Megan McCallum, PhD, Psychologue
461 rue des Tourterelles G4X 1W7 Gaspé, QC, Canada

This is a community gift to be enjoyed and encouraged. If we want a variety of services to be offered, we need to SHOW up when they are, don’t we? Please share

Une belle opportunité d’apprentissage avec conseils professionnels et pratiques pour la communication et l’exploration saine de plusieurs enjeux relationnelles.

Une belle opportunité d’apprentissage avec conseils professionnels et pratiques pour la communication et l’exploration saine de plusieurs enjeux relationnelles.

My thoughts and heart go out to Dr Sue Johnson, who so eloquently shares, here, a message of hope, truth and resiliency in the midst of her own struggles.

La colère, l’irritabilité, et les réseaux sociaux... soyons authentiques, mais, aussi, solidaires et respectueux... peu important nos opinions.

Ever feel like it’s normal to talk to friends about your sprained ankle, but that things get a little awkward if you mention worries and emotional struggles? In light of the Bell Let’s Talk day coming up on January 29th, I have been thinking about where we are at in the effort to destigmatize mental health conversations and services. Certainly, we are getting better at it But you know that awkward pre-adolescent phase? ... I feel like that’s exactly where we are at in talking about mental health. It’s now a sort of acceptable and trendy thing to explore self-care, but if someone goes into the real talk, many people are still uncomfortable. We even still have some growing pains. For this reason, I prepared this little table of suggestions on what to do and what to avoid when talking about your own, or somebody else’s, emotions or mental health. A take home I want to share is this: Being a good friend and listener is not about your knowledge, your education, and especially not your great advice. The key to unlocking better discussions around mental health is being an active, open listener. We ALL have subconscious beliefs about people who we think are different from us (emotionally, ethnically, sexually, you name it). When people bring up touchy subjects, differences between our personal and external experiences very often triggers a defense mechanism. For instance, judging, generalizing, blaming and rationalizing solutions (that the person never requested) are common examples. I invite you today to honestly check yourself. Which things in the Less category might you need to work on? Don’t worry, you don’t have to be perfect: You just need to listen, care, and maybe eventually - understand. To the GLC and Vision Gaspé-Percé Now community, this marks my final post for the December and January takeovers. Thank you SO much to you all for your time and your conversations! Please participate in the Bell Let’s Talk day, but even more importantly Please continue to have the real talks in your own life.

Hello all. Just checking in for my Tuesday post with the Gaspésie Literacy Council. I don't know about you, but everything happening in the news, in the world, seems a bit overwhelming. When you feel surrounded by storms, your own life can also feel windier. Perhaps, on some days, unsurmountable. If this sounds a bit like how you feel right now, I'd like to invite you to consider adding some mindful moments or activities to your day. Or week. Life. ... Generally speaking, being mindful means trying to be more aware of something that is in the present. The "here and now". I don't mean the present political turmoil, nor provincial restrictions! I mean your feet on the ground. The sound of your breath. The sensation of your dog or cat's warm fur. The sound of a soothing song, or the taste of your favourite warm drink. The colours in a beautiful photograph you cherish. Yes, meditation is a very effective way to train your brain, but remember it can also be beneficial to practice stepping out of the past or the future you are so caught up in, and to come back home to the present - it's, after all, the only place you can every truly be. You don’t have to close your eyes... Try opening your senses. For a lovely and simple example of observations that can increase your current mindfulness, check out the linked book. In the comments, can you name one simple activity or event that helps bring you back to the present moment? I'd say the clumsy bear hugs of my oldest daughter! So full of love, but so painful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NJqPcZFAKo

The gift card Santa from the Gaspesie Literacy Council passed Congrats to the winners! Looking forward to our January chats https://fb.watch/2TpVUS23y5/

How are your 2021 resolutions going? This quote really resonates with my vision of the mindset I like to have when setting intentions. Rather than focusing on a specific outcome or future accomplishment, I try to set an intention or goal around habits or skills that I want to practice. Some days, that habit might help me feel better. Some days, it might feel like just another task to get over with. However, in the long run, I know that the consistency of that intention and... practice will slowly help me feel a bit better, be a little more connected, a little more efficient. These days it is pretty normal to feel a bit run down, frustrated, lonely. There might not be a TON of things you can do that will make you feel significantly better today. But, I wonder if any of your plans for today involve a practice that, in the long run, is contributing to your well-being. Our brains are constantly adapting to our daily lives and needs. When behaviours become more routine, our brain creates a system of automatic movements and expectations. Eventually, we require less mental energy and "motivation" to do them, even on days when we aren't feeling so great. I am inviting you today to name (or tag) somebody (friend, family members or even a public figure) that has a regular habit or practice that pays off in the long run. Spread some inspiration :)

The first documentary of its kind, Connecting the Dots takes on the subject of mental health through the voices of young people around the world. From Edmonton and New York to Nigeria and Australia, young people talk openly about their experiences in a way you have never seen or heard before. At a time when youth are facing increased anxiety and depressionon top of unrest surrounding systemic racism, sexual orientation, and gender discriminationit’s more important than ever to stop and listen. Intimate and heartfelt, the film brings this crisis to the surface, while shedding light on the inspiring ways we can break through barriers and take action.

Je vous souhaite du bonheur en fin de semaine... la saveur qui vous fera du bien!

While my Holiday Takeover with the Gaspésie Literacy Council is over (buy-bye, 2020!), I’ll be popping in on their page on Tuesdays for the next couple of weeks with a few psych tidbits. Today, I wanted to talk real quick about what you can and can't control when it comes to your mental health. Many people are setting wellness-related goals for the New Year, and my hope is that I can inspire you to choose wisely. This image was created by the brilliant Dr Emma Hepburn to illu...strate a great concept. Here it is. You have a jar like this of your own. In it, there are some strawberries, which symbolize vulnerability factors; for example, genetics, and stressful childhood events. Strawberries make your body more likely to experience certain difficulties when you face challenges. The raspberries represent current or recent stress factors. You know, like global pandemics, financial worries, health problems, and family conflicts. As the jar fills, we experience more and more health and emotional difficulties. Mood changes, fatigue, poor attention, sleep issues, lack of motivation, etc. We can rarely change how many berries are in the jar. We cannot often remove them. But, we CAN do many things to stop the jar from overflowing. We CAN expand our ability to cope, to grow space, and hold all of this. Examples of jar expanders: solid friendships, getting our sleep, hydrating, feeding, and moving our bodies, medication, creativity, and all kinds of therapy/support. We have all heard about these coping strategies, but when we are feeling down, we sometimes forget that they really can help. They do expand our ability to hold the berries. OK so back to goal-setting! I try, based on this concept, to set myself small, daily intentions. Regular practices that, in the long run, help me grow and stay steady even when the world throws some extra berries in my jar. It’s cool to set bigger, ambitious goals too, but just know that to get somewhere epic, you need to keep checking in on your mental health jar too. Personally, when I am doing a good job keeping my jam jar spacey and open, I have all the energy, love and motivation I need to reach goals I didn’t even know I had. It’s just a different approach. What do you think about this perspective? If you have any questions or comments, please share below. Annnnnd for your entry in the draw for some Indigo Gift Cards, let’s have a little thankfulness practice for the small ways we can do powerful things for ourselves. ************************************************** Can you name one way you have stopped your jar from overflowing? A favourite coping skill?

Happy New Year, folks! For today’s Fable Friday, I would like to talk about the Big O. What?! No, not that kind! Settle down, folks, this post is G-rated. ... Author Shel Silverstein’s book, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O has many teachings. Earlier this week, I spoke about NYE resolutions and human growth. About how it is not time, but many other things, that help us grow. One thing that does help us grow is relationships. We lean on our family and friends for validation, security and support, and this helps us find the courage and tools to be better versions of ourselves. Sometimes, though, we give a little bit too much responsibility to Love. We expect her to complete us, so much so that when we lack the presence or validation of our partners, we can feel incomplete, insecure, and unmotivated. This book provides a minimalistic, yet beautiful depiction of how the love of others is meant not to complete us, but to accompany and guide us to be at our own best. I really hope you will take a moment today or this weekend to read this book. If you are inclined, in the comment section, tag one or more people that YOU love to roll with (Head over the the Gaspésie Literacy Council Facebook page so all our comments are together!) Happy Friday! https://youtu.be/MCmZ2jrQooE

Un rôle important pour notre communauté! Taggez des candidats et partagez SVP :)

So, looks like our Christmas calendar pages have been turned. I hope your holiday moments were peaceful and met whatever your needs were last week. Every year, most of us get a little stirred up about the New Year. Do we agree, though, that this New Year is even more anticipated than usual? Is it not a tiny bit fascinating that we expect so much from time? From a group of months? It feels as if we think 2020 was a boss we all despise and gossip about during coffee breaks.... We are holding our breath until the New Year, expecting our new 2021 boss to do a much better job Are we, perhaps, depending too much on upper management instead of examining our own power and impact? Humans label abstract concepts like time and space with words and measurements, because it is useful to do so. It helps us stay organized and manage tasks, rules, and deadlines. A problem with this is that we also cling to these concepts because we have a false sense of control. New Years’ Eve represents magic and hope for many, but often disappoints. Truth is, January 1st is simply not always the best time for someone or something to change. Human "evolution" is motivated by many emotional, cognitive and physical factors... the date on the calendar is, sadly, a very weak predictor of successful change. Analyzing our growth and challenges in the past IS helpful. And, of course, it is often inspiring to imagine our future and set intentions or goals. Just remember, however, that every New Year, when it comes down to it, is only ever a New Day. You are blessed with this magical fresh start every single day, and that opportunity for a fresh start is as powerful and full as potential as you allow it to be. When you’re really ready to grow, grow. That power comes from you, not the date. NOW for my Thankful Tuesday question: What lesson(s) did you learn in 2020?

Happy holiday season from my heart to yours. May you reinvent the season to make it yours. Joyeuses fêtes à vous tous! Mes souhaits de paix, de repos et de bien-être pour ce temps des fêtes réinventé

Merry Christmas Eve to all those who celebrate this holiday! After speaking with many of you over the past few weeks, I know that despite the holiday nostalgia and COVID19 limitations, many of you are currently soaking up a quieter, but still meaningful holiday season. Some of you are also stepping away from it all and just focusing on regular self-care or a fun distraction; that’s just fine, too. For Fable Friday, I am sharing a book that explores the spirit of giving, and... the concept of gratitude. Anxiety around gift giving and receiving is one of the most common causes of stress during the holidays. The marketing of gifting seems to have put more and more pressure on people to give the perfect, the best, and the most gifts. Do you ever get caught up in the gifting chaos and kinda forget about the whole point of simple, loving thoughtfulness? (As a Mom, I do!) We can also, as gift receivers, get caught up in our own expectations. In the spirit of remembering the feel-good simplicity of generosity and compassion, feel free to check out, today or this weekend, this short reading of The Giving Tree! - In the comment section (On the Gaspésie Literacy Council Facebook page), I invite you to simply offer your holiday wishes to our community (tag if you like!), and any other comments you have about the book are welcome too. Thank you for your continued presence in our social media bubble, and see you next week! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFQZfeHq9wo

---Thankful Tuesday--- Did you know that trees can talk? Yep! Well, to each other, at least. Studies have shown that trees have a fascinating, interconnected communication system. It is like a (until recently) secret underground world where they interact and become, in some ways, one. ... The survival of forests depends on this interdependence. Humans also need to connect to be healthy and grow stronger. But, humans are also very different from trees. We’re distracted. Busy. We often forget our roots; that is, the people and behaviours that keep us grounded. For example, many of us who celebrate Christmas, may currently be rather busy right now with work, shopping, decorating, shopping, cooking, shopping some more, and wrapping. Guilty, anyone? Sometimes, we are so busy planning and perfecting our moments with people that we have little energy left to actually enjoy ourselves. To actually BE in the moments that we waited impatiently for all year long. If you stop and listen to your body, it may tell you that while tradition says it is time to make a fifth batch of cookies, your body would also like to take a snowy walk in the woods, or a long bath. For today’s Thankful Tuesday, may I invite you to plan one moment this week during which you want to be more present? Less worrying, fixing, and rushing. Just enjoying, and connecting. Please share your thoughts, so we can see a beautiful list of ways we can be more present amidst the chaos and the COVID. What moment are you committing to soaking up fully this week? **Post your comment on the Gaspésie Literacy Council Facebook page for your entry in the Ingido Gift Card draws! (P.S. For anyone interested on learning the magic of trees TED Talk on How trees talk : https://youtu.be/Un2yBgIAxYs )

Hi there! It's Fable Friday of my Holiday Takeover with the Gaspésie Literacy Council! First of all: On Tuesday, I invited you all to recall a good memory, and most of those memories you shared came with a little sadness. Thank you for sharing! While it is sometimes hard to share these stories, our bodies often feel more calm and balanced after talking about or opening up to some sadness that has been building up. Be honest: How terrible do you feel when somebody tells you, w...ith a look of horror on their face, Don’t look, there’s something on your shoulder!. Blood drains from your face. Your fear screams at you to look. You are trying to resist a survival instinct. Don’t feel, don’t look. (Yes most of us end up looking!) That terrible feeling is kind of how your body feels when you don’t pay attention to your emotions. It feels in danger. When your body is stressed, your brain’s priority is not pleasure, nor rest. So even if you do the fun things it doesn’t feel quite right. You aren’t fully present. Many describe this state as being in a fog. Know what I mean? Here’s what I have learned: It is okay to invite sadness to the table. Sadness is sociable. It can mingle with contemplation, humour, and optimism. Instead of being hidden and threatening, it can soften and find its place. The more you let it speak, the more release you feel, and the more the other emotions (the fun ones) can join in, too. This message is simply and beautifully conveyed in the book, The Heart and the Bottle. It may be written for children, but the lesson is a solid reminder for humans of all ages. It is worth taking just three minutes to read it and let me know what you think! And, as a Friday check-in (-- and an entry to the ticket draw), I propose a potluck of BOOK suggestions. Can you recommend one of your favourite, feel-good books (it can be for any age-group!)? *********************************************** NOTE: To keep our conversations together and to make sure you are entered in the Indigo gift card draw, I encourage you to comment over on the Gaspésie Literacy Council page! You will see the link for their page at the very top of this post. *********************************************** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWNA5O5JCpI

Today’s the first Thankful Tuesday of my Holiday Takeover! Holidays are seen as a time of togetherness and festivities. Traditions give meaning to holidays and help us remember what really matters. Well, that’s the theory. ... In reality, however, it doesn’t always work out like that. You know, because we are humans and don’t live in a Hallmark movie that can be replayed over and over. Tradition and grief come hand-in-hand, because over years and years, things change. We create good memories, and then we miss them. We love people, we lose them. This is real humanity, and these are real holidays. Loving, giving, grieving. We don’t have to fight off holiday nostalgia. Instead of burying it, perhaps we can draw meaning from it. Grieving someone means we got to love a special human. Missing a memory means we are blessed with a past worth recollecting, and perhaps even transforming into new special moments. To begin the gratitude challenge of Thankful Tuesdays, I am inviting you today to share a winter or holiday tradition you are grateful to have had in the past. It may feel a bit silly to share this out here in public, but see it this way: In this time of global unrest and so much loneliness, your comment just might remind one other human being of their own fond memories worth remembering. Chip in and share, to help us all stay connected. Or to win an Indigo gift card. Whichever floats your boat :)

The Gaspe Speaks Podcast launched tonight! Thank you, Tom, for your kind words I am so glad I managed to keep those lights on the day of our interview. I am excited to sit back and listen to these podcasts! Tom has a knack for leading his interviewees in interesting directions and I know all of the other speakers featured have some valuable tales to tell.

Q: What do you get when you ask a psychologist to offer services to an online community over the holidays? A: An overexcited Christmas Shrink. Real talk: For some, the holiday season is not so cheerful, and COVID-19-related restrictions may be a challenge for many. With this reality in mind, I have partnered up with the @gaspesieliterarycouncil and @visiongaspe to offer you a Holiday Takeover! I will be popping onto the GLC page, as well as my own, to connect with our communi...ties throughout the holidays. I REALLY hope that you’ll participate in the conversations and that these check-ins will help our community stay interconnected and supportive as we wrap up 2020. How to participate? Check out the GLC Facebook page for two weekly check-ins : *Thankful Tuesdays: A chat about wellness, tough emotions, and how practicing gratitude together can help us and others through tough times. *Fable Fridays: Because storytelling is the oldest, and best way to explore life lessons and the crazy art of being a human, I’ll present different books and simple stories about humans and their well-being. I hope you will regularly drop in to help us connect to create a conversation that just might help comfort a few other people. To thank you for supporting our efforts, GLC is offering, in January, a draw of Indigo gift cards. Each comment provided under my post on the Gaspésie Literacy Council Facebook page is one entry in the draw. See you tomorrow! #gratitude

J’aimerais dire un gros bravo à l’équipe de GaspéZen que j’ai eu la chance de collaborer avec cette semaine. Ces étudiants avaient tout un mandat. En plus du défi habituel de créer une activité créative, intéressante et qui contribue à une bonne cause... bien, ils avaient les limitations imposées par la COVID19. Donc: BRAVO pour votre inititive ainsi que votre professionnalisme ... Il n’est pas trop tard pour aller les encourager! https://gaspezen.godaddysites.com/

I had the pleasure of chatting with Tom Eden about all things psychology today. If he hadn't stopped us to carry on with his day, we might still have been chatting as the sun set! Search "Gaspé Speaks Podcast Series" on Facebook if you'd like to follow his upcoming work. Thank you Tom for the fun discussion!

Bravo à Cindy Lapierre de la Clinique Hippocampe - Neuropsychologie et psychoéducation pour cet entrevue. :)

Un merci bien special a Radio Gaspésie de nous avoir invite pour presenter Take 5 a ses auditeurs. Jolyane Bourget Careau--> merci de m’avoir calmé les nerfs avant l’entrevue J’avais aussi besoin de faire un Take 5.. ... L’entrevue *Note: version francophone des méditations en production, à retrouver sur le même site YouTube :)

Une exploration des enjeux des personnes ayant un TDAH qui s'adaptent aux études en ligne... Avec les propos de ma collègue Dr Sabrina Frechette... Bravo! :)

Voir que à tous les jours, quelques personnes ont écouté une méditation Take 5, ca fait tellement mon bonheur Si seulement une personne peut découvrir ou retrouver la pratique régulière de la relaxation ou de la pleine conscience, selon moi ca en valait la peine! (pssst.. version francophone en cours) Seeing the numbers of Take 5 viewers creep up a bit every day absolutely warms my heart. If just one single person discovers, or rediscovers, the benefits of daily relaxation ...or mindfulness practice, then this project was worthwhile. Wishing you all a cozy and restful Sunday! https://www.youtube.com/playlist

I am so excited to finally introduce you all to Take 5! Take 5 is a series of five, 5-minute meditations which offer several different relaxation and mindfulness practices. They are an interesting way to try new exercises, and can also be used as a quick grounding tool throughout the day or at bedtime. For anybody interested in a longer, deeper meditation practice, stay tuned for our future projects ... Nous en ferons également en français! Thank you to Vision Gaspé-Percé Now and the Community Health and Social Services Network for supporting this project! I hope you enjoy - and please let me know what you think! https://youtu.be/Fq3RaguCT5o

Ce matin, je me suis réveillée avec la liberté de choisir mon bonheur, de poursuivre mes rêves et projets, et de profiter de cette belle journée. J’avoue que je peux prendre cette liberté pour acquis... souvent. Je profite de ce jour du souvenir pour remercier ceux qui ont sacrifié leur temps, leurs fils, leurs amoureux, et leurs vies pour nous. Je partage avec vous un podcast fort intéressant qui nous rappelle les expériences et sacrifices de plusieurs.

Lest we Forget

Saviez-vous qu’il y a 75 ans, la 2e Guerre mondiale prenait fin? Pendant la Semaine des anciens combattants, #SouvenonsNous de ceux qui se sont battus pour la ...liberté et la démocratie. Apprenez-en plus sur ce chapitre de l’histoire can. et nos #Hérosdecheznous : ow.ly/g0A250CcDDU Le Canada se Souvient See more

What does a poppy mean to you? Please take a moment to watch a video that pays tribute to the Canadian Armed Forces members and all those who have served our country in war and peace.

Suicide.ca est maintenant en ligne: www.suicide.ca. Le nouveau Service numérique québécois en prévention du suicide, initié par l’AQPS, est gratuit, bilingue, ...confidentiel et rassurant. Il a pour but de prévenir le suicide au moyen des technologies numériques. www.suicide.ca propose : Un service d’intervention par clavardage avec des intervenants, offert depuis un ordinateur, du mercredi au dimanche, de 16 h à 23 h. Une tonne d’informations pratiques pour aider les personnes qui pensent au suicide, les proches et les endeuillés. D’autres services sont à venir. Partenaire financier : ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux Partenaires cliniques du volet Intervention : Centre de prévention du suicide du SLSJ - CPS 02, Suicide Action Montréal, Centre de prévention du suicide de Québec #PréventionSuicide

Bonne Action de Grâce à tous.

Many people grieving a loved one feel like they are no longer a caregiver once the person has passed. I disagree. Just as the positive memories of caring for a loved one continue to live in your mind and your heart after someone’s death, the many burdens and challenges of caregiving remain a part of your story, and impact your health. And if you don’t currently feel like you need support... might you have some tips and kind words to share with others?... Please know that current, grieving, and anticipating caregivers are ALL welcome at my workshops with Vision. If you want to chat about the groups and see if you’re interested, get in touch [email protected]

La situation actuelle peut s’avérer préoccupante pour plusieurs personnes proches aidantes. Vous n'êtes pas seules: Info-aidant est là pour vous écouter, répond...re à vos questions et vous référer vers les bonnes ressources. Gratuit et confidentiel, 7 jours par semaine, de 8h à 20h 1 855 852-7784 | [email protected] See more

Caregiving and taking care of ourselves has taken on extra challenges in the past months. I cannot WAIT to meet our participants in person to chat about staying on track, emotionally and physically... to catch up and laugh... ok and for the coffee & snacks. If you’re curious about our workshops, check in with Shanna or myself for information. [email protected]... See you soon!

#UneChandellePourLaCause

In my world, every month is suicide awareness month. Our most powerful anti-suicide tool, I believe, is becoming more open in our discussions. @thepsychologymum sums the basics up so well. As a fellow imperfect human, you and I both sometimes do at least one of the things listed on the don’t list. ... If you’re open to a little self-development today, join me in choosing one thing to work on in your conversations this week.

Nous trouvons important de vous aviser que TikTok alerte présentement les parents et ses utilisateurs à propos d’images d’un suicide qui ont été intégrées dans ...certaines vidéos circulant sur la plateforme. TikTok mentionne déployer divers systèmes de protection afin de détecter et supprimer automatiquement les clips concernés. Des experts en cybersécurité conseillent aux parents d’empêcher l’accès à ce site à leurs enfants pour les prochains jours, soit jusqu’à ce que les clips concernés aient été supprimés. Il n’est pas impossible que ces contenus soient également partagés sur d’autres réseaux sociaux. Si vous êtes inquiet pour vous ou un proche, nous vous invitons à communiquer avec le centre de prévention du suicide de votre région, le 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553) ou encore à visiter le commentparlerdusuicide.com

Please be aware that there are images of suicide circulating Tik Tok. This graphic content may be extremely disturbing and even triggering to viewers. It is bes...t for parents to keep their children off of the app for a few days until the issue is resolved and for any other users to remain cautious when using the app. Please read the notice below for more information. See more

Mon horaire pour septembre est accessible (pour les clients actuels) sur le portail en ligne. Merci de votre patience :) Thanks for your patience; my September schedule's now available for current clients. Let the booking begin! :)

Like many of you, I’m feeling weary this week. Some days I feel on top of my anxiety and some days it crashes over me. Some days I jump out of bed and think, I... got this! It’s going to be OK. Other days I just want to hide under the covers until the world gets easier and I have a pandemic end-date, a funded universal commitment to social justice, and a back-to-school plan that keeps students, teachers, and staff safe. I finished reading The Gifts audio book this afternoon. It’s the first time I’ve read it aloud, and when I came across this amazing quote - reading it made me feel better. When I first discovered this quote, I thought about the not-so-pretty details from my pre-sober, pre-breakdown-spiritual-awakening life. I thought about all of the proving, perfecting, and pleasing. I never thought about how to apply this learning to the here and now. Today, this quote shook me by the shoulders in a different way. Not only is it impossible for me to go back and make the old details pretty, I can’t make the new details pretty today. Uncertainty and anxiety drive me to hyper-focus on the details, but all that does is ramp up my fear and exhaustion. I think I’m going to try to move forward - in the wobbliest of ways - and refocus on the beautiful whole: Love, rest, justice, walking, water, connection, self-care, sleep, and joy. I'll keep you posted. Stay awkward, brave, and kind, BB

Thought of the day...

Quelques consignes pour éviter la "fatigue zoom"... Et, selon moi, des conseils appropriés pour l'hygiène du travail chez les employés qui passent beaucoup de temps devant l'écran. https://www.ledevoir.com//comment-combattre-la-fatigue-zoo

J'ai de la disponibilité cette été pour faire quelques évaluations psychométriques pour TDA(H). Je vous invite à me contacter par courriel pour des informations. N'oubliez pas que j'offre que les services aux adultes. I am available to offer services in psychometric assessment for ADHD this summer. If interested, please e-mail me for information. Remember: I only offer services to adults. [email protected]

Nous hésitons souvent à parler de nos difficultés émotionnelles... c’est plutôt nos proches qui remarquent quand on n’est pas en forme et qui nous posent des questions. Et bien ça, c’est inquiétant, car ce n’est pas facile ces temps-ci de voir et prendre soin de nos proches. Si vous vivez une période difficile, soyez courageux, soyez vulnérables... parlez-en. Il est plus difficile que jamais de lire entre les lignes. (Warning: Vous risquez de découvrir que vous n’êtes pas seul)

BOOKING en ligne pour mes clients avec dossiers ouverts : Le portail en ligne est maintenant activé, alors vous y trouverez mes nouvelles disponibilités pour le mois de mai. Pour ce mois, j'offre des rencontres en télé thérapie seulement. Merci de votre compréhension et de votre patience durant mon absence. Au grand plaisir de vous "revoir"!

--> QUOI? VOUS OUVREZ LES ÉCOLES?! <-- Aujourd'hui, il est tout à fait normal d'adopter des mesures de protection extrêmes. Le stress fait bien son travail: il nous rappelle les dangers de la COVID-19, nous encourage à faire des choses bien bizarres, mais pertinentes dans le contexte d'une pandémie. Mais, comment faire la transition entre cette réalité et celle qui s'approche dans quelques semaines, quelques mois? Le retour progressif au travail, à l'école, aux rassemblements...? Comment accueillir une situation qui, il y a un mois, était associée à la négligence de votre responsabilité sociale et à un grand danger de santé aux personnes vulnérables? Désapprendre une leçon d'anxiété, REmodifier ses croyances et comportements, ça nécessite du courage, de la flexibilité, et de la persévérance. Soyons donc patients avec nous-mêmes et notre entourage Consultez le magazine Québec Science pour plus d’informations!

Somebody would love to hear your voice today... Il y s sans doute quelqu’un qui aimerait entendre ta voix aujourdh’hui :)

Une belle opportunité de prendre soin de votre corps aujourd’hui . Here’s a lovely opportunity to love on your body today. Check it out!

These days, therapy looks a little different - But we’re still here for you . . #psychotherapy #JazzThePupologist #psychology #covid19

Merci de partager! Please share!

https://www.ordrepsy.qc.ca/coronavirus-covid-19-conseils-ps

Pour ceux qui peuvent...

S’il faut ne faut pas minimiser la situation de la COVID-19 et continuer de suivre les conseils et directives de la santé publique, certains peinent à contrôler... leur anxiété et perdent le contrôle devant un tel phénomène. Si une personne de votre entourage éprouve actuellement une anxiété considérable, voici quelques pistes pour l’aider. See more

Choosing calm feels good

Un bel article sur le pouvoir de nos pensées et attitudes durant une période anxiogène Nous avons des outils. Nous pouvons nous adapter. Nous avons de la compassion et de la logique. Nous avons tous à certains moments besoin d’apprendre à mieux tolérer l’incertitude. C’est un article tout simple, mais inspirant https://plus.lapresse.ca//3357303d-2424-4d80-b6b5-4039c6d4

Clients actifs - Mon calendrier du mois d'octobre est disponible en ligne. Merci de votre patience! Current clients - My October calendar is online, thank you for your patience!

Aux intéressés!

For my English-speaking followers, if you haven’t heard of Esther Perel yet, here is your introduction! Her modern and well-researched comprehension of relationships is the best, most practical information I have read on couples in... well, ever. This is a HUGE bite of information in very little time, but it just gives an idea of the bulk of knowledge she has to share with the world. Look. Her. Up.!... Et pour les francophones, ses livres sont publiés en francais aussi! https://youtu.be/GF6FGdYPHuo

https://www.lapresse.ca//01-5230830-le-peril-de-linattenti

School's out, and we have some extra hours of parenting to do over the next few months! Hmmm If parenting and stress come hand-in-hand some days for you like they do for me, you might enjoy a 5 à 7 talk I am giving this Thursday at the Douglastown Centre. I am hoping to break down the basics of stress - simplifying how to identify it (in ourselves and our kiddos) and I will be giving some family-friendly tips that both adults and kids can use to decrease stress and worrying.... If these details fail to interest you, we also have free food and Dad jokes on the agenda. Please let Amie Chicoine know if you would like to attend, or contact me if you have any questions!

Je pense beaucoup aux familles qui ont des grandes transitions à (sur)vivre en ce moment. Un petit article qui considère leur expérience au-delà de la politique, les assurances, etc... https://www.ledevoir.com/societe//le-soutien-psycohologique

Chaque maman s'est déjà posée la question... Et non, ce n'est pas parce que nous avons moins le tour que leurs éducatrices et les grand-parents :c) https://ici.radio-canada.ca//enfants-discipline-tannants-p

SVP prendre note que je suis absente du bureau depuis mercredi en raison de maladie. Je ne suis pas en mesure de prendre vos appels cette semaine. Lors de mon retour la semaine prochaine, je ferai mon possible pour rendre vos appels dès que possible. Merci de votre compréhension. Please note that I have been away from the office since Wednesday due to sickness. I am unable to take and return your phone calls this week. I hope to reply to your messages as soon as possible upon my return next week, but thank you in advance for your patience.

More and more resources are available, in therapy and online, for couples who are struggling with infertility. Check out this articles for a few websites, apps, and other interesting resources on the topic. https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-emotional-trauma/

I say we all need a mini Brené on our shoulder so she can whisper these sweet reminders. . La joie se retrouve surtout dans les moments de simplicité. On y passe souvent à côté en pourchassant l’extraordinaire. . @brenebrown .... See more

Pour ceux et celles qui réservent en ligne, mon horaire est maintenant ouvert jusqu'à la fin du mois de septembre. Si vous avez des questions concernant l'horaire, S.V.P. m'appeler directement. Vos commentaires sur ma page seront supprimés pour protéger la confidentialité. For those who reserve appointments online, my schedule is now open until the end of September. Please call me directly for questions or if you have difficulty making the reservations, your comments on this page will be deleted to preserve client confidentiality.

Avis aux intéressées: Suite à une annulation, il me reste une disponibilité au mois d'août pour offrir une évaluation psychométrique (par exemple, pour des difficultés d'inattention/concentration) dans la clientèle 18+. S.V.P., passez le message si un proche qui pourrait être intéressé! Pour plus d'informations, appelez: 418-360-0097. Following a cancellation, I have an availability to offer a full psychometric assessment (for example, for attention/concentration difficulties) in the month of August. Services offered to adults only. Please pass on the message if you know somebody who would be interested. For more information, please call: 418-360-0097.

Avis à mes clients: J'ai maintenant recours à un service de secrétariat professionnel et confidentiel afin de mieux répondre à vos besoins. Ma secrétaire m'assisterait avec les retour d'appels qui concernent mes services, ma liste d'attente et d'autres tâches administratives. Merci de bien l'accueillir :) A confidential and professional secretarial service will, as of today, be helping me out with administrative tasks including my telephone contacts; however, I will continue to contact my anglophone clients directly to ensure a bilingual service. If you are bilingual, however, feel free to specify this in your message as my secretary will most likely return calls much quicker than I do. :)

True to the reputation of EMDR trainings, it has been an inspirational, informational and emotional week. So ready to polish these tools and share their power with my clients. . #EMDR #therapy #psychology

Thank you Samantha and Amber for the spotlight! Check out their blog for my article and lots of empowering posts on wellness, family and balancing all our female superpowers :) . J’ai eu l’opportunité de passer un entrevue sur mes expériences personnelles et professionnelles en tant que maman :) . Fun fact - this pic was taken a few minutes before I defended my Doctoral dissertation I feel the adrenaline rushing out through the screen at me when I look at it!