Conversations with Safe Harbour Therapy

Forgiveness and repair are key relational skills, but what are they? And how do we do them? When we experience a rupture in a relationship, the path to reconciliation is two-part. The first is forgiveness—the inner work of coming to peace with oneself and the other person. The second is relational repair, the work of two people taking accountability for their part in the rupture, rebuilding trust, and reestablishing closeness.

How can we possibly put our own needs aside, just for a moment, to understand what our partners might be going through in times of stress? How does building empathy for others helps us build more empathy for ourselves? Here we’ll talk about the work of couples therapy, what it means to be a Marriage and Family Therapist, and the importance of community and connection.

Take the time to stop and notice and see the “REAL” need the child has. SAI, is it sensory or is it attachment? What is the purpose of the behaviour you are seeing?

Our behavioural responses arise out of our experience of our self, others and our environment. As Occupational Therapists, we may be trained to look for the sensory needs/challenges and find ways to meet or accommodate for them, however, if we do so out of context of relationships and attachment, we may miss the true meaning of the behaviour.

With holiday celebrations quickly approaching, with its many joys and demands, many people find themselves considering their boundaries around their time, energy, conversations, and social interactions.

Stress stimulates change in the body such as the release of chemicals or the activation of the inflammatory response. Stress in itself is not necessarily the problem, what matters is how we deal with it. Craniosacral therapy(CST) is a gentle way of working with the body, using a light therapeutic touch to encourage the release of symptoms cause by physical, psychological and emotional stress.

Exploring the relationship between inflammation in the body and depression. Research has demonstrated a correlation between inflammation in the body and symptoms of depression. When inflammation is induced in healthy people, many of them develop symptoms of depression. This suggests that inflammation in the body may be a factor in the development of depression and anti-inflammatory interventions may be beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression in some people.

What can happen when we are open to the power of art and nature, seeing art in nature, creating art in nature, and are immersed in nature? I have been pondering about the life of beavers and what we can learn from these industrious creatures. I have some personal stories to share about recent experiences while being in nature as well as reflections on being in the natural world and in the forest.

For this week's episode, founder Julie Long, reflects on choice … how choice might empower us and how the lack of choice might dis-empower us and thus affect how we think, feel, and respond to our world.

Around this time of year, it’s a custom for many to share what they appreciate about each other. Perhaps you’ve recently been on the receiving end of a thank you. Do you remember your reaction? I know when I receive a comment of appreciation it resonates with me and puts a bounce in my step. Research has shown that sharing an expression of gratitude with another person elevates the receiver’s mood but it helps elevate the mood of the giver of the gratitude. It’s a dose of dopamine and who doesn’t like feeling better?

I take pride in an "outside the box" approach to identify my client's needs and provide a creative, results-oriented method to vocational rehabilitation, career counselling and disability management. I see my role, one I am passionate about, to empathically support, connect, challenge and celebrate with my clients as they define, understand and own their strengths and limitations.