Believe it or not, MANY people don't like receiving gifts. It's a form of social anxiety and is usually a result of guilt, fear of being in debt, inadequacy and dislike for the spotlight. To become a counselor, I’ve had to learn some surprising things about how a person percieves things. One of them kind of relates to Christmas — and helps explain why I hate it so much (or more accurately, why it makes me deeply uncomfortable). I’m someone who genuinely doesn’t receive physic

In any relationship—romantic, family, friendship, therapeutic, or otherwise—communication is the bridge that allows us to feel seen, respected, and understood. Yet in moments of strong emotion, stress, or vulnerability, communication can break down quickly. Two practical tools that help prevent this breakdown are safe words and mindfulness. While these concepts are often discussed separately, they work incredibly well together. Safe words create clarity and boundaries. Mindfu

One of the most common pieces of advice I give to my clients is this: Your relationship comes first. That's often met with disdain in a...

It sometimes seems cliche to tell people that bullies are jealous, or that they are bullies because they have been bullied themselves....

The holiday season is often painted as a picture-perfect scene filled with joy, love, and togetherness. However, for many, this time of...

There has been an incredible amount of scrutiny of individuals in the public eye these last few weeks. Social media has been a flurry of...

Starting a new school year can be a mix of excitement and anxiety for anyone, children, teens, and even adults. They worry about fitting...

As a counsellor, there are a lot of things I've learned to help deal with challenges that life throws at us. There are so many things I...