– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) Just thinking of summer holidays can raise a range of feelings – joyful anticipation, anxiety, even panic. Filled with expectations and hopes, summe ris a time of transition for all family members. Summer may mean that you have to plan engaging activities for young children, that… continue reading
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The Highway of Relationships
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) Recently as I traveled toward downtown Calgary through a series of construction zones, I thought about how traffic signs and signals, rules of the road, motorist courtesy, and road condition, all work together to determine the ease of a commute. It seemed to me that when… continue reading
Getting Back to Regular Sleep Routines
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) As summer ends, many families confront the daunting task of reestablishing family routines, particularly, sleep routines. Hot summer nights, longer daylight hours, and reduced time urgencies often disrupt sleep routines as adults and children alike often stay up later. Sleep is an instrumental need – people… continue reading
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) “Good fences make good neighbors.” Robert Frost One of my friends recently explained how much she values good communication in the workplace because it enables her to perform her job in the most professional way. She has a manager who is “frank” about his expectations yet… continue reading
Social Groups Rule the Playground
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) Fitting in can be a tremendous pressure whether you are five, fifteen, or an adult. As social beings, we tend to form groups and hierarchies. Whether we like it or not, these groups or cliques begin early and with them, come lessons about friendship, support, power… continue reading
Experience Gratitude and Gift It Away
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) Once again, it’s December! We are already beginning to feel the effect of the hustle and bustle of this holiday season. Many of us step into this month with some trepidation, knowing that it will be difficult to keep balance in our time, energy, and finances… continue reading
Reach Your Resolution Goals by Changing How You Think
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) If you are like most people, you have likely considered at least one, if not more, New Year’s resolutions this year. Of course, you have every intention to make the change. Your heart and mind, at least in the moment, are united to conceive that this… continue reading
Valentine's Day Throughout the Year
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) Be Mine, Valentine! February 14 has become a day of sending affectionate cards, giving chocolates or flowers, or even small gifts as tokens of love for another. Valentine exchanges range from the innocent cards passed between elementary school children to celebrations of intimacy within deeply committed love… continue reading
Sleeplessness
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) Its 12:00 am and I am not asleep yet! Fortunately, this problem is transcient – I know I can catch up on a good night’s sleep tomorrow. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many. Some people experience short-term insomnia when sleep is disrupted due to… continue reading
Supporting Our Kids at Any Age
– By Sharon Ashton and Raksha Dave-Gates (Counselling Psychologists) Your kids won’t leave home? Stop cooking with cheese! In this familiar television commercial, we see a frustrated, overworked couple and their free-loading 38 year-old son, oblivious to their distress. The commercial humorously builds on a truth about parenting: overindulging children stifles their ability to grow… continue reading