Blog
Finding Purpose in times of Trauma and Tragedy
A few of my articles have focused on relationships – creating an inner circle and building a sense of community – because having a supportive social network can help to provide meaning and connection in our lives. To have people to laugh with, to turn to when we are...
Supporting LGBTQ2S+ Youth on the Path to Self Identity
Coming out and sharing one’s personal journey to LGBTQ+ identity is no doubt an incredibly scary and vulnerable time for a youth, requiring a tremendous amount of courage. It can also be a scary and vulnerable time for parents and caregivers, and present an...
How communities can support the mental health of black youth
When my son was 3, I would always hear, “he’s so cute”. When my son was 8, I would often hear, “he has the most beautiful smile”. My son is now 14, and I don’t hear those comments anymore. Has he reached the age where he is no longer seen as adorable? As with so...
Ways to help develop our kids’ sense of community
Different types of connection with different communities have multiple benefits for all of us, and when we help our kids foster their connections with their communities, it can help with their socio-emotional development, their confidence, and can also help them to...
Ways we can Establish & Maintain a Supportive Inner Circle
Establishing a positive and supportive inner circle builds on the concept of connection and extends it to navigating multiple relationships that form our inner circles. For the purposes of this child & youth focused article, we define inner circle as extending...
Tips on How to Create Connection
Connecting with others is an incredibly important aspect of our mental wellness; we are social creatures and we need to be connected to others. Positive connections help us feel safe, valued, and that we belong. When we are feeling safe, we are much more capable of...
How Gratitude can Enhance our Lives
Though some of us may be more predisposed to feeling grateful than others, all of us can benefit from practicing gratitude. In a sense, you can think of it as a skill which can be learned and enhanced. With regular practice research has shown that gratitude can have...
Ideas for Mental Health Awareness Week… at a Social Distance
The first full week in May is Mental Health Awareness Week in Canada, and it is no accident that the central day, May 7th, is National Child & Youth Mental Health Day. These movements present an opportunity to honestly reflect on what mental health means to us...
Tips on Balancing Mind, Body & Spirit
Now, more than ever, our emotional wellbeing is being challenged by the trauma of loss within our communities, and for some of us, within our inner circle and families. Our hearts are aching for the lives lost in Nova Scotia to an act of terror and at the same time...