The issue of body image shows up in my counselling room daily. It's not the pain point that usually brings clients in, but it is one we more often than not uncover over the course of treatment. It lurks in the background insidiously, often appearing in the form of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and disordered eating. According to DoSomething.org, a whopping 91% of women are not happy … [Read more...]
Self esteem
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): Living with and Understanding a Complex Mental Illness
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex and often misunderstood mental health condition. It affects approximately 1-2% of the general population and is characterized by intense and unstable emotions, impulsive behaviour, and a distorted sense of self-identity. Living with this mental illness can be a challenging and isolating experience, but with the right support and treatment it is … [Read more...]
Emotional Boundaries: What They are and How to Create Them
When we fail to set boundaries and hold people accountable, we feel used and mistreated. Brené Brown Boundaries. It's a word that gets flung around a lot on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. We're told we need boundaries to avoid burnout, people pleasing and to keep our lives in balance. We have a general idea of what this means, but often there's confusion about what exactly emotional … [Read more...]
Stop the Social Comparison and Feel Better Without Therapy
Social comparison is one of the most insidious and destructive games we can play, and nearly always leads to a decrease in mood. It is the practice of looking at the lives of others from the outside, via social media, TV, or within our social circles, and assuming those people either have it easier or have more than we do. Ironically, where one person may seem to have abundance you can assume … [Read more...]
5 Ways To Feel Better Right Now Without Therapy: Part Two, Reframe Your Perspective
"Feel the feelings, drop the story." Pema Chodron. Studies show we have between 60,000 and 90,000 thoughts per day. That's a lot, and if they all contributed towards making ourselves into the best human we can possibly be, happiness would seem far less elusive. Unfortunately many of those thoughts are repeated multiple times throughout the day. Some of them may be checklists of things we don't … [Read more...]
5 Ways To Feel Better Right Now Without Therapy: Part One, Cultivate Awareness
I'm a therapist, so believe me when I say that therapy is good and helpful and a lifeline for many people. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be in the field. However, therapy is not always accessible. Community services out there are growing, but unfortunately we have a long way to go before mental healthcare is available to all Canadians in the same way as physical healthcare. Thankfully, … [Read more...]