‘tis the season of Norman Rockwell. You know what I mean; at this time of year every ad and commercial, every movie and song tells you it’s time to be surrounded by family and cuddled up with a loved one. Everything from jewelers to coffee companies lambaste us with the message TogetherTogetherTogether. Commercials sell us images of one big love in of compassion, caring, and connecting. But for many,
“I feel like a different person” “I just can’t really believe it” “I never imagined it could be like this” The past two weeks at The Nook have been one big love in for many of my clients. They are falling in love with their careers, new partners (old partners), and even themselves. As I’ve talked about before, issues show up at my practice in waves – one week it’s
In the name of full transparency, I need to let you know that I have yet to parent a teen. However, I’ve earned my credibility on the front lines: My Masters Thesis explored therapy with teens and how to work with their “resistance”. (Coles notes version: teens won’t engage in new behaviors just because we want them to. It’s our job as the adult – therapist or parent – to
It’s August twenty-eighth and another summer has slipped past. In my house we’ve got the back to school supplies covered and this weekend my partner will take the kids shopping for necessary back to school clothes (I hate shopping, except for Fluevogs and books). Catalogues are bombarding us with backpacks and lunch bags, flashy new shoes and pencil cases. Sending my kids back to school is not the happiest time
“I said some really awful things, and I feel horrible about it.” “I told her the truth and I know it’s going to take a long time to regain her trust.” “It was a brutal week, we both became nasty. But the past few days have been better.” These are typical phrases that couples share at The Nook. These are the couples who make me want to simultaneously do the
Liar? Cheat? Sneak? These are not terms that most of us would care to use to describe who we are, or how we behave. Yet, as it turns out over 37 MILLION people signed up for Ashley Madison, “the online personals & dating destination for casual encounters, married dating, discreet encounters and extramarital affairs”. Signing up to actively seek out these encounters, is making the choice to lie, to
The time came when Grace asked herself “what am I doing?” She was getting ready for a night out with friends and realized she would rather be at home reading. Grace did go out that night and quickly became bored and her focus drifted. “What’s wrong with me?” she thought “I’ve had these friends for twenty years.” That led to a light bulb moment for Grace – she was not
We’ve all felt it at some stage or another. It’s unpleasant. It’s uncomfortable. It has no redeeming factors. It’s the one emotion that I refer to as useless. Guilt keeps us stuck and it doesn’t help anyone. In fact it’s a pretty self-centered activity. As long as you’re focused on guilt, you’re prevented from seeing solutions and making amends. Let’s try an exercise. Fill in the blank: I
Don’t worry, it’ll happen. I hear that when you’re anxious you can’t get pregnant, and as soon as you manage the anxiety you’ll be pregnant. You should just relax. I have this friend who had this friend who _____________ (fill in the blank with a diet, a doctor, a magic herb or supplement) and then she got pregnant! Have you tried…? The phrases above
Where’s your net? One week in November I found myself at Saint Timothy’s Anglican Church. A week later I was at Manor Road United Church. Come January, you could find me at the Anglican Church of St John the Baptist. In February it was St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. I wasn’t having a faith crisis or sampling different doctrines. I was in the lucky role of delivering faith and
