#mentalhealth

Guest Writer: Dr. Donald Littlewood

Jan 28, 2020
3 min

Chronic Pain & Mental Health

First of all, let me thank Clarinda Brandão for asking me to write this blog post. My name is Dr. Donald Littlewood and I am a chiropractor at Liberty Clinic at Yonge & Bloor. What does that mean? It means I treat the muscles, joints & nerves of the body. While I treat mostly headaches, neck pain and back pain, any part of the body can benefit from chiropractic care. I also have a focus in treating the LGBTQ+ community. We as a community are often stigmatized and judged when

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Jhanelle Peters, Student Therapist

Nov 12, 2019
2 min

Slow Down

Finally, it’s the weekend! You made plans to jam pack the two days of the week where you get to put aside your 9-5. You hop in the car and enter a destination into the GPS. Off you go, following the step by step commands of the GPS, as you enter and exit the highway. The only thing you focus on is how much time you have left before you reach your final stop. In our everyday lives, we often mirror this same approach. We set a goal and only adhere to the prompts that lead us to

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Clarinda Brandao, Registered Psychotherapist

Jun 9, 2019
3 min

How To Find The Right Therapist

With so many different forms of mental health support - it's sometimes hard to find the right therapist for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, and the therapist that works well for someone else might not work as well for you. Despite that, there are key elements to look for in a therapist that will help you get the best support. They ask questions. They don't just jump in to rescue you, but instead they ask questions and guide you to better understand yo

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Amy Capern, Student Therapist

Apr 25, 2019
5 min

How To Develop Realistic Optimism

You have probably heard yourself or others say, “I’m an optimist” or “I’m a pessimist” as if being optimistic or pessimistic is a personality or character trait. They aren’t. Optimism and pessimism are thinking styles that have been practiced and learned over time, and have a profound impact on how we see the world and our role in it. The Penn Resilience Program has shown that optimism is a cognitive skill that can be learned. In turn it also shows that pessimistic beliefs

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Here’s What I Wish Other Moms Knew About Postpartum Depression

Guest Writer: Allison Villa

Mar 3, 2019
7 min

Here’s What I Wish Other Moms Knew About Postpartum Depression

My first year as a mother of two, was the hardest year of my life. It was the year that I didn’t recognize myself. The year that I felt like a shell of the person I “used to be”. The year that I suffered from postpartum depression. Like many mothers, I didn’t recognize my mental illness until a full year of suffering. I was too busy keeping my infant and toddler fed, happy, and healthy. I had accepted that feeling frustrated, angry, and sad, was my new normal. “This must be w

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Building Better Relationships, One Positive Moment at a Time

Amy Capern, Student Therapist

Feb 26, 2019
5 min

Building Better Relationships, One Positive Moment at a Time

If, like me, you want to live a longer, healthier, happier life, then improving relationships is a great place to invest your time and energy. Relationship investments offer a significant return on investment. Because as humans we have a strong need to belong, connect and bond, relationships impact our well-being in profound ways. The ability to relate has been crucial to our survival and key to thriving as individuals and as communities, over the ages. Increased Happiness

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How Social Media May be Impacting Your Self-Esteem

Rochelle Brandt, Student Therapist

Oct 19, 2018
3 min

How Social Media May be Impacting Your Self-Esteem

“A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it, it just blooms” – Zen Shin With 24/7 access to all outlets of media, it makes it difficult to disconnect. Through this ongoing connection, we are unlimitedly able to explore all different types of people, places, and things. By doing so, we can become susceptible to an inherent need to want more than we have, or to compare ourselves to others. Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I wish I had her body” or “I wi

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Is The Shift In Seasons Affecting Your Mood?

Rochelle Brandt, Student Therapist

Oct 1, 2018
3 min

Is The Shift In Seasons Affecting Your Mood?

At one point or another, we have all experienced how the weather and change in seasons can affect our mood. Waking up on a dark, cold, rainy day may cause you to feel more down than usual, or like curling up in bed with a warm drink, whereas a sunny warm day may have you feeling better, and excited to get outside and to take in the suns warm rays. These are just small changes in energy and mood that you may notice from day to day – but how do weather and seasonal changes real

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Rochelle Brandt, Student Therapist

Jun 21, 2018
2 min

How To Support Someone who is Suicidal

Suicide is a common occurrence, yet we still don’t feel comfortable talking about it. Why is that? Over the past year, we have heard about many deaths by suicide, including the most recent, Kate Spade, a beloved and enormously talented fashion designer, and Anthony Bourdain, a world renowned chef and TV personality. Although these deaths have been highlighted in the media, it is also important to remember all of the other individuals who have lost their lives to suicide, and

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Why Everyone Can Benefit from Psychotherapy (Including you!)

Rochelle Brandt, Student Therapist

May 18, 2018
2 min

Why Everyone Can Benefit from Psychotherapy (Including you!)

At some point in everyone’s life, there will come a time when we require extra support. Unfortunately, therapeutic support is often stigmatized, even in a society that has come to embrace and recognize the importance of mental health and its initiatives. When I tell people that I am training to become a psychotherapist, common comments include “Oh, so you’re going to help crazy people?” or some highly misconstrued idea that I will blame all of their problems on their parents

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The Secret To Creating A Mindfulness Morning

Guest Writer: Sarah Marandi-Steeves

Apr 9, 2018
6 min

The Secret To Creating A Mindfulness Morning

I used to be the person who would hit snooze 100x, rush to get ready in the morning, multi-task like my life depended on it, and then hit the ground running….all before 9am. Was I successful and efficient in doing so? Sure, but by the time lunchtime rolled around I was exhausted, drained, and felt as though it was already 5pm because that same rushed and hurried mentality carried on throughout the day. So, while I felt accomplished and felt as though I was getting “so much st

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Using Medicinal Herbs for Stress, Fatigue, and Anxiety

Guest Writer: Dr. James Yoon, ND

Mar 23, 2018
4 min

Using Medicinal Herbs for Stress, Fatigue, and Anxiety

As a naturopathic doctor practicing in the downtown Toronto area, I've learned that stress is almost always a factor affecting my patients' health concerns. And it's no surprise – a 2010 report conducted by Statistics Canada revealed that over 1 in 4 Canadians described their lives as highly stressful, with 62% identifying work as their main source of stress. The body's stress response, also known as the "fight-or-flight" response, is a physiological response that helped huma

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Victoria Sabo, Individual & Youth Therapist

Mar 14, 2018
3 min

Sleep Hygiene For Anxiety & Depression

If you struggle with anxiety or depression, chances are you also struggle with getting a good sleep at night. In fact, sleep difficulties are not uncommon on their own. From difficult falling asleep, to frequent waking, early waking, oversleeping, nightmares, or just not feeling rested, one-in-three Canadians report poor sleep quality. With anxiety and depression added to the mix, sleep can become a nightly battle. During the day, you may experience temporary relief from your

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The Irony of Trying to Control Your Thoughts

Victoria Sabo, Individual & Youth Therapist

Nov 29, 2017
3 min

The Irony of Trying to Control Your Thoughts

I invite you to participate in a brief exercise: For one minute, I want you to not think about a pink elephant. How’d it go? * * * While you may have never had to think about a pink elephant for your entire life, the sudden conscious effort to not think about it now, has most likely proven difficult. Similarly, you may have unpleasant thoughts that never seem to leave no matter how hard you’ve tried to push them away. The pink elephant problem is just one example of how our h

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Overcoming Guilt to Boost Motivation and Enjoyment for Exercise

Victoria Sabo, Individual & Youth Therapist

Oct 17, 2017
4 min

Overcoming Guilt to Boost Motivation and Enjoyment for Exercise

We know exercise is good for both our physical and mental health. Yet, despite new year’s resolutions, the latest exercise tech, and promising workout plans, only 15% of Canadians are getting their daily recommended level of activity. Motivation is one of the key barriers to developing and maintaining an active lifestyle. For many, physical activity in childhood felt natural and effortless. From learning a new skill (i.e. riding a bike), to socializing (i.e. recess), improvin

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A Guide to Mindfulness in a Mind-Full Culture

Victoria Sabo, Individual & Youth Therapist

Sep 9, 2017
3 min

A Guide to Mindfulness in a Mind-Full Culture

Many would describe our culture as fast-paced, competitive, or goal-driven. Whether its completing school assignments, reaching work deadlines, fulfilling our personal goals and responsibilities, or simply keeping up with the latest trends, our minds often work overtime thinking about the next move. While thinking about the future is important for survival (after all, we’d starve if we didn’t think about what to eat!), it can take a toll on our wellbeing. A state of mind that

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Coping With Anxiety In A New Age of Terrorism

Guest Writer: Catherine Asta Labbett

May 25, 2017
2 min

Coping With Anxiety In A New Age of Terrorism

Waking up this morning to the news that the world woke up to was horrible. I have no words to explain why one person could choose to inflict such utter devastation on so many innocent lives. Children's lives. Innocent children. I was watching the live coverage this morning with my 4 month old baby in my arms wondering what sort of world she is going to grow up in. I watched the raw emotion Susanna Reid shared (as a mum herself) with the nation on GMB. There were images and me

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Clarinda Brandao

Feb 16, 2017
2 min

7 Ways To Start Your Morning Right

Mornings can be difficult for some of us; however, a good start to your morning helps layout your whole day. What most of us don't realize is starting off with a chaotic morning, can actually increase your stress levels and anxiety throughout the day. One of the top lists I work on with clients is building their morning routine. Everyone has different needs and different morning routines, but these tips always make it on the list! 1. Blinds and curtains are great; however

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Clarinda Brandão

Jul 16, 2016
2 min

Being Grateful Helps The Mind

Can being grateful really help our mental health? Science tells us it can. Studies have proven over time the importance of being grateful and the correlation it has with how we see the world and more importantly how we manage our mental health. Being grateful actually helps us feel better about ourselves and others. That’s a pretty good place to start when it comes to our mental health. Being grateful allows you to be more connected with others and develop stronger connecti

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Separation Anxiety: Dear Parents Sending Their Kids Off To College

Clarinda Brandão

Jul 4, 2016
2 min

Separation Anxiety: Dear Parents Sending Their Kids Off To College

Most parents and guardians are throwing away their tissues from recently celebrating their child's graduation. But in the next couple of months, those tissues will be coming back as kids will be sent off to college. It's common for parents to start feeling some anxiety around their kids setting off into the world on their own. You've put so much of you into them and now, they're off on their personal journey! It's not always an easy transition for parents, so, I created a qu

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