Maintaining consistent and healthy family bonds can be difficult in today’s fast-paced world with everyone busy with their own schedule and varied priorities. To get the whole family to eat together can also be challenging at times. Read on to know about how you can improve your dinner table conversations and strengthen your familial ties.

“Does Qi (vital energy) flow influence mental health?” a client asked me.  The short answer is yes.  From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it absolutely matters. Qi is the central concept of TCM – it permeates everything and connects all things, from our cells to the universe itself.  Everything is manifestations of Qi.

As life-altering as experiencing trauma in your relationships is, it should not prevent you from experiencing intimacy and romance in the future. Learn about the various ways relationship trauma manifests itself and how to deal with it in an informed manner.

With around 5% adults suffering from depression according to the latest World Health Organization estimation globally, depression is one of the most common mental health disorders that humankind grapples with at present. Learn how to mindfully help a family member who is struggling with it.

Sugar tastes good, and like many people, you might consume much more of it than you should. Health Canada recommends that  individuals  should consume fewer than 25 grams of sugar per day, which is equivalent to 6 teaspoons. For reference, a can of pop contains 35 grams of sugar, and a tall Mocha Frappuccino contains 40 grams. It’s not hard to fathom how 25 grams of sugar can add up so quickly! 

It feels as though it's almost impossible these days to get kids off their phones and out of the house to enjoy the outdoors. The rise of social media, the convenience of indoor play gyms as well as overscheduled days make it seem impossible even for adults to be getting outside, let alone our kids. 

I don’t know about you, but this year I find myself craving the longer days, the chirping birds, and smell of grass being cut. All of these sensations paint the same picture as a deep inhale and exhale after being submerged in water. My shoulders drop, and my chest rises with deep relief.

If you’re like me, I’m far less likely to lace up my runners and go for a walk or run if it’s pouring rain. Crappy weather can become a “get-out-of-jail-free-card.” Lately I’ve been attempting to not let the weather determine my self-care habits… and honestly? It’s been invigorating to learn that I don’t have to let external variables like weather get in the way of what feels good!

A Canadian study conducted through the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine researched the correlation between family dinners, communication and mental health in 26,069 adolescents. They found a positive association between the frequency of family dinners and emotional wellbeing, prosocial behavior and life satisfaction.

If you have ever felt butterflies in your stomach or experienced nausea or other digestive issues when anxious, you likely have some idea of how thoughts and emotions can impact the gut.

The sense that anger is bad, dangerous, harmful, or morally wrong seems to come up for a lot of people. Serena Graf shares how anger isn’t necessary a negative emotion.

Before you start counselling work with any practitioner, it is your right to know about the possible risks and benefits of receiving counselling. It’s so important to explore what you can expect, or need to be aware of, in order to set yourself up for success and make an informed decision about whether counselling is right for you.

Practicing different ways of observations can help to see things as they are, and not what they could or should be, and help you move through change.

During Suicide Prevention Week, we are reminded of these Canadians: our friends, family members, colleagues, and others who struggle with suicidal thoughts. Even though there are many people who struggle with suicidality, there are steps that you can take to assist a suicidal person through their crisis.

Learn more about anxiety this Fall through a series of workshops with specific topics in mind, ranging from a general introduction to what anxiety is, and progressing through specifics like the “high functioning” anxiety myth, how to use mindfulness with anxiety, and strategies and tools you might find helpful to manage your symptoms. These workshops are designed to equip you with general knowledge, but also prepare you to be curious about your experiences of anxiety.

As we in BC move towards lessened restrictions and our communities opening up again, you probably feel a mix of emotions: apprehension, excitement, relief, frustration, grief, and maybe even disbelief. So, what can we do to help ourselves as we figure out how to return to “normal”?

As a first responder, you are taught to control your emotions while facing difficult situations. You are also taught to be strong, to diffuse high conflict circumstances all while being stoic. And then at the end of shift, you are expected to go home and be a loving father, mother, partner, friend and live life as if nothing happened during your shift. Over time this can affect your mental well-being causing anxiety to show up in your daily life.

Covid-19 has affected us all in different ways. If you are partnered, you may be searching for new ways to relate, resolve issues, or simply be together. So, how can you move through this perhaps once in a lifetime event with your relationship intact? Duncan Keist offers 5 ways that can help you connect with your spouse again.

If you’ve suffered a physical injury, it is likely that you felt pain for a period of time afterwards. Pain can be a warning sign that urges caution, but Serena encourages you to notice how you are feeling and be curious about your pain.

As the months have dragged on, you may have noticed your mental health is starting to struggle a bit as a result of the pandemic we are experiencing. Lisa Catallo shared 5 ways that you can practically take steps to care for your mental and emotional health during this difficult time.