anxiety

That’s Not An Excuse! How to Acknowledge Your Screw-Ups Without Feeling Like (Total) Crap

Tell me if any of these sound familiar to you: “You’re just making excuses.” “Quit trying to excuse your behaviour!” …

Justin Bieber’s Downward Spiral of Doom: How Self Compassion Differs From Self Indulgence

So if you’ve been watching the news lately, Biebs’ arrest and potential deportation is a recurring story. If you don’t watch …

5 Steps to Having a Better New Year’s Eve, A Better Year, and a Better Life

I was at brunch with my cousin a week ago, and she asked me to tell her about my “best …

You Don’t Have to Love Christmas

I don’t love Christmas. If reading that made you have the same reaction you might have to someone saying, “I …

In Defense of Loneliness

I read an article today in the Globe and Mail about loneliness–how technology is making us lonelier; how living in …

Want to Feel More Confident? Read This.

The other day I was chatting with a client who was telling me about how she can’t wait to retire. …

How To Take A Casual Relationship Breakup Like a Champ

The other day yet another pseudo-relationship of mine came to an end. This time, it was via Facebook Chat. This …

I Am Slowly Going Crazy: My Experience of a 10-Day Silent Vipassana Meditation Course

Sometimes I make questionable decisions. Usually, those decisions have to do with men. But most recently, I decided to do …

“I Have Trust Issues.”

**This article also appeared in Elephant Journal. Read it here. You’ve heard this before. Or perhaps you’ve said it, yourself. I know …

Build Self-Confidence, Lower Anxiety, and Use Perfectionism to your Advantage: Part 2

So now that you’ve acknowledged that perhaps maladaptive perfectionism/self-criticism might be at the root of your pain, the next step …

Build Self-Confidence, Lower Anxiety, and Use Perfectionism to your Advantage: Part 1

The most common issue I see with my clients A fear of “failure”  is probably the most common underlying problem …

How to Not Resort to Shaving Your Head in Response to Stress & Achieve “Balance,” Whatever the Eff that Means…

I get a lot of clients who come to counselling with a goal of “achieving balance” in their lives. After …

Being Happy May Have Less To Do With Your Relationship Status Than You Think

In the spirit of the month of February, this article is is on the topic of relationships. I’m sure you …

Reality Doesn’t Have to Bite: How to Manage the Post-Holiday Blues

I woke up this morning to my favourite workplace Psychologist, Jennifer Newman. She was talking about the post-holiday blues, which …

The Power of Impermanence: a Coping Strategy We All Can Share

I was sitting in traffic this morning, feeling the familiar mild anxiety I do every morning when I’m quite sure …

Guilty! Identifying Productive Guilt

Unless you’re a psychopath, you’re familiar with the feeling of guilt. You know, that feeling you get if you ride …

Managing Depression Without Meds: Part 4: Changing Thoughts Using Mindful Awareness

“Don’t Believe Everything You Think.” You may have heard this saying before (while I was trying to figure out who …

Managing Depression Without Meds: Part 3: Social Connection

There are some people who get just plain giddy at the thought of taking off into the woods el solo for …

Managing Depression Without Meds: Part 2: Nutrition

This post is a continuation from yesterday’s post on managing depression sans (or alongside) psychopharmaceuticals. You may already know that …

Managing Depression Without Meds: Part 1: Exercise

Depression. What a bitch. There’s a good chance you’ve flirted with, dated, or been in a long-term relationship with the abusive D-Money …