Blackmoon Psychotherapy

** Mid-Year Wellness Reflection **. Well, we made it - half-way through 2020. Through the collective power of love, justice and resilience, we've made it through the first 6 months. I don't know about you, but I have just barely caught my breath. This year is one for the books. This year, you'll always remember. ... Therefore, whenever major milestones and events pass in my life, I make an effort to stop and reflect: what have I learned in the past few months? How am I changed? What needs to be attended-to, and cared-for, at this time? If I peel back the layers of my emotions, what feelings are lodged deep within me - feelings that may need to be brought out to breathe, to rest in open awareness, to be gently cared for? The events of the pandemic and the incredible push back for justice for Black and Indigenous peoples has brought up many intense, cathartic, awe-inspiring, and painful emotions. We, as a species...and especially those who are the most marginalized by the pandemic and by racial injustices ..have been through so much. Please take this time to reflect; go inward to turn towards what is still needed for you to continue on, or process what you've learnedwith a trusted friend, family member or therapist. Knowing what you need will help you to stay focused and grounded on the work that is ahead, as we all strive to hold each other (with love and accountability) through the remainder of the year. #midyear #therapy #therapytalk #wellness #wellbeing #justice #love #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthtoronto #selflove #selfcare #communitycare #community #inspo #dailyinspo #dailyinspiration #inspiration #health #healing #toronto #torontobusiness #psychotherapist #psychotherapy #thesix #instatoronto #torontotherapy https://www.instagram.com/p/CCFFGHBgxh3/

** The Language of Emotions: Anger. ** Anger. It's one of the most misunderstood and pathologized emotions in our human experience, which is unfortunate, as it's one of the earliest and common feelings humans have (ever tried taking a favourite toy away from a one-year old? that ear-splitting scream is anger!). . Because of how little we, in the west, understand anger, most of us don't know how to bui...ld a healthy relationship with it or use it effectively to protect and defend ourselves and others. Many folks disown and 'swallow' their anger; others project it without awareness of their own vulnerability, or the vulnerability of others. Few of us know how to express our anger in a way that is cathartic. Anger is an incredible tool for healing and justice - if we know how to use it in a grounded and reflective way. When it comes to anger, consider the following reflections: *Whose focus do you need?: anger is a deeply relational emotion - it seeks to draw people in, not away (though if not handled properly, can often have the effect of the latter!). Whose attention are you seeking? Who and what is making are you feel dismissed and disconnected? *What are you trying to survive right now? Anger is often experienced when a boundary or a bottom line has been pushed against. What's been violated? How does this impact your sense of survival? What are you 'doing' with your anger - are you able to tolerate it, or are you dimissing/projecting it? *What other emotions are hiding right now? Anger is a dynamic emotion and rarely stands on its own. Often anger is used as a mask for other feelings that may be too hard to feel - particularly sadness, grief, exhaustion, shame and guilt. Check-in to make sure that your anger isn't masking one of these emotions, as they are key to accepting how you truly feel and what you truly need in the moment. #anger #angermanagement#feelings #emotions #mentalhealth #therapy #psychotherapist #psychotherapist #socialwork #wellness #wellbeing #dailyinspiration #dailyinspo #torontobusiness #torontopsychotherapy #toronto #theannex https://www.instagram.com/p/B-fYCnPgfLq/

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** Online and Phone Sessions Available!! **. During this stressful time, many people are looking to connect with supportive work to help them navigate the highs, the lows and the nuances in between of our personal and collective experiences. What better time to consider therapy? I've been working in the field of relational, experiential and Indigenenized psychotherapy for 10 years, supporting folks of all walks of life by delivering supportive,... trauma-informed, creative, somatic and anti-racist/anti-oppression approach to therapy. While online and phone based sessions are a slightly different approach than working in an office, I am pleased to offer quality therapy support on a secure digital platform. Interested in starting a therapy journey towards connecting with your own resilience and self-awareness? Email me at [email protected], and let's discuss how I can best support you in healing and celebrating your own unique life's experience . #therapy #mentalhealth #covid19 #torontopsychotherapy #torontobusiness #torontotherapy #socialwork #onlinetherapy #wellbeing #wellness #inspiration #trauma #resilience #instagood #instatoronto https://www.instagram.com/p/B-viFC0AQSl/ See more

*The Language of Emotions: Anxiety* Anxiety is a common human emotion, and one that many of us (me included!) have been feeling these days. In reality, it's hard *not* to feel a certain level of anxiety - there are so many uncertainties, for so many of us right now. When we're talking about the "language of emotions", what we're really talking about is finding the right questions to ask ourselves in order to bridge our experience into a more relational or broader context. In ...other words, every emotion is connected to a need. Finding out what those needs are, and ways to have those needs met (by our own self or by others) is how we meet our feelings and work to address their requests. Anxiety asks us for safety. What do you need to feel safe? WHO grounds you in a sense of reassurance and safety? Are you jumping to conclusions, or can you remain curious about the outcome? What can you rely on about yourself and others when "shit hits the fan"? Being able to answer these questions for yourself can give you a path towards getting your needs met in a way that supports your needs. Check out my stories for more discussion on anxiety! #anxiety #covid19 #mentalhealth #worry #dailyinspo #dailyinspiration #instagood #instatoronto #inspo #wellbeing #wellness #strength #resilience #calm #torontopsychotherapy #torontobusiness #theannex #thesix #healingcollective #healing #psychotherapist #toronto https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Nb17Tgfu5/?igshid=xt3lslalr4fb

*Managing The Ups and Downs* One of the most common things I hear from clients during these unprecedented times is this: "I don't know how to feel about what's happening". Many of us are noticing we are experiencing a plethora of emotions as days go on, and the situation in Canada gets more serious. There may be confusion. Boredom. Relief for the break. Fear. Terror. Comfort in being able to stay home. Loneliness. Anger. Etc, etc. On top of the emotions, you may notice that y...ou can experience many of these feelings one after the other: in the span of a day, or even an hour. It can be exhausting and taxing on our nervous systems to go from one feeling to the next so fast.....but this is entirely normal, given the situation. Many of us have no template for how to navigate a crisis like this. It's times like these that I think about the teachings of water. When a wave crashes against you, you can't fully hold it, or stop it, or argue with it - you just have to let it pass through you. In the same way, our emotions aren't something to be wrestled or resisted. Rather, they are like waves, meant to fall against us and move along, as feelings do. Noticing and honouring our feelings, and letting them pass, rather than resisting them, can be an integral way to navigate the ever-changing seas of our current reality. Over the next few days I'll chat further about the language of emotions, and what each feeling is asking for within ourselves and within others. In the meantime, take care of yourself and your family, as we sail through the experience of life together. #water #waves #dailyinspiration #dailyinspo #instagood #instatoronto #inspiration #selfcare #community #mentalhealth #mindfulness #therapy #psychotherapist #torontobusiness #thesix #torontopsychotherapy #theannex #covid19 #calm #wellness #wellbeing https://www.instagram.com/p/B-H1YxigBzT/?igshid=7rk8tnemhrgf