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understand your options child centered approach minimize the impact on children supportive process Making the decision to separate is one of the hardest decisions anyone will ever make. When you have children it makes that decision even more challenging. It is the loss of what you had hoped and the loss of the dream you tried to create. As parents we are wired to protect our children from pain and so making a choice to separate means we also fear the pain this will cause our

Major family shifts—from moving or welcoming a new baby to separation or co-parenting—can bring a complex wave of emotions for both parents and kids. Discover how to make space for big feelings, maintain safety through uncertainty, and guide your family through life transitions with clarity and compassion.

Watching your teenager struggle with academic pressure, social stress, or burnout can leave you feeling helpless as a parent. Discover practical strategies to spot the signs of teen anxiety, foster open communication, and help your teen build lasting emotional resilience through school and life pressures.

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

When your child is upset, melting down, or caught in big emotions, it can be tempting to jump straight into correcting the behaviour, offering solutions, or trying to stop the outburst. We want the screaming to stop. We want the disrespect to end. We want peace restored. But before a child can listen, learn, or calm down, they need one thing first: connection. In those stormy emotional moments, your child isn’t being difficult on purpose, they are dysregulated. Their nervous

Have you ever noticed how Halloween seems to bring both excitement and chaos; the costumes, the late nights, and of course, the candy? As a counsellor with a background in biology, I often think about what’s happening behind the scenes in our bodies during this sugar-filled season. While those mini chocolate bars and gummies bring a quick burst of joy, they also set off a complex chain of biological reactions that can influence our mood and even heighten feelings of anxiety o

As Thanksgiving approaches, many families are preparing for gatherings, travel, and shifts to regular routines, moments that can bring both excitement and stress. For children, these changes can feel especially unpredictable, and for parents, managing it all can sometimes feel just as overwhelming. This is why forecasting, helping children know what’s coming next and involving them in the plan, can make such a positive difference. It gives kids a sense of security and helps e

Register today for FREE at Risetoday.com Advance Counselling is volunteering at the Rise Today Family Cancer Camp on Gambier Island, BC. If you know a family who is battling cancer would benifit from a fun family day at camp, please share this with them. Advance Counselling offers in-person counselling and walk-and-talk counselling in North Vancouver, as well as secure online counselling across British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Th

Parenting a willful child can feel like riding an emotional rollercoaster. While it may be tempting to think that parenting is easier when we have a compliant, agreeable child, there's a deeper truth that often goes unnoticed: the most challenging children to raise can grow into the most interesting, capable, and resilient adults. We’ve all experienced the validation that comes from hearing how well-behaved our child is. It’s like a reassuring pat on the back. “You must be do

The attachment bond that you form with your child is like the foundation of a house; it provides the stability and support that your child needs to grow, learn, and thrive. Through loving interactions and responsive caregiving, you help build this strong foundation, which is crucial for their emotional regulation and ability to form healthy relationships throughout their lifespan. However, there are many reasons why attachment can become interrupted or disrupted. Every effor