Happy Start to a New Year!  While I don’t prescribe resolutions per se, for they seem synonymous with the words hype and flop, I do know we all benefit from a reset, recreation and restart from time to time.  Change is an essential component of life and our ability to experience it, be educated by it and embrace it is what makes us well rounded, harmonious and flexible.   So with the winds of change ever blowing, there is never a better time than the present to create the environment within your head, heart, body and home that you want for yourself. Two things that are are ..read more

It has been my honour in the past several months to discuss with clients the grief that comes with great loss; a loss experienced by so many at the dying of their parents. It is a transition we all know about, yet struggle to embrace.  Part of the solace and healing of this grief is to remember the stories of these families’ lives. Storytelling is how we can see truth through parallels and parables; the continual leaning in, learning, loving and letting go in life. Stephen Jenkinson, author of Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul is an oracle and storyteller of our day who weave ..read more

What are the two sure things in life that everyone wishes to avoid? But as your therapist I invite you to speak of? That’s right: death and taxes. Today let’s talk about taxes. It’s tax season again (due April 30th). I want to be sure that everyone who doesn’t have benefits paying for all or some of their counselling expenses knows that you can claim our session fees as a tax credit on your personal income tax returns.  While I am not an accountant or tax attorney and cannot give financial or legal advice, according to the Canadian Revenue Service, Psychologists and Social ..read more

While I think every time of year is a good time to pursue better health, the enthusiasm and fresh start of the new calendar year can be a particularly strong motivator to begin a new and improved health regime. Unfortunately, according to statistics, after the first few weeks over 80% have already given up. So, what is the best way to start and how can you improve your chances of success? Detox program? Juice cleanse? Fasting? Should you try the Keto diet or become Vegan? So many questions, and the right answer is … “it all depends.” Everyone is unique, from the colour of your eyes, hair and s ..read more

Hello Friends.  We have recently learned just how scarce housing is for recently arrived Afghan and Ukrainian evacuees.  In one conversation with the Centre for Newcomers, we heard that only 120 homes (in all of Calgary!) have hosted over 900 families until they find permanent accommodation (and jobs).  There are new families arriving daily.  I hope we can assist by spreading the word that many families are without options at the end of their two week government supported hotel stay. If you have any space in your home to host an individual or a family (for an interim of tim ..read more

This year’s Halloween allowed me a new glimpse into my children’s worlds. I always appreciated Halloween as a time to reflect on death as part of life in our modern-day culture that doesn’t have many rituals left.  The spectacle of gore and horror, however, did little to amuse or impress me, not to mention the equally horrifying nature of a ritual being saturated with consumerism and sugar. Begrudgingly we went trick or treating with our children.  But this year was different. It started out as the community walk that I always idealised from places like Spain or Italy.  Chi ..read more

As you prepare for the holidays and the parties, snacks, and drinks that are synonymous with this time of year, I’d like to provide you with a few simple strategies to help you stay on track with your health goals. In the past, a common diet mindset was to deny and deprive ourselves of our favourite treats. We used to spend time counting calories …and restricting them. We played games with ourselves like “I’m going to workout extra hard tomorrow or starve myself so that I can indulge tonight.” What if we could change all of that? What if we savoured every single bite, lingered over the flavour ..read more

We are shaped by the social and physical environments in which we live. And by examining how this idea has played out in her own life, licensed psychologist Maria Schmid has come to a place where she is capable of helping others through the difficulties of life. Press play to discover: What it means to say that people see themselves in relation to other people Four things to recognize and focus on in order to gain a greater perspective in life The universal importance of feeling heard, seen, and recognized, especially as we change over time “I never liked the statement ‘everything happens fo ..read more

During this time of Remembrance, I reflect on the remarkable clients who I have worked with that have recently arrived in Canada from war torn regions of the Middle East and Africa.  War has the ruthless ability to devastate the physical, the social, the emotional as well as the mental wellbeing of all involved.   My current work with CCIS’s Centre for Refugee Resilience (Survivors of Torture program) reinforces the fact that unimaginable suffering has not only occurred in decades past but continues in our present-day world. Today I also reflect on all those who are called upon ..read more

Introducing these simple strategies for success to help you achieve more and be a happier and healthier individual. AVOID                                                                   Sugar – Get energy from what is good nutrition not easy substitutes. Drink water ..read more