Written for Through the Woods Psychology by D. Skretting Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that is often misunderstood. Many people casually use the term “OCD” to describe being organized, particular, or wanting things done a certain way. OCD, however is much more than a preference for cleanliness or organization. For someone […]

Written for Through the Woods Psychology by Rebekah Sebbelov Have you ever replayed a conversation or painful experience so many times that it feels like you are trapped inside it? You know you cannot change what happened. You do not have a time machine. Yet your mind keeps returning to it, wondering what you should […]

Written for Through the Woods Psychology by Rebekah Sebbelov Have you ever had a feeling come on so strongly that it seemed to take over? Maybe it showed up as irritation, tears, or a sudden wave of anxiety. Maybe it felt confusing or hard to explain. If that has happened to you, you are not […]

Written for Through the Woods Psychology by Rebekah Sebbelov Validation is not about agreeing with your partner. It is about helping them feel understood. “You’re not listening to me.” “That’s not what I meant.” “Why do we keep having the same argument?” If you have ever said, heard, or thought one of these things, you […]

Written for Through the Woods by Cole Isbister A growth mindset is a helpful concept when supporting children’s emotional and developmental growth. It focuses on how children understand learning, challenges, and their ability to develop new skills over time. What is a growth mindset? A growth mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and skills […]

Written for Through the Woods Psychology by Rebekah Sebbelov Have you ever felt like you are doing your best, and your body just will not cooperate? Maybe your mind says you are fine, but your chest is tight, your thoughts are racing, or everything suddenly feels heavy and distant. If that sounds familiar, if may […]

Written for Through the Woods by Michelle Poon, Registered Psychologist If you are a parent here in Alberta navigating the frustrating, heart-wrenching world of childhood anxiety or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it can easily feel like you are running on pure survival mode. Watching a child struggle with intense worries, school refusal, or rituals that completely […]

Written for Through the Woods Psychology by Cole Isbister People pleasing gets talked about a lot, but most people don’t realize when they’re doing it. A lot of the time, it looks like being easy-going, helpful, or the person everyone can rely on. On the outside, it can even get praised. Internally though, it’s often […]

Losing a pet is a unique and difficult experience. We are not always prepared for it, and this grief can feel different than other kinds we have felt before. It has its own unique intensity that can sometimes feel overwhelming when we least expect it. Perhaps it shows the most in the way that the house seems quiet, when we reach out for them […]

How often have you said or thought “I’ll start doing things again when I feel better”?  Behavioural Activation (BA) is a concept in a therapeutic setting where we flip that concept, and start doing before we feel better, or before we feel any particular way about the situation at all. In fact, motivation often shows up after we start doing the thing and not before. BA has been […]