Do you have a child who is anxious, depressed or acting out? Imagine your child engaging with paint, puppets or the drum. The expressive therapies offer your child a safe outlet for their inner world. Expressive therapies can help children release feelings they may not know how to let go of otherwise. This can allow your child to shift to a happier place. Acquire tools to support your child and to strengthen your relationship. Give your family an opportunity to create a sense of peace and healthy connection in your world at home today.

December is simply a difficult month! Balancing negative stresses and positive happiness may seem impossible. One way to help yourself get through it is to pay special attention to your INTENTIONS. These are the thoughts you have before you act on them. For example, during the first week of December, say to yourself as often as you can, “I intend to experience joy and laughter even a tiny bit each day of this month” and then VISUALIZE yourself laughing and feeling happy. Just by saying and visualizing your intention, you have increased the chances of this being your reality by up to 75% more.

We all know that December can be an expensive month. Between gifts, food, and decorations, expenses can add up, and the “holiday spirit” can push your budget aside. While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, remember, you will have to compensate for these extra expenses in the new year.
This season is for spending time with family and friends, not spending your money. Do your best to reduce holiday financial stress by sticking to your budget, donating your time instead of money, and choosing free festivities over costly ones, enjoying quality time without a large price tag.

Obsessed with the threat of the dark side dominating as otherworldly creatures battle for domination of the planet, this young boy’s music reflected it all. An eerie calm, the imminent threat, then mayhem. Battle-weary soldiers of the galaxy withdrew and peace was temporarily restored. Music therapy has allowed Alex to express with the music therapist via instruments, voice, puppets, and word-play what otherwise was too scary for him to verbalize. Alex stands up to the ‘bad guys’ now on his own, both in his dreams and in real life.

Some lucky people seem to sail through life without doubt. For many of us, though, a negative voice whispers in our ear, telling us how bad, wrong, stupid, crazy, or worthless we are. And even though we know it’s unfair, it can be a real struggle to get clear of it! Doubt, self-blame, self-sabotage, anxiety, lack of confidence can hamper us. How do you value yourself and make good changes when your inner voice is unsupportive? You can learn to support yourself! Counselling can be a safe place to learn this skill, find new ways to appreciate yourself, and rediscover your confidence.

Your immune system works hard to protect you from injury, illness, and disease. This process usually involves inflammation, a natural response to stress, tissue damage, and harmful stimuli like viruses, bacteria, and toxins. Inflammation functions similarly to an engine warning light, alerting you to the presence of a problem through symptoms such as heat, pain, redness, swelling, and/or loss of function. 85% of the immune system is located in our gut. An anti-inflammatory diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral selenium provides your gut with the ingredients it needs to bolster immunity and achieve optimal mental and physical health.

Listen to your gut? Processed foods, chemicals, allergies, stress, trauma, pharmaceuticals and surgeries can all affect your bodies digestive abilities. Chron’s, colitis and other digestive issues are becoming more common. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been proven to encourage remission and decrease incidents of bleeding, inflammation, bloat, constipation and weight gain associated with various inflammatory bowel diseases. Importantly, HBOT encourages long term healing of digestive tissues by decreasing inflammation, increasing stem cells and improving intestinal tissue health. HBOT is a safe, effective therapy, especially when combined with good nutrition and exercise.

It is really difficult for most of us to get through the grey, dark winter days of November to March. Feeling changes such as a loss in energy, focus, concentration, passions, and hope, and increases in feelings of stress, worry, and guilt are typical symptoms of depression. If this is your experience, you have to live through a lot of invisible pain that many people cannot understand. Knowing about Seasonal Affective (or Adjustment) Disorder (SAD) may be a key to happier days. Contact a counsellor, your GP, or the Canadian Mental Health Association (www.cmha.bc.ca) to learn about SAD treatment.