As a clinical counsellor, I know that January can feel like a particularly heavy month. The holidays are over, daylight is in short supply, and many of us are grappling with cold weather, post-holiday bills, and unmet New Year’s resolutions. It’s no wonder the third Monday in January has been dubbed “Blue Monday,” often described as the most depressing day of the year. While the idea of Blue Monday is largely a marketing construct, the emotional and mental challenges associated with this time of year can be very real. Whether or not you’re feeling the winter blues, here are seven strategies to help you thrive during this darker time of the year.

The holiday season often brings a mix of joy and challenges, from family stress to grief and overwhelm. As a clinical counsellor, I’m sharing strategies to help you navigate this time with resilience and intention. Whether you’re managing expectations, coping with loss, or feeling disconnected, these tips can support your emotional well-being—because you deserve to thrive, not just survive, during the holidays.

As our parents age, many adult children find themselves stepping into the unexpected and challenging role of caregiver for those who once nurtured them. This transition—often a role reversal filled with a complex mix of responsibility, love, frustration, and grief—can be profoundly life-changing. Navigating this period with compassion, clarity, and care requires adjusting both our day-to-day lives and our expectations, while also understanding the unique challenges and rewards of caring for aging parents. Here’s a guide to help you manage this transition with empathy and insight, supporting both your well-being and that of your parents.

Grief and loss are universal experiences, but the journey of healing is deeply personal. Whether you're coping with the death of a loved one, a relationship breakup, or another form of loss, navigating grief can feel overwhelming. In this post, we’ll explore practical steps and strategies to help you process your emotions, recover, and find hope after loss.

In today's highly stimulating world, our nervous systems often bear the brunt of chronic stress, leading to feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and even physical ailments. While many approaches can help manage these symptoms, yoga therapy offers a unique, holistic, evidence-based approach to support and balance the nervous system. This post explores how yoga therapy can be a powerful tool in your journey toward nervous system health and overall well-being.

Earlier this month, I embarked on a transformative 12-day vision fast ceremony in the breathtaking Inyo Mountains of California. Accompanied by three guides and ten other participants, this profound experience offered a unique opportunity to reconnect with both the land and ourselves in a deeply meaningful way.

Trauma is a profound and often life-altering experience that can leave us with the  challenge of navigating its’ often complex aftermath. While the pain and struggle associated with trauma are undeniable, there exists a phenomenon known as Post-traumatic Growth (PTG). This concept underscores individuals' potential to recover from trauma and experience significant personal, social, political and spiritual  growth and transformation as a result.

Recently I was asked to discuss resilience and its importance for body workers and yoga therapists at the Vancouver School of Healing Arts where I have taught for over a decade. I initially hesitated. Given my position of privilege, I wondered what I could offer on this topic. This initial doubt revealed my assumption that resilience is primarily honed through adversity as if it were a muscle solely developed as a result of surviving life's challenges.

Amidst our bustling lives, stress is seen as a disruptive force that can lead to a cascade of health issues. However, shifting our perspective on stress can reveal its potential as a tool for self-awareness and wise action. As a counselor and yoga therapist, I work with clients to utilize a variety of tools to embrace stress as a catalyst for personal growth, 

In our hyper-connected world, where communication can happen instantaneously across various platforms, the phenomenon of "ghosting" has emerged as a perplexing and often painful experience. 

After surviving a violent sexual assault in my early 20s, I was taken to a hospital to be examined and tended to by the doctor and nurses working there. They were one of my first points of safety after the most terrifying experience of my life. The safety that those healthcare providers created for me was certainly one (although not the only) of the contributing factors to my avoiding developing PTSD.

As the global environment shifts and humans (and all planetary species) experience the very real and devastating impacts of climate change, there is an increasing need for mental health professionals to better understand the psychological repercussions that climate-related losses have on the population.

In her podcast, Dr. Thema focuses on survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sex trafficking. She provides important tips for reconnecting with our bodies so we can be at home with ourselves. In this audio journal, I discuss my impressions of Dr. Thema’s speaking to the listener as client what I noticed that stuck with me. I also conceptualize working alongside trauma and what may be helpful in creating a safer space for clients.

The Spring of 2020 brought with it more than a shift in season. That year, the world became a different place. While the cherry blossoms began to unfold into the crisp sunlight, we were told to stay indoors.