Anxiety shows up in many different ways - you might notice it in your emotions or in the way that your body responds. Ashleigh Keizer shares five ways to manage your anxiety.

How did this happen? How did you go from feeling like this person was your soul mate to wondering who the hell you’re looking at. You’ve gone from talking for hours on end to exchanging brief conversations where you don’t really talk about anything, let alone know them and what they’re going through right now.

It’s awful. It’s discouraging. It’s scary. And it’s so lonely.

Everyone anticipates, responds and reacts in different ways when it comes to holidays…or really, any social or family gathering. You may chalk it up to a dysfunctional family (everyone has a little dysfunction in there somewhere!) or the pressure that these occasions bring. And yet, these gatherings can be positive for your mental health. Let Ashleigh show you how!

Engagement and the months leading up to the celebration of a wedding can be such an exciting (and overwhelming!) time. Maybe you’ve been waiting a long time for this season, or maybe it’s come sooner than expected. Either way, you’ve made one of the most important decisions of your life: you’ve agreed to commit yourself to another person. Now is the time to help you set a firm foundation for a fulfilling marriage.

As difficult as they are, expectations are part of life. Everyone has them – and yet when they are not met, it can be very painful. You can become so attached to the expectation of something that you might begin to see it as reality. And when the outcome isn’t what you expected, the loss can feel very real. You and I can both undoubtedly look back over the past two and a half years and recognize dozens of moments – big and little – of disappointment.

The struggle and numbness that can come with the new quiet in your home and having more time on your hands than you know what to do with can sometimes be overwhelming. Especially if it was unexpected.

As a new or even a seasoned parent, you might wonder how to be a perfect parent and make all the right choices for your kiddo. Spoiler alert: you won’t. And that’s okay! You won’t be a perfect parent. Please know, none of us are! The great news is that the research shows that you only need to make the great, wonderful, healthy attachment and relationship choices about 30% of the time, to raise a securely attached child.

Learning what healthy love, attachment and relationships look like in a safe and ongoing context can help you adjust your attachment style.

You are back to that alarm-setting, lunch-packing, routine-following moment. You have anticipated this for a little while now, and you are ready for some structure in your days. Here are some practical tips to make the shift back to routine easier on you and your child.

Relationships are such interesting things! You need them! You need those individuals you call “your people” or “your tribe”. You have likely shared some of your best wet-your-pants laughter with them. You’ve also probably shared some darker times. Maybe your people are the ones you always go to first. Yet, they may say things or do things at times that make you react in ways that even you find hard to understand about yourself!

The summer has flown by. You wanted all those relaxing, bucket-filling things because the Fall is hard for you. It’s strange and a bit disheartening because everyone you know loves Fall.

This can leave you wondering why you might not be looking forward to the Fall. Yet the Fall can be triggering for some people.

So how do you know if your relationship has come to the end? Or if you continue to commit to it? There is no simple way of figuring this out – there is no handbook or miracle question you can ask yourself or your partner. But there are cues and signs of a healthy versus unhealthy relationship.

How do you navigate your expectations of summer break and enjoy, or even soak the most out of, these few precious months?

For many, summer is an easier time to stay healthy and eat nutritious food. The days are longer, more time is spent outside and gardens are bursting with vibrant fruits and vegetables. However, summer also typically is a time of indulgence. From backyard barbecues to beach days and weekend getaways, it can be tricky to stay on track with your healthy habits!

Mindfulness may almost be counterintuitive to what you know and how you live or experience your days. Your to-do list is a mile long every day and you never get it all checked off. How on earth are you going to pause your day to be…mindful?! So what is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is not a magic cure-all pill. Though, I do believe it can be healing to all!

There are many reasons why parents find balancing out the summer schedule and responsibilities stressful, such as finances, not having “fun” options in the community or not being able to afford to travel because of the increase in gas prices. Perhaps you are a single parent and have other problems to face. These are all valid challenges and you may also have your own personal battles such as managing anxiety or depression, a recent break up/separation, and just not having the motivation to occupy your children for the entire summer.

The teen years can be such a challenging stage in your child’s (and your) life! Body changes, friend choices, academics, athletics, social media and technology stress, mental health…the list could go on forever! Teens are at such a formative age. Their brains have years to go until they’re fully ready for adulthood. Yet, they are trying to figure out their identity NOW!

How do you connect with our teen when they are navigating all of this?

I am a therapist and have been so for decades. I have seen countless individuals, couples and families make positive changes through important conversations, making life-style changes, developing important skills and healing from their pasts during therapy sessions. Could it be that brain training, with or without any therapeutic conversations, could be helpful too?

Communication can strain a relationship and it is so important to understand what you and your partner need when it comes to communicating with one another. I truly believe that communication can either make or break a relationship. Poor communication between you and your partner can cause stress and emotional turmoil. Which is why many couples seek counselling when communication styles conflict, cause anxiety and one or both partners feel like they are walking on eggshells around each other. Does this sound like you? Do you want to improve how you communicate with your partner?

Are you someone that carries feelings of sadness, rage or even pain when you think about your relationship with your dad? Are you looking for a better relationship with your dad?

All relationships have flaws and many people do not have the ideal relationship with their father. There are many factors that can strain the relationship between father and son/daughter such as divorce, absence, rejection and disappointment just to name a few. Then there is the perfect father, the father everyone looks up to, the over-involved father, the father you could never impress or maybe you never felt good enough.

Why does this matter? Because the first important man in your life and the impact they had on you will follow you and play a huge part in your life.