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 […]
It may seem and feel like a never ending battle to balance our mental wellness, especially since pandemic started. Some days we may feel like we are lost at sea in one massive storm experiencing intense or uncomfortable emotions, while other days we may feel calm and grounded. These unprecedented times have really put our […]
Dear Aspire Too, I’m a single parent of three kids ages 10, 16 and 19 years old. I have recently taken on more shifts as I am fearful of losing my job through the pandemic. I work outside of the home so I feel like trying to balance work and my personal/home life have been […]
Mom Truth: Guilt 14 months ago I became a mom to a beautiful baby girl who I fell madly in love with instantly. Since than I have been filled with many different complex emotions (shocker that love isn’t the only feeling), one of those feelings being guilt. I have learned in both my professional and […]
Dear Counsellor: When hit, I got laid off from my job and subsequently let go due to the company’s need to downsize. I had not been satisfied in my job for a long time and now, with my present circumstances, I think it’s time I see what else is out there for me. I am […]
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