Living Fully

Depression can affect much more than our mood. It can change the way we see ourselves, other people and the world around us, making it harder to recognize possibilities, find motivation or imagine that things could get better.

In this episode of Living Fully, Marcus Cheung, Registered Social Worker and Associate Director at Calgary Counselling Centre, talks about the connection between depression and our thoughts. He discusses the common thinking patterns that can keep people feeling stuck, as well as how depression can contribute to isolation and affect our relationships and everyday lives.

If you’ve been wondering how you’re doing, take a few minutes to check in with yourself. Visit areyoufeelingok.com from October 5-11 to take the free, anonymous depression screening quiz.

"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.

Each October, Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta host National Depression Screening Day, a week-long initiative that encourages people to check in with their mental health. This year, from October 5–11, anyone can take a free, confidential online depression screening quiz at areyoufeelingok.com that looks for common signs of depression.

It’s not always easy to recognize when changes in how we’re feeling, thinking or functioning may be signs of something more. In this episode of Living Fully, counsellor Sarah Rosenfeld takes a closer look at the depression screening quiz, exploring what it can help us understand, what the questions are really asking, and how it can be used as a first step toward recognizing when it may be time to seek support.

"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.

When you’re stressed, your kids may be feeling it too — even if they don’t fully understand what’s going on.

Registered social worker Jacqueline Aja Manning joins Living Fully host, Katherine Hurtig to talk about how children pick up on stress at home and how their responses can look different depending on their age. From trouble sleeping and stomach aches to irritability, withdrawal or big emotions, stress can show up in many ways.

Aja shares practical strategies for helping kids manage those feelings, including co-regulation, validating emotions, talking openly about stress and modelling healthy coping skills. They also discuss how parents can reflect on their own responses to stress, strengthen connection with their children and give themselves some compassion along the way.

"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.

Therapy isn't always a straight path. Some weeks feel encouraging, while others can feel heavier than when you started. That doesn't necessarily mean counselling isn't helping.

In this episode, psychologists Michael Barrett and Jelena Radan explain what real progress looks like, why change often happens gradually, and how Calgary Counselling Centre and Counselling Alberta use feedback tools like the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ) and Session Rating Scale (SRS) to make sure therapy stays focused on what matters most to each client.

Whether you're currently in counselling or considering starting, this conversation offers reassurance that meaningful change often happens in small, lasting ways.

"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 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.