“The greatest happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved- loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” Victor Hugo
Open the door to a heart that you’ve hurt
I was flipping through the radio stations today while I was in the car…and I heard a song I’ve never heard before. I stayed on the station for the rest of the song, because the lyrics caught my attention: sitellite/util/snippets (code=ae5406abd3b67139d5c5ec0cd43d1334) Being in the “troubled marriage” business, means that I work with couples who are …
Reach out and touch someone
My grandfather died last week. He was 96 (though the government insisted he was 97 because of a decades old administrative error)…a quiet man who was a laborer, a good man, one that his family cared about. He was practical–didn’t want to get a new warm jacket in his early 90’s even though he needed …
Step mothering in the headlines
I realize it is after Mother’s Day, but I came across an article today about step mothers. Carolyn McTighe interviewed me a while back about step mothering, and how step mothers can handle a tricky day like Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a tough one for step mothers…step mothers care about the kids, but the …
Marketing Industry meets Therapy
I was at a conference today, entitled: “Stay Ahead of the Electronic Curve: Digital Marketing, the Changing World of Targeted Communication”. There were some really interesting, energized (and energizing!) speakers. Rahaf Harfoush publishes a book next month about her experience of helping Barack Obama’s campaign. She said lots of interesting and fascinating things, but what …
The Counselling Couch is Ready
I’m excited to let the world know that the couch has arrived. And no, for the jokesters out there, it is not a chaise lounger that clients lie down on and ramble on aimlessly and endlessly about their mothers. It’s a beautiful coordinating loveseat that completes the room, making it a pleasant and cozy feeling …
Changes
Change comes in many packages and sizes. Many of us despise change. Much of the work that is done with clients is discovering the part of them that will resist the very change they seek help for. -A client who asks for help with procrastinating on homework, and on further investigation, really doesn’t like the …
Osborne House–35 years strong
I was at Government House today to attend a reception celebrating the 35th anniversary of Osborne House. Osborne House is a women’s shelter providing a 24 hour crisis line and emergency short term housing for women experiencing domestic violence. The politicians gave wonderful and humourous speeches, the board chair gave a recount of the early …
With appreciation
Last week was Administrative Assistant’s week–a chance to formally recognize all the behind the scenes work that makes our practice happen. The work in the counselling room is the “main course” of the therapy experience. Melanie is the appetizer and dessert. Before a person is in the room with the therapist: s/he had …
Perspective 101 – as taught by Donald, age 7
So life has had a few more downs than ups lately–the most and recent obvious one is the rather large and purplish toe on the end of my left foot. The toe that doesn’t really bend–or at least without serious discomfort. The toe that is really a small part of my body, but was to …