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I. Introduction 1.1 Understanding Counselling and Psychology Services Hooray, you’ve made it to your first step toward better mental health! Are you finding yourself in the labyrinth of “counselling” and “psychology” services? Fret not. In simple terms, these are professional services designed to aid individuals, families, or groups in achieving optimal mental health and overcoming personal issues. They’re kind of like personal trainers but for your mind. One of the things we want to recognize is how difficult it can be sometimes to know where to go and possibly to find the best fit for therapy. 1.2 The Need for…

Have you ever had an emotional reaction to your partner and thought to your self, what was that? Or you have seen the emotional reaction in your partner and thought the same thing?   I have been working with couples for several years and seen some similarities with couples issues that I would like to bring light to and see if maybe it could help you to first identify what is actually going on, and then to be able to do something about it as a couple.   One of the things that we have to realize is that each…

Mental health is vital to our overall well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and behave. When compromised, it can significantly impact our lives. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are common, and many people struggle with them at some point. Fortunately, many mental health services from psychologists are available to support those who need help in St. Albert. The Importance of Accessing Quality Mental Health Services Accessing quality mental health care is crucial for anyone experiencing mental health issues. Mental health services can provide individuals with the tools and support to manage their symptoms,…

NEW TEAM MEMBER   I am looking forward to having Jilynne Whittington start with iMentalHealth Counselling in St. Albert on July 25th, 2023. She is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with experience working with couples, teens 14+ and their families. She also works with the following but not limited to: Anxiety  Depression  Relationship issues  Communication  Trauma  Intimacy issues                                                                                       …

How to Deal with Difficult Thoughts and Emotions? Have you ever stepped into a shower without knowing it was freezing cold? Have you ever thought about how the body responds to the cold a little like the way we handle emotions that are difficult? Let me explain. Emotions can be unpredictable and when we are hit by some difficult news, the person in traffic, or literally the sound of our alarm clock, it can feel a bit assaulting to us and we may not handle the situation just the way we want.  Maybe we will avoid the situation. Maybe we…

Life Can Throw You Lemons – Dealing with Pain and Suffering Today is the Anniversary of my Bone Marrow Transplant in 2015 at Vancouver General Hospital. I want to share a bit of my story with you today and offer hope to anyone going through something difficult at the moment. The day after my wife’s 30th birthday I was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia and this would change the rest of our life. Maybe this can help you in your journey of life’s unexpected turns it can take. Let me tell you the Backstory My wife and I both grew up…

The Four Horsemen in a relationship is a reference not to the Biblical story but instead of the four major obstacles that can ruin a relationship. Often one or all four of the horsemen will surface during conflict discussions, and it becomes essential to eliminate them by ideally replacing them with something more productive.

The Four Horsemen in a relationship is a reference not to the Biblical story but instead of the four major obstacles that can ruin a relationship. Often one or all four of the horsemen will surface during conflict discussions, and it becomes essential to eliminate them by ideally replacing them with something more productive.

The Four Horsemen in a relationship is a reference not to the Biblical story but instead of the four major obstacles that can ruin a relationship. Often one or all four of the horsemen will surface during conflict discussions, and it becomes essential to eliminate them by ideally replacing them with something more productive.

To Commune “to come together” If you don”t know what to say, don’t say anything… What is Community? As a child, I had the experience of watching my mother struggle with mental health issues after she gave birth to my sister. I won’t share all of her stories because it is not my story to tell, but what I will share is that she was part of a community that seemed to drop the ball when it came to a solid support that would impact her mental health. The root word of community is “to commune” which is also the…

by Geordy Murphy My grandmother had a dream for children and the longing to be a mother to nurture and hold dear, to feed and clothe and have the ability to raise and feel that sense of innate purpose that many who grow up with this longing would understand. To make a long story short, my grandmother had a few losses through miscarriage, which is an unimaginable grief that only one who has experienced it might understand. Thankfully my grandmother had children eventually, but it did not take away the grief of those lost lives, and it only became worse…

by Geordy Murphy MA CCC Do I need to say anymore?   The difficulty it presents is far-reaching as I attempt at connecting with others from a social distancing model and with the presence of fear, anxiety, and isolation as indicators that you are “doing it for the greater good.” I am not against being cautious and the reality that Covid-19 is a terrible and threatening disease; however, I think there are also some important considerations when we choose to focus on one threat and neglect all the others. When we focus most of our energy on combating one threat,…