Hi there,
For me, launching any new project usually fills me with a sort of tingly charge. It's the two sides of excitement and nervousness that makes me want to shout from the proverbial rooftops and tell everyone I can find about this great new thing. The time I've spent over these last few years of study, planning, and realization leave me feeling energized and excited to share. (More on that below...)
At the same time that I'm celebrating this personal milestone, I'm also acutely aware that the world around me isn't in a great place. In our feeds and on the news we see stories of violence and injustice, global conflict and instability, and worsening climate change.
It's a hard time to be a human being! And also we as humans have the impressive ability to hold both truths in our minds at the same time. There is room for both excitement and despair in us.
I find this "both, and" can be a powerful way to frame two things in my mind that may be competing for dominance. By accepting that both truths can coexist, I don't need to choose one over the other or feel guilt or shame for ignoring one over the other.
When I put words to these things, I find that I'm better at figuring them out and regulating my nervous system in the process. This is something I also do with my clients to support them with adjusting to challenges in their own worlds. If you know of anyone who might benefit from working with me on this or anything else that I do, please share this with them. What are the competing truths in your mind? Exciting Things
Back to the side of excitement... This month, I'm also launching a new writing project! (Eeeek!) Writing has always played a role in how I think and process ideas. Now, I'm sharing some of these ideas with you, and—even scarier—people I don't yet know! My hope is that it will be a helpful support in navigating different mental health topics, both in ourselves and in our society. Here's what's up there right now: - Right off the bat, there are a few important topics to cover before anything else. That includes an explanation on these seeds I'm planting and what to expect going forward.
- For those curious on what it's like to work with me, I've distilled all the need-to-know bits into one handy 5-minute guide, from the first "Hello" to "graduation" and everything in between! "Everything you need to know (but didn't know to ask) about counselling with me" is a fitting tagline, I think. 😊
- I've come to appreciate that the state of mental health care support in BC is... pretty confusing. In this 2-part series, I work to clear the confusion around the 11 (!) different types of professionals providing counselling services, and how to pick one that's a great fit for you. And we look at the science behind the most important factor for success in the therapy room.
Elsewhere on the Internet, here's what I've been reading lately:
That's it for this inaugural edition. Thanks for reading! Warmly,
Jason | 
