Holidays can bring about stress and what better way to manage it than practicing self-care? Self-care is something we hear a lot about but can have trouble practicing on a regular basis. So, what is self-care and how can you practice it? Self-care is tending to our various areas of well-being. This post will discuss […]
If I were to ask you what you see as essential to your health and happiness, my guess is that you would say love, family, financial security etc. You may say, I’d like to be less angry,” but I’m betting none or very few of you would say anger is essential to your health and
If you are experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness, strained relationships, depression and/or hopelessness, you are not alone. All of our lives have been disrupted by the pandemic and mental health has suffered across all ages and situations. Many have been quarantining alone, while others have been trying to function as both teacher to their children and competent
I am a psychotherapist and have been for a number of years. And as such I am an observer of people. The current COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been an unusual time in our world’s history and a pretty scary one too. One of the things, I have observed lately is an increase in the frequency
They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year *cue holiday cheer*…but is it really? December and the New Year is a time when reflection and self-doubt seem to run wild through the air. Unrealistic expectations and grand ideas are everywhere we turn. Just waiting to set us up! People talk about New Year’s
In the best circumstances, early attachment is how babies optimally survive, emotionally and physically. Most mothers are wired to protect, love and provide security to their newborn. Babies are innately wired to seek out and stay connected to their mothers. Without this kind of connection, babies can struggle and fail to thrive. Ideally, this natural
As I mentioned in my last blog, your teen is wired to engage in all kinds of risky behavior, including substance use. Your teen has three main issues separating them from adults and younger kids: First, their Executive Functioning system is still developing. Unlike adults, whose Executive Functioning is, in general, fully developed, teens are
Why Your Teen is Hardwired for Substance Abuse, Pt. 2 Read More »
If you’re the parent of a teenager, I imagine you’ve lost some sleep worrying about your teen and substance abuse. We all know teenage years are a time when most kids experiment with substances, but, in the past, the primary worry had always been teen drinking and driving. While this continues to be a serious
Therapists don’t have all the answers, but they know who does. In fact, many people don’t realize we shouldn’t give you advice, even though you may think you want to just know what to do. Very often, clients have said to me, ‘Just tell me what to do!’ While it’s sometimes tempting to respond with
Codependent: Good, Bad or Normal? The term codependent gets a bad rap, because some people have a black-and-white view of what codependency is. The truth is, we are all somewhat codependent. In fact, there is even such a thing as healthy codependence in a relationship, because we are social by nature and rely on each
