When someone close to you is living with Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), it can be difficult to fully understand what they're going through. In this article, we’ll break down what Complex PTSD is, how it impacts those who have it, and share some ways to support loved ones who may be living with this condition. Whether you're a friend, family member, or partner, approaching C-PTSD with compassion, patience, and understanding can make a world of difference.

Ever found yourself completely drained after trying to help someone through a tough time? You were just trying to be a good friend, but somehow their stress became your stress. It’s almost as if their anxiety jumped ship and landed squarely on your shoulders. Well, congratulations! You might have been caught in the empathy trap. But don’t worry—there’s a way out, and it’s called compassion.

Journaling is an amazing way to organize those swirling thoughts and make sense of them. It’s like having your own personal therapist in a notebook! So, let’s dive into some creative journaling ideas that not only help reduce stress but can also support healing from trauma and boost your overall mental wellness. Grab your favorite pen and a cozy drink—let’s get started!

While medication can be a vital tool for many, some people prefer to explore drug-free alternatives either alongside or instead of pharmaceutical options. This article dives into 10 practical, everyday strategies that can help lift the fog of depression and bring more balance and joy back into your life.

To provide emotional comfort effectively, we must first ensure that the person feels their emotions are safe and validated. Once their emotional response is validated, they can receive the comfort or assistance we offer. In this article, we are going to be integrating all the things we’ve explored up till now using “VCR” and some practical support options, as well as the power of prayer.

We don’t need to be professional therapists or counsellors to help our friends and family struggling with their mental health. There are practical things we can do to communicate better and offer necessary emotional support. In this article, we are going to look at some tips for listening, staying grounded, and reflecting emotion.

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.

Have you ever faced a significant event that left you feeling paralyzed, unable to move forward? These events or experiences can hit us hard, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, confused, and deeply depressed. If you're feeling “stuck,” know that you’re not alone. Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, and encountering the unexpected is part of the process.

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning here in the MacEwen house. I’m enjoying breakfast and coffee with my wife, laughing about the crazy dreams we had last night and talking about our wonderful dreams for the day ahead.

And then… my phone rings.

Everyday, our society is becoming more and more burnt out and evidently craving rest—yet we still struggle to embrace opportunities for rest when they are presented to us.

I know what you’re thinking. You probably haven’t even heard the word “sabbath” since your Sunday school teacher taught you about the Ten Commandments. But maybe that is exactly the problem. Many of us haven’t thought about the Sabbath (let alone kept it “holy”) since grade school. It is like we think, at some point in world history, the practice of sabbath stopped being important.

Relationships are a huge part of our daily lives. It is impossible to live in complete isolation from other people. In fact, much of the research suggests our health depends on these social connections. In this week’s blog post, I share some highlights from the research on how relationships impact all areas of our health: psychological, physical, and even spiritual health.

For the most part, I’m an open book and feel comfortable sharing my thoughts and life experiences. But when it came to writing a blog post discussing my faith and spirituality, this gave me pause—not because I’m uncertain of my convictions, but because of the legacy and reputation attached to the terms “Christian” and “Christian counselling.”

I’ll be as clear as possible about what I believe and what I mean when I use the term “Christian counsellor” …

The issue with jargon is that it becomes common place language that loses it’s meaning over time. Or, in the case of the term “trauma-informed”, everyone adds the tag to their website or Psychology Today profile because it sounds good—even though both the therapist and client might not know what it actually means…

“Never let them see you sweat ,” is what I thought to myself. I could feel the weight of the stressful event clinging to me throughout the afternoon and into the evening, but I carried on—until I couldn’t carry on anymore…

“You mean, a ‘counsellor’? Heck no. I’ve tried that before and it didn’t work. They just gave me some dumb coping skills and sent me on my way.”

I operate with a simple principle for my health, and it translates into my work as a counsellor: don’t work at coping with the issue harder than you are willing to work to resolve it. In other words, don’t waste your time and energy getting a temporary fix, if you could instead experience true and lasting relief…

I’ve recommended tons of people to different counsellors around Saskatoon over the years. But the common objection I hear in response is, “Why? How could that help?”

I must admit—I’m only ‘slightly’ biased... but please hear me out.

Before I was a counsellor, I was a client…