New Tides Counselling and Wellness
1892 W Broadway V6K 1J5 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Hi counsellors! We are looking to add another counsellor to our private practice team over the next month or two and would love if you passed this on or let us know if you are interested! This a good opportunity for someone who is looking to dip their toes into part-time private practice (with the option to grow!) as an independent contractor without the administrative hassle . ... This would be a good fit someone who works primarily with bottom up approaches, ideally somatic/body based approaches in addition to emotion-focused work from a relational and attachment focused framework, with an understanding (and ongoing curiosity) of attachment, trauma/complex trauma and dissociation. At the moment, someone with EMDR training(or the intention to train in EMDR in the very near future) will be prioritized, and yoga/mindfulness/meditation instructing experience would be an asset. SCHEDULE: Our counsellors are currently seeing a mix of in person clients as well as online and we have office space available primarily on the weekends and some weekday mornings, however, if you are wanting to work primarily online for the time being that should be fine as well. Our private practice is still new and growing and I believe a good fit would be someone someone who is also newer to private practice and/or open to being a collaborative part of the growth process as well as the occasional quirks and growing pains that come with establishing a newer business. Please take a peek at www.newtides.ca to get a sense of who we are and who we love working with! If you are interested, please send me an email ([email protected]) or a message with your email for more details and I’ll touch base within a few days.

https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/womens-health-podcasts

Beautiful, colourful depiction of how people feel different emotions in their bodies - so helpful for building emotional awareness and regulation!

We are looking to add to our team! We are looking to add a counsellor to our private practice team over the next month or two and would love if you passed this on or let us know if you are interested. This would be a good opportunity for someone who has BOTH weekend and weekday (or evening) availability and looking to dip their toes into part-time private practice without the administrative hassle (with the option to grow!). Our counsellors are currently seeing a mix of in p...erson clients as well as online and we have office space available primarily on the weekends, however, if you are wanting to work primarily online for the time being that should be fine as well. This would be a good fit someone who works primarily with bottom up approaches, ideally somatic/body based approaches in addition to emotion-focused work from a relational and attachment focused framework, with an understanding (and ongoing curiosity) of attachment, trauma/complex trauma and dissociation. Someone with EMDR (or the intention to train in EMDR) or yoga/mindfulness/meditation instructing experience would be an asset. Our private practice is still new and growing and I believe a good fit would be someone someone who is also newer to private practice and/or open to being a collaborative part of the growth process as well as the occasional growing pains that come with establishing a newer business! Please take a peek at www.newtides.ca to get a sense of who we are and who we love working with! If you are interested, please send me an email ([email protected]) or a message with your email for more details and I’ll touch base within a few days.

"International studies suggest they affect 10-11% of the population at some point in their lives. This makes them nearly as common as mood disorders (such as clinical depression)"

"Vancouver Black Therapy & Advocacy Fund is a not-for-profit initiative that aims to raise funds to make mental health support more accessible to Black community members in the Lower Mainland. This fundraiser was created with the understanding of the disparity of access for Black mental health resources; our goal is to connect members with accredited and recommended local Black counselors and therapists"

"Typically we associate sleeping problems, anxiety, and depression with teens who endure trauma, but she stressed that some whove experienced trauma dont have any of these symptoms at all. Sometimes [teens will] have abdominal pain, like stomach ache, or headache, or theyll be getting sick really frequently, she said. Thats also something to watch out for. It can be a sign that your body is internalizing the stress its literally getting under your skin and getting [you] sick.

Finding a counsellor is a daunting task, even for those of us who work in the field! Here are some of my thoughts on some basic considerations/questions to ask in the search for a counsellor. As always, feel free to add your own bits of wisdom as well!

While some of our in-person sessions will resume in the next month or so, online counselling will still be the reality for many of our fellow counsellors and clients. Take a peek at our most recent blog post on online counselling and let us know if you have any tips of your own! https://www.newtides.ca/blog/onlinecounselling

Take a peek at our new blog and "Regulation Toolkit" page, which will be automatically updated every time we add a new grounding, breathing or mindfulness tool. Each tool has a saveable or printable image with steps that you can take with you as a reminder! These tools are designed to help interrupt anxiety, trauma triggers, mood swings, relational challenges and more.... More to come soon! (Another recent post include resources for coping with anxiety, boredom and other challenges during COVID!) https://www.newtides.ca//emotion-regulation-toolbox-anxiet

Hi all! During this difficult time we wanted to share some of our favourite resources for connecting with support, yourself, and even a little fun or movement to keep you busy beyond Netflix! Take care of yourself out there. _______________ Please comment with anything you can think of below and know that we are thinking of you all and sending warmth! PS if you share, make sure you click "include original post" ...Continue reading

Of course it makes sense that when many aspects of our day-to-day lives and whats happening in the world is beyond our control we feel anxious, stressed, depressed or triggered. While it may be difficult to just "let go" of what we cant control, perhaps we can be acknowledge this difficulty with kindness (of course it is scary and upsetting!) and make conscious effort to direct our attention to the elements of our lives and ourselves that we CAN control. Invitation: notice the effect that this re-direction has on your mind, your body/nervous system, and on your emotional state - even if just temporarily!

This is a great article on how to resource our nervous system/body/mind when we land in an anxious or fight/flight state! Geared towards children, but definitely applicable to anyone who has ever felt panic or a big wave of anxiety!

A little levity for all the coffee lovers! What a treat to know how you love to receive love, and how those you love receive love! Alternatively, replace coffee with tacos, cheese, or any other beloved treat....!

Hello counsellors (and friends of counsellors) in my network! Im looking to add a counsellor to my private practice team in the New Year and would love if you passed this on or let me know if you are interested! This would be a good opportunity for someone who is available during the week and looking to dip their toes into part-time private practice without the administrative hassle (with the option to grow!). This would be a good fit someone who works in a similar way as m...yself - somatic, and emotion/relationally-focused with an understanding of both attachment and trauma (in short, bottom-up approaches welcome!). As I often have clients requesting EMDR, interest in/prior training in EMDRis not necessary, but would help build your client base more quickly. If you are a yoga teacher/enthusiast this would be a bonus! If you are interested, please send me an email ([email protected]) or a dm with your email for more details and Ill touch base within a few days. Have a great week everyone!

Trauma is not your fault. (Period) (Take all the time you need for that to sink in) Over the past several years, the following phrase/meme has made its rounds.... Trauma is not your fault, but healing is your responsibility. Theres something about it that never sat well with me, and last night I jotted down a few of my thoughts. Id love to know what you think. Folks whove experienced trauma are familiar with the dismissive but that often follows, trauma is not your fault, but... ...but I should have fought back. ...but I shouldnt have gone to that party. ...but I should have seen the red flags. ...but what were you wearing? ...but healing is your responsibility. This last but appears well-intentioned while still carrying a similar weight of individual responsibility for a process that is rarely possible on ones own. It has that familiar individualist ring to it that has folks grabbing for their bootstraps while standing alone in their suffering. Trauma is not your fault. Period. *long pause* I cant begin to describe the importance of that full stop or the healing potential contained within the space that follows. As soon as we add a but... we knock some of the air out of this realization. It feels like a punch in the gut or that sinking feeling that accompanies ...but I should be over it by now. While the idea of personal responsibility comes with a bit of hope, it also comes with pressure. In my experience, this burden outweighs the hope for many trauma survivors. When pressure outweighs hope, its no longer empowering. Embodied hope has the potential to be a resource for a survivors nervous system. Pressure, on the other hand, comes with the risk of overwhelming ones nervous system or keeping it stuck in freeze/collapse physiology. Trauma is already an isolated place, and making healing your responsibility remains limited to one person. Trauma already feels like a personal failing or weakness, and your responsibility adds one more shortcoming to your list, that of not yet healing. Something happens when we add a well-placed full stop at the end of, Trauma is not your fault [full stop] This pause creates some much-needed space. A space that is frequently punctuated with a sigh of relief. Its a place without a dismissive but... or added pressure of any kind. This pause may be the first time a survivor feels heard and understood. Its important to hang out here for a while. Theres a great deal of healing potential here if were willing to sit with survivors without giving in to our impulse to fix it, solve it, make it go away, or in this example, ascribe responsibility. To be clear, I believe in survivors capacity for healing, which is why Im passionate about helping to create a supportive and empowering context. Im not convinced that saying, ...,but youre responsible for your healing creates a supportive context. We dont heal alone. Were social mammals who require the presence of another nervous system for critical developmental tasks, and our ability to co-regulate is vital for healing trauma. Humans need to feel safe, strong, and connected, and wed be well-served to keep these in mind as we search for what to say next. So, what do we say to a trauma survivor after theyve had the space and time to acknowledge trauma is not their fault? Here are a few possibilities: ...and healing is possible. ...and you have the capacity to heal within safe and supportive relationships. ...and Im committed to being here with you as a resource for your nervous system. What would you add? Again, I assume the original idea is offered with the best intention. However, language is powerful and but is often dismissive and may do more to reinforce trauma physiology than to create a context for healing. I also recognize that each persons experience is unique, and the original phrase may be helpful for some folks. If thats the case for you, I validate your experience and celebrate what works for you! If, however, youve felt uneasy when you encountered the original phrase, Id love to hear your reaction to my rambling thoughts above. -Brian #Trauma #ReligiousTrauma #RoomToThrive

As we move into fall and winter, the cozy seasons, its often then that the old friends depression, sadness, emptiness and just feeling low tend to visit us. It can be hard to know what to ask for, and hard to know how to help. Heres a little helping hand. #realtalk #tuesday #howtohelp Note : I dont always agree with reminding them it will get better. Remind them that they are loved and that you will be there for them instead

"We are engaged in a feedback loop with anxiety. Fearing it, and in response, trying to avoid it or push it down, is part of what can make it such a problem for us. It feels like an obstacle because we have been treating it as such. But the less we fear anxiety and can embrace it, the more useful and helpful it can be."

This is on point (for all genders!). How our parents (and others, and society) encourage, apologize for or shame our boundaries is SO impactful for how we respond to uncomfortable situations.

Not only does how we think and feel about the world around us affect our bodies, but our bodies also affect how we think and feel!! Check out the blog for more on body awareness and a fun little experiment to feel it for yourself - dont just trust my word for it! #bodyawareness #blog #awareness #mindfulness #mindbody ... https://www.morganmckusickcounselling.com//developing-body

Love this! "Discomfort is the price of admission for a meaningful life"

https://www.facebook.com/100000452116588/posts/2413848851973495/

Those of you who know me might know I geek out about body awareness and breathing and mindfulness! As a continuation of last weeks blog post, check out why exactly I even care... And why you should too! Bodies are so cool. https://www.morganmckusickcounselling.com//exploring-body-

#brenebrown talks about how difficult it is to just be with someone who is experiencing difficult emotions, because it means we have to connect with those experiences within ourselves. But that connection can be so powerful, and can deepen our relationships as well. More next week on how to listen rather than fix. WWW.morganmckusickcounselling.com ... #connection #relationships #communication #brenebrown #empathy #authenticity #healing #vulnerabilty #mentalhealth #mentalhealthandwellness #mentalhealthawareness #counseling #counselling #Vancouver #yvr #counsellingvancouver #vancouvercounsellor #vancouvercounselling #counsellorvancouver #therapy #psychotherapy #kitsilano #downtownvancouver #anxiety #trauma #ptsd #depression #emotionalsupport #awareness #selfdevelopment #personalgrowth #mindfulness #ubc #ubcwellness #acceptance #compassion

Journaling tip: Sit down in a quiet place, and once you start writing, try not to pause or think too hard, even if that means writing the same word over a few times. _ #thursdaythoughts #journallingforhealingandselflove #healing #growth #selflove #journaling #journalprompts #writing #creativity #expression #bodyawareness #explore #mentalhealth #mentalhealthandwellness #mentalhealthawareness #counseling #counselling #Vancouver #yvr #counsellingvancouver #vancouvercounsellor #vancouvercounselling #counsellorvancouver #therapy #psychotherapy #kitsilano #downtownvancouver #anxiety #trauma #ptsd #depression #emotionalsupport #awareness #selfdevelopment #personalgrowth #mindfulness #ubc #ubcwellness #acceptance #compassion

Did you know that our bodies are connected to what we think, how we feel, and how we experience the world? _ The most obvious examples of emotions that affect our body are sadness and fear - feeling our hands trembling, our stomach drop or our hearts pound are only some of the sensations we may experience in our bodies. Beliefs, memories, trauma and emotions all have short and long term effects on our body. _ Over the next few weeks Ill be sharing some basic tips and info on developing more awareness in our bodies and how transformational this awareness can be. More detailed exercises on the blog! Link in the profile or at https://www.morganmckusickcounselling.com//exploring-body-

Yoda was onto something when he said, Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. He was wise enough to know that not all emotions come from the same place. What the heck are primary and secondary emotion anyways? And why do we care? https://www.morganmckusickcounselling.com//primary-and-sec

It can be extremely scay and confusing to wonder if someone you love is in danger of hurting themselves. With the much needed conversation on suicide awareness and prevention this week I thought it might be helpful to share a few brief tips for engaging in conversation with someone you are worried about. It can be difficult to know where to start, what do say and how to help - once we are equipped with some basics, hopefully we can all start asking others how they are with a bit more confidence and a bit more often. More information and guidance on these 8 steps on the blog at https://www.morganmckusickcounselling.com//suicide-prevent

"The results from our study showed that mindful individuals are seemingly less caught up in the experience of pain, which was associated with lower pain reports."

Today is world suicide prevention day. Whether you know it or not, whether you understand it or not, whether it hits close to home or not, its almost a guarantee that someone close to you has thought about killing themselves or has lost someone to suicide. _ We still live in a world where its hard to talk about mental health and on some level we are encouraged to put on a brave face, be "strong" and appear unaffected by your struggles. _ This makes courage a necessity if ...we want to reach out, be vulnerable, admit we arent okay, or ask if someone is OK or thinking of ending their lives. Sometimes its hard to find the energy for this type of bravery... Silence is sometimes easier. _ So please please please, lets work to make it normal to be honest with yourself and the people around you. Lets make it OK to talk about bad days and weeks and years. Lets make it feel like there is an invitation for anyone who wants to ask for help-from a friend or a professional. _ Yes these things take bravery. And wouldnt it be amazing to live in a world where it didnt need to take quite as much. _ #suicidepreventionday #suicideawarwness #askforhelp #givehelp #askaboutsuicide #bravery See more

One of the most difficult things about feeling depressed or suicidal is the feeling of being so alone, yet the motivation to connect with others and the fulfilment we typically get from connecting isnt always there. If youre struggling, know that there is support, and help and connection nearby, even if it only helps a bit, every bit matters. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out, be patient and persistent. It can be hard to ask or talk about the darker sides of life, but try not to assume everything is OK or someone is doing better automatically... Healing takes time and is sometimes a lifelong process.

The biggest realization Ive had is knowing I cant get through these periods alone. No matter how difficult, I have to find a way to reach out or itll only worsen the symptoms.

Although I wish this was Canada, this made me smile today! If you absolutely cant get outside, close your eyes and let yourself be carried away to a park not so near you...

Happy #monday! Heres a quick breathing exercise when youre starting to feel anxious or in a difficult situation where you are having a hard time staying #calm More details on the blog! #mindfulmonday

So often when we feel angry or someone in our lives blows up at us, we may need to look beneath the surface to know whats really going on. Anger is most functional when our survival is threatened. There are times when anger may bubble up to the surface, be warranted and make evolutionary sense. (ie. When we feel like our lives are at stake, such as when someone physically threatens us or maybe even a squirrel steals our food ). In fact, anger is also accompanied by a host o...f other emotions, which sometimes are more challenging or more vulnerable for us to feel..... Read on to for more on the anger iceberg and how to explore whats underneath and why! #mentalhealth #counsellingvancouver #vancouvercounsellor #vancouvercounselling #kitsilano #downtownvancouver

Spoiler alert! No one mentioned flexibility or making perfect shapes with their body as their favourite part of yoga. If you practice yoga, or mindfulness/meditation, whats your favourite aspect? Mine is how yoga shifts with how Im feeling in my life: there are months where napping in shapes for minutes at a time is everything, and times when solid breath and movement is exactly what I need to come back to earth when Im feeling antsy or stressed.

New website is live :) Welcome to the world of counselling with a side of yoga, mindfulness and breathing. Feel free to share with anyone who may be interested, or if you admire my newly acquired website design skills.