Family Counselling Articles - Page 3 of 8

My Spouse is Having a Midlife Crisis: How Will This Affect My Marriage?

On November 9, 2015 / Marriage Counselling /

A midlife crisis is part of a continuing developmental process of maturation and adaptation that characterizes aging, and it affects a large portion of the population in western society.

According to clinical professor of psychiatry Calvin Colarusso, someone having a true midlife crisis usually wants to change their life in a hurry. If this is your spouse, what does that mean for your marriage?

That depends on a few factors:

What is he/she looking to change? – There are certain things that are common for an individual to want to change during a midlife crisis:

Job
Appearance
Health
Vehicle
Home
Spouse

[Read more…]

Debunking the Stigmas About Counselling

On October 14, 2015 / Counselling /

There is an unfortunate stigma that can surround counselling. Those who seek help are seen as weak or out of control. Even though few people would hesitate to go to the doctor or emergency room for a physical ailment, there can still be prejudice against those who are getting help for their minds.

Thankfully, with increasing media attention being drawn towards mental health, the power of these stigmas have begun to fade. Here are some common myths we can debunk about counselling:

[Read more…]

Does Your Child Really Have ADHD?

On October 14, 2015 / Family Counselling /

ADHD is one of the most common childhood brain disorders that can continue through adolescence and into adulthood. Some people may assume that if their child is hyper or lacks focus when completing a task, then they must have ADHD. This is not always the case. There are some specific ways to tell if a diagnosis of ADHD may be appropriate.

Here are some typical symptoms of ADHD:

Your child is in constant motion
They squirm or fidget
They do not seem to listen
Have trouble playing quietly
Often talk excessively
Interrupt others
Are easily distracted
Do not complete tasks

[Read more…]

Is Your Child Struggling With Academic Pressures?

On September 11, 2015 / Family Counselling /

Our world is full of competition and pressure to achieve. This is also true when it comes to school, where your child may feel their worth is measured by their performance. How can you tell that your child is suffering because of academic pressure?

Drop in grades
Lying about homework
Destroying or losing report cards
Irritable
Withdrawing

It is important to notice these behaviours early and put the proper supports in place.

[Read more…]

First Day Jitters or Separation Anxiety Disorder?

On September 11, 2015 / Family Counselling /

It is normal for your child to have some anxiety before their first day of school or even afterwards. It takes time to adjust to the idea of being away from home and loved ones. This is especially true for those who are entering kindergarten or high school or are changing schools.

However, when do these jitters turn into a problem? How do you know if this goes beyond typical anxiety about change?

Here are some signs and symptoms that will help you know when to seek help:

[Read more…]

Stress Management: How to Regain a Sense of Calm

On August 19, 2015 / Family Counselling /

We all respond to and manage our stress differently. In today’s society, there is no way to have a stress-free life; there is no secret cure to stress. However, there are ways we can manage our stress and learn to control our reactions to stressful situations.

Stress comes in many different forms. There are the daily stressors like bills, children, schedules, work issues and so on. Then there are stressful major life events such as the death of a loved one, losing a job, moving, and having a child. While these stressors vary in intensity, they can often be managed in similar ways.

Often people will resort to unhealthy coping techniques, such as drinking, doing drugs, binge eating, not eating enough, sleeping too much, or taking their stress out on others. While these techniques may provide temporary relief from the stress, it does not allow you to move forward and manage the stress.

[Read more…]

How to Ease Your Child’s Transition Between Mom and Dad’s House

On July 24, 2015 / Divorce Counselling /

It is no secret that separation and divorce is difficult for everyone involved. It is a time of stress and anxiety and children often have many questions such as, “What’s going to happen to me?”, “Where am I going to live?” or“Who am I going to live with?” Depending on a child’s age, this transition to their new normal may prove to be quite difficult and upsetting.

There are ways in which you can try and ease this transition and make it easier on your child. The biggest way to make this a little calmer on your child is consistency, consistency, consistency! The more things stay the same for the child, the better. For many children, the back and forth between their parents’ houses is what causes the most stress and the change in routine can cause anxiety. Again, it is the unknown that causes the most anguish in any situation. As long as you can keep the child’s routine as similar as possible, the easier this transition will be.

[Read more…]

The Emotional Side of Co-Parenting

On June 24, 2015 / Divorce Counselling /

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world. It does not come with a manual and your children depend on you to guide them through. You want to do what is best for them and make the right decisions.

Separation and divorce are common in today’s society. A separation affects everyone differently and at varying stages. Communication during and after the separation is key. Many people find it difficult to communicate because your emotions are so intense and you may be in denial about your new reality. You may feel sad, angry, let down, depressed and find it difficult to speak to or communicate with your ex-partner.

[Read more…]

PTSD and First Responders

On May 14, 2015 / Individual Counselling /

We often hear the phrases, “They run towards danger when everyone else is running away,” “They put their lives on the line every day,” “They saved my child’s life.” These statements are true of all first responders. They are the ones who devote their lives to saving others. They are the ones who are first to respond on scene to tragic accidents, assaults, murders, search and rescue operations, and other major crimes.

Once they have completed a call, they get another one and move on. There is no real time to process what they have seen, witnessed and heard. They take these images home with them and are left to process them on their own.

Many first responders find that over time they are not able to sleep or function normally through the day, and are haunted by nightmares and flashbacks.

Unfortunately there is still a large stigma around PTSD and first responders. Many do not feel that they have support of their colleagues or of their superiors and therefore they suffer in silence. They may feel that they are supposed to be strong and do not report the symptoms they are facing. They may feel like these symptoms will subside and they suppress their thoughts and feelings until they reach a boiling point. They may feel like if they come forward, they will be ridiculed or will lose their job.

[Read more…]

Normal Versus Abnormal Emotions When Going Through Separation and Divorce

On March 24, 2015 / Divorce Counselling /

Everyone is bound to have some differences in the way they react to a separation. However, there are normal behaviors, and others that may be an indication of mental illness. This chart will help bring his blurred line between normal and abnormal into focus. [Read more…]

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