Guiding Light Counselling

Maybe you were never taught healthy coping skills for managing BIG feelings when YOU were a kid. Maybe big feelings were frowned upon or punished, so you learned to push your feelings way, way down. 💔

⁠These traumas become our triggers as parents—we get triggered when our kid is crying, when they're having a meltdown, when they have a "bad attitude." BUT, becoming parents also offers the opportunity to HEAL. The potential to grow and evolve into our very best selves is unlimited.⁠ 💛

Here's how: Parent YOURSELF the way you needed when you were little. Be gentle with yourself in your hard, stressful, overwhelmed moments.⁠

✨SEE YOURSELF

“I’m feeling tired, overwhelmed, and helpless.”

✨ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL

Notice yourself in your body, feel it fully, cry, breathe INTO IT so you can release it.

✨COMFORT YOURSELF

“This is a hard moment, and I deserve a break. I deserve love and another chance.”

If you’re here, you’re trying. That means you’re in the process of breaking the generational cycle of unhealthy coping skills. Together, we can raise the next generation of strong, resilient, emotionally healthy humans. 🌈

✨If you're triggered by your toddler's tantrums, you're not alone. Our course Winning the Toddler Stage is here to help! For parents + caregivers of kids ages 1-6. Link in bio.✨

In ourselves too 🫶

Mona Delahooke, Ph.D. ❤

Great advice!❤️

"bare bones".

🥳

Parents with Confidence ❤

Lost 🤎

“I think I might be lost,” said the fox.
“Perhaps that’s not such a bad thing,” replied the moon, “there is peace to be found in just ‘being’, not ‘doing’ sometimes, and in letting life surprise you.”

For books, cards and gifts visit www.foxunderthemoonart.com
🦊🌙

The struggle is so real.

Dr. Gabor Maté on the importance of secure connections between parents and children. Highlighting the principles of responsiveness, sensitivity, and consistency in parenting, he emphasizes how these contribute to healthy emotional development 🧠❤️

How To Become A Better Parent | Dr. Gabor Mate Dr. Gabor Mate talks about how you can become a better parent, by explaining the psychology behind of some behaviors we have towards the children, like condi...

Happy Monday!

How are you feeling today?

☺️

How to be happier in 5 steps with zero weird tricks | Laurie Santos This interview is an episode from -Well, our publication about ideas that inspire a life well-lived, created with the .Subscribe ...

Although it may seem daunting, don’t be afraid to meet with different therapists until you find the best fit for you. Here are some things to look for in your search for the right fit ✨

Study after study has shown that the quality of the relationship between client and therapist is the only reliable and the most powerful predictor of a positive outcome.

“When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That's when you can get more creative in solving problems.” Stephen Covey

💖

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day🪶

This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples ❤️🧡💛

Celebrating the strengths and resiliency, attuning to the hard truths, and committing to necessary change 🇨🇦

Happy Pride Month!
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Celebrating all the humans and all the ways we can love ourselves and love one another 💗

You are perfect🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Love is LOVE🌈

There are no words.

My heart is with the parents, children, teachers, community, everyone who is directly and indirectly affected by this senseless tragedy.

Change needs to happen.

**kthesecondamendment

📞🧘🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️🙆🏻‍♀️

Practicing self-love is an everyday commitment.

You are so incredibly worth the effort 💙

Happy Saturday!!

May you be guided towards whatever, wherever, whoever fills your soul today🙏🏻

Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact. Social isolation is a lack of social connections. Social isolation can lead to loneliness in some people, while others can feel lonely without being socially isolated.

Regardless if you are alone or are surrounded by a group of people, loneliness can be a difficult emotion to cope with. Loneliness can be coupled with feelings of grief, regret, resentment, guilt and shame. It can also be an important warning sign that depression is looming.

These tips can help lessen the heaviness of these difficult feelings by turning towards connection rather than isolation. We are wired for connection. People need people💞

You are not alone💙

These are just a few of the many ways social anxiety can creep up in our lives..

Luckily there are many tools and strategies used in therapy to help ease anxious thoughts and feelings in social situations.

These strategies can include:

1️⃣Controlled Breathing - Certain techniques can help you slow your breathing and manage other anxiety symptoms.

2️⃣Exercise & Progressive Muscle Relaxation - Research shows that certain physical activities like jogging, strength training, or yoga can help lower your anxiety. Progressive muscle relaxation can help, too. This means flexing and releasing groups of muscles and keeping your attention on the feeling of the release.

3️⃣Prepare - Plan ahead for social situations that make you nervous can help you feel more confident. You might feel the urge to avoid some situations because they make you anxious. Instead, try to prepare for what’s to come.

4️⃣Start Small & Build Over Time - Don’t jump into big social situations. Be patient with yourself. It takes time and practice to tackle social anxiety. You don’t have to face your biggest fears right away. If you take on too much too soon, you can actually cause more anxiety.

5️⃣Mindfulness - Try shifting your attention to what’s happening around you instead of what’s inside your head. You can do this by really listening to the conversation that’s happening or reminding yourself that other people probably can’t tell how anxious you are just by looking at you.

6️⃣Talk Back to Negative Thoughts - These thoughts might be about people or situations, and they may even be automatic. Most of the time, they’re wrong. Focus on “what is” instead of “what if”.

7️⃣Be Patient with Yourself 💜

Have you tried the🦋Hug technique yet?

The Butterfly Hug is an easy relaxation technique that can be used anywhere, at any time.

The Butterfly Hug was created to be used with EMDR Therapy, but can be relaxing and help you feel grounded when used on its own 🧘🏻‍♀️

You can also try adapting the exercise by crossing your hands over your chest, just below the collarbone 👐🏻

💙🧡💙