Pride Month is often centred on visibility and celebration, but many queer folks continue to face stigma, discrimination, and uncertainty. 

In this episode of Living Fully, we continue the conversation with counsellor Rasha Taha, exploring how these experiences show up in everyday life, from microaggressions to more direct forms of exclusion, and their impact on mental health over time.

We also look at how curiosity, language, and awareness can reduce harm, as well as the importance of community, connection, and support in protecting mental health.

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

Pride Month is both a celebration and a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

In this episode of Living Fully, counsellor Rasha Taha explores the history of Pride, the importance of visibility, and how identity is shaped by both personal experiences and the world around us. 

This episode also touches on how identity develops over time, the role curiosity and support plays in early self-discovery, and how mental health and identity are closely connected.

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

The world can feel overwhelming right now. Between constant news updates, political tension, financial stress, and social media, many people are carrying anxiety, exhaustion, and uncertainty.

In this episode of Living Fully, we talk to counsellor Krystal Blacklock about the mental health impact of living in a constantly connected world. We explore why so many people are feeling powerless right now, and how connection, joy, and moments of awe can help us feel more grounded.

This episode also touches on navigating divided opinions in relationships, protecting your mental well-being while staying informed, and finding meaningful ways to cope during uncertain times.

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

For many people, starting counselling can feel unfamiliar, intimidating, or even a little overwhelming. You might wonder what to say, whether your problems are “serious enough,” or how your information stays private and confidential.

In this episode, we talk with psychologist Jelena Radan and social worker Laura McNeil about the realities of counselling, from first sessions and confidentiality to the counsellor-client relationship, communication, and boundaries.

The conversation also explores couples counselling, counselling for children and teens, what happens if a counsellor doesn’t feel like the right fit, and why reaching out for support doesn’t have to wait until things feel overwhelming.

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

Caregiving can be one of the most meaningful roles we take on, but it can also be one of the most demanding.

Registered social worker, Camille Kim explores the mental and emotional toll of caregiving. Whether you’re supporting an aging parent, a partner, or a child, caregiving often comes with a complex mix of responsibility, love, stress, and exhaustion.

Camille shares how burnout can show up over time, what happens to our nervous system when we’re constantly “on,” and why so many caregivers struggle to balance their own needs with the needs of others. We also explore the wide range of emotions that can come up, and why all of them are more common (and more normal) than you might think.

Learn practical, realistic ways to care for yourself while caring for someone else.

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

AI is showing up in more and more parts of daily life, including how people look for support when they’re feeling anxious, alone, or overwhelmed. In this episode, counsellors Sarah Rosenfeld and Denis Sushkin talk about how artificial intelligence is being used in relation to mental health, why it can feel appealing, and where its limits really matter.

They talk about the accessibility and convenience of AI, the “illusion of connection” it can create, and why tools that are designed to be validating and agreeable can miss the complexity, nuance, warning signs and lack the human response that real support requires. They also explore privacy concerns and the risks of relying on AI in moments of crisis.

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

We all worry sometimes. But when does worry become anxiety, and how can you tell the difference? In this episode, social worker Carmen Sadoway talks about how anxiety works, why it can feel so intense, and how it often connects to uncertainty, change, and the urge to prepare for every possible outcome.

You’ll learn to recognize the physical signs of anxiety, panic attacks, explore both helpful and unhelpful coping strategies, and discover simple ways to approach anxiety with more compassion. 

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

This episode originally aired February 6, 2024. 

Beyond allowing us to pay the bills, the way we make our living can fill us with purpose and can be a part of our identity. But it’s not uncommon for our work life to bring up feelings of worry and anxiety. The pressures of longer hours, inflexible schedules, and demanding workloads can contribute to increased stress, creating a delicate balance between professional fulfilment and emotional well-being.  

On this episode of Living Fully, registered social worker Kelsey Bradley talks about the relationship between work and anxiety, unravelling its sources and offering valuable insights on how you can navigate these challenges. We explore various aspects of workplace anxiety, from distinguishing between regular everyday stress and prolonged anxiety, to addressing performance-based anxiety and imposter syndrome.  

Download a copy of seven activities you can try for easing workplace anxiety.

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

Is it okay to laugh when things feel hard?

In this episode of Living Fully, we talk to psychologist Joel Zimmerman about humour and laughter as a coping strategy. He explains how laughter affects stress hormones, why it can calm your nervous system, and how it helps break up all-or-nothing thinking.

You’ll also hear about the balance between levity and sensitivity, how family and culture shape our comfort with humor, and how laughter can help us shift perspective.

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.

What if your worth isn’t measured by your productivity? So many of us move through life chasing the next milestone — the next promotion, the next goal, the next improvement — believing that if we just achieve a little more, we’ll finally feel like enough. But that constant striving often comes at a cost.

In this conversation, we talk with registered psychologist, Lisa McIsaac about how perfectionism and productivity culture shape the way we see ourselves. Larn how the drive to always perform can fuel burnout, anxiety, dissatisfaction, and tension in relationships — and why the bar for “enough” keeps moving no matter how much you accomplish.

Lisa shares practical ways to begin shifting your mindset, including:

• How to recognize when your self-worth is tied to achievement
• Where perfectionistic patterns often begin
• Why progress matters more than perfection
• Simple ways to celebrate what you’ve done instead of focusing on what you haven’t
• How to practice rest and self-compassion without feeling guilty

"Living Fully" is not a substitute or alternative for professional care or treatment. 

Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta provide effective counselling for anyone in Alberta with no wait list and no financial barriers.

For help across Canada and the United States, call 211. If you are outside Canada and the U.S., seek help from your general medical practitioner.