All Articles

Strategies to Improve Your Focus

Focus is the dynamic process of choosing what is critical to notice, do, or recall. Each of us have areas of focus that...

The ‘Coping Plateau’

When it Hits and How to Fight Back by Latoya Reid, Registered Social Worker at BMAW   As I pondered about this...

Separating Work from Home during COVID-19

How do I separate home and work when I am working at home? by Michele Meehan, Registered Psychotherapist at BMAW This...

2021: New Year, New Shift

We tend to think of the New Year as the ideal moment to start fresh. We see themes of what others are doing, which inspire...

Finding the Good in 2020

We may be physically distant from one another, but we are finally talking to one another again. Whether it’s one...

Relationships: How to Navigate Differences in Values and Points of View

Differences in values and points of view can often lead to conflict in relationships. Being exposed to a different point...

The Four Styles of Communication

As social beings, we are in constant communication with others. The way we communicate impacts how other people experience...

Q&A with Our Naturopathic Doctor

Come Learn about Naturopathic Medicine! (Script from previous live video with Dr. Laura Macleod, interviewed by Carly...

Acknowledging Grief during COVID-19

The loss that we are all feeling right now is profound. It is okay to grieve the loss of what last month was, this week...

Coping in Uncertain Times

As I write this on March 30, 2020, it feels like the world as I experience it has changed dramatically over the past...

Coping in Uncertain Times with our ND

What wild times we are in right now! There is a lot of uncertainty, fear, stress and heightened emotions. It’s on...

Identifying Your Sexual Beliefs, Preferences, and Boundaries This Valentine’s Day

Sexual communication is an important part of a healthy and satisfying sex life. Understanding yours and your partner’s...

10 Ways to Remain Grounded for Trauma Survivors

Grounding techniques are strategies that can help us to stay in the present moment. Grounding can often be used as a...

Making the First Therapy Appointment

Even if you are a supporter of the benefits of therapy, actually finding a therapist can be anxiety-inducing itself....

8 Ways to Stop Negative Thought Patterns

Negative thinking is the easiest way to slow down your progress and goals. But how do you get rid of negative thoughts?...

Understanding Trauma and PTSD

Traumatic events are situations that are shocking and emotionally overwhelming. They may involve actual or threaten...

Trust and Relationships: Part 2

When we enter a relationship with someone new, when we feel hurt by another person’s actions, or when we hurt our...

Trust and Relationships: Part 1

Elements of Trust in a Relationship   Trust is a concept that almost always comes up in starting, working through,...

“Sitting With” Your Emotions

Painful emotions can be challenging to sit with. In an effort to “feel better” and prevent our feelings from “taking...

Drawing the Line in the Sand: Boundary Setting (Part 3)

One of the most difficult parts of setting boundaries for most is to actually say “no” and turn down requests. This...

Drawing the Line in the Sand: Boundary Setting (Part 2)

Asking for What You Need Boundaries are important for our own understanding of our limits and what we’re comfortable...

How to Communicate Without Anger

When you feel frustrated with someone, communicating without anger takes a level of self-awareness most of us do not...

How to Believe You Are Enough

What is enough? How do you measure what you do and if it is enough for you? Acceptance does not mean not to strive to...

Drawing the Line in the Sand: Boundary Setting (Part 1)

“Boundaries. What are those?” That was the first question I had for my therapist when she asked about how I set...

Responsive Versus Reactive Parenting Styles

A Guide to Supporting You and Your Child When You Are Both Upset   Most parents can think of a handful of moments...

Stories We Tell Ourselves: Trauma Experiences

The Stories We Tell Ourselves Part 2 – Trauma Experiences Especially for those of us who have experienced trauma(s),...

Understanding and Reducing Anger and Resentment

Many people seem to be carrying their anger and resentment wherever they go. Carrying these heavy, negative emotions...

Stories We Tell Ourselves: Self-Talk

The Stories We Tell Ourselves Part 1 – Self-Talk In therapy, we usually come into sessions with stories of things...

Arguing Effectively: The Power of Hearing, Understanding, and Validating

Partners often find themselves engaging in arguments to solve a problem, yet end up feeling more tense, depleted, and...

7 Ways to Stop Racing Thoughts

Are you experiencing ‘racing thoughts’? If you identify with fast, repetitive thought patterns about a particular...

The Greatest Gift(s) You Can Give Your Relationship this Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day holds a lot of weight for many couples. The expectations and pressure that come with this holiday...

Supporting Someone with Mental Health Issues

When it comes to talking to a loved one about mental health, it can be very uncomfortable. As a society, we are still...

Bell Let’s Talk Day 2019

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 WHAT: Bell Let’s Talk provides the largest corporate fundraising commitment to mental...

End the Stigma. Break the Silence.

In Canada, every year we celebrate Bell Let’s Talk Day – coming up on January 30, 2019. While this day is a...

New Year, New Goals

It’s that time of year again. We are almost two weeks into the new year, and despite well-intentioned resolutions...

Self-Care in Our Technology Driven World

I admit, it is very tempting to throw around words like “self-care” in the context of therapy. Sometimes, what ends...

How to Deal with Grief During the Holidays

Grief during the holidays is a common reason people come in for therapy in December. Because of your grief, this holiday...

Holiday Social Anxiety: 6 Common Causes and How to Cope

Staying with friends or relatives (unfamiliar surroundings)… If you are going to be staying with friends or relatives...

6 Tips for Overcoming Holiday Anxiety and Stress

It is known that a stable routine can reduce psychological problems like anxiety. Our daily schedule is safe and predictable. The...

How to Beat the Winter Blues

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is related to changes in seasons. To understand more...

Seasonal Affective Disorder: The Winter Blues

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is related to changes in seasons. More specifically,...

Relationship Issues: Let Your Guard Down

One of the most common relationship issues is not being able to let your guard down. We become defensive when we don’t...

Relationship Issues: Does Your Partner Know the Real You?

Often, the cause of many relationship issues, is lack of communication. A main reason this happens is because we are...

Rise Above Stigma! Mental Health Awareness

Rise Above Stigma! Bell Let’s Talk Day: Wednesday, January 28, 2015! Wednesday, January 28, 2015 is an important...

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is unfortunately commonly misconceptualized in our society. People often think of people...

How to Form Good Habits

A habit is a shortcut that makes your life easier because you don’t have to spend energy choosing to do it. It’s...

How To Be Happy

Be a happier ‘you’ this holiday season!

Down in the dumps? Holiday blues? A lot of us feel more down in the winter season, especially around the holiday season. This...

Steps to Build Your Confidence

We tend to get down on ourselves at certain times of the year, and the winter can be one of them. Take this as a healthy...

Ways to Improve Your Self-Esteem

Are you struggling with your confidence lately? Do you find your self-esteem is lower than usual? It could be someone’s...