Hosted by members of our Broadview Psychology team to discuss topics on mental health and functioning
Broadview Psychology Blog and Webinars
Not eating is probably not the answer
By: Michelle Lau, RDReviewed, with thanks, by Naiara Perin Darim, M.Psy The restrict > binge cycle. Have you ever been tempted to skip a meal to lose weight? Not eat when you’re out with your friends because the foods they’re choosing don’t fit in your diet? These seemingly benign decisions are considered restricting as they […]
April 13th: Functional Neurological Disorder Awareness Day
By: Erica Rodrigues, MA Every year on April 13th, International FND Awareness Day serves to educate individuals about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). This is a complex condition that is often misunderstood and warrants attention to support affected individuals, help debunk myths, and propel research to better understand, prevent, and treat FND. What is FND? FND […]
Sensing our Way into Wellness
By Beheshta Taheri, M.A. “Whatever you frequently think and ponder upon, that will become the inclination of your mind” ~ Buddha According to a recent poll, Canadians reported being more exhausted and less happy than past years (The Angus Reid Institute, 2024). As I reflect on my clinical work, what brings many clients to the […]
The Importance of Taking a Break
By: Alyson Dudley, MSW, RSW As I write this blog, I’m thinking about March Break. Many of my clients, friends and family have discussed trips they are going on hoping to, as the name suggests, have a break. Even if a sunny vacation in the tropics is not in the budget, many others are hoping […]
What is Starvation Syndrome?
By: Alissa Vieth, MPH, RD The human body functions best when it is getting the nutrition that it needs. If the body does not get the nutrition it needs then it can have an impact on all aspects of someone’s life. The body is very wise and will change how it functions to try and […]
Does your Mental Health Deserve a Day?
By: Sara Carpentier, MSW, RSW Although I would acknowledge that we have gained some traction towards reducing mental health stigma and talking about mental health, I still believe that we have a ways to go! Stigma is still very much alive, and most of us are hesitant to open up and disclose challenges around our […]
The Importance of Validation
By: Alyson Dudley, MSW As a therapist at Broadview Psychology, I work with parents providing individual parent therapy and I also co-lead a parenting group for parents of adolescents. One of the first topics I discuss with parents is the DBT skill of validation. I find it important to discuss it first to lay the […]
Family, friends, food, and festive gatherings – Showing up in a recovery-supportive way
By: Alissa Vieth, RD When we gather with others it is often going to involve food, especially with holidays or festive gathering when we get together with family and friends. Whether you are recovering from an eating disorder, disordered eating, or chronic dieting, gathering will present new and different challenges and obstacles. The reality is […]
Stigma from a Parent’s Perspective
By Dr. Vaunam Venkadasalam, Ph.D Erving Goffman (1963) defined stigma as a “deeply discrediting” attribute. A discredited attribute could be easily detectable, such as skin colour or body size, or it could be hidden but discreditable if disclosed, such as a criminal record or struggles with mental health (Claire, 2018). Regardless of whether the attribute […]
The Innocence of Shame
By Zahra Ali, M.Phil One evening, when I entered home after a usual day of work, I saw Phoenix, my dog, sitting in the corner of the balcony, wagging her tail but not approaching me. I noticed that her gaze and body posture were lowered, her ears were tucked back, and her tail, although wagging, […]
Self-validation as a Superpower
By Olivia Provost-Walker M.A. All our lives are filled with various events and situations that will produce a range of emotional responses. When we experience emotions deeply, these natural emotions can be particularly intense and painful, and in turn, we can develop patterns of secondary responses to block or reduce these painful emotions. Self-invalidation is […]
Understanding Self-Harm
By: Naiara Perin Darim, M.Psy Self-harm is observed in people of all ages and backgrounds and may have diverse types. It serves many functions and frequently develops into a pattern of behaviour that prevents individuals from achieving their life goals. There are some key elements to self-harm that are considered when we are facing this […]
Ozempic
By: Michelle Lau, RD Ozempic. Why is every influencer and their friend using Ozempic? Will it help to lose weight? What’s the catch? Read on to find out. What is Ozempic? Ozempic is the brand name for a medication called semaglutide, which belongs to the family of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Ozempic is an injectable formulation […]
The Power of Repair
By Dr. Lindsey Torbit, Ph.D I Totally Lost it On My Kid! Now what do I do? The Power of Repair. Even the most patient and well-intentioned parent is going to lose their cool with their kiddo at some point. While increasing self-regulation is always the goal, the fact that we are human means we […]
Anxiety 101: Understanding the Basics
By: Gibran Rodriguez, M.A. Anxiety and fear are emotions that evolved to help us deal with danger and avoid harm. It’s normal for humans and animals to feel anxious or afraid, although to different degrees. For example, baby monkeys have been seen to display anxious behaviours when their mothers leave them for a prolonged period. […]
Mindfulness for Busy People
By: Bruce Yungblut, M.A.CP Many people come to therapy looking for some support and new tools to help lower the intensity of their emotions. Some people experience this as stress, worry, or anxiety. Others experience a low mood or feelings of depression. While there are many ways to approach these common challenges, a helpful starting […]
Building Balance in our Schedules
By: Alyson Dudley, MSW, RSW At a recent Broadview Psychology team lunch, the topic of scheduling around activities, school, hobbies, friends, family and employment came up. Many of our clinicians are also parents and the discussion focused on trying to find balance in a world with many activities, obligations, and distractions and how difficult the […]
An Invitation to be Kind to Emotional Eating
By: Alissa Vieth, MPH, RD A few months ago, I went through a hard period for my family, and I turned to food to help me cope and provide comfort. In fact, I eat for non-physical hunger reasons from time to time. As a Dietitian who takes a non-diet approach and integrates intuitive eating principles […]
Living in Uncertain Times: Managing Disillusionment & Hopelessness
By: Adanna Anucha, MSW, RSW The summer season is just around the corner, and with it comes the things we typically enjoy about summer months – sunny weather, restaurants opening their patios, festivals proliferating the streets, afternoons spent on the beach etc. Around this time of year, the collective mood of people suddenly takes a […]
The Most Useful AND Hardest Skill: Radical Acceptance
By: Agustina Jorquera, M.Ed, RP A friend of mine and I were walking around the city one weekend, talking about our jobs – the things we find enjoyable, the challenges and the new perspectives. She asked me: Is there a common struggle across age groups of people going to therapy? I have been lucky in […]