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Category Online Counselling

The Benefits of Setting an Intention with a Word of the Year 

The Benefits of Setting an Intention with a Word of the Year – Many of us have goals for the upcoming year, but setting an intention and selecting a “word of the year” can be a powerful way to focus your energy on what matters most. This practice not only helps you to stay focused on achieving your goals, but it can also improve your mental health and wellbeing. Let’s take a look at how setting an intention with your word of the year can benefit you. 

Create Clarity Through Reflection | The Benefits of Setting an Intention with a Word of the Year 

The Benefits of Setting an Intention with a Word of the Year  – The process of selecting a word for your intention is reflective in nature. Taking time to consider what values, goals, and habits you want to prioritize in the coming year gives you clarity on what matters most. It allows you to create space to think about how you want to show up in the world and what kind of life you want to live. This practice also encourages you to take responsibility for your actions, as it requires that all decisions made throughout the year are aligned with this chosen word and intention. 

Manifest Your Intentions | The Benefits of Setting an Intention with a Word of the Year 

The Benefits of Setting an Intention with a Word of the Year – Once you have identified which values are important to prioritize, manifesting these intentions into actionable steps is key for achieving success in any area of life. By continuously reminding yourself of this chosen word, allowing it to be seen by others around you (through writing or artwork), as well as revisiting it regularly throughout the year will help keep it top-of-mind when making any decisions or taking inspired action towards your goals. 

Increase Mindfulness & Self-Awareness | The Benefits of Setting an Intention with a Word of the Year 

The Benefits of Setting an Intention with a Word of the Year – Setting an intention with a word of the year can help increase mindfulness and self-awareness by encouraging reflection throughout each day or week. For example, if “simplicity” is your chosen word, then every decision that comes up should be assessed based on whether it leads towards more simplicity or complexity in life; this could include anything from simplifying daily tasks such as decluttering physical items or digital distractions like social media notifications. When we intentionally practice this level of self-awareness, we become more mindful around our choices—which has been linked to improved mental health outcomes such as increased happiness & satisfaction overall! 

When it comes down to it, setting an intention with a “word of the year” is one way that we can bring awareness into our lives and remind ourselves why certain values are important in order for us to achieve our goals and dreams. Not only does this practice encourage reflection and help manifest our intentions into actionable steps – but it has also been linked to improved mental health outcomes such as increased happiness & satisfaction overall! So if 2023 is looking like another busy year ahead – why not start off by choosing a word that will serve as reminder throughout each day? Here’s hoping 2023 brings clarity & joy!

Therapy in Brandon  

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety or trauma is especially high during the winter 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!

photo of Counsellor Emem

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

Discovering the Benefits of EMDR Intensives

EMDR Intensives – EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, evidence-based treatment for emotional distress. It helps people heal from trauma, negative beliefs, and unresolved issues that may be causing physical or emotional pain. The most effective way to experience the full power of EMDR is through an EMDR Intensive session. Let’s take a look at what they are and why they may be beneficial to you.

What is an EMDR Intensive | EMDR Intensives

An EMDR intensive is a focused period of time devoted solely to utilizing this valuable tool. Typically, an intensive lasts between three and five days; however, there are some programs available which offer intensives that last up to seven days. During an intensive, your therapist will use a variety of approaches to help you target different areas of distress in your life. This includes processing traumatic events, resolving negative core beliefs, and learning healthy coping strategies.

Benefits of an EMDR Intensive | EMDR Intensives

EMDR Intensives – The main benefit of an EMDR intensive is that it allows for greater depth than traditional weekly sessions. By having long periods of uninterrupted time dedicated solely to using the therapy modality, more progress can be made in less time than with traditional methods. This can be particularly helpful if you are someone who has difficulty maintaining focus during regular weekly sessions due to anxiety or other obstacles. In addition, because the sessions have a shorter duration than regular weekly sessions, it eliminates any potential difficulties with scheduling conflicts or travel time constraints that may arise when trying to attend multiple appointments in one week.

Another major benefit of using intensives for EMDR therapy is that it gives you the opportunity to work with highly skilled professionals in a safe and supportive environment. During the intensive sessions, your therapist or facilitator will provide personalized attention as well as resources and tools designed specifically for you so that you can make significant progress on your journey towards healing and growth.

EMDR intensives are becoming increasingly popular as people become aware of their effectiveness in helping individuals overcome trauma and find relief from troubling emotions associated with past experiences. If you’re considering engaging in this type of therapy but have reservations about scheduling regular weekly appointments due to time constraints or other obstacles then researching into participating in an EMDR Intensive might just be the perfect solution for you! Whether you’re looking for relief from PTSD symptoms or struggling with anxiety or depression resulting from past trauma, this therapy modality can help–it has been scientifically proven to do so! An EMDR Intensive could help you move forward on your path towards healing and health faster than ever before!

Therapy in Brandon  

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety or trauma is especially high during the winter 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!

photo of Counsellor Emem

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

Choosing a Word For the Year: A Mental Wellness Tool

Choosing a Word For the Year: A Mental Wellness Tool – It’s that time of year again – the new year is here and it’s time to make resolutions and set intentions. But instead of making a long list of goals, why not focus on one word for the entire year? Choosing a word for the year is an effective mental wellness tool that can be used to provide clarity and direction in your life. Let’s take a look at why this is such an effective tool and how you can use it to help you reach your goals.

What is a Word For the Year | Choosing a Word For the Year: A Mental Wellness Tool

A “word for the year” is simply a single word or phrase that you choose to focus on during the upcoming year. The idea is to pick one word or phrase that serves as an anchor for all your activities, decisions, and intentions. It should be something that resonates with you; something that speaks to your values and what matters most in life. Ultimately, it should serve as a reminder of what you want to achieve, who you want to become, or what kind of life you want to lead.

How Can Choosing a Word Help Me Reach My Goals | Choosing a Word For the Year: A Mental Wellness Tool

Word For the Year – Choosing a word can be incredibly helpful when it comes to reaching your goals because it helps give clarity and direction. By choosing one specific word or phrase, you are able to focus on just one thing without getting overwhelmed by multiple objectives. This single point of focus helps motivate you by providing concrete steps towards achieving success. Additionally, having one guiding principle throughout the year allows for more creative problem-solving because it gives you space to think outside the box when faced with challenges.

Why Should I Choose A Word Instead Of Making Resolutions | Choosing a Word For the Year: A Mental Wellness Tool

Making resolutions can often lead to feelings of overwhelming stress because there are so many goals we want (or feel like) we need to accomplish in order to be successful. By focusing on just one concept throughout the entire year, we are able to narrow our focus and prioritize our energy more effectively than if we were trying tackle multiple objectives at once. Additionally, this practice allows us more flexibility because rather than feeling restricted by predetermined resolutions, we can use our chosen words as inspiration for creative solutions throughout the course of our journey towards success.

Choosing a “word for the year” is an effective mental wellness tool that can help provide clarity and direction in your life. Having one guiding principle throughout the entire year helps narrow our focus and enables us to better prioritize our energy while still allowing us room for creative problem-solving along the way. So this year, instead of making resolutions that may leave you feeling overwhelmed or stressed out – choose just one word or phrase as an anchor for all your activities –it could be exactly what you need!

Therapy in Brandon  

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety or trauma is especially high during the winter 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!

The Power of Faith-Based Counselling

The Power of Faith-Based Counselling – For many people, the power of faith-based counselling is an important part of their lives. Whether you are a teen, adult, or parent, faith can provide a unique and powerful form of support and guidance. It can help you work through difficult situations and relationships in a way that is meaningful for you and your family. Let’s take a look at why faith-based counselling is so important.

The Benefits of Faith-Based Counselling | The Power of Faith-Based Counselling

Faith counselling

Faith has long been used as a source of comfort and solace for many people. It can also be used as a tool for healing and growth during difficult times. When it comes to counseling, faith-based services can offer individuals the opportunity to explore their beliefs with the guidance of experienced professionals who specialize in this type of approach. Here are some key benefits that faith-based counseling can provide.

  • A Safe Place to Explore Your Beliefs – The Power of Faith-Based Counselling

Faith gives us an opportunity to explore our beliefs without fear or judgement. Through faith-based counseling, individuals gain access to safe spaces where they can discuss their thoughts, values, and feelings without worrying about being judged or shamed for their beliefs. This allows them to gain insight into how their own personal values may be impacting their lives in both positive and negative ways.

  • Access to Supportive Resources – The Power of Faith-Based Counselling

Faith-based counsellors have access to supportive resources such as religious texts, prayer groups, online support communities, etc., which can help individuals gain greater insight into how their own religious beliefs may be influencing their current situation. By having access to these resources, individuals are better able to gain understanding and perspective on any life challenges they may be facing.

  • A Sense of Community – The Power of Faith-Based Counselling

In addition to providing professional guidance from trained counselors, faith-based counselling also provides individuals with a sense of community—a place where they feel supported by others who share similar values or experiences. This community setting helps create an environment where individuals feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics without worrying about being judged or criticized by those outside the group. 

Faith has been shown time again to be an incredibly powerful source of strength when it comes to navigating difficult times in life. With the help of qualified professionals who specialize in faith-based counselling services, individuals are given the tools they need to explore how their values may be impacting their lives in both positive and negative ways—allowing them greater insight into how best they can cope with any issues that may arise in life’s journey. If you or someone you know could benefit from exploring one’s relationship with faith through counselling services—now might just be the perfect time!

Therapy in Brandon  

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety or trauma is especially high during the winter 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!

photo of Counsellor Emem

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

What is EMDR? Exploring if it’s Right For You.

What is EMDR? Exploring if it’s Right For You – EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a popular evidence-based treatment used to help individuals process traumatic experiences, reduce symptoms of distress, and increase psychological well-being. If you are considering EMDR therapy, it is helpful to gain an understanding of what it can do for you and how it works in the therapeutic setting. Let’s take a look at what EMDR is and why it might be the right choice for you.

What Does EMDR Do – What is EMDR? Exploring if it’s Right For You.

EMDR has been proven to be effective in treating various mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. It works by helping individuals work through a traumatic experience or difficult emotions that have been stored away in their brain. In traditional talk therapy, people may talk about their experiences but not actually process them. With EMDR, the therapist helps the person explore these experiences more deeply so that they can become less overwhelming and intrusive. This type of deep exploration can lead to more insight into the causes of one’s symptoms as well as new perspectives on how to cope with them.

The Benefits of EMDR Therapy -What is EMDR? Exploring if it’s Right For You.

EMDR can provide a number of benefits for those struggling with mental health issues like PTSD or trauma-related anxiety. It can help individuals become less overwhelmed by their emotions, better regulate their own emotions, improve self-compassion, reduce stress levels, increase self-esteem and confidence levels, learn better coping skills, improve sleep quality and duration, manage negative thoughts more effectively, and feel more empowered overall when dealing with difficult life events or situations.

If you are considering utilizing EMDR therapy for yourself or your loved ones in order to address a mental health condition like PTSD or depression, understanding what it does and why it may be beneficial is key to making an informed decision about your treatment options. By exploring the purpose behind this type of therapy in depth as well as its potential benefits for those struggling with mental illness, you will likely find that this modality could be extremely beneficial for your situation. As always however it is important to consult your healthcare provider prior to starting any new treatments so that you can make sure you are getting the best possible care available. Good luck!

Therapy in Brandon  

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety or trauma is especially high during the winter 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!

photo of Counsellor Emem

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

What is EMDR Therapy and How Can It Help Children?

What is EMDR Therapy and How Can It Help Children – Trauma can affect people of all ages, including children. In some cases, they may not even be aware that they are experiencing trauma. Fortunately, there is a type of therapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) that can help children in the process of healing from traumatic experiences. Let’s take a look at what EMDR is and how it can benefit kids.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy is an evidence-based approach to treating mental health conditions that have been caused by trauma or other adverse experiences. The therapy uses bilateral stimulation techniques, such as eye movements or other forms of rhythmic stimulation, to help process and resolve negative thoughts and emotions associated with the traumatic experience.

The goal of EMDR therapy is to help the individual understand the root cause of their distress and create new ways of responding to triggers related to the event. This helps them develop healthier coping skills and better manage their emotions in response to similar situations in the future.

How Does It Work – EMDR Therapy

During an EMDR session, a therapist will guide the individual through a series of steps designed to bring awareness to the traumatic experience and its associated feelings. This typically involves discussing details about the event or any related memories or feelings that come up during this process. Once this has been accomplished, the therapist will then introduce bilateral stimulation techniques such as eye movements or tapping on either side of the body which can help someone reprocess those memories in a healthier way. 

During these sessions, it’s important for parents or caregivers to provide support for their child by being present during sessions if possible and helping them stay focused on their goals throughout each session. Additionally, parents should remember that EMDR isn’t a quick fix; it takes time for children to work through their issues in order for them to find relief from their trauma symptoms.

EMDR therapy has been found to be effective in helping individuals address trauma-related issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias, nightmares, fear reactions, dissociation symptoms and more. By providing appropriate support throughout each session and encouraging your child along their journey toward healing you can help facilitate positive outcomes with EMDR therapy for your child! If you believe your child could benefit from EMDR therapy talk with your healthcare provider about setting up an appointment with an experienced therapist today!

Therapy in Brandon  

If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety or trauma is especially high during the winter 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!

photo of Counsellor Emem

About the Author
Emem Iniobong
, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who is an EMDR trained and helps childrenteensyoung adultsparents, 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: 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!

photo of Counsellor Emem

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

SAD: What It Is and How to Help Your Child Cope

SAD: What It Is and How to Help Your Child Cope – As the days grow shorter and the weather gets colder, it’s normal for people to start feeling a little down. For some people, however, the winter blues can be much more than just a case of the Mondays. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months. SAD is thought to be caused by a lack of sunlight, which can disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythms. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, SAD affects approximately 1 in every 15 adults in the United States.

Symptoms of SAD : What It Is and How to Help Your Child Cope

Symptoms of SAD can vary from person to person. Some people with SAD only experience mild symptoms while others may have more severe symptoms that interfere with their daily life. The most common symptoms of SAD include:

  • Fatigue: Feeling tired and sluggish all day long even after getting enough sleep at night
  • Hopelessness: Feeling pessimistic or negative about the future
  • Weight gain: Increased appetite and cravings for carb-heavy comfort foods
  • Irritability: Feeling easily annoyed or agitated
  • social withdrawal: wanting to spend less time with friends and family
grayscale portrait of woman

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms on a daily basis for more than two weeks, you should see your doctor or mental health professional for an evaluation as you may have seasonal affective disorder.

What Can You Do About SAD?

If you think your child may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder, there are a few things you can do to help them cope. First, try to encourage your child to get outside for at least 30 minutes each day—even if it’s cloudy or cold outside. Exposure to natural light can help improve mood and energy levels. Additionally, you can try having your child spend some time in a light therapy box. Light therapy boxes emit bright light that simulates sunlight and can help reduce SAD symptoms. Finally, talk to your child’s doctor about whether antidepressant medication may be right for them.

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months. It’s thought to be caused by a lack of sunlight, which can disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythms. If you think your child may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder, there are a few things you can do to help them cope, including encouraging them to get outside for at least 30 minutes each day and having them spend some time in a light therapy box. Talk to your child’s doctor about whether antidepressant medication may be right 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!

photo of Counsellor Emem

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

EMDR and Anxiety

EMDR and Anxiety – If you suffer from anxiety, you’re not alone. In fact, anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions in the United States, affecting 40 million adults each year. While there are many treatment options available, one that has shown promising results is eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR). But what is EMDR, and how does it work? Let’s take a closer look.

What Is EMDR – EMDR and Anxiety

EMDR is a type of therapy that was developed in the 1980s to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since then, it has been found to be effective for treating a variety of other conditions, including anxiety.

EMDR therapy consists of eight phases:

  1. History taking: The therapist will ask you about your medical history, symptoms, and any traumas you have experienced.
  2. Preparation: The therapist will explain the EMDR process and help you develop coping skills to deal with any distress that may arise during the session.
  3. Assessment: The therapist will identify specific events that trigger your anxiety and help you develop positive beliefs about yourself.
  4. Desensitization: The therapist will use bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements) to help you process the negative emotions associated with your trigger events.
  5. Installation: The therapist will help you reinforce the positive beliefs you developed in phase three.
  6. Body scan: The therapist will help you become aware of any physical sensations you experience in your body when thinking about your trigger events.
  7. Closure: The therapist will help you develop coping skills to deal with any residual distress from the session.
  8. Reevaluation: The therapist will assess your progress and determine if additional sessions are necessary.

How Does EMDR Work?

It’s believed that EMDR works by helping you process and integrate traumatic memories into your existing schema (i.e., the way you understand and make sense of the world). When we experience trauma, our brain doesn’t process the event like a normal memory; instead, it gets “stuck” in our limbic system—the emotional center of our brain—and becomes unprocessed sensory data. This can lead to difficulties down the road, such as sleep problems, flashbacks, anxiety, and depression. EMDR appears to help “unstick” these memories so that they can be processed normally and integrated into our schema .

This theory is supported by research showing that bilateral stimulation helps reduce activity in the amygdala—the part of the brain responsible for fear response—and increases activity in the hippocampus—the part of the brain responsible for memory formation . In other words, EMDR may work by helping to reduce fear response and improve memory formation . However, more research is needed to confirm this theory .                                                                                                                                                           

If you’re struggling with anxiety, know that you’re not alone—anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions in America today. Thankfully, there are many treatment options available, one of which is EMDR. EMDR therapy has shown promising results for treating anxiety and other mental health conditions. If you think EMDR might be right for you call or send an email about getting started with therapy .

Unhelpful Thinking Styles

woman leaning on glass window
Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas on Pexels.com

Unhelpful thinking styles are those that we use to think about things in a way that can cause problems. Unhelpful thinking styles are sometimes called cognitive distortions or common thinking traps. These unhelpful ways of thinking often lead to negative feelings and emotions such as anxiety, sadness, anger, helplessness or frustration. This is an important concept for parents and educators to understand because it will help them teach their children how to think in a more positive way leading to improved behaviour. Everyone has some unhelpful thoughts from time-to-time but some people have more than others. It’s important for us all to recognize these unhelpful thoughts so we can avoid set-backs and feel better about ourselves and our lives.

This blog post provides several examples of unhelpful thinking styles such as all or nothing, minimizing, mind-reading, jumping to conclusion and so on.

Catastrophizing

It is very easy to get caught up in unhelpful thinking styles, and it can be hard to realize you are doing so. Catastrophizing is a common unhelpful thinking style where people “blow things out of proportion” and see the worst possible scenario. It may also appear that they have a very negative or untrue perspective on reality.

All or Nothing

All or nothing thinking is a type of unhelpful thinking style that can lead to problems in daily life. It occurs when you see things as either good or bad, with no middle ground. For example, if you make one mistake on an exam, you might think “I’m stupid” and feel like it’s pointless to study for the remaining exams. This may cause you not to do well on other exams because your thoughts are so negative about yourself. All or nothing thinking is often associated with depression and anxiety disorders but can also affect people without mental illness. All-or-nothing thinking makes it difficult to cope with everyday stressors by creating feelings of failure and self-criticism rather than motivating us toward positive change.

Mind-Reading

Mind reading is when you assume that other people are thinking negatively about you or your actions. It could be as vague as assuming that someone doesn’t like you, or it could be as specific as assuming that a certain person thinks something negative about something specific.

Jumping-to-Conclusions

Jumping to conclusions is a form of unhelpful thinking style. It’s when we make negative assumptions about something without much evidence. We often end up feeling frustrated or angry because our expectations weren’t met. We’re all guilty of jumping to conclusions sometimes, but it does us no good and can cause significant problems in relationships with others and ourselves.

Over-Generalization

Over-Generalization is one of the unhelpful thinking styles that people with anxiety deal with. It’s when someone views a single negative event as part of an overall pattern of defeat. They see it as a reflection on their abilities in general, rather than just a momentary setback.

More so, over-generalization is a common unhelpful thinking style, and one that many people struggle with on a daily basis. Although it may seem like the simplest of all unhelpful thinking styles, over-generalization can be quite harmful. It prevents us from focusing on aspects of life (positive or negative) that need our attention.

Minimizing Unhelpful

Minimizing is one of the unhelpful thinking styles where people tend to disqualify the positive or minimize their accomplishments. They would rather push focus onto someone else.

The unhelpful thinking styles we’ve covered in this blog post can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Fortunately, it is possible for us all to change these thought patterns with mindful awareness and some targeted strategies. If any of these examples resonate with you, and you would like to learn more, please contact us to discuss how we may be able to help!


Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who 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.