Co-Dependency

Co-Dependency Most people are familiar with the term co-dependency as it relates to individuals impacted by another’s substance misuse.  However, co-dependency can happen in other relationships too.  In counselling psychology, it is referred to as enmeshment.  Enmeshment is defined as losing one’s sense of individuality and merging emotionally with others, often at great cost to […]

Play and Activities

Play and Activities ~a family that plays together, stays together~ “For many families, play is the missing ingredient that glues the family together. Play has the ability to open closed spirits and heal broken marriages. We know instinctively that play produces family togetherness and support. We know that when we play together, we have a […]

Our Shadow Selves

Our Shadow Selves People sometimes ask me if counselling is depressing work.  While it certainly can be demanding at times to hold space for people in profound levels of pain, I also view it to be incredibly awe-inspiring.  Like Carl Jung, I believe that acquainting ourselves with our darkness allows us to live more fully.  […]

Perks

Perks Even on the most routine of school/work days, there are little emotional pick-me-ups or “perks” that we can savor. For me, it might be a 3:00 PM coffee with a small piece of chocolate, or noticing a picturesque field or pretty house on my morning commute. Other daily perks could be an unexpected friendly […]

Transitional Objects

Transitional Objects Whether referred to as transitional objects, comfort objects, or “security blankets”, we tend to think of these as childhood occurrences.  But many adults use transitional objects as tools to self-soothe and emotionally regulate; this holds particularly true for individuals who experienced developmental disruptions in early life.  Adults may refer to such items as […]