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As summer comes to an end and we start to feel that crispness return to the morning air, many of us can feel that something is shifting in our families. Maybe your child is starting kindergarten. Maybe you're dropping a child off at university. Perhaps they're starting middle school or high school, or your family is beginning to navigate school between two homes for the first time. Or maybe, somehow, while we weren't looking, they just got another year older. These moments ca

September can be an exciting time for teenagers, but it can also be a lot. After a summer with a little more freedom and flexibility, suddenly there are classes, assignments, sports practices, games, friendships, part-time jobs, family expectations, and all the usual teenage social dynamics to navigate. For some teens, the shift back into a busy routine can happen almost overnight. Over the past 20 years, I've worked with teenagers as a teacher, school counsellor, youth coach

One of the most powerful tools in your parenting toolbox is also one of the simplest: dedicated one-on-one time with your child. This is time where you set everything else aside, your phone, your to-do list, the laundry, and focus completely on your child. No teaching, no correcting, no multitasking. Just being present. This kind of focused attention is often called special quality time, and it’s one of the most effective ways to build connection, foster cooperation, and supp

I've lived most of my life in larger communities, so I would never claim to be an expert on rural living. But through my work as a counsellor, I've had the privilege of supporting clients from Northern, rural, and remote communities across Western Canada. I've also spent extended time in places like Pemberton and the Sunshine Coast, and over the years I've found myself increasingly drawn to smaller communities. What I hear repeatedly from clients, and what I've noticed myself

Most of us have experienced a time when life took a direction we never expected. A relationship ends, someone we love becomes ill or dies, a career changes unexpectedly, or we find ourselves facing circumstances that we would never have chosen. Sometimes the difficult experience is something that happens to us, and sometimes it involves watching someone we love struggle and realizing that, despite how much we want to help, we cannot fix everything for them. When life changes

Walk and talk counselling is exactly what it sounds like: therapy that happens while walking outdoors instead of sitting in a traditional office or meeting online. Personally, I love it! Sessions take place side-by-side in nature, allowing conversation to unfold more naturally while the body is gently moving. For many people, this simple shift can make counselling feel less intense, more grounded, and easier to engage in. At its core, walk and talk counselling combines three