Are you considering working with a counsellor but unsure where to start? Seeking help is a courageous step towards improving the quality of your life. Finding the right counsellor can make all the difference. In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about hiring a counsellor, from understanding their role to […]
Releasing the Pressure Cooker Inside of Us At times our minds and hearts may feel like they are stuck in a pressure cooker; overwhelmed, pressurized, and heavy. If we ignore the pressure cooker, it sometimes feels like a volcano could explode or the tank could crack under pressure. Small things that normally do not bother […]
Our feelings can be uncomfortable. We do not like to experience feelings like sadness, anger, or anxiety. When we have something happen that causes us to feel uncomfortable, we can react in a couple of different ways. One of the ways we may react might be to get rid of that feeling. This may involve […]
Hi everyone, I am Elsie Hartnett, and I am a practicum student in the Enhanced Learning Division at Aspire Too, which is the last step in getting my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. Before switching paths into this new counselling role, I worked as a teacher in northern and rural Saskatchewan. […]
Dear Counsellor My friend told me about this new therapy called ART. I am wondering if this may help me? I have had trauma in the past which has led to my anxiety being, frankly, out of control and my mood…well…pretty low most days☹. If I am being honest, although I try to hide it, […]
December can be a month that feels like we are on a never ending emotional roller coaster ride. For some people, roller coaster rides can be exciting and motivating while for others the ride is worrisome and overwhelming. Here are a few ideas to help you through the positive and negative emotions when the tidal […]
Binge eating can be caused by a lot of things. It can be used to cope with stress, it can be a response to an emotional trigger, it can be a learned behavior, improper knowledge about healthy eating, or all of the above. Binge eating can be scary for anyone because you feel like you […]
Dear Counsellor, I have been very overwhelmed with rising prices and it has been keeping me up at night wondering how I am going to be able to pay my bills. I’m not sure what to do about it and I know my family has been worried about me the last few weeks as I […]
Dear Ask the Counsellor. I recently found out my daughter is struggling with self harm. I don’t understand why she is doing it and I do not know how to help her. – Scared Mom Dear Scared Mom, I understand that it can be scary as a parent to have a loved one struggling […]
In one way or another we have been touched by the pandemic. Whether it has been an experience of loss, change, adjustment or finding creativity and new interests, this collective experience has rocked and shifted every aspect of our wellness – mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Here are a few ideas to ponder to stay […]
Dear Ask the Counsellor, I was doing so well for so long with my eating disorder recovery, but now I have gone back to using eating disorder behaviours. I can’t tell anyone that I am not doing well and need more support because I feel ashamed that I have relapsed. I know I need to […]
Dear Ask the Counsellor: With everything that has been going on recently I find myself feeling uptight and on edge most of the time. I have been yelling at my kids and my spouse lately and I generally feel like I am out of control. I know everyone is feeling out of sorts with the […]
Who am I? What is important to me? Where do I belong? All of these questions point to personal identity and have an impact on your mental wellness. Here are three areas that are valuable to reflect on when examining your identity: Roles Personal Values Social Connections Roles – The roles that we play […]
Being a Better Friend to Yourself Being a better friend to yourself sounds like an odd idea initially because we naturally imagine a friend as someone else, not a part of our mind. But there is value in the concept because we already know how to treat our friends well, with empathy that we neglect […]
Aspire Too’s Margarita Sysing, Registered Social Worker, was recently featured on TAYFFI Talks! to share her expertise on what parents and caregivers should watch out for when considering the impact on children’s mental health in the COVID-19 era. Tune in to hear from her own real world examples and gain practical tips to implement […]