Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (before the age of 18) and can have lasting effects on physical, emotional, and mental well-being. These experiences...
Is Mindfulness Simply Creative Boredom? In the fast-paced world we live in, the concept of mindfulness has gained traction as a method for reducing stress, increasing self-awareness, and improving mental well-being. But a question often arises—could mindfulness just...
I'm Dead. Now What? This isn’t about what happens to us after we die. That great mystery is, as yet, unknown. This is about what we leave behind for our loved ones. Are they left to deal with a mountain of paperwork and questions, along with their grief? Or can they...
The “window of tolerance” is a concept introduced by Dr. Dan Siegel that refers to the optimal zone of arousal in which a person can function effectively and respond to stress in a regulated way. When individuals are within their window of tolerance, they...
Navigating My Sexuality in a Straight Marriage When I married my partner, I was deeply in love and felt certain about the life we were building together. We were what society would call a “straight couple,” and our marriage reflected that definition. Yet, as the years...
What Is Stimming and How Can It Help Neurodivergent People? Often neurodivergent clients engage in behaviours known as “stimming.” Stimming, short for self-stimulatory behaviour, can include a wide range of actions like hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, or repeating...
7 Things You Did Not Know About Anxiety I often work with clients who struggle with anxiety, a common but often misunderstood condition. While many people are aware of anxiety’s more obvious symptoms, there are several lesser-known aspects that can significantly...
Five Ways to Wellbeing I often talk about the importance of maintaining mental wellbeing, not just in response to challenges, but as a proactive approach to life. The Five Ways to Wellbeing, developed by research in the field of positive psychology, offer practical...
Understanding Domestic Abuse: The Three-Planet Model I have encountered numerous cases where domestic abuse is misunderstood, not only by those directly involved but also by the systems designed to help. To bridge this gap in understanding, I often refer to what is...