Our therapists–real and in full colour

I love where I work…one important reason is that I get to work alongside some of my favourite people.  I’m not being polite when I say that–the therapists and admin staff at our offices are some of the most amazing people I know.  They are compassionate, supportive and respectful of our clients–absolutely–but what is absolutely …

January: Marriage make or break it month

I spoke with Eleanor Coopsammy on January 15, 1014 about revitalizing troubled marriages…to use January as a time for saying, “The marriage can’t continue like this.  Let’s make it better.” January is known in family law as “Divorce month”.  Few people initiate divorce in December…though I understand family law lawyers are often kept busy as …

January 24-26 The Daring Way ™ Intensive workshop

This last weekend was a special one for the Bergen and Associates Counselling team.  Most of us gathered together to work through The Daring Way ™ material together.  The therapists came as human beings, not as clinicians to work through the material.  It was, in a word, “wow”.  Moments were tough.  People were courageous.  Vulnerability …

Waiting Room Book now available

Therapist-friends of mine recently asked me to make copies of the book, “Is there still time to run?” available for purchase. To my surprise and utter delight, they loved the gentle, comforting brief words on the pages.   validating a client’s courage in attending therapy normalizing apprehension and uncertainty educating them about the process of …

Infidelity survivor group–Join us?

The raw, savage pain of betrayal by one’s life partner is something that can hardly be witnessed.  Experiencing the pain of knowing that the one who committed his/her life to you was in the arms of another is something that can have a person feeling:   like one is going to literally “lose it”/”go crazy” …

Think Pink by Wearing Pink

I was in Southern Ontario attending a course in August.  I went a day early to catch some sights, and found myself in St. Jacobs on Saturday morning, taking in the Farmer’s Market.  I ate a they-must-serve-these-in-heaven home made cinnamon bun for breakfast (and learned a few things to improve my cinnamon bun making technique), …

Oprah Lifeclass with Brené Brown

Several weeks ago, I went to Oprah’s Lifeclass.  I felt like I was living “on the edge” to plan a trip to Chicago on short notice and be in the studio audience of a nationally televised show. Not my usual style to do something so impulsive, crazy…and wildly fun…but  I’m learning to tolerate higher levels …

More Great Therapists!

Therapy isn’t easy to attend.  It is important for therapists to know how much courage it takes to attend therapy, and to honour that courage with providing the best therapy they are able to provide. At Bergen and Associates Counselling, I’m incredibly proud of our team of therapists.  They do an amazing job.  We care …

Meet Deanna Carpentier

Vulnerability sucks. No getting around it.  It’s hard to be vulnerable. However, as a person who witnesses the courage of folks who daily choose vulnerability, I also see the incredible rewards of folks who choose to dare to be vulnerable. It’s good to be smart about vulnerability…to choose a place that is safe.  Counselling can …