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Finances and Mental Health

By Fran Westwood

money

emotions stress financial literacy financial stress

Posted: January 13, 2026

Many people struggle with additional emotions such as shame and guilt about their finances, and develop deep beliefs about themselves as incapable or irresponsible. Others might feel they are not “far along enough” in their life goals compared to peers, or fear they will not be able to save enough to acquire shelter for a family, or to retire.

Mental Health Through the Seasons

By Fran Westwood

seasons

mental health Winter

Posted: December 9, 2025

Mental Health through the Winter Season It has been an unusually cold and snowy December in Southern Ontario, as snow has fallen thickly and stayed on the ground. Many branches are bare, but clouds of white cover towering conifers and ice has formed on our rivers. There is beauty in the season arriving this way, but the onset of winter can understandably bring mixed emotions and challenges to managing mental health.

Exploring Couples Therapy

By Fran Westwood

couples

attachment communication connection counselling curiousity human flourishing

Posted: November 18, 2025

How bad do things need to be before a couple reaches out to book a session with a therapist? It can be hard to know when and how to get help. What warrants inviting a third person to support your relationship in such a formal way? Many people struggle for a long time, feeling lonely, frustrated, anxious and stuck in their closest relationships before reaching out for therapeutic support. Many wait until a crisis moment pushes unconscious dynamics up to the surface in such a dramatic way that they are undeniable.

Boundaries: the Power of No and Yes

By Fran Westwood

Boundaries

Enjoying Life human flourishing Relationships

Posted: November 14, 2025

Boundaries is a common word nowadays, so much so that many people in or outside of the therapy world may be familiar with this concept. This is for good reason, as recognizing one's existing boundaries, and developing healthier ones, can be life changing. Exploring your boundaries can begin with a question or two: where do I end and you begin? What is mine to do here, and what is the other person’s? Developing clarity about what is our responsibility and work, and what is not, can be difficult and very freeing. This can pertain to all areas of life, including but not exclusive to our emotional, physical, psychological and financial realities.

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