What is resilient self-talk? Resilient self-talk is a kind, supportive and compassionate inner dialogue. What you say to yourself shapes the quality of your life. William Shakespeare wrote, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Our internal dialogue can lift us up or pull us down. Resilient self-talk can be […]
Healing childhood trauma is a worthy and transformative endeavour. As the trauma expert and author of The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel vander Kolk wrote: “The challenge of recovery is to reestablish ownership of your body and your mind—of yourself. This means feeling free to know what you know and to feel what you feel […]
Most of my clients seek individual therapeutic counseling to address stress, anger management, or intrusive thoughts, often stemming from childhood abuse and neglect, or generational trauma. However, I feel a special honor when couples choose to confront their relationship conflicts, disconnection, or dissatisfaction. Disconnection in couples can be repaired. The Pattern of Disconnection in Couples […]
Sue Johnson’s legacy will live on in her presentations (many available online), the therapists she trained, and the books she wrote, including the practical and helpful, “Hold Me Tight.”
Book Summary The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture. In September 2022, the renowned Canadian physician, trauma and addiction author, Gabor Maté with his son, Daniel Mate’ released “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture.” In this publication, he challenges our usual take-it-for-granted perspectives about […]
Self discovery provides insight needed for personal growth, while personal growth enriches self-understanding sparked by aha moments and supported by therapy.
Childhood experiences can contribute brain patterns of non-compassionate and negative self-talk in our adult brains. But self-talk interventions can help.
To love yourself unconditionally means to treasure yourself merely because you exist.
Introduction to Ego State Therapy When you step into the realm of Psychology 101, you inevitably encounter Freud’s ego states of id, ego, and super ego. The concept attempts to describe our self-identity, and childhood influences on our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. But it doesn’t stop there. Understanding ego states really flourished when, in the […]
Book Summary: Return to Center: Simple Strategies to Navigate Distress, Depression, and Disconnection. Recipient of the Canadian Counselling and Psychology Association 2024 counselling book award! Fascinated by Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory (See The Polyvagal Institute), I embarked on a journey of sharing valuable tips and implementing new strategies with my counseling clients. Alongside this, […]
This is a book summary of Outgrowing the Pain: A Book for and About Adults Abused as Children by child psychologist, Eliana Gil. It proved to be a Godsend for many who found healing wisdom in its simplicity and clarity. Indeed, it did for me. It was in 1984 that I graduated with an MA […]
Researching to find a therapist is an important step. Yet, there is an even more important first step–a willingness to commit to the process. A woman called me saying her love relationship was struggling. She wanted to find a therapist who would work with her and her boyfriend. But after she suggested to her boyfriend […]