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As both a therapist and a lifelong book lover, I’ve found that the right book can offer comfort, insight, and hope during life’s most challenging moments. Whether you’re navigating grief, managing anxiety, or supporting your child’s emotional growth, these books have been meaningful both in my personal life and in my work with clients. Each recommendation is chosen for its ability to guide, soothe, and empower readers to better understand themselves and the people they love.

Finding Gratitude in Everyday Life Here in Canada, we just celebrated Thanksgiving weekend. This time often invites us to pause and reflect on what we’re grateful for. This year, I found myself noticing the small but meaningful things. I appreciated my family and the effort we make to see each other. I felt grateful for our health, the beautiful weather, and the simple joy of good conversation. Today, I felt especially thankful for the ravine near my home. The stillness of th

The Unseen Weight of Change Not all grief comes from death. Sometimes it shows up in ways we don’t expect. Changes that feel small on the surface can cut deeply into our everyday lives. For my family, that grief came with the loss of our neighborhood family friends—or more accurately, a huge part of our chosen family. My two oldest kids lost their best friends in this move. My youngest lost not only friends but also what felt like bonus older siblings. For me, I lost the pare

Understanding Anxiety's Impact on Daily Life Anxiety serves as our mind's way of protecting us from danger. It manifests through worries and fears, which, while uncomfortable, are rooted in our nervous system's desire to keep us safe. However, when anxiety becomes overwhelming or persistent, it can disrupt our daily lives and affect our relationships. Understanding and managing anxiety is essential for maintaining a balanced life. The Reality of Anxiety Normalize It Anxiety i

Understanding Self-Compassion It can be incredibly difficult not to be hard on ourselves. We often judge our imperfections harshly. We expect ourselves to always do better and be better. However, the truth is that none of us are perfect—and we’re not supposed to be. Growth, acceptance, and learning are lifelong journeys. Along the way, most of us are doing the best we can with the tools we have. In my work with clients, I often focus more on building self-compassion than sel

The end of a relationship—through divorce or separation—can be one of life’s most emotionally challenging transitions . Even when a breakup is chosen or feels necessary, it often brings with it a profound sense of grief, disorientation, and anxiety. The loss isn’t just about the end of a relationship—it can feel like the loss of stability, shared dreams, and the identity you held within that partnership. These changes can leave you feeling overwhelmed. You might experience sy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Embracing Your Emotions for a Fulfilling Life Introduction to ACT Acceptance and Commitment...

Grief can feel like a tidal wave—sudden, overwhelming, and hard to predict. Whether you've experienced the death of a loved one or another significant loss, it’s normal to feel disoriented in the early days. In this post, we’ll explore what acute grief is, why your emotions make sense, and some gentle ways to support yourself through this difficult time. What Is Acute Grief? Acute grief is the intense emotional response that follows a significant loss, most commonly the death

It’s easy to overlook or minimize our own experiences of loss—especially when the change was something we chose, like starting a new job, moving, or becoming a parent. But even positive life transitions can bring unexpected feelings of grief, disorientation, and emotional fatigue. So, what’s the difference between  loss  and  grief ? Loss  is the experience of being separated from something meaningful—whether it’s a person, a role, a pet, a home, a job, or even a sense of ide