Blog

Navigating the Psychedelic Journey: The Imperative of Qualified Integration Therapy

The field of mental health treatment is evolving, and recent research highlights the significant benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapies. These therapies, which utilize psychedelic compounds, have shown promising results beyond their recreational use. As more individuals seek these benefits, there's a growing demand for professional psychedelic support. However, alongside these advancements, there's a rise in negative experiences. By Keith Norris  Many individuals feel confused,…

Continue ReadingNavigating the Psychedelic Journey: The Imperative of Qualified Integration Therapy

Harnessing Self-Affirmation: Insights for Personal Growth

Life's challenges, from health concerns to academic pressures, often put our self-esteem and identity to the test. Understanding how to positively respond to these challenges is crucial for our mental and emotional health. The concept of self-affirmation provides a valuable lens through which we can view and manage these challenges. David K. Sherman's paper, "Self-Affirmation: Understanding the Effects," offers a thorough exploration of…

Continue ReadingHarnessing Self-Affirmation: Insights for Personal Growth

Stop Ruminating

Stop ruminating and start living. If your mind keeps cycling through the same worries or regrets, you're not alone. Reflecting extensively on past, present, or future occurrences can present a formidable challenge, yet viable strategies exist for its management. Herein lie several discerning recommendations: The First Step to Stop Ruminating - Discern the Underlying Causes stop ruminating It is imperative to recognize that…

Continue ReadingStop Ruminating

Transformative Experiences

“Living rationally and authentically means understanding that life centrally involves making leaps of faith, both small and large, and that the value of living is to a large extent the value of experiencing your life, whatever that experience is”. – L.A. Paul The concept of a "transformative experience" comes from philosophy, particularly in the work of L.A. Paul, and it refers to an…

Continue ReadingTransformative Experiences

What Does it Mean to Be “Spiritual”?

Spiritual wellness encompasses being connected to something greater than oneself and cultivating a set of values, principles, morals, and beliefs that provide a profound sense of purpose and meaning in life. It involves using these principles to guide one's actions and choices. While spiritual wellness can be fostered through various avenues, including religious practices, it is important to note that being spiritual doesn't…

Continue ReadingWhat Does it Mean to Be “Spiritual”?

How Do I know if Counselling is Working?

Determining whether counselling or therapy is effective for improving your mental health can be a subjective process, influenced by various factors unique to you. I want to provide you with some indicators that can suggest positive outcomes and help you assess if counselling or therapy is working for you. Improved symptom management: If you've noticed a decrease in the intensity, frequency, or duration…

Continue ReadingHow Do I know if Counselling is Working?

To Lament or Desire to Rewrite the Past.

Imagine living a life replayed on a loop, every victory, every setback, every joy, every heartbreak, repeating endlessly. What would stir within you? Would fear take hold? Would you long to rewrite the story? Or could you, perhaps, find peace and even longing within this unbroken cycle? Friedrich Nietzsche, the celebrated philosopher of the 19th century, grappled with this idea of the eternal…

Continue ReadingTo Lament or Desire to Rewrite the Past.

Are You Burned Out?

There are misconceptions surrounding burnout, and it is not merely feeling slightly overworked, stressed, or tired. Burnout manifests as a distinct clinical syndrome characterized by several key symptoms. There are misconceptions surrounding burnout, and it is not merely feeling slightly overworked, stressed, or tired. Burnout manifests as a distinct clinical syndrome characterized by several key symptoms. One significant symptom is emotional exhaustion, which…

Continue ReadingAre You Burned Out?

What Happens in Couples’ Therapy

Couples therapy often conjures an unromantic image, associated with patience, arduous work, and uncomfortably intimate discussions about matters we would rather avoid contemplating, let alone discuss with both our partner and a trained stranger.  Our culture places great emphasis on trusting and following our feelings. However, couples therapy understands that relying solely on our feelings can lead to disaster, as our emotions are…

Continue ReadingWhat Happens in Couples’ Therapy

Why We Use Small Talk

Many people experience discomfort when attending social events, which can often stem from a distaste for small talk. The thought of being trapped in conversations about mundane topics such as the weather, traffic, or holiday plans can be overwhelming, particularly when one craves more meaningful and dignified discourse. This can create a sense of resentment towards social gatherings, as they hold up an…

Continue ReadingWhy We Use Small Talk

Exploring the Hidden Benefits of Mental Illness

When considering our psychological well-being, it may seem peculiar to consider the positive aspects of being unwell. One might argue that there are only downsides to such a condition. However, instead of assuming, as we often do, that our mental illnesses are solely problematic, we can embark on a journey of open-minded exploration. We can dare to ask ourselves: What purpose do my…

Continue ReadingExploring the Hidden Benefits of Mental Illness

Embracing Unconditional Love: Letting Go of Expectations and Embracing Forgiveness

In the realm of unconditional love, attachment, hidden agendas, and tallying up who gives what to whom have no place. It is a love that transcends conditions, accepting us as we are and others as they are. We release all conscious and unconscious expectations of others, allowing love to illuminate their true essence and inherent lovability. Love opens our hearts, allowing us to…

Continue ReadingEmbracing Unconditional Love: Letting Go of Expectations and Embracing Forgiveness

Freud vs The Buddha – The Utility of Ego

The ego is a concept used in psychology to describe an individual's sense of self or identity. It serves as the conscious perception of oneself and their interactions with the surrounding environment. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory outlines the ego as one of three components that comprise the human personality, alongside the id, which represents primal and instinctual drives, and the superego, which reflects…

Continue ReadingFreud vs The Buddha – The Utility of Ego

Meditation Basics

Meditation does not have to involve sitting in lotus position as the schema might dictate, but can also be done sitting comfortably, lying down, or walking. Eyes open or closed. Interestingly, the better you get at dropping into a meditative state the less time you have to spend doing it to achieve the same results. Meditation is a practice that has been around…

Continue ReadingMeditation Basics

Childhood Trauma & Neurosis – How Therapy Helps

One reason we seek out therapy in order to gain perspective and in turn recover from our neuroses. Neurosis is a pattern of negative thinking that can get in the way of appreciating our full potential. Every human is in part neurotic, at work, in relationships, in our attitudes around creativity or politics. How you are neurotic should be carefully explored without judgment…

Continue ReadingChildhood Trauma & Neurosis – How Therapy Helps

Finding Happiness in Times of Adversity

Stress can manifest from traumatic events, or from lower intensity but frequent daily hassles. Too much stress is a contributor to mental and physical health problems, even as far as to interfere with our immune system. An immediate solution to coping with stress is to seek social support—emotional resources provided by people who care about us, that genuinely have our best interests at…

Continue ReadingFinding Happiness in Times of Adversity

About Seasonal Depression

Depressed again for no apparent reason? Do you or someone you know consistently feel depressed as we head into fall and winter? Seasonal Depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a type of depression that recurs for some individuals during the same time each year. SAD usually starts during adulthood and is rare for individuals under the age of twenty-one. The probability…

Continue ReadingAbout Seasonal Depression

Validation

What is validation? It feels good to be seen and understood right? Validation is the method of learning about, understanding, and expressing acceptance of another person’s emotional experience unconditionally, without judgement. Why do we validate? Painful feelings that are expressed, acknowledged, and validated by a trusted listener will diminish. Painful feelings that are ignored will gain strength To properly validate someone’s feelings is…

Continue ReadingValidation