Lisa Shouldice MA, RP, CCP, Psychotherapist

I wrote this after having taken some time to allow myself to process the panic and calm my own central nervous system, allowing reflection time. I feel my role in this pandemic as a mental health provider/psychotherapist, is to be the eye of the storm, a safe place. Taking care of your mental health right now is so important. Please know that the measures being taken are not because, as a Canadian, you are at high risk to contact COVID-19. It is to slow down possible exposures to give the im...

Do You Have a Sensitive Teen?

Self-Harm and Finding a Path To Self-care

Self-harm is often a big, scary word for parents. So I wanted to put pen to paper to address it today for what it is, why it develops and what to do if you worry that your teenager may self harm (ex: cut themselves). It is estimated that anywhere from 14-39% of teens engage in self-harm behaviour. Maybe you have caught them and have no not idea what to do. You may just want to be able ...

Do you frequently worry and feel panicky with a racing heart? You may be experiencing anxiety. 12% of Canadians suffer from some type of anxiety. So approximately, one out of every 12 people reading this article struggles with anxiety. The most common type is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) which may consist of hot and cold flashes, racing heart, tightening in the chest &/or escalating worries and obsessive thinking. Feeling irritable or restless is often described to me by client...

This morning I am taking the time to read "Freedom From Self-Harm- Overcoming Self-Injury with Skills from DBT and Other Treatmenents by Kim Gratz & Alexander Chapman.  As a psychotherapist that has supported clients with complex trauma, self-harm is an issue I have worked with often. Self-injury is a coping skill that is used to deal with intense affect.  People tend to discover its powers during a time in their lives when they are struggling. The biggest issue with using self-...

I went to the opening night of the Disney-Pixar Movie Inside Out, last night.  What a fabulous production!  It was laugh out loud funny, exciting and made you laugh and cry.  But what struck me was the teachings on emotional intelligence.  The major points in the movie includes learning to accept all of our different feelings, including the ones we struggle with.  They keep us safe and help us process loss as well as protect ourselves.  But what I loved the most ...

We live in a world where 20% of Canadians will be challenged by a mental health issue at some point in their lifetime. Most Canadians are also indirectly affected by having either family members or friends that struggle. Canadian youth are one of the groups the most effected by this reality (CMHA http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/). How do we keep our young families healthy in this environment? How can families be a preventative tool to buffer its members from exper...

I read an article from the Globe and Mail last night that is currently circulating on social media sites as of yesterday.  The residential school report came back and has decided that what Canada has done to Aboriginal people and their families is a cultural genocide.  People are angry.  I need to address this. As a non-Aboriginal person that believes a part of my calling as a Psychotherapist includes the honour and privelege of supporting Aboriginal people on their healing pat...