yourstorycounselling

 Gestalt therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the present moment experience of the individual, emphasizing awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the here and now. This therapy is based on the principles of gestalt psychology, which views the human experience as an integrated whole, rather than a collection of separate parts. The central goal of gestalt therapy is to help individuals increase their awareness of their internal experience, and to bring this awareness into the present moment. This involves exploring the individual's thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, as well as their interactions with others and the environment around them. In gestalt therapy, the therapist works collaboratively with the individual to identify and explore the patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions that may be contributing to their current difficulties. The therapist may use techniques such as empty chair work, where the individual interacts with an empty chai...

Here are some tips on how to create a better work-life balance and avoid living at work: Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. This could mean setting specific working Life Balance hours or turning off work-related notifications during personal time. Prioritize: Make a list of your priorities and focus on the most important tasks first. This can help you stay organized and reduce the amount of time you spend working. Take Breaks: Take regular breaks throughout the day to recharge your batteries. This could be a quick walk outside or a meditation session to help you relax and refocus. Practice Self-Care: Make time for self-care activities, such as exercise, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones. These activities can help you recharge and reduce stress. Learn to Say No: Don't take on more than you can handle. Learn to say no to additional work or commitments that could interfere with your personal time. Disconnect: Take a break from technolog...

Your Story Counseling offers individual, couples and family trauma and therapy counseling for a variety of needs. All of our doctors have at least a master's degree in psychotherapy and use research-backed methods and procedures.  Sometimes the most challenging part is feeling understood through the stigma and misconceptions about panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden and intense bouts of anxiety or fear. They can be overwhelming and often manifest in physical and emotional reactions. During a panic attack, you may shake, sweat excessively, or experience difficulty breathing. In extreme cases, people may experience chest pains and even feelings of detachment from reality during a panic attack, so it is often mistaken for a heart attack or other physical heart problem. Panic attacks can occur for several reasons, such as consuming certain medications, experiencing stress (social, financial, emotional) that causes anxiety, a condition involving psychosis, or certain medical conditi...

 Strengths-based therapy is a type of positive psychotherapy and counseling that focuses on your inner strengths and resourcefulness, rather than your weaknesses, failures, and shortcomings. The principle is that this focus sets a positive mindset that helps you build on your best qualities, find your strengths, improve resilience and change your worldview to one that is more positive. Practitioners believe that the main reason to discuss a patient's problems is to discover inner strengths that clients can use to create solutions. The technique was developed in the 1950s and subsequently perfected by professor and psychologist Donald Clifton. The American Psychological Association called Clifton "the father of strength therapy and the grandfather of positive psychology." In the decades that followed, strengths-based therapy developed from the work of people in a variety of disciplines, including social work, counseling psychology, positive psychology, solution-focused th...

The Your Story Counseling Center offers individual, couple and family trauma and therapeutic counseling for a variety of needs. All of our doctors have at least a master's degree in psychotherapy and use research-based methods and procedures  A secure attachment is characterized by a child's sense of trust that their parents are available and responsive to their needs. Securely attached children are comfortable with intimacy and playfulness in relationships with caregivers. They also have a sense of predictability in their interactions with caregivers. What secure attachment looks like in adulthood: Securely attached adults tend to have friends, partners, and family members with whom they feel comfortable. They are able to turn to these people when they feel stressed or upset and know that they will be there for them. A secure style is associated with a positive self-image and the ability to calm down. These people do not depend on others to feel good about themselves - they do...

Your Story Counseling offers individual, couples and family trauma and sex therapy counseling for a variety of needs. All of our doctors have at least a master's degree in psychotherapy and use research-backed methods and procedures  If you are thinking about seeing a therapist or are completely new to therapy, you may be wondering about a lot of different things, including the title of a therapist, the price differences between therapists, and really where to start looking for a therapist. So let's break it all down. In Ontario, a therapist can practice under many different titles, including psychologist, clinical psychologist, MSW, OT, registered psychotherapist (RP), registered psychotherapist (qualification), counselor, and there may be more that I'm not even mentioning here (such as social workers and nurses who may also practice psychotherapy). In this post I will differentiate between RP and RP (qualification). RP v. RP (qualification) - What's the difference? A...

Your Story Counseling offers individual, couples and family trauma and sex therapy counseling for a variety of needs. All of our doctors have at least a master's degree in psychotherapy and use research-backed methods and procedures.   Silent quitting is a commitment to fulfilling one's job roles and responsibilities without going above and beyond the call of duty (O'Brien, 2022). Quiet withdrawal means working for a set time and turning down other projects and tasks outside of normal duties. Gone are the days of staying at work. Overworking is valued in society, especially by employers, but even the Ontario government has introduced a Right to Disconnect Act, which requires employers to create policies that allow workers to disconnect from work duties, including email, phone calls, video conferencing, and performance working outside working hours (Lecker & Associates, 2022). Interestingly, this law only applies to workplaces with 25+ employees and does not apply to fe...