From the Therapist’s Chair: The Difference Between Solitude and Loneliness
In the middle of a cold Toronto winter, we spend a lot of time indoors and, often, a lot of time alone. In my practice, I frequently hear people struggle to figure out if they are enjoying their own company or if they are slipping into a state of loneliness.
Wintering: Practical Ways to Support Your System in the Low-Light Season
In Canada, January isn't just a month on the calendar; it is a physical experience. The shorter days, the lack of sunlight, and the biting cold aren't just inconveniences—they have a direct impact on your biology. When the environment slows down, your nervous system often follows suit.
Tending to What Came Up: Balancing the Past with Your Future
By mid-January, the initial rush of the new year often slows down, and the "dust" from the holidays finally begins to settle. This is usually when we start to notice the emotional residue—the lingering tension from a family comment, the fatigue from over-extending ourselves, or the old patterns that surfaced during the break.
Why Our Systems Resist Change: The Science of Staying
The first week of January usually comes with a lot of pressure to "change everything." But by the second week, many of us feel a familiar pull back toward our old habits. Often, we label this as a lack of willpower, but the reality is much more scientific: your body has a biological preference for what is familiar.
In therapy, we look at this through the lens of homeostasis. Your nervous system interprets "familiar" as "safe," even if that familiar pattern is actually painful or exhausting.
Post-Holiday Landing: How to Decompress and Re-Attune After the Rush
The holidays can be an activating demand on our nervous systems, juggling schedules, managing family dynamics, and navigating constant social input. While the events may be joyful, the pace often leaves the nervous system in a state of chronic “alert.”
Navigating the Social Energy Battery: A Proactive Tool for Holiday Parties
Work events and friend gatherings are kicking off, often demanding a high social performance. For many, this feels less like a celebration and more like a heavy drain on the nervous system. You may go home feeling depleted, having given away all your energy without making a single genuine connection.
Tending to your energy in all settings might feel daunting at first, but preparation is proactive care
From the Therapist’s Chair: What Happens in Therapy, Really?
Today, I want to pull back the curtain on what actually happens in therapy, especially somatic therapy. When we begin to track the body in context with our environment, what happens and what to expect.
One of the most common questions I get from new clients is,
“What should I expect in a session with you?”
It’s a fair question, especially when someone is already feeling dysregulated, overstimulated, or stuck in seasonal fatigue.
How to Ground Your Nervous System Without Overriding It
When stress builds, it’s tempting to manage it from the top-down. Meaning with thinking, planning, fixing or brain work. But somatic therapy reminds us: the nervous system doesn’t respond well to being managed. It responds to being heard.
Settling In: Seasonal Light Shifts and Your Environment
This November, we’re returning to the body.
As the light changes, so do we. You might feel it already — that tug to go to bed earlier, the extra effort it takes to wake up, or a desire to stay cozy and close to home. These are not flaws in your motivation. They’re physiological cues from your nervous system.
What Therapy Can (and Can’t) Do for Families & Couples
If you’ve ever wondered:
“Would family therapy help, or just make it worse?”
“Is couples therapy only for people on the brink?”
“Can therapy actually help our dynamic?”
You’re not alone. These are common and valid questions.
Let’s start this month by grounding ourselves in what couples and family therapy can (and can’t) actually do.