Blog

Self Compassion

By Fran Westwood

Posted: September 16, 2025

Cultivating self compassion introduces a kinder way of being with yourself. This translates into how we treat ourselves, and each other. It may not completely replace the harsh voices, the judgements, shame or angry outbursts. But self compassion invites noticing of our inner world and how we speak to ourselves, which over time translates into growth. It invites a pause, a noticing, even the recognition “wow, I am having such an unkind thought about myself” can create awareness, and that means distance between ourselves and that thought. When we can realize a part of me is thinking, feeling or acting a certain way, but not the whole of me, it stops feeling like the ultimate truth.

From Individualism to Interconnectedness

By Fran Westwood

mental health

interconnectedness therapy human flourishing

Posted: September 16, 2025

Many people living in the Western world have been shaped by predominantly individualistic values that view a person and their problems in isolation from other factors. This could be understood as part of the heritage of Western rationalism that was furthered during the Enlightenment period beginning in the 17th century. The focus on scientific reasoning in this period placed a high value on breaking things down into their smallest parts to study and make sense of them, as well as prioritizing the mind and mental reasoning over the body and emotional life. The Western world of mental health is shaped by this individualism; historically this has looked like the tendency to pathologize issues related to relational and cultural traumas, as well as viewing symptoms through a mental and scientific lens of diagnosis rather than a holistic view that includes a person’s emotional life, trauma, culture and history of relationships.

“When Summer Slips Away”: Holding Personal & Global Grief with IFS

By David McCallum

seasons mental health Self Awareness

Enjoying Life self compassion Grief

Posted: August 18, 2025

There is something undeniably tender about late summer; the golden light, the weight of warm air, the growing awareness that something is ending, even as the world still hums along. As August turns the corner, many of us begin to notice the quiet ache of grieving parts within our systems – some of these may be harder for us to name. They might be cued by the sadness of summer fading, or the anticipation of what's ahead. Or, it could be something even deeper: a mix of personal and global sorrow that feels too much for our systems to hold all at once.

Breaking Myths about Mental Health

By Graham Watt

mental health

stigma

Posted: June 27, 2025

Whether it is Bell let's talk or ads from different parts of the Mental Health Commisson or CAMH reminding people that the mental health crisis is real, stigma still exists around mental health. Stigma affects people in many ways - it prevents them from getting the support they need. Sometimes people internalize stigma and judge themselves for having mental health challenges. This can hold the person back from getting the support they need to flourish.

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