Archives December 2022

Holidays and Mental Health: 6 Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas – The holidays can be a time of great joy and cheer, but it can also come with extra stress and anxiety. For those who have mental health concerns, the hustle and bustle of the season can be overwhelming. This holiday season, make sure you’re prepared to care for your mental health by taking some beneficial steps in advance. Here are some tips for having a stress-free Christmas.

Prioritize Self-Care

Setting Boundaries | Holidays and Mental Health: 6 Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas

It is important to set boundaries during the holidays, especially when it comes to managing stress. Don’t feel obligated to attend every party or function you are invited too. Don’t worry if you can’t afford all the gifts you would like to buy your loved ones, or if there is not enough time to bake everyone’s favorite holiday treats. It is OK to say no and set boundaries around what you can reasonably do during this busy time of year.

Creating a Routine

Routines are an important part of staying mentally healthy, especially when your schedule changes drastically due to holidays and vacations. Try incorporating activities that make you feel relaxed into your daily routine – things like yoga, meditation, or reading a book – all great for helping reduce stress levels and promoting relaxation. If possible, establish a sleep schedule and stick with it throughout the holidays so that your body gets used to going to bed at a certain time each night which helps maintain both physical and mental health.

Practicing Gratitude | Holidays and Mental Health: 6 Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas

During difficult times like these, it’s essential that we take moments out of our day for reflection and gratitude practice. Reflecting on what has gone right in our lives helps boost moods and increase happiness levels overall – something particularly helpful when encountering stressful situations during the holiday season! Make sure you practice self-care by taking some extra time for yourself each day – whether it’s journaling or doing something creative like painting or drawing – just something small that will make your day better! 

Set Boundaries

The holidays are often filled with friends and family gathering together for celebrations. While this is certainly enjoyable, it can also be stressful if you feel like there’s too much pressure on you from social obligations or expectations from others. To prevent this kind of overwhelm, set boundaries in advance about how much time and energy you want to dedicate to different activities or events over the course of the Christmas season. This will help ensure that you aren’t feeling overwhelmed or stressed out by all the holiday preparations or events.

Seek Professional Help | Holidays and Mental Health: 6 Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas

If your holiday stress starts to become too overwhelming, there’s no shame in seeking professional help from a mental health specialist. A qualified therapist can offer advice and support on how to manage your feelings during this time while providing valuable insight into any underlying issues that may be causing your distress. Don’t hesitate to reach out if needed; sometimes a few simple conversations with a trained expert can make all the difference in helping you get through trying times like these!                                                                                                                           

Caring for your mental health during the holiday season is just as important as any other time of year—if not more so! Taking small steps like prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries with others, and reaching out for professional help when needed can go a long way towards making sure that this Christmas is one filled with peace and joy instead of stress and anxiety. Be kind to yourself this holiday season!

Therapy in Brandon

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety is especially high during the fall season, know that you’re not alone, we encourage you to reach out. Our counsellor here at Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre have experience working with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, depression, and so much more. We offer both in-person and online services. To learn more, reach out to us at 431-302-8803, or go here and fill out an online form!

About the Author
Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who is an EMDR trained and helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

6 Holistic Tips For Reducing Holiday Stress  – The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time of year, yet for many people the holidays can be filled with stress and anxiety. From buying presents to traveling and dealing with family dynamics, there are plenty of things that can increase our stress levels during this special time of year. So how can we best cope with holiday stress? Let’s look at some effective strategies for managing our emotions during the holiday season.

1). Identify Your Sources of Stress | 6 Holistic Tips For Reducing Holiday Stress

6 Holistic Tips For Reducing Holiday Stress – One of the first steps in managing holiday stress is identifying the sources that are causing it. It could be something as simple as feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks you have to complete or it could be something more complicated like family dynamics or financial worries. Once you identify your sources of stress, you can then take action to address them.

2). Practice Self-Care | 6 Holistic Tips For Reducing Holiday Stress

It’s important to practice self-care during this busy time of year so that you don’t become overwhelmed or burnt out. Make sure to give yourself adequate rest and relaxation, get regular exercise, eat healthy meals, and make time for activities that bring you joy. This will help replenish your energy levels and give you the strength to face whatever challenges come your way this holiday season.

3). Take Time for Yourself

The best way to combat stress is to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself first. This means setting aside time each day for yourself—even if it’s just 10 minutes—where you can do something that relaxes you such as reading a book or journaling. Taking a break away from all the hustle and bustle will help give you perspective and allow you to come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes next.

4). Set Realistic Expectations | 6 Holistic Tips For Reducing Holiday Stress

5). Set Boundaries

6 Holistic Tips For Reducing Holiday Stress – If certain tasks or interactions are causing too much stress during the holidays, it may be necessary to set boundaries so that you don’t feel overwhelmed or taken advantage of. For example, if spending too much money on gifts is a source of stress for you then set a budget and sticks to it! If planning family dinners is too much work then delegate tasks among other relatives so everyone has an equal share in making sure everything runs smoothly. Setting boundaries will help ensure that your needs are being met while also ensuring that everyone else’s needs are being respected as well.

6). Focus on What You Can Control

Finally, try not to focus too much on things that are out of your control such as other people’s behavior or events beyond your control. Instead, focus on what you can actually control such as planning ahead for events or ensuring that everyone has what they need when they come over for dinner or other festivities. Taking small steps every day towards your goal will help ensure that everything runs more smoothly in the end. 

The holidays should be a happy and enjoyable time but they can often become stressful if we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed by all the tasks we have to do and all the expectations we put on ourselves. By taking some proactive steps such as identifying our sources of stress, practicing self-care, and setting boundaries we can better manage our emotions this holiday season so that we can truly enjoy all the festivities without feeling overwhelmed or burnt out! Happy Holidays!

Therapy in Brandon

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety is especially high during the fall season, know that you’re not alone, we encourage you to reach out. Our counsellor here at Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre have experience working with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, depression, and so much more. We offer both in-person and online services. To learn more, reach out to us at 431-302-8803, or go here and fill out an online form!

About the Author
Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who is an EMDR trained and helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

4 Tips of Self-Reflection During the Holidays – While the Christmas season is often associated with joy and anticipation, it can also be a stressful or even depressing time for some. With the hustle and bustle of shopping and visiting family, it can be easy to get caught up in all the activity and forget about taking care of your mental health. Here are four tips for self-reflection during Christmas that can help you find balance and peace during this holiday season.

1). Take Time For Yourself – 4 Tips of Self-Reflection During the Holidays

The holidays should not be a time of overworking yourself, but rather a time to relax, reflect, and enjoy the little things. Taking breaks throughout the day to meditate or just take a few moments to clear your head can help you maintain your mental wellbeing during this hectic season. Even if you only have five minutes to spare each day, making sure you’re taking quality time for yourself is essential for maintaining balance in your life.

2). Be Mindful of Your Surroundings – 4 Tips of Self-Reflection During the Holidays

It’s important to remember that while some people may love being around large groups of people during the holidays, others may not feel as comfortable in these situations. Make sure to be mindful of both your own needs as well as those around you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed in social settings, try stepping out for a few moments to take a break from the chaos or suggest an activity that allows everyone to unwind together like playing board games or watching movies.

3). Express Gratitude

It’s so easy to get caught up in what we don’t have that we sometimes forget about all that we do have in our lives! Taking time each day to express gratitude for what we have—even if it’s something small—can help us remember how blessed we truly are and bring more positivity into our lives. Writing down three things every day that you’re thankful for is an excellent way to practice gratitude!

4). Get Outside – 4 Tips of Self-Reflection During the Holidays

Spending some time outdoors can do wonders for our mental wellbeing! Whether it’s going on a walk through nature or just sitting outside on your patio or balcony enjoying some fresh air, getting out into nature helps us reset mentally and emotionally so that when we come back inside we feel refreshed and ready to tackle anything! Plus, wintertime offers its own unique beauty with snow falling on trees and rooftops—so make sure to take advantage of this tranquil season by getting outside whenever possible!

Self-reflection during Christmas is an important part of making sure you stay sane throughout this hectic season! Taking some extra time each day for yourself (whether it be meditating, practicing gratitude, or getting outside) will help keep your spirits high while still allowing you enough energy to enjoy all that this festive season has to offer! So don’t forget make sure you’re taking proper care of yourself during this holiday season so that when January rolls around you’ll be feeling healthy both physically and mentally!

Therapy in Brandon

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety is especially high during the fall season, know that you’re not alone, we encourage you to reach out. Our counsellor here at Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre have experience working with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, depression, and so much more. We offer both in-person and online services. To learn more, reach out to us at 431-302-8803, or go here and fill out an online form!

About the Author
Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who is an EMDR trained and helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

Group Therapy: How It Can Help Youth and College Students – Group therapy is an invaluable tool in the mental health field. It can be used to help youth, college students, and other individuals who may be dealing with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or even trauma. While one-on-one therapy sessions are often beneficial, group therapy adds an element of connection and support that can make a significant difference in the healing process. Let’s take a look at how group therapy works and the benefits it provides for teens and college students.

How Group Therapy Works

Group therapy is typically facilitated by one or more licensed mental health professionals, depending on the size of the group. During each session, members will have an opportunity to share their experiences and interact with each other in a safe and supportive environment. Each session typically focuses on a particular topic related to mental health, such as coping strategies for stress management or developing healthy communication skills. At times, members may also have the chance to practice new skills with guidance from the facilitator(s).

Benefits of Group Therapy for Teens & College Students

Group therapy has numerous benefits that can help teens and college students manage their mental health issues while also providing them with valuable life skills. One of these benefits is the sense of community that comes from being part of a group setting where everyone has similar struggles or goals. This allows individuals to not only learn from each other but also feel that they are not alone in their struggles. Additionally, group therapy can provide an opportunity for greater self-awareness by allowing members to gain insight into how their behavior affects themselves as well as those around them. Finally, it can teach important problem-solving skills that will serve individuals long after they graduate from counseling sessions. 

Group therapy is a powerful tool when it comes to helping children, teenagers, and college students manage their mental health issues in a safe and supportive environment. It provides individuals with a sense of community while also teaching valuable life skills such as problem solving and communication techniques that will help them long after they leave counseling sessions. If you are considering group therapy for your teen or college student, be sure to find out what types of groups are available in your area so you can decide which option is best for them!

Therapy in Brandon

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety is especially high during the fall season, know that you’re not alone, we encourage you to reach out. Our counsellor here at Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre have experience working with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, depression, and so much more. We offer both in-person and online services. To learn more, reach out to us at 431-302-8803, or go here and fill out an online form!

About the Author
Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who is an EMDR trained and helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

Group therapy is a great way for youth to come together and develop a sense of camaraderie and understanding with those who are going through similar issues. It is also a platform for young people to feel seen and heard in a safe and secure environment. Here we explore the benefits of group therapy, when it should be used, and how it can benefit young people.

Benefits of Group Therapy

In group therapy settings, participants have the opportunity to share similar experiences while learning from each other’s successes or struggles. This type of setting helps children learn to trust one another, build relationships, practice communication skills, develop problem-solving methods, gain new perspectives on their circumstances, and uncover areas where they can grow in terms of personal development. Group therapy creates an atmosphere that gives participants a sense of belonging as well as the opportunity to give and receive support from their peers.

When Should Group Therapy Be Used?

Group therapy should be used when individual counseling or family counseling is not enough to get the desired results. It can also be used in conjunction with these methods – especially if there are multiple members in the family going through difficult times or if there are many different types of issues that need to be addressed within the same session. Group therapies may also help youth build better relationships with friends or family members who are unable to attend individual sessions due to scheduling conflicts or lack of resources.

How Can Group Therapy Benefit Young People?

Group therapy can help young people gain insight into their own beliefs and emotions related to certain situations. Through this process, they can learn more about themselves as well as others by listening and sharing stories with each other. Additionally, group therapy allows young people to develop empathy towards others who may have gone through similar traumas or experiences; this helps them become more compassionate individuals able to understand different perspectives on difficult topics such as anxiety or depression. Finally, group therapy offers an outlet for young people to express themselves without fear of judgement or criticism since everyone in the group understands what they’re going through – making it easier for them to open up about things they wouldn’t normally talk about outside of such settings.

Group therapy is not only an effective tool for helping youth reduce stress levels but it can also be beneficial for those dealing with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma-related challenges, etc. It provides a platform for teens and children alike where they can openly discuss their feelings without fear of judgement from those around them which makes it easier for them to truly express themselves without inhibition or hesitation so that they may move forward in life feeling empowered by their own unique story while being surrounded by like-minded individuals who can relate and offer support during challenging times.

Additionally, group therapies are often much more affordable than traditional one-on-one counseling which makes it an even more attractive option for families looking for support at an accessible price point. Ultimately, group therapy is a wonderful option for helping youth live healthier lives both emotionally and mentally – something every parent should consider exploring if their child needs additional guidance during difficult times!

Therapy in Brandon

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety is especially high during the fall season, know that you’re not alone, we encourage you to reach out. Our counsellor here at Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre have experience working with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, depression, and so much more. We offer both in-person and online services. To learn more, reach out to us at 431-302-8803, or go here and fill out an online form!

About the Author
Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who is an EMDR trained and helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

6 Self-Care Activities – Every now and again, it’s important we spend time to take care of ourselves in order to lower stress levels and maintain healthy lives. Many times we get so caught up in meeting everyone else’s needs that we neglect the most important person in our lives–ourselves!

So here are six easy self-care activities you can try (that won’t cost you anything):

Go for a Walk

Thirty minutes of walking does wonders to improve a person’s well-being. You can take a quick lap or two around the neighborhood during lunch, or you can explore your favorite park on a rainy day. Either way, exercise is a tried and true self-care technique and comes with the added bonus of health benefits.

Read a Book | 6 Self-Care Activities | Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre

Reading books is another great way to decompress and relieve stress. Local libraries have plenty of reading areas to enjoy your favorite topics. And, unlike television or radio, reading requires your full attention, meaning you can minimize distractions more easily and become fully focused on the topic at hand.

Isolate Yourself

Sometimes it’s helpful to be in a quiet location to gather your thoughts. Isolation can help you do this: for thirty minutes, find an empty room at your home or workplace that’s free from distractions or other people. Don’t do anything for the thirty minutes; just contemplate everything on your mind. By spending time with yourself you may find it easier to get answers to your most pressing questions at hand.

Write it Down | 6 Self-Care Activities | Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre

Have you ever considered keeping a journal? Writing down your thoughts and feelings on a regular basis is another great self-care technique that allows you to vent in a creative manner. You can even come back to old writings and learn about yourself at a particular moment in time.

In addition to writing, drawing also does wonders for self-care. Take some paper and sketch what’s on your mind–you might be surprised at what comes out!

Take a Warm Shower | 6 Self-Care Activities | Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre

Another self-care technique you can try is a nice, long shower. There’s something therapeutic about taking a shower: feeling the warm water against your skin, hearing the water hit the tub, smelling the soap…and knowing you’ll be clean at the end of it! Spend thirty minutes with the suds and refresh your mind while you’re there.

Listen to Music

Got a favorite song you like to listen to? Then put on some headphones and have at it! Listening to music is another free self-care activity that can get you through the day. Music has a way of evoking emotions we try to keep hidden in ourselves. But by letting them come to the forefront, we can actually detox and feel better afterwards.

People need outlets for channeling whatever they’re feeling at a particular time in order to remain balanced. But sometimes we aren’t always able to make use of these outlets due to money, time constraints, or obligations to others.

The best way to take care of others is to take care of yourself. So, the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, give these six self-care activities a try or, better yet, take a day to combine them all. Small actions often make the biggest impacts.

Therapy in Brandon

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety is especially high during the fall season, know that you’re not alone, we encourage you to reach out. Our counsellor here at Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre have experience working with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, depression, and so much more. We offer both in-person and online services. To learn more, reach out to us at 431-302-8803, or go here and fill out an online form!

About the Author
Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who is an EMDR trained and helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

How Self-Reflection Can Improve Your Mental Health – Self-reflection is an important part of mental health. It is the act of taking a step back and evaluating your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Taking time to self-reflect can help you gain a better understanding of yourself, as well as how your actions may be impacting those around you. It allows you to gain perspective on difficult situations and make informed decisions about your life. Here are three ways that self-reflection can improve your mental health.

Enhances Your Emotional Intelligence

Self-reflection helps build emotional intelligence by allowing you to understand how your emotions affect your behavior and decision making. With this understanding, you can gain insight into why you feel the way you do in certain situations, how those emotions are impacting others around you, and how to manage them in an effective manner. This increased emotional intelligence will help you be more aware of yourself and others in the future, which can have a positive impact on your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues alike.

Identifies Areas for Improvement | How Self-Reflection Can Improve Your Mental Health

Self-reflection also gives us insight into areas we can improve upon or change our behavior in order to become better versions of ourselves. By analyzing our thoughts and actions from an objective point of view, we can identify patterns that may be causing stress or negative consequences in our lives – such as overworking or procrastinating – and then come up with solutions for these issues that will benefit us long term. Through self-reflection we can also discover new interests or passions that might lead us down a different path than we thought was possible before.                                                                                                    

 Increases Self-Awareness | How Self-Reflection Can Improve Your Mental Health                         

Finally, self-reflection helps increase our level of self-awareness by teaching us more about who we are as individuals and what our personal values are. This understanding will help us make decisions based on what is important to us instead of simply going with the flow or following someone else’s lead without truly considering its effects on our own lives first — leading to more positive outcomes overall. Increased self-awareness also gives us the opportunity to recognize potential triggers that could cause stress in the future — such as certain people or places — so that we can avoid them when necessary in order to keep ourselves safe mentally and physically. 

Overall, taking the time for regular self-reflection is essential for any individual who wants to improve their mental health long term — especially parents, caregivers, teens, youth, children! Not only does it enhance emotional intelligence but it also identifies areas for improvement while increasing our levels of self-awareness overall — all key elements necessary for taking control over our lives and achieving true happiness within ourselves! So take some time today for introspection — it just might be one of the best things you ever do!

Therapy in Brandon

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety is especially high during the fall season, know that you’re not alone, we encourage you to reach out. Our counsellor here at Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre have experience working with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, depression, and so much more. We offer both in-person and online services. To learn more, reach out to us at 431-302-8803, or go here and fill out an online form!

About the Author
Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who is an EMDR trained and helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.