Grief is most often associated with death. As a culture, we struggle with grief. So, it is not surprising given our difficulty with grief, and the narrow definition associated with death, that we fail to recognize the range of human experiences that can trigger a...
Families are having a hard time. As we approach the one year mark of navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not surprising that families are struggling in multiple ways. Even in ordinary times, many parents struggle to balance work and family...
How do you make time for your relationship while you’re also busy parents? Depending upon how long you’ve been a parent, you may hardly remember the carefree days before children arrived. You had responsibilities, but chances are that you and your partner had a...
Covid fatigue is real and it can look like depression. As a second State of Emergency was recently declared in Ontario, many of us are feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, sad and angry. One client described having “decision fatigue” as she faced decisions about how to...
It is even possible to find relief from COVID-19 Fatigue? The answer is YES. And here is a simple guide for you to follow. The 3 Key Approaches for Relief Think: Train your mind and manage what you are thinking (cognitive therapy) Act: Do life-giving activities...
Traditionally each year one word is chosen to sum up the shared experiences of the year. Collins Dictionary chose lockdown – defined as the imposition of stringent restrictions on travel, social interactions and access to public spaces. Merriam-Webster Dictionary...
2020 was a hard year. Many people are relieved to see it come to an end. As we begin a new year, we want to hold the hope for better days ahead. Instead of the typical New Year’s resolutions that are typical for the kick-off of a new year, I encourage you to instead...
This will be a unique holiday season. Navigating the holidays during a pandemic creates a challenge we have never faced. You may feel a heaviness in your heart as you consider time honoured traditions that will need to be adapted or perhaps even cancelled. Feeling...
Hope is an emotional state that promotes the belief in a positive outcome. Clearly, we need hope, especially in our current world. Can hope really make a difference? The answer is YES. There is increasing evidence that hope changes us psychologically and...
Preparing for winter can be challenging under the best of circumstances for many of us. However, this year, as we face the ongoing realities of COVID-19 we may be anticipating the coming months with heavy hearts. And maybe even a sense of dread. Christmas celebrations...
All children feel anxious at one time or another. But when anxiety gets in the way every day, children get irritable or even angry. They are more prone to meltdowns or tantrums. Returning to school when everything looks so different presents a “perfect storm” for many...
Do you ever fantasize about finding an escape? Some beautifully blissful way to escape the misery and challenge of the current moment. Continuing to live through the social isolation related to COVID-19 and ongoing uncertainty is hard. And when life gets really hard,...