Blog

Breaking the Self-Fulfilling Prophecies of Trauma

Complex trauma leaves invisible imprints that can quietly shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world. One of the most powerful — and painful — ways this shows up is through self-fulfilling prophecies. Rejection Take rejection, for example. A simple, everyday situation like sending a text to…


The Power of Telling the Truth About Anxiety

Last night, during our CBT group for anxiety, we watched a short video showing common situations that can trigger anxious thoughts — like public speaking. The narrator offered examples of typical worries: “I might forget my words… I might embarrass myself… people will see I’m nervous and judge……


What Does It Really Mean to Love and Accept Yourself Unconditionally?

“Love and accept yourself unconditionally.” It sounds beautiful, doesn’t it? But for many of us, those words land with a thud. Instead of comfort, we feel resistance. Instead of inspiration, we feel guilt, shame, or even anger. I remember hearing that phrase at different points in my own healing…


Hope

Encountering hope. Once, then, and now. Over my lifetime hope has meant different things. The dreams and wishes I had as a child are returning, replacing, and reframing the wishes of many years. I recently had a conversation about how to lead people to a place where hope feels both possible and…


Gratitude Attitude: Planting Seeds of Self-Worth

In our Self Discovery for Recovery program, we begin with the foundations: looking within, practising self-care, and repeating daily I Am affirmations. Why? Because repetition drives neuroplasticity. The more often we plant healthy thoughts, the stronger they grow. Our thoughts shape our lives.…


The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Neural Pathways, Trauma, and Self-Worth

From the moment we are born, our brains are wired with remarkable potential. Dr. Dan Siegel’s Interpersonal Neurobiology reminds us that human beings develop through two kinds of neural pathways: Experience-Expectant Pathways These are the “hardwired” pathways we are born with, designed to expect…


STAND: Parents as Protectors – A Journey of Awareness, Not Blame

Parenting in today’s world can feel overwhelming. We’re constantly juggling everyday responsibilities while trying to keep our children safe in a world that doesn’t always feel safe. That’s why we created STAND: Parents as Protectors — a free, online, self-paced program for parents, caregivers, and…


Through the Lens of the Dorsal Space

Through the Lens of the Dorsal Space: Why Forcing ‘Motivation’ Can Harm, Not Help When you’re in the dorsal space, you can see life happening around you — people laughing, planning, dreaming — but it’s like watching it all through thick, soundproof glass. You can see their joy, but it doesn’t touch…


Walking the Tightrope: Staying Trauma-Informed While Protecting Ourselves and Others

Remaining trauma-informed while protecting both ourselves and those who rely on us for support can feel like walking a tightrope. It’s a precarious balance of boundary-setting and self-awareness, and it’s not always clear where one ends and the other begins. Even when we take care to make decisions…


Black stackable stone decor at the body of water

Comfortable visibility

This year has been a year of firsts for me. New experiences and challenges, new realisations. The most striking one just now is that it can be safe to be seen. I have spent most of my life staying in the shadows and carefully monitoring my voice, checking that no one saw me and being cautious with…