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Sometimes the Best Therapy Happens Outside
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
Ashleigh Gold
5 days ago4 min read


How to Reset Your Nervous System This Summer
I love summer. For 20 years, I was a teacher, school counsellor, and a coach, and while the school year was extremely busy and demanding, summer gave me something incredibly valuable: a chance to reset. The slower pace, longer days, time outdoors, and fewer demands allowed my nervous system to recover and recharge. Most people don't get two months off each year, and I realize how fortunate I was in that regard. Now that I own my own counselling practice, I don't get summers o
Ashleigh Gold
Jun 303 min read


The Healing Power of Being Understood: Reflections from Rise Family Cancer Camp
This past weekend, I had the privilege of volunteering at the Rise Family Cancer Camp at Camp Latona on Gambier Island, supporting families navigating the unimaginable reality of cancer. Families spent the weekend connecting, playing, laughing, and simply being together in a space where they didn't have to explain their circumstances because everyone there already understood. I was invited to facilitate a discussion group for parents and caregivers, creating space for convers
Ashleigh Gold
Jun 83 min read


Finding Peace Inside: How IFS Can Transform Your Mental Health
Have you ever noticed how different parts of you seem to show up at different times? You might feel confident and ready to take on the world one moment, and then the next, a voice inside you whispers that you’re not good enough. Or maybe worry or sadness shows up suddenly, and it feels like it has a mind of its own. You are not alone. That’s exactly what Internal Family Systems, or IFS, helps us understand. IFS is a gentle, compassionate way of working with your thoughts and
Ashleigh Gold
Mar 184 min read


Understanding PMDD: When Hormones Deeply Affect Your Mood
If you’ve ever felt like your mood, energy, or emotions completely shift in the week or two before your period, you’re not alone. For some people, these changes are more than just typical PMS. They can feel intense, overwhelming, and make everyday life a real challenge. This experience may be something called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD. What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder? PMDD is when normal hormonal changes in your menstrual cycle trigger strong emotional
Ashleigh Gold
Mar 133 min read


Finding Balance in the Season of Change
Fall often arrives with a sudden rush after the long, slow days of summer. It can feel like switching gears overnight! Some days are so full it’s hard to keep up. Between work, school, social commitments, and life’s daily demands, it can feel like we barely have a moment to pause and breathe. Other days are quieter, when the world feels still, and that calm can sometimes feel a little isolating. Fall brings both energy and reflection, excitement and pause, and everyone experi
Ashleigh Gold
Sep 16, 20252 min read


Embrace Life Fully: How ACT Therapy Can Transform Your Mindset and Well-Being
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Path to Emotional Freedom In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s easy to get tangled up in our thoughts and emotions. As humans, we strive to avoid discomfort, seek happiness, and control the uncontrollable. But what if the key to a fulfilling life isn’t about controlling our experiences but learning how to coexist with them? Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a modern psychological approach, offers a refreshing perspective. W
Ashleigh Gold
Jan 21, 20253 min read


Holiday Stress Navigating ….. Strategies for a Joyful Season
The holiday season, often depicted as the most wonderful time of the year, can bring unexpected stress and anxiety. Between shopping, hosting responsibilities, endless parties, and revisiting childhood homes, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If the holidays leave you feeling more frazzled than festive, you’re not alone. Let’s explore why this time of year can be particularly challenging and how you can navigate it with greater ease. Why the Holidays Can Be Stressful 1. T
Ashleigh Gold
Dec 11, 20244 min read


Ever wonder about birth order? Let’s look at Adler’s Ideas!
Have you ever wonder why siblings can be so different, even though they grew up in the same family? Birth order has always intrigued people, especially parents, since it seems to shape personalities and family dynamics in unique ways. Alfred Adler (1870–1937), a psychologist, was one of the first to dive into this idea with what we now call Adlerian Theory. His theory suggests that our place in the family—whether we’re the oldest, middle, youngest, or an only child—plays a bi
Ashleigh Gold
Sep 24, 20242 min read


Are you often feeling triggered??
So, what's the deal with being triggered? Being "triggered" refers to experiencing a strong emotional reaction in response to a specific stimulus or event. The triggering ‘thing’ often doesn’t warrant the sometimes overwhelming response it gets; our response to a triggering event can seem disproportionate to the situation at hand. Our triggers are deeply personal—what sets us off might not affect someone else in the same way. This is because our triggers are shaped by our uni
Ashleigh Gold
Sep 16, 20245 min read
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