As I sit down to write this, I am feeling CRABBY. As you can see from the photo above of me at age three, I have never been very skilled at hiding my emotions. This was unpopular with many of the adults in my life when I was a child who kept trying to 'cheer me up' or convince me that I would rather be … [Read more...] about In a Foul Mood? Embrace Your Inner Crab
Increasing Happiness
Post Traumatic Growth
“I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” - Carl Jung In the therapy community and in general circles, there is a lot of talk about trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It seems to me that these days, especially after two years of COVID, extreme political polarization and an … [Read more...] about Post Traumatic Growth
QTIP- Quit Taking It Personally
I was working with a male client recently who has a very difficult in-law to contend with. I kept reminding him that her behaviour towards him wasn't personal which he found helpful. He shared an acronym with me he had learned about in a business seminar called QTIP which stands for: QUIT TAKING IT … [Read more...] about QTIP- Quit Taking It Personally
How to Protect Yourself from Emotional Vampires
What is an Emotional Vampire? Many of my clients are members of the Canadian Armed Forces and one of them shared with me a well-known saying in the military which I love: Two percent of people take up ninety percent of your time. I believe she was referring to "emotional vampires"- a small minority of … [Read more...] about How to Protect Yourself from Emotional Vampires
How to Know if You’re Ready for Therapy: Stages of Change
I felt moved to write this piece because many people who contact me to learn more about doing therapy struggle with knowing when they are ready to make major changes in their lives which they are often terrified of doing. This often creates the emotional state of ambivalence- something I have to navigate … [Read more...] about How to Know if You’re Ready for Therapy: Stages of Change
The Easiest Way to Start a Meditation Practise: The Insight Timer App
I admit it- I’m a podcast addict. Every morning, I look forward to listening to a spiritually uplifting and enlightening podcast. I recently began listening to a really interesting one called Mindful Living Spiritual Awakening with Psychologist Dr. Marjo Puleo. The topic I chose was “Conscious … [Read more...] about The Easiest Way to Start a Meditation Practise: The Insight Timer App
Why You Need ‘Blue Space’: Why being by a body of water is good for you
It’s hard for me to put into words why I like the beach so much. Everything about it is renewing for me, almost like therapy… Beach Therapy - Amy Dykens Over twenty years ago, I made the decision to move from the bustling urban core of downtown Toronto to the peaceful and regenerative smaller city by the … [Read more...] about Why You Need ‘Blue Space’: Why being by a body of water is good for you
Five Gratitude Practices That Will Increase Happiness Right Now
I’ve decided to write about gratitude even though I’ve written about it before. Why am I so into gratitude practices? Because there is solid science behind why they are good for our physical and mental health. Here are 7 scientifically proven benefits from a wonderful article in Psychology Today on … [Read more...] about Five Gratitude Practices That Will Increase Happiness Right Now