Living Fully

Finishing high school. Moving away from home, heading to university. Starting your first “real job.” These are big, exciting changes. You gain more independence but the path to adulthood can also feel overwhelming at times. In this episode, we explore the unique mental health challenges that young adults face as they transition to adulthood. Psychologist Wardah Elahi sheds light on these challenges and offers practical advice for navigating this critical phase of life. From dealing with financial stress and pressure, to gaining autonomy, to building a healthy relationship with technology, this episode covers a range of strategies to smooth the transition into adulthood. 

See links to resources on our website.

"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.

Ever notice how after a workout, you feel better, calmer, happier, and more relaxed? That’s because physical activity plays a crucial role in your mental health. Engaging in regular exercise of any form, it doesn’t need to be strenuous, and you don’t need to get an expensive gym membership, releases “feel-good” chemicals like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, elevating your mood and reducing stress. Additionally, exercise helps you process your emotions and fosters a sense of accomplishment, boosting your self-confidence and promoting mindfulness.  

On this episode of Living Fully, our host Katherine Hurtig talks with registered social worker Stephanie Warner about the impact exercise can have on our mental health, and strategies for incorporating it into our daily lives.  

"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.

Self-esteem influences how we view ourselves and the world around us, which directly impacts our mental health. Low levels of self-esteem can lead to feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, and hopelessness, creating a cycle of self-doubt and negative thoughts. In our last episode, we explored the intricacies of self-esteem and its impact on our lives. Today, we’re taking it a step further and hearing from two CCC clients who have lived through its challenges first-hand.  

On today’s episode of Living Fully, our host Katherine Hurtig talks with clients Brad and Jessie about their personal stories, what they were going through, and their experiences with counselling and the Building Esteem group program. Katherine also speaks with Annemarie Rued-Fraser, a registered psychologist, to learn the benefits of group counselling and why it can be a beneficial tool for addressing self-esteem concerns. 

"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.

Self-esteem is essential for your mental health. The way you think and feel about yourself affects all aspects of your life. It plays a role in your relationships, your work, and how you approach your goals. When you feel good about yourself, you’re more confident in your relationships and have the passion and motivation to work towards your future. But there are many factors that can affect your self-esteem, and if you’re struggling with low self-esteem, it can be hard to know how to improve it.  

On this episode of Living Fully, our host Katherine Hurtig talks with Maggie Jiang, a registered psychologist, about the correlation of self-esteem and mental health. They explore the many factors that influence how you feel about yourself, how having good relationships with friends and family can protect your self-esteem, and much more.  

"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.

Grief is one of the most human emotions you can experience- it’s inevitable that at some point in our lives, we’ll all experience it.  Everyone experiences grief in their own way, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to coping with loss. Knowing how to navigate the complex emotions that come from grief and loss can be overwhelming.  

On this episode of Living Fully, our host Katherine Hurtig talks with registered psychologist Amy Ramler to explore the intersection of grief, loss, and mental health. Amy shares how she helps her clients navigate the grieving process, provides guidance on how to approach grief, and ways you can support someone who’s experiencing the loss of a loved one.  

"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.

Although perceptions about counselling have evolved, there are still many myths about how counselling works and whether it helps or not.  These misconceptions can be barriers for some people who could benefit from counselling.

On this Living Fully episode, social worker Sarah Rosenfeld walks us through some of the main misconceptions about counselling. She explains how counselling works, what to expect from counselling sessions, who can benefit from counselling, when is the best time to go to counselling and the time commitment needed to see changes.  In this episode we also cover affordable fees, the stigma of mental health, and more.  

"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 a lot of people, the idea of practicing self-compassion can be challenging. Many of us were brought up seeking external validation and believing in the words of other people more than our own experiences. This can make it hard to ignore our inner critic and reframe our thoughts to be more compassionate. 

On this episode of Living Fully, host Katherine Hurtig talks with registered social worker Anna Hemens about self-compassion and how it affects our mental health. They explore different strategies for cultivating self-compassion, overcoming societal influences, reframing your thoughts, and showing yourself kindness. 

"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.

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, our Host Katherine Hurtig talks with registered social worker, Kelsey Bradley about the relationship between work and anxiety, unravelling its sources and offering valuable insights on how individuals can navigate these challenges. Their discussion explores various aspects of workplace anxiety, from distinguishing between regular everyday stress and prolonged anxiety, to addressing performance-based anxiety and imposter syndrome.  

"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 struggle with anxiety or depression, it can feel incredibly isolating, and learning how to navigate these emotions can seem like an uphill battle. Through the lens of personal experience, our host, Katherine Hurtig, sheds light on the transformative power of counselling.

On this episode of Living Fully, we’re turning the tables. Our host, Katherine Hurtig, shares her story about her journey with depression and anxiety. Before Katherine started working at Calgary Counselling Centre, she was a client and went through one-on-one and group program counselling. Together with registered social worker Sarah Rosenfeld, they delve into the impact of counselling on her emotional well-being. Discover what anxiety and depression looked like for Katherine, how she learned to shift her thinking, the different coping strategies she gained, and how the group therapy program at Calgary Counselling Centre helped her feel less alone. This is a story of personal growth, resilience, and the transformative journey that many of us are in.

"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.

December is in full swing, and you know what that means — a mix of festive vibes, holiday joy as well as stress and expectations. While the holiday season can be a wonderful time for celebration, quality time with loved ones, and a chance to unwind from the demands of daily life, it also presents its own set of challenges. Family gatherings, holiday commitments, and financial pressures can be overwhelming and cause extra stress.  

On this episode, Katherine Hurtig talks with registered psychologist, Amy Ramler, about the many stresses and emotions that can come with the holiday season and the different ways we can manage that.. We explore topics such as the weight of expectations, financial pressures, navigating family dynamics, setting boundaries, and coping strategies. We also discuss the common struggle of finding the perfect gift and offer insights on creating meaningful traditions while maintaining healthy boundaries with family. Listen in to learn practical ways to navigate the holiday season and make it more enjoyable and less 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.