The Blog
Rooted Reflections: The Calming Tree Counselling Blog
Real talk, insights, and a little inspiration.
Insights from the counselling and psychotherapy team at Calming Tree in Kitchener-Waterloo. Practical, compassionate writing on anxiety, grief, parenting, relationships, and starting therapy.
We offer children's, teen and youth, individual, and relationship counselling, in person in Kitchener and virtually across Ontario.
Category
- Adult Children
- Advocacy
- Anxiety
- Blended Families
- Boundaries
- Budget Friendly Therapy
- Change
- Child Counselling
- Child Development
- Chosen Family
- Conflict Management
- Counselling Strategies
- Death and Losse
- Effective Communication
- Friendship Loss
- Goals
- Gratitude
- Grief Counselling
- Individual Counselling
- Moral Disengagement
- Numbness
- Parenting
- Postpartum Experience
- Queer Therapy
- Reframing
- Relationship Counselling
- Resources
- Self Compassion
- Separation/Divorce
- Sobriety
- Starting Therapy
- Student Counselling
- Substance Use Recovery
- Uncategorized
The Unspoken Grief of Being an Adult Child of Divorce
Growing older is a quiet unfolding, filled with change, both expected and unforeseen. Some shifts are shared and spoken about; others, more subtle, are carried alone.
Finding Your People: How Therapy Can Support Safe Connection (Part Two)
In the first part of this series, we explored chosen family and the role that belonging can play in healing. We looked at the importance of connection, the reality of grief and gratitude, and the ways meaningful relationships can become sources of safety and support.
Finding Your People: The Role of Chosen Family in Healing Part One
Many people grow up believing that “family” is supposed to automatically feel safe, but for many folks, this just isn’t true. For many people, especially queer/trans folks, neurodivergent folks, and trauma survivors, belonging is something that they’ve had to find and build intentionally.
Navigating St. Patrick's Day in Recovery: Strategies to Stay Strong
St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and while it's a time of celebration, music, and community for many, it can also be one of the most challenging days of the year for people in recovery or those who are struggling with substance use.
Social Work Happens in the Quiet Moments Most People Never See
Some of the clinicians here at Calming Tree work full-time with us, while many others also work at other organizations and agencies in roles that look very different from sitting across from you in a therapy room.
Moral Disengagement and the Self That Adapts: A note from your therapist on something we're all living through right now
Somewhere between the news alert about the latest humanitarian crisis, the climate report you skimmed but didn't fully read, and the argument you watched unfold on your social media feed this morning, something happened.
Even Resting Is a Verb: Why Doing “Nothing” Still Counts
In a world that glorifies productivity, it’s easy to feel guilty for slowing down. We’re conditioned to measure our worth by results, by how much we accomplish, how busy we stay, how visible our effort is.
Therapy That Fits Your Budget: Why Seeing a Psychotherapy Intern Might Be the Best Decision You Make
Getting help for mental health shouldn’t be so hard, but for many in our community, it still is. We know that in Canada there continues to be a need for access to mental health service
Navigating Friendship Loss: Insights from a Grief Therapist
Friendship is often regarded as a mainstay of our emotional well-being. It's a connection that enriches our lives, provides support in times of need, celebrates our wins, and as a result contributes to our overall happiness.
Understanding the Perinatal Brain: Why Moms Need Grace
So, you just gave birth! Congrats, mama! 🎉 Now, you may be wondering why you suddenly feel like a whole new person (and not just because of the sleepless nights and constant diaper changes). If you've noticed some changes in how you think, feel, and even approach everyday tasks, guess what?
Beyond the Ideal: Real-Life Strategies for Managing Maternity Leave Expectations
Our expectations and hopes do not always turn out to be our reality. This has been the case for both of my maternity leaves. In this blog, I hope to focus on the importance of modifying the expectations that we have of ourselves and how we can cope when things are not what we anticipated.
Unveiling the Truth-Discovering Your Mentor Isn't Who You Thought They Were
Mentors play a crucial role in our professional development, offering guidance and inspiration as we navigate our careers. They are seasoned individuals whom we admire, respect, and seek to emulate. However, what happens when we discover that our mentor isn't quite the person we believed them to be?
Embracing Self-Compassion: A Guide from a Psychotherapist's Perspective
Welcome to a journey towards self-compassion, a vital practice often overlooked in our busy lives. As a psychotherapist, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of treating ourselves with the same kindness we readily offer to others.
