“I want to be happier” is probably the most common counselling goal we hear as therapists. But how do we define, picture, and even measure happiness? What makes us happy? We thought we’d invite you to spend a few minutes contemplating what happiness means to you and share a couple of views on this very [...]
At this time; especially, over the last couple of months, some of you may be thinking about abortion, birth, pregnancy, or fertility and parenting. At Synergy, we are delighted to accompany many people through the experience of deciding when, if and how one or multiple people become parents. This is a landscape of life rich [...]
Summertime often evokes thoughts and memories of sunshine, vacation, and outdoor BBQs. As a parent, I have spent a fair amount of time trying to find ways to keep my family active, engaged, and having fun together. I would attempt to plan activities such as camping, visiting with friends/family, planning dinners, organizing sleepovers, going to [...]
Tips for keeping the “mess with your ex” out of kids’ summer holidays Spring is already here, and kids are starting to dream of summer holidays, late nights, sleeping in and playing with friends. For parents, it is time to start considering summer plans, camps, vacation days, childcare, and extra costs. The clock is ticking [...]
The weeks and months following the birth of a child can bring joyful, challenging, exhausting, and life-changing experiences. For some new mothers, this phase of life may also bring feelings of sadness, emptiness, mood instability, and anxiety. Post-partum depression (PPD) is a serious but very treatable condition impacting one in nine women in the year [...]
Have you ever felt the pressure of having a hobby - because you see other people engaging in their hobbies, and you feel guilty for not having one of your own? Have you ever thought that a lack of a hobby makes you less accomplished, less connected, or less interesting? Lately, I've noticed that many [...]
Parenting a child with special needs is a challenge that is seldom spoken about in a meaningful way. You often hear something said along these lines; “I could never do what you do; you are so strong!" as if you had a choice other than rising to the occasion and trying your best to parent [...]
Boundaries are a vast topic, easily taken up by surface level, pop psychology, or Instagram-worthy short quips – “Saying no isn’t selfish!". That being said, we are innately more complicated as human beings than what can be captured by our social media feeds. Boundaries are a cornerstone of healthy living, bolstering our mental wellness, and [...]
As I sit here to write this blog, I hear the chimes of incoming emails, feel the gentle pulsing of my smartwatch on my wrist indicating it’s time to stand up and I sense the vibration of a text arriving on my phone. Part of me desperately wants to focus on the task of writing [...]
It’s the first day of school! Is that exclamation mark one of excitement or anxiousness? Going back to school for some parents and children can bring about feelings of anxiety depending on past experiences and how school has been going for the child (thus far). Covid has created anxiety for those who may have not [...]
