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How To Find The Right Therapist

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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Understanding Boundaries & Why We Need Them

Amy Capern, Student Therapist

Mar 18, 2019
6 min

Understanding Boundaries & Why We Need Them

Establishing and maintaining clear and healthy personal and professional boundaries with others is an important aspect of our ongoing well-being. A lack of clear boundaries will prevent us from being and feeling our best. Creating and maintaining boundaries that are too strong can prevent connection with others that we desire. I encourage you to give yourself permission to reflect on your needs, establish boundaries, communicate your limits, and maintain/adjust them as need

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What Is Happiness & How Do I Get It?

Amy Capern, Student Therapist

Jan 18, 2019
3 min

What Is Happiness & How Do I Get It?

I hear many people say, “I just want to be happy”. The problem with just wanting to be happy, is that we set ourselves up for failure, as we are unable to maintain this state perpetually. The expectation of perpetual happiness creates internal conflict as we begin to disconnect from ourselves and our common humanity. As humans, we are born with a diverse range of emotions that includes happiness but also includes a great many other emotions. As an alternative, I suggest we al

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6 Tips To Help You Manage Holiday Stressors

Rochelle Brandt, Student Therapist

Nov 25, 2018
3 min

6 Tips To Help You Manage Holiday Stressors

The leaves have changed colours, Halloween has come and gone. Now we are starting to see holiday items on the shelves and hear Christmas music on the radio. As we slowly approach that time of year again, it is possible that you are already feeling the holiday anxieties and stress start to creep over you. The holiday season can bring up a lot of emotions for many. For some people, the holidays are their favourite time of the year, they are happy, excited, and look forward to s

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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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7 Ways To Start Your Morning Right

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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Being Grateful Helps The Mind

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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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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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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Single Parents: When To Introduce Your Children To Someone New

Clarinda Brandão

Dec 1, 2015
2 min

Single Parents: When To Introduce Your Children To Someone New

Introducing your children/child to your new partner is a big milestone in your relationship and it shouldn't be taken lightly. Many single parents struggle with the "when" and "how". The "When" is very selective and individual. Everyone is different and "when" might feel sooner than someone else who would rather wait. The "When" I think it's important to have the discussion with your new partner and see if they are comfortable with meeting. Are your kids ready? Introducin

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My Top 10 Tips on Healing After a Divorce

Clarinda Brandão

Nov 17, 2015
3 min

My Top 10 Tips on Healing After a Divorce

The ending of a relationship or marriage can be hard and it can leave you feeling lost, confused and rejected. We desperately try to understand why it ended and how to move on from it. Whether you were the one that ended or your partner, it can feel hard. One of the reasons that the end of relationship is so difficult, is because it's an end. Ending can bring up a lot of feelings, similar to loss. Though a divorce is not a death, it can bring up the same intense feeling.

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