The holiday season can bring both joy and stress. Between decorating, shopping, social obligations, and expectations, many people end up exhausted. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 52% of Canadians experience anxiety, depression, or isolation during the holiday season (CMHA, 2023). Many Struggle with the Holiday Season Even though the holidays are presented by […]
Even close relationships can drift. Life gets busy, misunderstandings pile up, and emotional walls rise between people who still care deeply for one another. Here we explore ways to reconnect when disconnect happens. Whether you’re repairing a bond with a partner, friend, or family member, healing begins with small, intentional steps toward understanding and trust. […]
Dancing Backwards in High Heels: A Book Summary It was such a thrill when Patricia O’Gorman read and endorsed my book From Woe to WOW: How Resilient Women Succeed at Work. Her own classic, Dancing Backwards in High Heels: How Women Master the Art of Resilience, was one of my inspirations for writing it. […]
Why children lie is complicated! Our culture is filled with exaggeration, half-truths, and outright fiction. Oh! And conspiracy theories. Movies, television, advertising, and even our leaders tend to twist reality. So, it’s no surprise that children sometimes follow these influential role models. But how can parents respond in a way that supports honesty rather than […]
As a therapist, I’ve witnessed relationship killers — the quiet, everyday patterns that slowly damage intimacy, trust, and respect. I’ve also witnessed small, thoughtful acts that strengthen them. And, I’ve had my own fair share of relationship challenges. Relationship killers show up in marriages, friendships and even neighbourhoods. I often see in my therapy practice […]
Why ask this curiosity question? Well, have you ever experienced a moment—an hour, or perhaps an entire day—when you deeply longed to be seen, heard, and acknowledged? Almost everyone at some point desires recognition. Yet many feel unseen, unheard, unacknowledged, or neglected. In my work in parent, family, marriage, group, and individual counseling—having spoken to […]
Leadership often conjures images of politicians, CEOs in corner offices, or keynote speakers on a stage. But leadership is not limited to titles, roles, or positions of authority. At its core, leadership is influence by example—and women, in countless and quiet ways, have always been leading. Here I want to explore women and leadership. I […]
Tears, along with perspiration, urine, and exhalation rid our bodies of toxins and other waste.
Parenting Teens: Love, Faith, and Letting Go: When Faith, Family, and Boundaries Collide Let’s call her, Jane. Jane came into my office looking tired, frustrated and worried. “It’s about my kids,” she said. Tanya, her teenage daughter, was strong-willed and often critical. Her son, Noah, seemed to be losing confidence. He even said he might […]
Introduction My client, with a tear in her eye, said, “I’m exhausted from feeling other people’s energy. You see, I am an empath and have high emotional sensitivity.” Empaths are people, who are highly attuned to the energies and emotions of those around them. Not just empaths, but many people experience the world in deeply […]
Many North Americans struggle to live with grief in a healthy way—often denying or minimizing their pain. My counselling therapy clients frequently apologize for crying, assume they’re too emotional, diagnosis themselves as depressed, or pretend everything is fine while feeling overwhelmed. Yet, as David Kessler writes in Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, we […]
Almost every week I hear a client or others talk about a relationship they might end. “She drives me crazy! She talks negatively about her life, on and on.” Should you ditch the, so called, negative people in your life? According to motivational guru, Jim Rohn, “You are the average of the five people you […]