By Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND EFT is a form of psychological acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture. Instead of needles, simple tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on the head and chest while you think about your specific problem – whether it is a traumatic event, an addiction, pain, etc. — and voice positive affirmations. […]
By Lise Fitzsimmons MA, RP (Q), Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) One of the goals with Psychotherapy is to increase your sense of wellbeing and to help you gain a fuller understanding of yourself and your feelings. Therapy seeks to provide you healthy coping skills in response to challenging experiences and feelings. While the holidays do not necessarily exacerbate mental health specifically, they do have a tendency to create additional stress. The additional stress can then trigger anxiety and depression, and this year it is complicated by the pandemic. I am including some tips that I hope will be useful. […]
By Monica Grainger, MSW, RSW Recently, a NY Times writer David Streitfeld published an article, “The Long, Unhappy History of Working From Home,” claiming people are more productive working at the office than working from home. Streitfeld cited research dating back to the early 1980’s to 2009 where prodigious companies, such as Google and IBM, declared there was greater productivity, team innovation, creativity, and availability if employees worked in the office compared to working from home. Research dating back 40 years investigating the plausibility of working from home versus in-office work is outdated and tangential with the advent of online video conferencing. Applications, such as Zoom, Face-time, and other online Hiipa compliant video conference technology, are more sophisticated in our present time and available to a larger population. Hence, team innovation and creativity, accountability, and availability are now made possible for many work groups to meet through video conferencing. […]
By Monica Grainger, MSW, RSW This is an unusual time. Families are asked to stay at home and engage in social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Families are becoming flooded with news from around the world about the deadly result of this virus. As we are becoming more anxious about COVID-19, the anxiety is mounting among our children. I have highlighted some behaviours which may lessen our childrens’ anxiety regarding the coronavirus. People are fearful and discussions about death are rampant. Children easily sense fear in other people. They need to be comforted and reassured that they are safe at home. In the next few days and weeks to come, help your children reduce their anxiety by adhering to the following recommendations: […]
By Alexia Georgousis ND, CPC, Conscious Awareness Coach Emotions are a part of who we are as human beings. They are bundles of energy in motion. The key is to understand emotional energy needs to move through us rather than stay still. Learning how to feel our emotions, learn from them and let them move through us is an essential life skill. Being emotionally aware is also referred to as waking up or becoming more conscious. More research is also supporting the importance of becoming more consciously aware of our emotions. According to John Gottman a psychological researcher: “emotional awareness and abilities to handle feelings will determine your success and happiness in all walks of life, including family relationships” […]
The new year often brings heightened stress, and knowing how to deal with anxiety is essential for maintaining a peaceful mindset. Recognizing the symptoms of anxiety and using practical strategies can help reduce worries and build confidence for the months ahead. It’s important to remember that anxiety is a normal human emotion, often triggered by changes or challenges. While it can sometimes motivate us, unmanaged anxiety may interfere with daily life. Understanding the symptoms of anxiety and learning steps to decrease anxiety can help you regain control and build a more peaceful mindset.What Are the Symptoms of Anxiety?I see many clients, both children and adults, who experience anxiety in different ways. Some people notice physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweaty palms, stomach aches, a sore neck, or heavy and shallow breathing. Others may feel anxious due to cognitive distortions like "all or nothing" thinking (e.g., “My date cancelled on me—I’ll never have a good date again!”) or "mind reading" (e.g., assuming someone across the room is judging your outfit). Many people experience a mix of both anxiety and depression symptoms.One of the first steps to cope with anxiety is recognizing when anxious feelings are present and intervening with a coping strategy. Coping strategies include actions like deep breathing, meditation, journaling, or even engaging in physical activity such as walking. These practices allow you to focus on the present moment and reduce the intensity of your symptoms. For example, if you notice yourself starting to hold your breath, practising slow, intentional breathing can help.Some of my work with clients includes self-monitoring anxiety, developing effective coping strategies, and recognizing the cues that signal when to use them.Steps to Decrease and Manage AnxietyLearning and applying Cognitive Behavioral [...]
