The word trauma often causes people to think that we only deal with the really big stuff, so you might think that what you’re dealing with isn’t really big enough to go to counselling with. And yet nothing could be further from the truth.

In counsellor-speak, we understand that there is what we call big “T” trauma and little “t” trauma, and all of it matters.

Is EMDR therapy for you? Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one approach to doing counselling that was developed about 30 years ago as a way of helping you process traumatic experiences or memories. EMDR is evidence-based and proven to be very effective in helping people find help dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, disturbing memories, performance anxiety, sexual and/or physical abuse, complicated grief and stress.

Although often overlooked, more and more research is finding evidence to support a strong link between dietary habits and symptoms of anxiety. Your diet may not be the underlying cause of your anxiety, however, there is evidence to support that adjusting your eating habits can play a significant role in the management of your anxiety symptoms, in turn enabling you to lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Learn how your nutrition can impact your anxiety, and which foods to limit or avoid to help manage your symptoms.

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”?

When you picture going to a counsellor what comes to mind? Laying on a couch? Crying uncontrollably the whole session? Maybe you picture it being hard work because of the things that you need help with or have been putting off for so long. So what is counselling actually like?

Each therapist has their own unique way of running their sessions, but at Panorama Wellness Group there are some key core elements in how the counselling process works.

You’ve decided that talking to your friends and your hairdresser isn’t giving you the help you need. You want to find someone who is purposeful about helping you find solutions and healing and has the proper training to do so. So you start your search for a counsellor to help you reach your goals for a healthier you. But how do you know what you’re looking for?

You’ve likely heard the terms trauma, trauma-informed, PTSD and trauma responses. The words fight, flight or freeze are used a lot in our culture to describe how we respond to different traumatic events. Learn how they might play out in your life or the life of a friend who has survived a traumatic event(s).

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.

The word anxiety is used a lot in our society, and everyone defines it a bit differently based on their experience of it. Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It works as an alarm system to let you know that things aren’t quite right. It serves a helpful purpose in our lives.

When that alarm is no longer serving its purpose, you might want to consider using acupuncture to help with the symptoms.

You have had friends tell you that you might benefit from some counselling, but you’re not really sure what to expect. Lisa Catallo shares some information about what counselling is…and isn’t.

Are you wanting to build your friendship with your spouse? Start by asking questions that help you get to know each other again.

It takes an average of six years before couples look for professional help for their relationship. By that time things are pretty rough. What if you considered looking into counselling for your relationship before things get too bad?  What would do you think marriage counselling do for you then?  How can marriage counselling help you?

Research shows that pursuing your partner in marriage leads to a lower chance of divorce and increases the perceived quality of the relationship for both partners. One study done by the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia showed that dating your partner at every stage significantly improves essential components of a relationship such as commitment, parenthood stability, happiness, and communication. Whitney Regan provides four dates that consist of purposeful connection opportunities with your partner.

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.

Finding someone who understands pain and how it affects the whole of you is important as you seek out physical healing. That’s why one thing that stood out to me from our conversation with Fort Physio was that Robbie talked about how pain and the aftermath of an injury are already so isolating, that his team wants to help you know that you aren’t alone, and that starts with how and where you get your treatment.

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.

Serena Graf shares her personal experiences with pain following a physical injury and discusses the mental health aspects of recovery from a physical injury. She provides some helpful tips on how to navigate pain while recovering from an injury.

We’ve just survived the first year of Covid-19. You may be noticing a variety of emotions right now. When we observe anniversaries, it can affect us in ways that we aren’t really aware of. Lisa Catallo shares some things to look out for and tips on how to care for yourself in the midst of this not so fun anniversary.

Building community within Langley is important to us here at Panorama Wellness Group. Stef Fournier is a photographer and branding guru that has helped us with that. Read more about her and how she might be a good fit for you too!

If a loved one is suffering from an injury, it may be difficult to navigate the ways that you can support them as they recover. Serena shares a few helpful suggestions for ways that you can support that person.