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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 To Make Long Distance Relationships Work

Rochelle Brandt, Student Therapist

Jul 17, 2018
4 min

How To Make Long Distance Relationships Work

Long distance relationships are becoming a very real reality for many people, for a variety of reasons. Who is to say that you will find your soul mate in a local coffee shop and not half way across the world while exploring a new city? What about the man/woman that you just met and fell head over heels for – what if they get a promotion and have to relocate to an office in another country? How easy is it now to connect online and fall in love with someone in a completely dif

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Therapist Reveals: Why Some Couples Don’t Make It Even After Couple’s Counselling

Let's Talk About Sex

Clarinda Brandão

Aug 15, 2017
3 min

Let's Talk About Sex

"Let's talk about sex, baby. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be... Let's talk about.. Sex." - Salt 'N' Pepa I bet you still have that song in your head, I am sorry for that. But when I decided to write an article on sex for couples, that song sprang to mind. It made sense. The secret to a happy sexual relationship is being able to talk to your partner about your needs and desires. That means dropping the guar

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How to Detox Your Ex

Clarinda Brandão

Nov 18, 2016
3 min

How to Detox Your Ex

We've all been there - that heart wrenching feeling when a relationship comes to an end. Breakups aren't easy and it's normal to feel empty, sad and hurt. In fact, allowing your feelings to be present is actually healthy. It means you will be able to process them and move past the hurt and pain of the break up with time. When we make the decision to eat healthier or live a more balanced life, we think of detoxing first, removing the things in our system that no longer serv

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Dating In Toronto Isn’t For The Weak

Clarinda Brandão

Jun 2, 2016
3 min

Dating In Toronto Isn’t For The Weak

Dating in Toronto can feel like getting a root canal, after leaving an infection unattended for weeks. Dramatic? Perhaps, but for most single ladies (and gents), they are having a harder time meeting a potential mate more than ever. It can feel painful. So, what makes it hard to date in Toronto? For starters, Technology. We live in a world governed by technology. We are so connected and yet so disconnected. We are so used to communicating through text, emails and/or onli

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Healing a Broken Heart

Clarinda Brandão

Jun 1, 2016
2 min

Healing a Broken Heart

How do you heal a broken heart? A bucket of ice cream seems to ‘work’ for most. But maybe thinking about a few things (with a carton of ice cream nested on your lap) might help put things into perspective. Relationships sometimes end. They can end for various different reasons, but how we cope after a relationship is key on how to take care of our broken heart. Every relationship is different and not all of them will end the same way or feel the same way. Healthier relation

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Let's Talk About Open Relationships

Clarinda Brandão

May 12, 2016
4 min

Let's Talk About Open Relationships

I often write articles about monogamous relationships; however, not all relationships look or are the same. I have worked with couples looking to add a third party into their sex life and others looking to add a third partner into their relationship. Both very different. In all relationships, whether it’s monogamous, open or polygamous, the key element is communication. Communication and boundaries. Setting up a healthy mix of both, can add a lot of pleasure and happiness

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The Jar: Strengthen Your Relationship With This Exercise

Clarinda Brandão

Apr 13, 2016
2 min

The Jar: Strengthen Your Relationship With This Exercise

Some couples seek therapy not because something is broken, but because they want to improve their relationship. Every couple is different and not all my tips and exercises are the same for each couple. Each exercise or tool provided is dependant on their specific need as a couple. Here is one specific exercise that I have created. "The Jar" for couples to help them feel more connected and validated in their relationship. Try this with your partner. All you need is a jar (o

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Quality Time For A Healthier Relationship

Clarinda Brandão

Mar 13, 2016
2 min

Quality Time For A Healthier Relationship

With our busy schedules, it's sometimes hard to make time for our partners. People's routine is often about coming home and wanting to just shut down from their day with catching up on social media, playing games on their phone or television, watching TV or just wanting to be alone; however, over time this will impact their partner's emotional needs and connection. This doesn't mean you can't do that sometimes, but finding time for you and your partner from time to time is

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Clarinda Brandao

Mar 6, 2016
1 min

Upcoming Post: Talking About Open Relationships

As a relationship therapist I am often asked about several topics, one being "Open Relationships". There's more to it than you think. Stay tuned for my upcoming post later this week... In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you. If you have any questions or wonderings that you want me to include in my upcoming post, please email me. Stay Tuned. #openrelationships #relationship #relationshiptherapist #relationshipexpert #love #couples #coupletherapy #couplecounseling

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Top 10 Behaviours That Can Drive Away Your Partner

Clarinda Brandão

Feb 1, 2016
3 min

Top 10 Behaviours That Can Drive Away Your Partner

Whether we do it intentionally or not, there are certain behaviours that can drive away your partner. Reality is no one is perfect. These tops 10 mistakes can create an unhealthy relationship if they're not addressed; Being Over Critical of Your partner: When you're constantly criticizing your partner or picking on them, it eventually starts to create a lot of hurt and uncertainty. So instead of asking them why they 'can't seem to do anything right' out of anger or frustrat

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Making A Man Feel Loved

Clarinda Brandão

Jan 3, 2016
2 min

Making A Man Feel Loved

We often read articles on how to make women happy, but what about men? I work with many men in individual therapy and/or coaching and have come to understand what men want in a partner. Here are some of things I've picked up over the years that men talk about and want. Make him feel like a man. I know we all want to feel independent and strong, but it's ok to let him open a jar of pickles or put up that shelf. Show that you need him. Small tasks make men feel useful and h

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How To Date As a Single Parent

Clarinda Brandão

Dec 16, 2015
2 min

How To Date As a Single Parent

Being a single parent is already a hard enough task all on it's own... add dating to the mix and it feels almost impossible. But it can be done. Meeting the right person to accept you and your child is a big deal. Enormous one, really. It's not something to take lightly and should be done with a lot of thought. 4 simple rules on dating as a single parent: Rule #1: Be upfront that you are a parent. I don't mean your first initial conversation, but let it be known soone

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Real Love Takes Time

Clarinda Brandao

Dec 15, 2015
2 min

Real Love Takes Time

We often catch ourselves rushing into relationships and somewhere down the line, we want it to grow into something big and fast. But let's just put the breaks for a minute and think about why it's so important to rush into something even when it doesn't feel right. People often settle because they don't think they deserve better or they give up on looking for better. But most often, they're giving up on themselves. In order to meet the right person, you have to be the righ

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Connecting With Your Partner After Having A Baby

Clarinda Brandão, RP

Feb 20, 2013
3 min

Connecting With Your Partner After Having A Baby

Relationships are hard enough, add a baby and you're in for a roller a coaster of fun! When I got pregnant and had a baby, no one told me just how hard it would be on my relationship with my partner. Sure, I expected to be stressed, sleep deprived and just plain tired... but never really thought that it would effect my relationship to the point where reconnecting felt almost impossible at times. Some of us might be lucky and the new addition to the duo won't put a single dent

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