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"I find too often we just go from one thing to the next without pausing to integrate along the way. " Lisa Dion The constant rush of daily life often leaves little time for introspection although there is a hum of conversation on social media to make resolutions and set goals for the new year. I read a blog by Lisa Dion the other day where she articulated the importance of what she called 'conscious endings'. This inspired to be to think about how many times I don't take a moment to breath before jumping back into the rush of my own checklist. This blog post is an invitation for you and I to…

It's not uncommon for people living with persistent pain to be reluctant about seeking help from a therapist. For some, it feels like admitting that their pain isn't real and that it is "all in their head." Others don't see how a mental health provider could help with something they see as a physical issue. This blog explores what we know about pain and how therapy can help. What do we get wrong about pain? We tend to misunderstand pain as a symptom of tissue damage. But we didn't just make this idea up. It dates back to nineteenth-century medical textbooks, which stated either that pain had…

I remember 10 years ago training in Internal Family Systems and using it for myself and for my clients. It wasn't a technique that was on many people's radar. But I found it very helpful personally as well as professionally. It was great to have a positive silver lining for all the parts of the clients that they were not fully proud of. It was great to have a compassion-based method that worked to help people be more present and themselves. And it helped to process trauma. In Internal Family Systems we are looking at the individual as a sum of parts. It's kind of like that movie, Inside Out…

Finding yourself ruminating? Thinking about people in a negative way? Or having critical thoughts about your own behaviour? Thinking on things is normal. But if you are ruminating for so much of the day that it is getting in the way of being able to complete daily tasks like focusing at work or school, exercising, parenting or putting time into your friendships or marriage then the ruminating might be worth treating. Come in and learn what is causing the increase in rumination. Perhaps it's a feeling of being wronged. Increasing our understanding of our own thoughts and behaviour helps reduce…

Before becoming a medicine ceremonialist and just barely aware of the existence of 5-MeO-DMT, in a room with the view of a Costa Rican jungle I had my first experience with the sacrament. As a psychotherapist recently gone through a spiritual awakening, my worlds of psychology and spirituality are merging and 5-MeO-DMT has led to rapid shifts in my healing from undercovering repressed trauma to learning to open to states of ecstasy and oneness with the Infinite-Eternal-Divine in my daily life. Feeling the call to come back again and again to this medicine, I quickly recognized its potential as…

Being in pain, emotionally or relationally, is what draws many people to find a therapist. Currently, therapy is enjoying a cultural moment of popularity. You may have heard a version of “everyone needs therapy” or “therapy is for you if you have experienced childhood.” While mostly light-hearted, these prompts speak to those who notice pain in themselves and those around them. The Purpose Of A Process Group A process group is an unstructured, collaborative therapy. By joining a process group, you commit to bringing up what is going on for you and being present with others who are doing the…

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that affects many individuals who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events. While there are various therapeutic approaches to treat PTSD, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) offers a comprehensive method that integrates principles from multiple therapeutic models. Understanding how TIST works and its benefits can provide valuable insights for those seeking effective counselling for PTSD. What is PTSD? PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms may…

It might seem like a stretch to think that experiences with your caregiver that happened as early as day one...or even hour one...of life, would influence how you might experience relationships as an adult. Those non-verbal cues like eye contact, your caregiver's tone, their presence (consistent or otherwise), whether they held you, hugged you, and so many other interactions all affected future relationship. That's not intended to sound ominous but more, to help you possibly understand how some of the strengths or maybe vulnerabilities within your relationships now, might be influenced. If…

It is common and understandable to have reactions to "parts work". It is becoming a common way of working with trauma and family dysfunction that has been made popular by Internal Family Systems (IFS). I use it a lot in my work with people. Common reactions are - I don't have parts, I am just me, or that parts are not real; we imagine them. There may be other reactions. One that comes up for me (even though I work in this way) is that I don't like to go along with the latest fad and that nothing is new. So, I want to put IFS into perspective and discuss how we might see a "part."…

Do you find yourself easily thrown off? If something goes wrong at work are you ruminating for days or weeks? If you don't get a text returned do you feel so hurt that you can't study, go to the gym or even get out of bed? Making space for feelings is important, yes. In recent years, however, I see an increased number of people who are suffering from an inability to gather themselves, to muster, to gain perspective, and to carry on. If this resonates with you keep reading. How do we get grit? Here are some tools to add to your belt to help you increase your mental strength: (1) Get in their…