I’m trying hot yoga these days. It was a Groupon, and when it popped into my inbox on a very cold early winter day, it seemed like it was a good idea. Notice the past tense. Hot yoga is hard. Oh, it’s hot, all right. On days when it seems minus a bazillion degrees with …
Hump Day Nudge: Expressed Gratitude
This video makes my face confused…as I watch the folks express their gratitude to someone who has impacted them significantly: my face smiles at the joy of those sharing their gratitude and my eyes tear up at the sheer poignancy of how moving it is to watch that My face hurt at the crying muscles …
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 …
Increasing our capacity for watching our kids struggle
There are lots of tough jobs out there; I think of the folks who put gas in my van when it’s -45 Celsius (my frozen fingers thank you!), or those who work late and long shifts in hospitals, factories, or riding around in cop cars keeping people safe. I’d also like to think parenting makes the …
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 …
Hump Day Nudge: Instructions for a Bad Day
Doesn’t everyone have a bad day, at least once in a while? Bookmark this page…have it at the ready to come back to, on one of those days when you’re at the end of your rope, and tying a knot and holding on just seems more than what’s possible. There’s something about his voice, his …
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 …
Men making friends
Guys have a lot of fun together. Guys enjoy each other’s company. Guys eat, drink, burp and so much more with each other. But are they friends? A friend is someone you share mutual affection with. A confidant. Intimacy is a part of friendship. In our culture, too often authentic, meaningful friendship has been feminized. …
Preparation is Key to Marital Success
I’ve been reading Chris Hadfield’s book, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, the last coupla weeks…love his common sense wisdom, his perseverance, and heck, the whole thing about the inside peek into the life of an astronaut is fascinating for this closet science geek. One theme that comes through loud and clear throughout the …