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September can bring a lot of fun. Crunching on leaves during a morning run. Pulling on soft, colourful sweaters. Being hit with that sweet smell of chili when you open the crock pot. Decluttering and getting tasks done with ease in the fresh, softly rainy, air. Returning to classes or to the office, greeting familiar faces and catching up on each others' summer adventures. People experience September differently. For some, there's an electricity of excitement and fun nerves with this new season. However, for many people September brings the opposite experience. It's the worst. It's ripe with…

Feeling Unsure About Therapy? You’re Not Alone Maybe you’ve thought about therapy but held back. Maybe you’re unsure if it’s the right fit or have heard things that made you skeptical. The truth is, you’re not alone in feeling this way. Many people hesitate to reach out because of common myths and misunderstandings about what therapy really is. These myths can make therapy seem scary, ineffective, or only for people with “big” problems. If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking “therapy isn’t for me” or “I don’t need that,” this post is here to gently challenge those beliefs and open the door to…

Wondering what happens in your first therapy session in BC? Learn how the counselling process works, what questions to expect, and how to feel prepared. Starting Therapy in BC? You’re Not Alone. Many people feel nervous before their first therapy session, especially if they’ve never worked with a counsellor before. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, trauma, burnout, or just feeling stuck, that first step can feel overwhelming. This blog will walk you through exactly what to expect in your first counselling session in British Columbia, including common therapy questions, how the intake…

Addiction—whether to substances or behaviours—isn’t simply a matter of bad habits or poor choices. At its core, addiction is about the brain. Specifically, it’s about how the reward and pleasure system, driven largely by dopamine, gets rewired in ways that make stopping incredibly difficult. In this post, we’ll explore how both substance use and behavioural addictions affect the brain’s reward circuitry, and why understanding this can change how we approach healing. What is Dopamine, Really? Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger in the brain that helps neurons communicate. It's…

Most people don’t know this, but if you've been in a car accident in British Columbia, ICBC will cover the cost of counselling from a mental health professional. That's 12 sessions, fully paid for, with no doctor’s referral required. It doesn’t matter if it was a small tap or a major collision, if you were the driver, a passenger, or even at fault — you still qualify. Why do so many people hesitate to get help? Because we’re conditioned to minimize our pain. “It wasn’t that bad.” “I’ll get over it.” But here’s the truth: Your nervous system remembers the accident - even if you try to forget…

I get a lot of people who come into therapy and ask me this question: "Do you think I have ADHD?" It usually comes after describing months or years of feeling disorganized, distracted, overwhelmed, or burned out — but also smart, creative, driven, and exhausted by how much effort it takes to function. We’re hearing more about ADHD than ever before. It’s in our feeds, on podcasts, in conversations with friends. The language around attention, focus, and executive function is everywhere, and for some, it can feel like someone finally turned the lights on. Maybe you relate to things you never had…

You were probably praised for being “so easy to get along with.” So agreeable. So accommodating. So… nice. But somewhere along the way, that niceness started to feel like a burden. Your chest tightens before saying “no.” You apologize when it’s not your fault. You leave conversations feeling resentful, drained, or invisible. Sound familiar? Here’s the uncomfortable truth: People-pleasing isn’t kindness. It’s self-protection. It's a coping mechanism born from fear. Let’s get into it. What People-Pleasing Really Is (and What It’s Not) People-pleasing is often misunderstood as being kind…

Today I will dance with destiny !! I will continue my initiation into the complex world of flamenco !! My Solo Skills class will perform at Folktoria in Centenail Square at 4:00 pm. Full of colour and love of flamenco. This morning I added a piece of magic, a ritual to enhance my experience. Wish me luck and call if you want to know more about this. Phone 250-208-4071

How's parenting going for you these days? If you're finding it easy that's great. Some people find parenting comes easily to them. Others find it pretty challenging. Especially this day in age with anxiety in our kids reaching maximum levels. How do you manage your child or teen's anxiety? Are you able to be present and not take it on? Or does it ruin your mood when your child is having a hard time? It's totally normal and expected to not be thrilled when your kids are down. You love them and want to protect them. Do you often take on their emotions too deeply though? To the point where your…

You left one world behind — or maybe you were born into two — and now, you're figuring out how to belong somewhere that doesn’t quite feel like home… yet. Whether you’ve immigrated, studied abroad, or grown up balancing your family’s traditions with the values around you, cultural adjustment is more than just learning the language or understanding social cues. It’s emotional. It’s identity-shaping. And sometimes, it’s lonely. Let’s talk about what it really feels like to live between cultures — and how to care for your mental health in the process. The Layers of Adjustment: More Than Just…