Counseling Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Kingston Integrated Healthcare Inc.

A Visualization to Prevent Your Next Downward Spiral

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on November 1, 2018.

In my field of work, I see several clients struggling with chronic stress and anxiety. These individuals often find themselves pulled into habitual and problematic thinking patterns, which usually include (in cognitive behavioural therapy terms) catastrophic thinking, worrying and over-planning, should-ing, rumination, black and white thinking, and mind reading. Because thinking in this way has become quite automatic to the stressed or anxious individual, it can happen outside of their conscious awareness. Before realizing it,

Sometimes, the Answer Lies in the “How,” Not the “Why”

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on June 1, 2018.

We often search for answers to life’s big questions: “Why did this happen to me?”… “Why didn’t that?”… “What’s the point of it all?”…

We feel like we need to have the answers in order to relax, let go, carry on with life, and feel happy. This is the nature of the human brain. We think, theorize, and analyze for the sake of accomplishing practical tasks, which can be helpful and exciting in many ways. However, emotionally speaking, the thinking brain has the potential to do a lot of harm.

Learning to Love Thyself (2 min read)

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on February 1, 2018.

With Valentine’s Day soon approaching, love is in the air, but instead of focusing merely on romantic love, it’s important to consider the love that we have for ourselves (self-love!).

Unlikely Inspiration For Meaningful Change

Written by Dr. Sonya Nobbe, ND on January 4, 2018.

In a few weeks I’ll be speaking at the South Eastern region Hospice Palliative Care conference about the value of integrative medicine for people who are dying. To help me prepare, I’ve been reading Die Wise by Stephen Jenkins, a philosophical and critical exploration of the phobia our culture has about death. This manifesto (as he calls it), would seem the least likely place for inspiration for New Year’s resolutions! In fact, of all the happiness and change-your-life books I’ve come across, this one offered me the deepest motivation and inspiration for making meaningful change in my life.

Get More this Christmas by Giving Less

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on December 3, 2017.

The holiday season is officially upon us. We can’t deny it any longer.

For some people, this stirs up feelings of stress and anxiety.

The pressure is on to get the shopping done, put up the tree, hang the lights, decorate the house, prepare baking, wrap the presents, send out cards, attend work parties, visit the in-laws, keep the kids entertained, shovel the driveway, make the perfect dinner, travel, and, oh yes, if there’s any time left over, actually enjoy the season!

Mindful Forgiveness: Finding Peace in the Hurt

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on November 1, 2017.

For many, forgiveness is viewed as a way of giving in, making allowances or excuses, letting another person “win,” or showing weakness.

For the unforgiving, grudges are held, intense emotions are clung onto with a sense of desperation, for the purpose of fighting back, trying to obtain justice, or somehow attempting to prove a point or change what was done in the past.

However, resisting forgiveness in this way is exhausting, defeating, and ultimately, a way of letting the other person take control over you.

On Starting Something New: How to Embrace & Own Change

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on September 1, 2017.

Change is stressful, especially when it’s unexpected change. But even planned, positive change can put you on your toes!

People have a general tendency to fear the unknown. Oftentimes, we’d rather stick with what we know because it’s familiar and, well, let’s face it, the familiar is comfortable. When we look into a future of unknowns it tends to feel largely out of our control, and this lack of control is what tends to make us feel stressed. So, when we think about starting something new, we might hesitate, make excuses, or save the change for “one day when…”

How is it, then, that you can stop procrastinating and actually make change happen?

The Importance of Reconnecting with Your Values

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on June 3, 2017.

(3.5 min read) We all get lost from time to time. That’s part of being human.

Sometimes life throws you unexpected curve balls, but sometimes you make a series of conscious decisions that, without you even realizing it at the time, end up throwing you so far off course that you wake up with the sudden realization, one day, that you hardly even recognize yourself anymore.

Why Impatience May be a Source of Your Discontent: And, What to do About It

Written by Lindsay Dupuis, MA, CCC on May 1, 2017.

(3.5 min read)

Patience is a virtue.

That’s how the saying goes.

And a virtue, according to Oxford Living Dictionaries, is a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.

Tag: Counseling