Author name: Mary Joan Brinson

Change is a part of life. Some times change can bring a sense of relief and calm, while at other times it can leave us overwhelmed, confused and emotionally off-balance. And it doesn’t seem to matter if the change is expected or unexpected – life transitions can be difficult. Some common life transitions include: Milestone birthdays […]

I have been through grief. There was a time when I felt that I would never see the world in full colour again. Everything felt dulled by the grief that took up so much space in my life. Over time, with support and help, the world brightened again. I felt changed by the experience but

Depression hurts. Depression is a dark journey that leaves you exhausted and depleted. Many will have an experience of depression at some time in their lives. It may be a brief episode related to a specific event, for others it may be a chronic low mood, while others may experience a debilitating condition that makes

Is anxiety robbing you of the ability to enjoy your life? Do your thoughts race? Do you often feel overwhelmed and unable to cope? You are not alone. Anxiety is a normal feeling that we all experience from time to time. It can often help alert us to a potential danger and it is a natural

Gratitude starts with noticing the goodness in life. And researchers have found there are some surprising benefits in practicing gratitude. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this is a natural time of year to give thanks. The cynics among us may find it difficult to be thankful, especially this year as our Thanksgiving gatherings and traditions

Giving thanks can make you happier. But like any other healthy habits, even though it is good for us, it can be hard to practice consistently. Why is gratitude so hard to practice? If we are being honest, it is easy to focus on what we don’t have, our problems and the problems in the

Trauma is the experience of severe psychological distress following a traumatic or life-threatening event. It may be a one-time powerful incident such as an accident, an illness, an assault or rape, or exposure to a catastrophic event. Or it could be repeated exposure to traumatic events such as child abuse and neglect, front line responder’s

As many staff and students have returned to school – a roller coaster of emotions may be experienced. Excitement, anxiety, anticipation, or perhaps even fear. For some, the decision to return was a choice made freely, while for others it was borne out of necessity. If you fall into the latter group, the emotional impact

All children feel anxious at one time or another. But when anxiety gets in the way every day, children get irritable or even angry. They are more prone to meltdowns or tantrums. Returning to school when everything looks so different presents a “perfect storm” for many kids to experience anxiety.   10 Tips to Reduce Your

We expect new parents to be happy – tired maybe, but happy with their new little bundle of joy. And some are just that. However, 1 in 7 moms and 1 in 10 dads experience postpartum depression. They do not feel happiness or joy. They feel anxious, overwhelmed, irritable, angry, sad and utterly confused about why they