Two Doves Psychotherapy
21 Duke Street L2R 5W1 Saint Catharines, ON, Canada

It's great to raise all kinds awareness, but has anyone stopped to ask why symptoms might exist? What’s going on for you bro? Men face pressure to measure up to cultural, familial, and societal expectations, which is a problem all humans can identify with. But, men don’t express often enough..if at all. When relationships, jobs, or friendships fail; men are perceived to be strong as if they were somehow born with the skills to manage (and oftentimes without thei...r kids). Men are groomed to "suck it up" and deal with it. This isn’t helpful. Let’s stop teaching boys, teens, men, and people that it is. We are social creatures who need to talk and express ourselves and not mythological, legendary beings (unless you’re @tombrady who talks about his feelings privately with his therapist, and publicly for us the whole wide world to hear). Find more about @TomBrady's therapy by searching: @tombrady says psychologist helped him become a man not a victim" @upi.com. Oh hey, @Tombrady - let’s host an instagram live together for men about what it means to be a man who addresses their mental health!

Well, this definition certainly varies from Merriam-Webster's definition of a Shero (a woman regarded as a hero). Guys, it’s time to redefine what it means to be a man and what it means to man up about the stressors you’re really battling with and how they make you feel. Myth buster: the Y chromosome does not exempt you from feeling and expressing emotions - even if you were taught and groomed to believe and behave otherwise.... Find this awesome @cbc article titled: Alarming numbers around men’s mental health indicate need for national response. How are you responding to men’s mental health?Let me know

As womens’ rights and gender roles have evolved over time, so has our mental load. This can not surprisingly lead to emotional exhaustion, fatigue, and the classic signs of burnout! It’s important to nourish yourself and make time to put your needs and true self (the part of you that doesn’t identify with any role, including gender) first.

Sis, real talk: SHERO's are faced with a lot of responsibilities. Not only is burnout real, it isn't cute. Our hair will fall out, dark under eye circles, delayed cycles, maybe even convince ourselves we’re pregnant. Before you know it, we are justifying a binge sesh with a stuffed crust pizza and a side of McCain deep dish, pouring tears over a ‘This is Us’ rerun (seriously @nbcthisisus, we are ready for more!). Burnout may also disguise itself as going through the motions... and looking your picture perfect best on the outside, while holding on and feeling your worst on the inside. If you remember anything from this post, let it be: RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF BURNOUT! But also, BURNOUT is NOT GENDER SPECIFIC!

The last full moon of the year! What a beautiful reminder of cycles, endings, and new beginnings. While we might be lucky enough to witness the moon glowing on the earth’s side this evening, there is an opposing shadow side we won’t see. We too are like the moon - luminous, waxing and waning throughout the month, glowing in our own uniqueness to nurture growth within ourselves and around us, aware of the shadow side we choose not to show.... Consciously examine your dark side during this cold moon season and let go of the emotional, psychological, and invisible heaviness you have been carrying. Today’s full moon is also associated with traditions and religious customs surrounding celebrating the history that made us who we are (the light and dark parts).

Although 2020 didn't feel quite right, wishing you all a peaceful night and a very Merry Little Christmas Day!

There is a huge shift in what it means to identify as a woman and fulfill cultural and societal roles that predate us. Sometimes those roles align with our values and sense of purpose - resulting in happiness and dreams come true. Other times, they're not aligned and can be accompanied by feelings of judgement, sadness, guilt, and emptiness despite our accomplishments.... Note: 5/9..."it's not a woman's duty to give birth...but it can be her calling" (post was cut off..but very important ending to that message). Love, love, love the art and empowering messages of @lainey.molnar SO MUCH I had to share (check her out on insta and her work at bylainey.com!).

COVID Christmas TIP #12. Reflection. As we wrap up 2020 and make sense of the feelings associated with this one-of-a-kind Christmas, take a moment to evaluate what aspects of your life are aligned for your highest good... and which ones are blocking you from achieving it. Shed the layers of outdated values and beliefs that don’t match with the person you are yearning to be.

COVID Christmas TIP #11. Gratitude. Gratitude is an attitude, a mood, a state of being and feeling. It’s more than saying thank you or I appreciate you. Gratitude is an experience. It involves noticing, feeling, describing and naming a circumstance, person, event or thing that has a positive and meaningful impact in a particular moment. When your mind, heart and soul are aware of, and experience gratitude; the brain’s dopamine and serotonin increases, resulting in that ...‘feel-good-mushy-fuzzy’ response. Genuine gratitude can arise from knowing suffering or ‘going without’ - and then receiving. We aren’t designed to suffer, we are designed to survive . Sometimes though, we can get stuck in suffering and are unable to see the survival lesson required to move forward. So count your blessings and your lessons learned, for they have shaped the capacity you have today, and will allow you to feel happier, sleep better, and be more resilient tomorrow.

COVID Christmas Tip #9.TRUST! We all have the right to feel safe, always. Now more than ever we must hone in on the relationship with our inner elves (selves ) and listen.... Listen to what we need, listen to when we need it and listen to how those needs will be delivered/met. We are social creatures and depend on the people around us, however this 2020 year is teaching us that we must learn to depend and rely on ourselves first. Take a moment this week and evaluate the level of trust you have in yourself to do what is best for you.