Trauma Informed practice has become a standard of practice in health care and social service settings. This is a good thing as we are now more sensitive to recognizing the effects of trauma on the people we work with, as well as how it affects front line workers. While we hear more talk about being … Continue reading Listening to the Wisdom of the Body: Trauma Care Practice from the Bottom Up
A year ago I came across a video talk about neurofeedback by psychiatrist and trauma specialist, Bessel Van der Kolk. He was promoting EEG neurofeedback as a powerful treatment for PTSD and developmental trauma. This promising intervention intrigued me. As a veteran of hospital based frontline mental health services, I am acutely aware of the lack … Continue reading How I came to offer EEG neurofeedback into my psychotherapy practice
This is a book review about Wonder by R. J. Palacio
The one voluntary activity I have been doing regularly in my adult life is meditation. This was a huge realization to me when I sat down to meditate this morning. I am a terrible meditator despite doing it for so many years. So why do I continue? The first time I was introduced to meditation … Continue reading Why I meditate: Reflections from a long term (and not very good) meditator
“Courage is fire, bullying is smoke.” – Benjamin Disraeli “A negative mind will never give you a positive life." Bullying hurts everyone and it takes courage to stand up to it. This past week our family challenged to do the right thing about bullying when our 13 year old son shared he was being bullied … Continue reading Speak up to bullying: Don’t stay silent
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” Annie Lamott Taking a personal retreat day is probably one of the best things to do for one’s mental health. It gives us an opportunity to rest and reset so the mind can be more clear and at ease. … Continue reading Unplug yourself and take a mindfulness retreat day
Sports have a lot to teach kids about mental fitness and emotional self regulation. This week I attended the Toronto City track meet with hundreds of kids competing their hearts out to place in their events. Emotions ran very high from excitement and glory, to anxiety, defeat and despair. Those who did well were the … Continue reading How participating in sports can help kids improve mental fitness and self regulation
“We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” — Thomas S. Monsoon “Mindfulness doesn’t work for me … I can’t stop thinking.” This is a comment I often hear when I teach MAST (Mindful Awarenss Stabilization Training) an introductory mindfulness class for emotion regulation. Typically, people come to learn mindfulness at a … Continue reading How mindfulness can help us ride the waves of our emotions: An introduction to MAST
Last week I was invited to give a talk at King's College, Faculty of Social Work for their continuing education program for students, field instructors and other allied health professionals. The theme of the talk was mindfulness and self compassion for professional caregivers and the goal was to encourage those who have chosen a caring … Continue reading Self-Compassion for Professional Caregivers: A Prevention for Burnout
The Balanced Brain 