One main Canadian stereotype is people saying sorry all of the time.
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It may even become annoying; saying or hearing the word “sorry” so often. Most people say it to be polite, but others do it because of personal issues from their past, perhaps a past that makes them feel they have to please everyone all the time and avoid conflict at all costs. These people tend to take the blame for everything as a way of keeping the peace. 

​It is well known that trauma can impact a person mentally and emotionally. However, what is less talked about is the physical impact trauma can have. Trauma can manifest itself in our body and can even be triggered by touch.

It has been a popular trend on social media about how to ruthlessly cut out and eliminate toxic people, suggesting that this toxic person is a poison that needs to be eradicated from our lives altogether.  While I have considered the idea and have somewhat enjoyed the idea of living free from guilt or shame in not having a person in my life who has hurt me, something about this just does not feel right.  Do you ever wonder that by cutting toxic people out of your life, whether you have become a little toxic yourself?

​By: Kelly Halonen, MSW, RSW

​You often see it in movies, the main character is going through a breakup and listens to sad music as they cry into a pillow on their couch. You probably do this too. Whenever you’re feeling sad or down about something, you may listen to music that is also sad or slow. So why do we do this? Wouldn’t this just make us sadder? Yes and no. 

​In any relationship it is important to consider how open and transparent you may want to be within that relationship.  Sometimes there are expectations that I will be open with you if you are open with me, or if I am open with you, then you ought to be open with me, as if this is some kind of mutual exchange of goods.

​Women are all too familiar with the symptoms that their menstrual cycle can bring. Often people joke about women being “too sensitive” or “crazy” when it is their time of the month. However, many people can fail to realize just how this can affect a woman’s mental and physical health. 

​Yes! But... is a phrase I hear often. When I hear somebody saying this, especially in counselling, the message I am taking on is this: I hear you and what you’re saying makes sense, but here are the reasons why I cannot take on that perspective myself, followed by that person sharing unbalanced thought patterns and/or barriers to seeing another perspective. 

Do you ever wonder why some people develop an addiction while others do not?

​Like many other women out there, I have a love-hate relationship with my body. Sometimes I love it, but the majority of the time there is something I want to change about it. Even though we logically know that the expectations society puts on us are unrealistic, we still feel the need to try and live up to them. 

By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP

There are a number of different modalities or types of counselling and therapy. Here is information on some common types.  

​This phrase, so commonly uttered during therapy sessions can represent weeks, months and even years of misery for some.

​The mental weight of body shaming can be heavy.

By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP

Men’s mental health in the workplace is a difficult and sensitive topic to address. 

​Every birth is unique. And every person’s feelings or story about their child’s birth is unique. If you are struggling with your memories of your childbirth, know that you are not alone. Many people need time and space to heal emotionally and physically from this life-changing experience, no matter how the birth unfolded.

​Often after a breakup, you’ll see people cut or dye their hair, get a piercing or tattoo, or change their wardrobe. I, for one, am guilty of all of the above. But why do we do this?

By: Cassandra Nordal, PR & Marketing Coordinator

WIN. You’re probably wondering what I’m talking about. Win what? Communication? A fight? How do I do that? - Let me explain.

​In order to train yourself to become healthier mentally it is not about setting one goal for yourself to accomplish in January.  Instead, train yourself by making a genuine commitment towards self-improvement. 

This season of Grey's Anatomy focuses on various mental health-related issues and topics along with their biggest battle since the loss of Mc Dreamy, the Covid-19 Pandemic. Specifically, we watch Joe struggle during some flashback episodes where EMDR is used to process her complex trauma. So what exactly is EMDR?

​The holidays this year are going to look a lot different than they have before. In Thunder Bay, we are currently in our second wave. This has a lot of people worried and wondering what Christmas is going to look like. 

​Our mental health and our physical health both affect each other. When one of them is doing poorly, the other can also begin to deteriorate. When we are sick it is important to take care of ourselves not only physically, but mentally as well. ​

​Try not to fall into the trap of right and wrong, when, in fact, multiple truths can exist in any given situation.  When you disagree with someone, that does not make you right and the other person wrong. 

​A quality that makes a human, a human, is the ability to feel empathy.