Metamorphosis Clinical Services

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day; a national campaign designed to de-stigmatize mental health. As we continue to be impacted by COVID-19, we can all do our part to stay connected, to help improve our mental health and wellness, and to help ensure mental health remains a priority issue. If you are struggling, let’s talk. To quote one of my sheros, Barbara Coloroso, I believe in you! You deserve to be cared for! You are important! Together we can break the silence

Fleeing from intimate partner violence and trying to navigate a misogynistic, broken system is one of the most thankless journeys a survivor will ever face. As families from coast to coast across Canada gather around the dinner table tonight with their elaborate spreads, in homes adorned with festive ornaments and holiday cheer, I recognize that it can be difficult to be thankful for what we’ve got, so I have prepared some prompts to get you started . A SURVIVOR’S GUIDE TO... THANKSGIVING 2021 I am grateful for my alarm that goes off at the crack of dawn every day because it means my life has purpose. I have somewhere I need to be and people who depend on me I am grateful for the few people in my life who accept me for who I am and what I am able to give. Those who do not judge me based on what they see or think they know I am grateful that I have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. I can turn on the heat in the winter and the AC in the summer I am grateful for the dirty dishes in the sink because it means I could afford to put food on the table I am grateful for the taxes that I pay because it means that I am a contributing member of society I am grateful for the clothes that fit a little too snugly because it means that I have had enough to eat I am grateful for the pile of laundry that needs to get done because it means that I have clothes to wear I am grateful to have a car and not be dependent on public transportation I am grateful for the advocacy work that is being done to reform the judicial system to protect women and children against future acts of domestic homicide, femicide or filicide I am grateful to those people working within the system who truly get it. Who are not motivated by the almighty green, but who are genuinely invested in protecting victims of abuse and coercive control. Those who develop corresponding safety plans after doing comprehensive risk assessments I am grateful for my child or children who have taught me more about perseverance, determination and resilience than any therapist or textbook

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation As a Jewish woman with ties to the Holocaust and a survivor of intimate partner violence, I find myself deeply connected to this solemn day and the need to heighten awareness. I stand in solidarity with the many Canadian families devastated as a result of the residential schooling system and the Federal government’s wilful neglect. Today I am wearing an orange shirt. How are you paying respect? This past summer, I had the opportunity to travel to BC and our nation’s capital. I share with you some photos. Perhaps it’s my way of honouring the murdered or missing Indigenous women and children.

What is marriage? Words heal and provide comfort. Here are my words about marriage. Marriage is tough. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying or incredibly lucky. There are many days when one or both spouses will wake up and want to flee from the other. In movies and in poetry, marriage sounds romantic - but it is not. It's nothing short of hard work. When you are single you drive wherever you want. When you get married, you get onto the highway of life, and you...Continue reading

Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission Arnold Bennett As a CBT and family systems trained therapist let’s connect so I can help you understand the power of the mind and develop effective coping strategies with anxiety and manage trauma triggers

Several months ago a friend sent me the attached video link on empathy. I was captivated and wanted to learn everything I could about Brené Brown who is also quoted as saying, Joy comes to us in ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary. Have an ordinarily joyful and empathic day https://brenebrown.com/videos/rsa-short-empathy/

Mother’s Day has always been a difficult day on the calendar for me. My relationship with my own mother evolved from one of physical discipline in early childhood to a lifestyle of torture and torment in adolescence that grew out of control. It became so bad at times, I had no strength to crawl away, even if it meant saving my life. After my parents separated, my mother decompensated. The maltreatment intensified; I could never anticipate what would set her off. I walked on e...Continue reading

Let’s connect to discover how our thoughts influence our feelings which lead to certain behaviours

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty by Maya Angelou Survivors of IPV undergo a metamorphosis .... shedding their abusive past and embracing a future without coercive control, intimidation and power imbalances

After fleeing an abusive relationship, victims of intimate partner violence often gravitate to others in similar situations who understand the range of traumatic experiences post-separation. Gaining a sense of identification, feeling heard, seen and validated is critical. The challenge is not to compare one person’s situation to another. Academics and clinicians know that the same event can be interpreted as traumatic by one person but not by another. This is a result of: *on...e’s trauma history; *accessibility to intervention; *one’s resiliency Are you struggling with chronic or prolonged feelings of fear, sadness, stress, forgetfulness, disorganization, disappointment, hurt, confusion, lethargy, anger, hypervigilance or frustration? Is your mood impacting on your daily routines, parenting decisions, employment/ productivity at work, economic stability and long-term health? If yes, it’s to be expected. Give yourself permission to reach out and get support

TRAUMA We know that the same event can be interpreted as traumatic by one person but not by another. This is a result of: *one’s trauma history; *accessibility to intervention;... *one’s resiliency Trauma manifests itself in many ways, including fear, sadness, stress, forgetfulness, disorganization, disappointment, hurt, confusion, lethargy, anger hypervigilance and frustration. These feelings impact on one’s daily routines, parenting decisions employment/productivity at work, economic stability and long-term health. Trauma can be acute, such as a single or isolated experience with violence, it can be chronicle or prolonged, with repeated experiences of abuse; and it can be a complex, in that it is varied and invasive and the trauma often begins in childhood or adolescence.

Understanding manipulation, power imbalances, coercive control which includes tactics like gaslighting is my forte. "By detailing Allen’s deft manipulation of a narrative that the public had long accepted, the HBO series questions the familiar yes-he’s-gross-but-Mia-is-a-crazy-liar storyline until it dissolves before our eyes. What emerges is a ride on the Gaslight Express, conducted by a narcissistic celebrity-genius with vast resources who leads us far off the track from terrible truths.

DIVORCING A SOCIOPATH Sociopaths have the following characteristics .... Theme is to dominate others;...Continue reading