Clinical Articles

Every morning felt like a new survival test, secondary school could be harsh and unforgiving. The hallways were the worst part. I wouldn’t know if I was going to be pushed into the lockers or hear a chorus of classmate’s mutter a homophobic slur under their breath as they passed. I felt afraid and ashamed. I desperately wanted to be…

Self-image is a personal view, perception or understanding of one’s own abilities, appearance and personality. Self-image may create an internal dialogue, with the use of an internal/personal dictionary of words to describe oneself. From the many facets of self-image comes body-image: As a working definition, “body image refers to the multifaceted psychological experience of embodiment that encompasses one's body-related self-perceptions…

What does it mean to be assertive?Assertiveness simply means expressing oneself, whether that be your feelings, opinions, perspective or thoughts, in a way that is both honest and respectful to others and oneself. Assertiveness comes from a place of self-assurance and self-confidence and is different from aggression. What are boundaries?Boundaries can feel very confusing, and sometimes they are. In its…

It can be incredibly difficult and painful to watch someone you care about struggle with their mental health and not know how to help them. Most of us can say that we have, at one time or another, witnessed someone we love go through a time like this, whether that person is a coworker, friend, or family member. You may…

Workplace harassment and violence happens more frequently than you may think. A 2017 Canadian survey found that 60% of respondents had experienced workplace harassment and/or violence at one time or another (Employment and Social Development Canada, 2017). Considering the prevalent nature of workplace harassment, it is important to understand what it is so that you can recognize it when it…

Perfectionism. It’s not a new concept, but the idea of perfectionism and the word itself seem to be popping up more and more frequently these days. The question might have even crossed your mind: Why does it seem like everyone is increasingly becoming obsessed with being “perfect”?  What exactly is perfectionism? To understand why perfectionism seems to be the new…

This is something I often hear from clients.  Either they feel they have gone in the wrong direction or they feel as though they have somehow fallen behind, this can be a distressing experience that leaves folks feeling hopeless and less than.  One of the first questions I often ask is, “according to what measuring stick?”  This can often give…

You’ve decided it’s time to seek some support through counselling. Life has taken a strange turn, you’re in the midst of transitions, you’ve been feeling a bit off, or you have some things you need to work out. You either decided yourself that you would like to see a counsellor, your doctor may have recommended it, or a family member/friend…