Healing from People-Pleasing: Understanding and Overcoming a Survival Mechanism
People-pleasing is not merely an unhelpful behaviour, but a survival strategy. By examining people-pleasing through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, we can understand its origins, the emotional toll it takes, and discover how to heal these parts of us to create more harmonious and fulfilling relationships—both inside and out.
Drawing the Line: Navigating Boundary Conversations
Setting boundaries with family and friends isn’t always easy. Honestly, it can feel awkward, emotional, or downright scary. Thankfully, the book Crucial Conversations is the ultimate toolkit for navigating tricky communication scenarios without blowing up relationships—or losing your sanity. This blog will walk you through some of the key takeaways from the book, including practical ways to prepare for and navigate tough talks about setting boundaries with the people you love.
Discover Your Core Values and Start Living Authentically
Have you ever felt like you’re not quite living the life you’re meant to? Maybe you’ve made decisions that seemed logical at the time but left you feeling empty. The truth is, living authentically starts with understanding your personal core values. These values are like your internal compass—they guide you toward the life that feels right for you. In this post, we’ll talk about what core values are, how to uncover yours, and how to align your life with them. By the end, you’ll have the tools to live authentically and with purpose.
Narcissism Through the Lens of IFS Therapy: Compassion and Connection
When we hear the word “narcissism,” many of us picture someone who is self-absorbed, arrogant, or manipulative. Narcissistic behaviour can indeed look like that on the surface, but when we dig deeper—especially from the perspective of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy—we begin to see a more complex story. IFS provides a compassionate framework to understand narcissism, and it also offers tools that friends and family can use to support healthier relationships with those who show narcissistic behaviours.
How to Address and Overcome Trust Issues in Relationships
Trust issues are common and can manifest as anxiety over unanswered calls or overanalyzing social media interactions, but you're not alone in experiencing them. While these feelings can strain relationships, they don't have to cause lasting damage. By addressing trust concerns directly, you can work toward building stronger, healthier connections.
How to Help Someone Struggling with their Mental Health (Part 1)
When we see someone struggling with their mental health, it's natural to want to help, but we often don't know how to begin. While therapy should be handled by trained professionals, there are still ways we can support our friends and family in distress. In this article, we'll focus on understanding our motivations for helping and recognizing our limits.
How to Develop Self-Leadership
Do you ever find yourself setting goals and then not achieving them? Maybe you start projects, but never finish them? Or perhaps you struggle to get started in the first place? Developing self-leadership is a journey that empowers you to take control of your thoughts, emotions, and actions, leading to greater personal and professional success. In this blog post, we look at what self-leadership is and how you can improve on this important skill.
What does it mean to “guard your heart?”
“I learned that it's important to stay connected with supportive people, especially during tough times, and to find better ways to handle difficult situations without shutting myself off from the world.”