Most of us, at some point in our life, have engaged in emotional eating. This most often happens when we feel anxious, worried, stressed, sad, or nervous. Once in a while, this is not an issue, but if you are constantly eating in an attempt to mask your feelings it can be problematic. We often reach for food when we are experiencing these emotions because food can provide short term relief

In counselling not only noticing positive moments but also spending focused time on what it’s like to feel them, experience them physically and pausing to really experience that positiveness – those are all powerful in healing.

When you spend time focused on, or privileging the positive, you can begin to create new neural pathways in your brain. These new pathways are supportive strength factors. They help you to experience yourself, others, relationships and experiences in positive, newfound ways.

When we are met with loss in our life, we are overwhelmed with a wave of emotions. The time proceeding a death is filled with immense sadness, confusion, frustration, anger and sometimes regret. In addition to this, some people may find that they are experiencing anxiety but it’s a symptom that is more often overlooked.

You might wonder at times why you struggle to want to get together or hang out with friends. It could seem strange (frustrating, even!) that you feel both lonely and anxious at the same time.

Your loneliness leads to some feelings of isolation, maybe sadness or what feels a bit like depression. You can’t seem to shake it or “get over” it.

You may be considering couples (or marriage) counselling for you and your partner. Perhaps you’ve been together for what feels like a hot second. Maybe, you feel you’ve been together forever and the relationship is feeling a little stagnant. Conflict may be high, or it could be the mundaneness of your relationship that you’re finding makes for a feeling of being stuck. And you’re wondering if marriage counselling can work for you.

We are excited to announce that we are opening a second clinic in Surrey, BC! If you are new to Panorama Wellness Group, you may be wondering who we are, and what kind of services we provide. So I thought I’d take an opportunity to share our vision with you here.

It is totally understandable to react with shock or unease to an unexpected event that you were not prepared for such as when a loved one gets seriously ill, or you are in a car accident. You may connect the word trauma to an experience like this. Other common events associated with the word trauma could be war, assault, or abuse. You would be correct in thinking that these things embody the word trauma, but it only represents a small percentage of what is actually experienced as traumatic in our lives.

I realize more than ever the importance of incorporating grounding techniques to ensure that feelings of anxiety and stress are kept at par during our work days. These techniques help guide individuals to refocus on the present moment and create space between anxious feelings.

This type of therapy is a form of expressive therapy, where your child shows me how they view their world through their play. They can also show me how they are feeling through their play

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! 

Sometimes when your “to do” lists feel unending, the idea of connecting with your partner can feel like one more thing on that list. You would love to just float away to some tropical island and have unlimited time to focus on your relationship, but when you wake up to a blaring alarm, complaining kids, or a snoring partner, the reality of life sets in. You go from task to task only to discover you are two ships passing and some days you might start to wonder, is this is all there is?

You have been thinking about your relationship lately and realized that you haven’t thought about it in a while. Without intending to, you have been taking your relationship for granted and hoping that it will all work out for the best.

Relationships are like plants. Nurture them and they grow, neglect them and they start to wither and may eventually die. Small consistent actions - water, sunlight and soil or in the case of your relationship listening, communication, commitment and acknowledging perpetual concerns can help them flourish.

If you notice that your happiness is often dependent upon your partner’s happiness, you recognize a need to be in communication with them frequently or feel panicked when they don’t return the gesture, or you notice even your behaviour changes when you feel your relationship is in any way unstable, you may have an anxious attachment style.

You may have found yourself wondering at times why you react the way you do, with your partner. Or conversely! You might wonder at times why your partner reacts or responds to you in ways that you struggle to understand. You know you love one another, so why do you have these “glitches” in your marriage at times?! It could be the attachment styles you each have.

You are not alone if the thought of sharing your emotions brings up some fear or frustration. One reason sharing deeper things about yourself can be so challenging is that you might feel you are opening yourself up to either intimacy or judgment.

The Change Triangle is a tool that can help with experiencing improved emotional health. It can support you in reconnecting with yourself in ways you may have ignored, shut down, or become even a bit anxious about through your life and past experiences.

Have you ever wondered if you should be taking vitamins or other supplements? If you are taking the right supplements? If perhaps you are taking too many, or the wrong supplements? Why are there so many different supplements? If there is a supplement out there that could help with your specific health concerns?

I do know the potential value of goal setting to provide motivation. As the calendar year flips, ushering in January, you may feel the pull to make those New Year resolutions. In the past, if setting these intentions is helpful to restart your next season, then I will cheer you along.

Navigating the demands of culture while having a voice in your own life can be challenging. My hope is that with some of the tips mentioned here, you will be able to find ways to embrace and accept parts of yourself that make you proud.

If you are a man, you may feel a bit uneasy at the thought of going to counselling and you wonder what practical benefit there could possibly be from sharing about yourself. If you are reading this, one part of you likely has a hunch that counselling could be beneficial, yet another part of you wants to stay still and not risk the unknown.