It isn’t a health secret that sleeping is good for you, but what role does your sleep play in your mental health? Studies show that during REM (rapid eye moment) sleep, the individual gains benefits of enhanced learning, memory, and can even contribute to your emotional health. Sleep disruption, or as we may refer to [...]

If you have recently received or your child has recently received a mental health diagnosis, you may be wondering if this diagnosis will last forever. The label and stigma of a mental health diagnosis can be pressure and temptation enough to want to avoid the entire process. Will this be my label for the rest [...]

Experiencing divorce can be complicated for the entire family. As parents, it is uncharted territory as to how to proceed when it comes to topics like shared custody or split time between parents. It can be particularly difficult if a child will be seeing one parent significantly less due to relocation or custody issues. Separation [...]

Is this normal? Is something wrong? Is this more than typical child- like behaviour? If you are parenting a child who may be exhibiting challenging behaviour then these questions may have crossed your mind a few times, or even a dozen times a day. Behavioural assessments are used to answer these questions, and examine whether [...]

It is no mystery that mental health is becoming more common in our children. There are staggering statistics that indicate children are experiencing more mental health issues and symptoms then the previous generations. The suicide rate for children 10-14 has doubled in the last decade. There has been a sharp uptick in both depression and [...]

Contempt is harmful to any relationship. It can surface in anything from familial relationships, professional relationships, friendships, and even in romantic relationships. What exactly is contempt and how can you prevent it from damaging your relationships and your personal wellness? Contempt is defined by Merriam Webster as “the act of despising” or the “lack of [...]

Did you know that criticism is one of the four defining behaviors that predict the success of a relationship? But avoiding criticism within a relationship is commonly confused with never vocalizing frustrations. There is a very distinct difference between criticism and verbalizing frustrations or complaints. Let’s look at the definition of criticism, as well as [...]

Divorce has become common in our culture, with almost half of all marriages ending with divorce. It can be a trying time for an entire family, but it can be hard to navigate divorce without some guidelines. Emotions are high, there is an increase in stress and it is the beginning of a major lifestyle [...]

Stonewalling is a common struggle in relationships. Some may also refer to this as receiving or giving their partner the “cold shoulder”. That moment when you or your partner shut down and walk away in the middle of a conflict. Perhaps it surfaces in your relationship as being intentionally avoidant or cold towards your partner. [...]

There can be a lot of questions about what is involved with receiving a DSM diagnosis. Let’s get rid of some of the myths, mystery and insecurity about receiving a diagnosis. Why do therapists, psychologists, and counselors even utilize diagnosis? The psychology world currently operates under a medical model of treatment. This means that mental [...]

Congratulations! You achieved your educational goal and now are a true working professional. Getting your first job is an exciting time of your life that should be celebrated, it may finally feel like you are now in the “real world”. Like any big life transition, there can be some struggles and challenges that you may [...]

We are lucky that culturally we have begun to focus on the impacts of bullying on children. Many organizations and schools have developed anti-bullying policies or practices. The problem is that the word “bullying” for most of us leads us to think of examples amongst school aged children. What if you are being bullied as [...]

Another day, another psychological assessment with a complicated acronym. Today, let’s look at the GARS-3 and talk about its function, its effectiveness, and how it is administered. First and foremost, the GARS-3 is an acronym for the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale. The ‘3’ simply means it is the third edition. The psychological community is always [...]

Perhaps you are thinking about going to a psychologist or perhaps you have gone to a psychologist and are having second thoughts about whether or not you want to continue. When presented with what is involved with treatment and a comprehensive psychological assessment, it can be a little overwhelming! Sometimes so much so, that it [...]

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness, there is likely many emotions and changes taking place. It is normal to want to throw in the towel and surrender to the illness, but will some patience, love, and adjustments it is possible to living a fulfilling and happy life [...]

Raising a blended family can be full of unexpected blessings, but it can also come with some growing pains and unexpected bumps in the road. Whether you are new to being a step parent or trying to navigate your growing blended family, these tips can help guide you as you strive to raise a happy [...]

Many people will cite the birth of their child (or the day they adopted their child) as the “happiest day of their life”. Parenthood is a life giving and an incredible journey, but is a huge transition. We are often lead astray by social media or advertising that parenthood is only rainbows and butterflies to [...]

Defensiveness is a complex topic and often surfaces in important relationships such as romantic relationships, friends, families, and even within a work setting. If you are struggling with a relationship where an individual is defensive, it may be helpful to understand why they are behaving that way, then work towards an anecdote to the defensiveness [...]

If you have been doing research on getting your child evaluated for Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder you may have stumbled across the phrase “Conners 3”. It can be easy to get lost in the acronyms and fancy psychology jargon. Let’s break down what the Conners 3 assessment is and the role it may play in [...]

The big day has finally come, it is your child’s first day of school. Whether it be dropping your child off with childcare for the first time, or their first day at kindergarten or preschool, there can be many mixed emotions! It can be surprisingly difficult as a parent to drop your child off for [...]

Just as children are so vastly different, this holds true with their development as well as with the way they learn. When caring for a child who is struggling with schooling, one may look into possible learning disorders as a cause. There are learning disorders that are as vastly different as the children they impact. [...]

Sure, couples within a relationship have differences. The reality is that to some level, having a partner who has a different opinion, preferences, and perspective is probably what makes you love them. But there is a big difference in learning how to manage a difference in food preferences and TV preferences then learning how to [...]

In weddings, you make a vow to stick together for better or for worse, but no one really thinks about the “worse” in relationships. Married or not, keeping a relationship strong can be hard enough. Keeping a relationship strong through an external crisis can be even harder. External crisis can be a variety of things, [...]

Going to see a psychologist for the first time can be exciting but usually the dominate emotion that surround the first visit is “nervous”. It can be hard to know what to expect and you typically can be pretty desperate for some results or relief to your problem. Can a psychologist really fix me? It [...]

We hear it all the time. People whispering under their breath “What a psychopath”. Perhaps you are seeing how poorly your boss or a coworker behaves at work and can’t help but wonder, “Could they be a psychopath?” Let’s take a closer look at what psychopathy really is to understand what you could be seeing [...]

We all want to raise well educated children and most importantly want them to enjoy the process! We most commonly struggle with the stereotype that teaching your child involves sitting down and pulling out a textbook or workbook. What if we are getting this concept all wrong? Self- directed learning or Self- Learning are a [...]

If your child is struggling with schooling or having some behavioral difficulties, you may have been approached by a teacher or a school psychologist about having an assessment completed on your child. It can be a lot to sift through with opinions of teachers, psychologists and whom ever else may be involved with the challenges [...]

It can be difficult to know whether or not your partner is “the one”. Our minds our filled with scenes from romantic comedies and novels so it can be hard to determine what partner is truly right for you. Perhaps your biggest fear is that you will “settle” with someone you may not be happy [...]

Any major shift in a child’s life can be greatly difficult to manage. This is also true for children who are coping with a recent divorce or separation. Most times, ending a toxic or painful relationship between parents is ultimately the best decision you can make as a family. There is no need to feel [...]

Sure you may have heard of the importance of flexibility for you physical health in perhaps your yoga class, but have you ever heard of Psychological Flexibility? Psychological Flexibility is a term that is used in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This therapy is gaining popularity and emphasises the importance of psychological flexibility. To define psychological [...]

We hear a lot about ADHD as parents today. The diagnosis rate is rising and it seems that ADHD is the first thing on everyone’s mind when a child acts out. But does every child who acts out or every child who is super active need an ADHD diagnosis? Absolutely not. Kids are kids. Some [...]

You or your loved one take an assessment and then you receive the report detailing the findings. You anxiously take a glance at all the tables, numbers, and fancy jargon and somehow are left with more questions than answers. Psychological reports can look like a foreign language to someone who is not used to or [...]

If someone offered you a cure or a way to manage a disorder, which would you choose? I think it goes without saying that we all would go for the cure without a second thought. For illnesses like a cold or strep throat, absolutely go for the cure. But if you are the parent of [...]

What do you do if the root of every argument with your partner leads to one issue, you both fundamentally want different things? Having different life goals can lead to disagreements and may even leave you wondering if the relationship will work at all. There are three key aspects to a relationship, each partner’s satisfaction [...]

Infidelity or an affair is one of the leading causes of divorce. A recent poll found that almost 25% of all married people will have an affair. The good news is, that number has dropped significantly since the 1990s, but the thought of healing from an affair can feel overwhelmingly difficult. The best way to [...]

Perhaps it is just that time of the school year. You should be gearing up for that final project or deep in the throws of your research paper, but you just cannot find any motivation. No matter the age or level in academics there is a universal struggle… motivation. Some students struggle with motivation consistently [...]

The numerous acronyms, intelligence tests and assessments can be overwhelming to a parent. Let’s break down two common intelligence tests typically administered to children and what they are actually measuring. Both of these test are often used when referring to a child’s IQ, so what are the differences and how are they helpful? The WISC [...]

When your child is facing struggles and difficulty, going to a psychologist is often recommended, but what can a child psychologist actually do? Will they fix the problem? It can be anxiety provoking to think about taking your child to a mental health professional but educating yourself on what to expect and how to approach [...]

What do you do when your child comes home from school in tears because of a school bully? Watching your child struggle is one of the greatest challenges of parenting. It can be easy to feel helpless as a parent when it comes to helping your children with bullying at school. How do you the [...]

Autism is a condition that is growing awareness and diagnosis. “What if my child is on the Autism spectrum?” is a question on every parent of small children’s mind. There is evidence that shows that the earlier the child is diagnoses the more effective treatment can be, but how soon is too soon? What are [...]

Nagging. No matter the relationship, nagging seems to be a universal frustration for anyone in a committed relationship. Although nagging may seem insignificant and common, it can lead to larger issues within a relationship. Want to stop the bickering and know that your partner is truly listening to you? Let’s explore the concept of nagging [...]

As parents, we never like to see our children struggle, so things can be particularly difficult for parents of children who suffer from anxiety. Anxiety in children is similar to anxiety in adults in that there is not quick of easy fix, but also levels of anxiety is perfectly normal in children. If you as [...]

A large amount of achievement and learning is determined by scholastic achievements. How well does she read? How well does he write? How are you at reading comprehension? But what if there were a learning disability that can’t be identified through these typical scholastic meas-urements? That is the problem with understanding and diagnosing Nonverbal Learning [...]

Have you been seeing a psychologist for weeks and aren’t seeing any progress? Are you feeling discouraged? Scheduling and showing up for your first session with a psychologist is a courageous first step in reaching out for help. Once the excitement of attending your first session, and filling out the paperwork start to fade, you [...]

Hot flashes? Mood swings? Could it be? It is possible you are experiencing menopause? Menopause is one of those topics that isn’t often discussed, yet it is a significant event in every woman’s life. How is it that we avoid talking about something so universal to our feminine identity? Perhaps it is due to our [...]

Have you ever caught yourself checking your phone and not realising why? Perhaps you left it at home and feel completely “off” all day? Technology has dramatically shaped our culture in just a few short years. Our phones now provide us with ultimate convenience and provide us the ability to stay connected with friends and [...]

Relationships alone can be difficult to navigate. The thought of maintaining a healthy, and supportive relationship long distance can be flat out overwhelming! Long distance relationships get a bad wrap in today’s society. You may be faced with loved ones questioning your decision to stay together after a relocation, or unsolicited anecdotes of your friend’s [...]

We all know and understand that trust is an important part of maintaining a happy and strong relationship, but what happens when trust in a relationship is broken. Is it possible to repair? What does this process look like? Navigating relationships after a breach of trust can be overwhelming so here are some tips to [...]

The term “IQ” is used quite frequently when discussing intelligence of a person, but what is really behind the intelligence buzz word? What does it mean for an individual who has their IQ score? Let’s explore what’s really behind someone’s IQ and what that little number actually means. What does IQ even mean? IQ is [...]

There are many misconceptions about Post Natal Depression and until recently, it was widely undiscussed in society. Women felt the need to hide their feelings. The truth is Post Natal Depression is more than just the “Baby Blues” and it is important to understand what it is and why the discussion matters. Post Natal Depression [...]