Your child’s voice can be a powerful way for them to connect with the world. But what if your child struggles to express themselves? As a parent, it’s really hard to see them frustrated or feeling misunderstood – all because they can’t speak well. A two-year-old is expected to use around 200 words and, by four and a half, around 2,000. If your child isn’t reaching these milestones, they could be facing a speech or language disorder.1 Poor communication skills can seriously impact their ability to speak and their confidence in interacting with others. Speech therapy could be the answer. It provides a variety of solutions for young children, and we’re here to examine each of them. By better understanding the benefits of speech therapy (and when it’s needed), you can give your child a more comfortable and fulfilling life. Early Signs of Speech and Language Delays in Children If your child seems quieter than the other children their age, …
ADHD Assessments: What Parents Should Know
Being a parent of a child with ADHD can be overwhelming without the right support. Your child might dart down the aisle and touch everything in sight, continue to roughhouse when it’s quiet time, or struggle to follow basic instructions and miss important details. These telltale scenarios, especially with the ongoing stigma towards girls’ mental health, definitely feel overwhelming. But remember that you’re not alone. ADHD is one of the most commonly occurring childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. It’s so common that it affects nearly 1 in 21 people in Canada.1 So, if you suspect your child might have ADHD, it’s only natural to have questions and concerns about what to do next. When is it time for us to seek help? What does the assessment process involve, and how should we prepare? Understanding how ADHD is evaluated can help you handle it more confidently. Here’s everything you need to know about ADHD assessments to support your child and family. What is …
Exploring the Power of Brainspotting to Heal Trauma
By Kate Kolskog, Registered Psychologist The human brain is an incredible piece of machinery that controls all of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. However, when we experience trauma, our brain can become stuck in a cycle of fear, anxiety, and pain that can be difficult to break. Thankfully, there are many different forms of therapy available to help individuals who are struggling with the effects of trauma, including a relatively new method called brainspotting. Brainspotting was developed by therapist David Grand in 2003 as a way to help individuals who are struggling with traumatic memories, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses on exploring emotions and thoughts, brainspotting focuses on identifying physical spots in the body where feelings of discomfort, tension, or pain seem to be stored. By deliberately focusing on these spots, it is possible to activate the body’s natural healing processes and release tension and pain. During a brainspotting session, the therapist will …
What is Electro Equiscope and How Can It Benefit You?
By Kate Kolskog, Registered Psychologist The realm of medical technology is constantly evolving, and one revolutionary tool that has been gaining popularity in recent years is the Electro Equiscope. The Electro Equiscope is a non-invasive and drug-free therapy that helps to restore balance to the body’s tissues and promote self-healing. In this blog post, we’ll explore what the Electro Equiscope is, how it works, and how it can benefit your overall health and wellness. The Electro Equiscope is a medical device that uses a biofeedback mechanism to detect and correct imbalances within the body. It does this by reading the electrical impulses that run throughout the body and identifying areas of low or high energy flow. Once these areas are identified, the device sends mild electrical impulses back into the body to stimulate and restore balance. One of the biggest benefits of the Electro Equiscope is its ability to treat a wide range of conditions.From chronic pain to acute injuries, …
The Power of Spinal Energetics: How It Can Improve Your Overall Health
By Kate Kolskog, Registered Psychologist Spinal Energetics is a modality developed by Chiropractor and counsellor Sarah Jane. It is a practice that combines Eastern and Western thought, to interact with a person’s spine, nervous system and energetic field, to harness a person’s own innate wisdom to know and heal themselves. It is believed that energy flows through the spine and that blockages in this energy can lead to physical and emotional imbalances. By aligning and harmonizing the energy in the spine, it is possible to improve overall health and well-being. In this article, we will explore the concept of spinal energetics, its benefits, and how it can improve your life. Spinal energetics is based on the belief that the spine is the energetic center of the body and that energy flows through the spinal column. The energy rises up through the chakras, or energy centers, in the body, bringing healing and transformation. The benefits of spinal energetics are numerous. It …
You Don’t Need To Be Thin To Have An Eating Disorder
A recent article published by CBC News discussed the narrow way that eating disorders are portrayed and conceptualized. I did a happy dance in my living room after browsing the first few lines of the article because yes, yes, and yes. This is such an important topic, and while I can’t say that it is timely (this isn’t a new thing), any attention it gains in the press is positive. The idea that individuals with eating disorders are always underweight is a myth that needs to be upended. Of course, there are individuals who fall into this category and also have an eating disorder, however, there are many more individuals who have a body that is considered typical and who still live with the daily mental and emotional torture of body dysmorphia, obsessive calorie counting, ruminating food thoughts, and a lack of connection to their body. Their lives may have been taken over by an eating disorder in the …
ADHD In Girls And Women
Written by Caroline LaPierre ADHD has long been thought of as something that impacts young boys. On TV or in movies, we are often shown boys running around, causing trouble. This is still what many think of when they hear ADHD. However, this could not be further from the truth. I frequently have women come into the office wanting to know “what’s wrong with me?” I promise you the answer is nothing! Women have long been stigmatized when it comes to mental health. Many women have been struggling for years with anxiety, depression or just a sense of being generally unsettled. Some have been taking medications to help alleviate symptoms. However, little progress is made and shame, frustration, and self-doubt remain high. So how do you know you may be struggling with ADHD. In women, I often hear concerns of procrastination. Starting a task seems impossible. Yet on the flip side, many projects are left unfinished. Some even buy everything …
Healing With the Electro-Equiscope
Written by Erica Andries Have you or someone you know experienced an injury, undergone surgery, has a chronic illness, and experiences pain or inflammation that just does seem to go away? The Electro-Equiscope uses a technology that offers a unique and advanced approach to healing the body at a cellular level. Using a minute electric current (microcurrent), electricity is directed into the body using probes, plates, and other various attachments. Typically, when people think of electric therapies, they think of an invasive treatment that can be uncomfortable. One of the amazing things about the Equsicope is that it is noninvasive and virtually pain-free. A lot of the time the client cannot even feel the current. What is the Electro- Equiscope used for? The better question is, what is it not?! This device has a diverse approach to aid in the healing of a wide variety of conditions, ailments, and illnesses. Working with the body’s brain and nervous system, the results …
Mindfulness Meditation & Emotional Elevation
Meditation is a state of consciousness in which you are bringing your attention to only one thing. Typically, this mindfulness comes from taking deep breaths, removing distractions, and being present. So often I hear “I need to start meditating, but I’m not good at it”. When we think of meditation, we tend to visualize someone sitting cross-legged, palms facing the sky, with their eyes closed. Have you ever been out in nature, stopped to take in your surroundings and thought, wow, this is so peaceful? Have you ever been so into a song that you sing every lyric and feel every word? Or have you sat at home with your pet, reading your favorite book, basking in each other’s company? If you have done one of these things, you have successfully meditated! Remember, meditation is a state of being and can be altered to whatever works best for you. These are not the only examples of alternative meditation. Others include: …
Dealing With Your Shame
Whenever my clients discover that I was previously a family physician before becoming a therapist, they would always ask why I switched careers. The answer is typically complicated, but I usually simplify it by saying that I am drawn to human connection. I have a deep curiosity for it. There is so much research to show that we are wired for it. Several psychological theories and recent research have shown that not only are we wired for connection, but it also affects our health. Being and feeling connected have been shown to have positive effects on our blood sugar levels, cancer recovery, cardiovascular challenges, depressive symptoms, and overall mental health. On the other hand, Isolation has been shown to worsen the symptoms of depression and increase anxiety. As a therapist, I typically encourage my clients to increase their social connections as it is a proven way to improve our mental health. Given that the benefits of connection are apparent, why …