Do You Have Boundary Problems?

By Ruth Daly, Educator | May 25th

Boundary problems? Not me!

Many of us say that but if we are honest with ourselves, there are relationships in our lives that aren’t very healthy. These unhealthy relationships may be because of weak or non-existent boundaries. Let’s consider the various ways that boundary problems can manifest. See if any of these scenarios ring true for you:

You can’t say no when someone asks you to do something.
You have been hurt in the past so you won’t let anyone get close.
No one ever says no to you, you make sure of it.
You get people to do what you want by making them feel guilty if they don’t.
You are frustrated when people come to you with their problems and tell them to stop complaining and get on with life.

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then you have boundary problems and you may want to consider signing up for the Boundaries course. The course is a facilitated study of the book Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.

In the Boundaries course, you will learn how appropriate boundaries lead to healthier relationships in your life. You will even see that good boundaries may be the most selfless thing you can do.

Throughout the Boundaries course you will learn:

What boundaries are
Which of the boundary problems you have (depending on your answer to the above scenarios)
How boundaries are developed
The “Laws of Boundaries”
Common boundary myths
How to create healthy boundaries with your family, friends, spouse, children, at work, and even yourself!

Want to talk more about boundaries or sign up for the course? We are here whenever you are ready.

What is Trauma?

November 29th

What is Trauma?

By Candice Chiu, M.Ed Counselling and Psychotherapy, RP {Qualifying}

What pops into your mind when you hear the word trauma?

Perhaps you see a violent battlefield during wartime. Or you may be visualizing a major plane crash. Maybe it’s a weapon being pointed directly at you.

If you saw one of the above or anything similar, you’re not alone. Most people think of trauma as a life-threatening experience. These dangerous situations can definitely be traumatic for many. However, if you ask most mental health professionals, they will define trauma differently. Dr. Gabor Maté, a leading specialist in the field of trauma and addiction, says that trauma is, “not what happened to you; it is what happens inside of you as a result of what happens to you”. In other words, trauma is not a situation, but an internal experience.

Six Ways to Regulate

August 16th

Six Ways to Regulate

By Kat Giles BSW, MSW, RSW

In this series, Who Are You Emotions, we have looked at externalizing emotions and understanding what they are communicating to us. Throughout this series you have seen me refer to The Three Rs – Recognize, Regulate, Respond. Let’s look a little closer at the last of the Rs – Regulate.

Who Are You Guilt?

April 18th

Who Are You Guilt?

By Kat Giles BSW, MSW, RSW

I remember a time when I lied to my mom.

It was years ago, and I don’t remember exactly what I lied about, but I do remember lying in my bed with the feeling of guilt overwhelming me, keeping me awake. Unable to sleep, I slowly walked downstairs to confess what I had done.

A lot of us have an experience of guilt overwhelming us. Like my story above, we often don’t recall the exact events, but we clearly remember the emotions and feelings we experienced around the event. Like our other blogs in this series, let’s look at ways to recognize, regulate and respond to this emotion when we do experience it.