Expressing your vows and saying the words “I do” to your partner is an incredible commitment. While your wedding day is something to cherish forever, the lifetime of experiences you’ll share moving forward are even more valuable. Taking each day as it comes, you and your partner will venture through all the realities of marriage…

Many people go into medicine out of a desire to help others. Medical school is hard.  There’s a very blunt comment online that, “If you’re smart enough to get into medicine, you should probably do something else, because medicine is tough.”  In other words, it’s a ton of work and expectations are high.  There is…

Arguments, heated conversations, and conflict are all a normal part of any relationship. No matter if you’ve been with your partner for 5 months or 10 years, disagreements are bound to come up at some point. Regardless of the context of an argument, how it’s addressed and managed is what truly counts. In some instances,…

There are countless challenges involved in living through a global pandemic. As we face the many ups and downs along the way, we set off our stress response system more often. Every time this stress response is triggered, our cortisol levels spike. This stress response pattern is very normal but it can certainly take a…

The Benefits of Counselling Throughout our lives, we are taught the importance of our physical health through means of eating well-rounded meals, exercising daily, and hydrating often. We spend countless hours training to improve our physical fitness but neglect to work on our mental health. Unfortunately for many people, the perceived social stigma surrounding therapy…

A strong and loving relationship is something to be valued forever. No matter if you’re in a new relationship or have been with this person for years, the opportunity to connect with someone on a deep and meaningful level is something very special. While these types of relationships are highly sought after, they also take…

How PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression Influence Your Lifestyle as a First Responder Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental illness commonly experienced by millions of first responders. The development of PTSD and other psychological disorders, including anxiety and depression, are caused by ongoing exposure to traumatic and life-threatening events on the job. The impact…

The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the world as we know it quite drastically over the past year. As we struggle to adjust to this new normal, we grieve the loss of so many things. From lost jobs, cancelled vacations, and missed opportunities, we have all had something important taken away from us. While everyone’s mental…

The Unique Challenges Involved in Raising Children as a First Responder First responders experience a significant amount of stress throughout their careers. While enduring long days, unpredictable events, and life-threatening incidents involving serious exposure to trauma, first responders risk developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The effects of this are not isolated only to the first…

The Impact of PTSD on First Responders’ Interpersonal Relationships First responders risk their lives on the front line each and every day to put others’ needs ahead of their own safety and well-being. While exposing themselves to high levels of stress, repeated exposure to trauma, and limited sleep, first responders bear the greatest risk to…