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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

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

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

This past weekend, I had the privilege of returning to Rise Family Cancer Camp at Camp Latona on Gambier Island for my second year as one of the camp counsellors. Rise brings together families who are navigating cancer and gives them an opportunity to spend time with other people who understand, in a way that can be difficult for friends and family outside of that experience to fully grasp. It was lovely to be back. Over the weekend, families had time to connect, play, laugh,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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