Elements Counselling
130 Broadview Avenue E2L 5C5 Saint John, NB, Canada

https://www.cbc.ca//vi/birthday-gift-2020-therapy-session

Being stressed because there’s a pandemic and lockdown that’s completely upended your normal way of life is a very logical and possibly useful reaction... But when that fight or flight response is continually activated by ongoing threats we can’t control, it can lead to mental and physical symptoms that make it a lot harder to get through the day. https://www.nytimes.com//quarantine-mental-health-gender.h

Here is a link to a helpful video from Harvard-trained scientist, psychologist and author Dr. Joan Borysenko, entitled "Taking the fear out of Coronavirus". Below are written instructions for a 1-2 minute calm breathing exercise. TIP #2: Mind your breathing. Slow, controlled breathing techniques have been used for centuries to induce calm because they are SUPER fast, and they work! These forms of breathwork marry the prefrontal cortex to the midbrain. They increase Heart Rate... Variability like other forms of focus exercise. Clinically they can be used to quell excessive arousal, like panic attacks. It’s a terrific go-to tool that reduces anxiety fast. Here are written directions: Sit upright in a comfortable position, with a straight spine and chin parallel to the floor. Breathe in slowly through the nose, and exhale slowly through pursed lips as if you are breathing out through a straw. This slows the breathing way down to 4-6 breaths a minute. You’ll notice that after you release all the air, there is a delay before the next natural breath. Don’t hold your breath, just let the rhythm evolve naturally. Only 1-2 minutes of this breathing is enough to trigger the hormonal drip that calms your fear circuits as you become more present. https://www.joanborysenko.com//taking-the-fear-out-of-co/

https://www.anxietycanada.com//what-to-do-if-you-are-anxi/

A great step forward in providing more comprehensive mental health care coverage. Coverage for service from Counselling Therapists / Psychotherapists will now be included as standard for psychological coverage with Blue Cross.

Back to school is in full swing. This article gives some helpful resources for parents navigating their teen's transition to postsecondary: https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-how-to-prepare-/