more creative mama’s? https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSx4Tb6L/

#FactFriday This one is for the ladies. And parents of teen girls. The largest undiagnosed group in the #ADHD population are adult women. If only practitioners could learn about this, and if only the women themselves could learn about this, huge benefits would follow. They could find out how to tap into their strengths and manage their weaker points. Lost lives would be found, relationships brought back from the brink of failure, and untapped potential finally put to use.... #ADHDOctoberAwarenessMonth https://www.drhallowell.com/women-with-adhd/

Some great ideas for family time this long weekend, a different Thanksgiving long weekend, but perhaps a well-deserved bit of downtime for busy parents who’ve been juggling too much (for the last entire year!). https://www.fatherly.com/play/fall-activities-for-kids/

I’ve started seeing a therapist, so I can stop being bullied by my psychiatrist." A bang on personal essay. #LifeinOntario #Mentalhealth support can be like a game of snakes and ladders - The Globe and Mail... https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-mental-health-su/

Oh I love my morning coffee. Caffeine is the worlds favourite stimulant drug. Caffeine stimulates the body’s central nervous system, and boosts the brain’s production of #dopamine, which controls the ability to focus and maintain concentration. When coffee hits, it helps us feel "awake." Some people have just one coffee a day. Some people tell me they have 5-6 coffee's a day. Some people tell me they can have a coffee or an espresso and go to right to bed! ... Caffeine is ALSO a vasoconstrictor. That means it makes blood vessels smaller and reduces blood flow. This reduced blood flow is why caffeine helps headaches. ADHD medications ALSO make blood vessels smaller. And ALSO stimulate the brain to produce dopamine. If you take ADHD meds (or are new to them), be really mindful to reduce your caffeine intake, especially after noon. Have your warm drink, but make it decaf. The Mayo Clinic defines heavy caffeine use as 4 or more cups of coffee per day (500 to 600 mg). Too much caffeine may cause: sleeplessness, rapid heartbeat, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, muscle shakes or tremors or an upset stomach. If you are having that many coffee's, teas or other sugary drinks in a day to get by ... you might wanna ask yourself why your brain needs that. This is one of the things that undiagnosed adults do, continuing trying to manage and adapt, without really questioning the behaviour. Coffee is so normalized in our society. Is it weird that some people have no problem with loads of caffeine, but somehow have a problem with a safe and controlled medicine that is life-transforming for people who need it? Why? # #ADHDOctober #ADHDawareness #neurodiversesquad #adhdbrain #distracted #neurodiversity #ADHDsupport #adhdexplained #ADHDparenting #ADHDtips #resilience #endthestigma #adhdLife #ReclaimYourLife #getthefacts #sciencematters #connectionheals #coffeelover #coffeesnob #caffeineaddict See more

There are M A N Y upsides to having a neurodiverse brain. ADHD brings with it : the ability to think more . Three aspects of creative cognition are: 1 divergent thinking, ... 2 conceptual expansion and, 3 overcoming knowledge constraints. A recent study found college/university students with ADHD than non-ADHD peers on 2 tasks that tapped conceptual expansion and the ability to overcome knowledge constraints! (Did you know there are tech companies who ONLY hire ND candidates?) One of the very essential features of thriving with an ADHD brain is not getting it its creative way! Find what that kid is good at and what are interested in - even if you do not get it - and help to get good at it. . And its OKAY if they try 20 different things before they find their thing - ADHDers are good at, and interested in, LOTS of things. Trying to put that into too narrow of a box too soon is a recipe for frustration. Innovative, original thinking of people with ADHD brains may be a great fit for innovative fields where it’s an advantage to be on the cutting edge. # Follow @DigALittleDeeperTherapy for more daily #mentalhealth tidbits and reflections. #ADHDOctober #ADHDawareness #neurodiversesquad #adhdbrain #distracted #neurodiversity #ADHDsupport #adhdexplained #ADHDparenting #ADHDtips #resilience #endthestigma #adhdLife #ReclaimYourLife #getthefacts #sciencematters #connectionheals #Orangeville #Caledon #Brampton #Bolton #CaledonEast #Toronto #Alliston #NewTecumseth #Beeton #Tottenham See more

@lindsay_fleminglpc is so fun, I’m reposting this one here in my story. Keep it up girl. ... #DigALittleDeeper See more

Fantastic infographic on when we should reach out for support .... we often wait far too long. #MIAW2020

If it frustrates you that somehow the brain (the least understood organ in our body) remains the organ mostly uncovered by our universal health care system, . Vote for political parties who understand health care and fund it properly so that when you are most vulnerable and looking for help for child, partner, sibling, that you can get it. It’s not to be confused with mental health or ‘wellness.’ It wou...ld be so great for Canadians facing our most common , to actually be able to receive proper assessment, diagnosis and treatment, just like someone who has cancer or coronavirus or migraines or COPD. One day, eh? + #MIAW2020 During the COVID19 pandemic, we at @DigALittleDeeperTherapy continue to offer video & telephone, individual, family & couple psychotherapy & counselling, with a diverse team of modern therapists & a wide range of fee options. When we can safely re-open, our in-person locations are in the heart of downtown Bolton, downtown Brampton and - New Tecumseth! Online, we serve . Right now, we offer: Licensed, local, telephone or online video evidenced-based psychotherapy & counselling. Assessments! Psychological, neuropsych, psychoeducational, WSIB, LTD claims, MVA support and psychovocational. We support parents & children/teens, adults, couples and families of all types. Lower-cost services with supervised, graduate intern counsellors. Online DIY Courses (like DIY*ADHD) with the Dig Deeper Online School. No wait list! No referral required. Skip the middle man and book yourself into your chosen therapists calendar online! Click the in our bio to get in touch with us directly. We look forward to being of service and helping you # . #psychotherapy #telehealth #covid19 #maskup #Bolton #Caledon #Brampton #Orangeville #Alliston #Beeton #Tottenham #NewTecumseth #Nobleton #Vaughan #Burlington #Oakville See more

It's #TipTuesday lovers. What a sweet couple, eh? Remember those days? One thing we hear a lot is some version of, "I think we need couples therapy, but my partner won't come!" (and it's not always the guys ladies ...). ... What is a lonely partner to do? Check out John’s latest article on The Dig Deeper Blog - Help! My partner won't come to couple therapy!" : https://digalittledeeper.ca//help-my-partner-wont-come-to- #

Parents, what are 1 or 2 SMALL things you can do to take care of yourselves this weekend upcoming? (And who can help?) Small things matter. https://www.cnn.com//childrens-mental-health-we/index.html