Unwind Counselling values the health and well being of the clients the office serves and respects the recommended precautions needed to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak. Until April 6, 2020 (the current anticipated social contact restriction lift date) online booking options will be limited and appointments booked will be carried out by a phone call or in person if certain health and safety criteria are met.

In person sessions will temporarily not be an option for those who are: age 65 and over; have compromised immune systems; or have other underlying medical conditions. Precautions will also be taken with clients who have regular contact with vulnerable people. In person sessions will require a Social distance of 2-metres. Payments for sessions must be completed through contactless options available through PayPal or E-transfer.

March is Social Work month, and this is something to celebrate. Social Workers work in a variety of settings and in a variety of ways, with individuals, couples and families. Social Workers help people manage crisis, challenges, build relationship skills, self-esteem and confidence.

Unwind Counselling is happy to announce new time slots are open to book Individual or Couple sessions. It is your choice whether to book a 60 minute session at a rate of $120.00, or a 90 minute session at a rate of $150.00. Post-Secondary Students are eligible for a reduced rate of $90.00 for 60 minute session, or $120.00 for a 90 minute session. Appointments can be scheduled through online booking, email or phone call. If you choose to book online, and a time that meets your needs does not appear to be available, please contact Unwind Counselling by phone or email to express your appointment time and date needs.

Valentine’s Day is coming up and I wonder how others plan to (or plan not to) celebrate this day. If this day involves spending time with another person you love, I hope quality time is part of the experience and includes healthy communication, connection, respect and joy. If this day involves spending time on your own, you can use this time to discover you are someone you love, and respect.

I am happy to share that Unwind Counselling offers a discounted rate for Post-Secondary Students! Students face several challenges that impact their emotional and physical well being. Many students experience being away from home for the first time and may feel homesick; missing family, friends and familiar surroundings.

Have you stopped playing, are you playing without knowing it, or do you make sure to include play in your schedule? As children, play and creativity are natural parts of our daily lives at school, at home and in the community. As adults, we tend to have fewer opportunities for play and creativity during our workday and when we are home, we can become bogged down with functional vs. fun tasks.

Do you find yourself thinking more about the past or the future, rather than truly living in the present moment ? This is something many of us experience along with the emotions that are tied to our past experiences and anticipation of our future experiences. The past is in the past, and the future is not predictable.

You are not alone if you are thinking about booking a counselling appointment but hesitating about doing doing this. There are several reasons you might hesitate. You might feel nervous about talking to someone about your personal life and challenges. You might also anticipate feeling the stress that often accompanies attending the first appointment, and when you are navigating your way to the counselling office and meeting someone for the first time

When you ring in the new year, how will you celebrate? Many people will gather with friends and family whether this is a large or small group, at home or in the community. Some gatherings will involve invitations and planning, while other gatherings involve less planning when your company involves those you live with. Next question, do you have traditions of how and when you ring in the official new year at midnight, and who started those traditions?

This is the time of year when our to-do lists tend to be longer, our expenses are higher and our days (and nights) are busier. This is the perfect recipe to make us feel more stress instead of joy. Making sure to place You at the top of your to-do list is essential to help you promote more joy and less stress in your life. This is important every day, but for many it is especially important around busier times such as the holidays.

One of the skills most (if not all) couples want to build is their ability to communicate with one another. There are couples who read about ways to build their communication skills online or in books and can do so on their own, while many other couples work on these skills with the help of a counsellor. Learning how to stop the “Four Horsemen” when communicating is very important. The Four Horsemen is a term coined by therapists, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman and Dr. John Gottman. (www.gottman.com)