Within counselling, it is common to hear, “If I just had a partner, I’d be happy.” Many of us look for love outside ourselves, hoping a partner will fill the empty space inside. But if we don’t first care for ourselves, it’s like trying to pour water into a cup with cracks. No matter how […]
If winter in Vancouver leaves you feeling a little flatter than usual, you’re not alone. The dark mornings, early sunsets, and long stretches of grey can wear on your energy, motivation, and mood. You might notice yourself feeling more tired, less engaged, or emotionally heavier than you did in other seasons. These shifts in mood […]
The holidays can bring up more than celebration. For many, time with family can activate old patterns, emotional triggers, and stress that feel hard to shake. Returning to familiar environments can stir anxiety, people-pleasing, or withdrawal, even when nothing seems outwardly wrong. This blog explores why holiday family stress happens and offers practical, compassionate ways to protect your mental well-being, set boundaries, and navigate the season with greater ease.
Communication difficulties are a common cause of relationship breakdown. Know how to spot the signs of communication problems, the reasons they occur, and strategies to improve your communication in this blog.
We’re familiar with tender self-compassion: a loving, connected presence with ourselves during difficult times, but what about fierce self-compassion? This is the part that many of us are taught to suppress, but at what cost?
Times of uncertainty have a way of shaking us to our core. One of the most effective tools for managing uncertainty is already within reach—and it’s completely free. Exercise.
Over the past month, I’ve felt it rising—quietly at first, but steadily. Fear. It’s been showing up in my body, my thoughts, and in the pace of my days. And from what I hear in conversations around me, I don’t think I’m alone.
Research shows that emotional suppression is a common strategy people use to regulate or manage difficult emotions. However, despite our best efforts, these emotions tend to resurface and show up even stronger than before. Here’s what you can do about it!
There is a widespread belief that healing should feel light or easy—a seamless path toward a better self. But the truth is, genuine growth frequently stirs pain. It asks us to confront the patterns we once relied on to survive, to question long-held beliefs, and to touch the wounds we have spent years avoiding.
When we set lofty resolutions, we’re often trying to override our deeply ingrained patterns without first understanding them. Instead of setting unattainable goals, consider taking small, intentional steps toward change.
The holiday season can be a beautiful time of connection, joy, and celebration, but it can also come with challenges. Setting and asserting boundaries is not just a protective measure, but an act of love that carves a path toward greater peace and self-compassion.
Our nervous system has its own language, and it speaks in sensations. Learn how to speak the language of your nervous system in this blog!
