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 […]

The Fourth Trimester – Blog Series: Part 1By Rebekah Sebbelov, MACP (Student Intern) Through the Woods Psychology – Calgary  There is a season after birth that few people speak about honestly.  Your body is healing. Your sleep is fragmented. Your nervous system is alert in ways it has never been before. Your identity is quietly rearranging itself beneath the […]

When Burnout Is Really Unrecognized Grief  You’re competent.  Capable.  The one people rely on.  And lately… you’re irritated.  Not explosively angry. Not out of control.  Just simmering.  Shorter with people than you want to be. Less patient. More cynical.  Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking, Why am I so angry all the time? This isn’t like me.  If you’re a professional navigating burnout, this question makes a lot of sense.  […]

It is now March, and spring is quickly approaching. March is also Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which provides an important opportunity to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and break stigma. It is a time to recognize and celebrate both the strengths and challenges of neurodiverse individuals. There are often misunderstandings surrounding neurodiversity, which makes education about […]