Blog Articles

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Adapting to Life's Challenges

From the beginning of time, humans have been adapting to challenges.  What is this process like and how can we support a healthy adaptation to the challenges of life?  In this blog, Edmonton-based Psychologist, Linda Forde,  explains how the human body is designed to adapt a

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Exploring Feminist Therapy: A Unique Approach to Mental Health

The author bell hooks famously said, "Feminism is for everybody" and as a feminist therapist, I couldn't agree more. If you see the word "feminist," you may think it's not relevant to your life or perhaps that a feminist therapist won't be a good fit for you. The truth is, feminist therapy

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Understanding the Impulse to Say "Yes" and Embracing the Power of "No" for Better Mental Health

In our fast-paced world, the impulse to say "Yes" often feels powerful and automatic. From agreeing to additional tasks at work to accepting social invitations or volunteering for new projects, many of us find ourselves constantly saying yes, sometime to our own detriment. In this blog pos

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What is Burnout?

Burnout is a term often thrown around, but what is it really? Counsellor and owner of Holistic Healing Counselling, Shaheen Alarakhia, sat down with Daria Laine Photography to talk about burnout. You can watch the full conversation below and check out the blog to learn even more about burn

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Tools To Use When You Feel Overwhelmed Or Anxious (Part 2 - Grounding)

In our previous blog post, we explored how anxiety can often catch us off guard, causing us to feel a variety of sensations and no longer in control of our thoughts. Anxiety can be the result of our brains attempting to keep us safe based on learned triggers in our environment. Although th

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Tools To Use When You Feel Overwhelmed Or Anxious (Part 1 - Breath)

Sometimes, often seemingly out of nowhere, we can experience intense feelings of anxiety or overwhelm. This may be experienced as, but not limited to, a rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, racing thoughts, an upset stomach, and feelings of fear or panic. You may feel completely out of control a

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Interview with CBC News on Regulating Counselling Therapists

Recently, director of Holistic Healing Counselling, Shaheen Alarakhia was interviewed by CBC News on the importance of regulating counselling therapists in Alberta. Read the article below. To learn a bit more about the importance of regulating the counselling therapy professions in Alberta

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Goals and Intentions: Paving Your Own Path in 2024 (Part 1)

A new year is often associated with setting new goals but did you know that most goals set on January 1st are tossed aside by the end of the month? As January comes to a close, you might be noticing that the New Year's resolutions you set are starting to feel harder to accomplish. Canadian

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Goals and Intentions: Opening Up Opportunities in 2024 (Part 2)

It is common to struggle with keeping New Year’s resolutions. In fact, 64% of New Year's resolutions are given up on by January 31st! In Part 1 of this blog post, Edmonton-based Canadian Certified Counsellor, Kelsey Lummer discussed how sometimes we create goals that are hard to attain a

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Interview with 630ched on Climate Anxiety

Recently, director of Holistic Healing Counselling, Shaheen Alarakhia was interviewed by 630ched on her blog post on Climate Anxiety. Listen to the clip from the interview in the attached video. To learn a bit more about climate anxiety you can read the full blog post here.

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5 Ways to Avoid the End of Summer Blues

For many, Summer is a time filled with fun, visits with friends and family, vacation days, and soaking up some Vitamin D. If you’ve noticed that your mood improves in the summer, you are not alone. Researchers have found that mental well-being tends to improve in the summer months. So, w

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Self-Compassion

Self-compassion is a form of self-kindness, where we offer ourselves the empathy that we often extend to others. Self compassion can be a transformative tool to help improve mental health. Some studied benefits of self-compassion are reduction in stress and anxiety, and improvements in res

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Climate Anxiety

Climate anxiety, also known as eco-anxiety, is a term used to describe anxiety caused by the climate crisis. Often, individuals with climate anxiety will experience a feeling of imminent doom around climate change. Some symptoms of climate anxiety include feelings of helplessness, hopeless

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Interview with Global Edmonton on Psychological Spring Cleaning

Recently, director of Holistic Healing Counselling, Shaheen Alarakhia was interviewed by Global News on her blog post on psychological spring cleaning. Watch the interview below. To learn a bit more about psychological spring cleaning you can read the full blog post here.

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How Trauma Impacts the Nervous System

Why is understanding the nervous system important? Understanding how our nervous system operates has been incredibly useful to me personally and as a clinician in better understanding what happens in my own body as well as what is happening for my clients. Understanding our nervous system

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Psychological Spring Cleaning

Spring is just around the corner and with the warmer temperatures and longer days, many people begin to think of spring cleaning. Spring cleaning can have a positive effect on our mental health, but what about psychological spring cleaning? Edmonton-based therapist and owner of Holistic He

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Journaling to Improve Mental Health

Did you know that journaling is an effective tool to improve your mental health? Journaling has been shown to be an effective cognitive behavioural therapy technique and has shown benefits in reducing symptoms associated with stress, anxiety, and depression. Journaling can give people a wa

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Best in Edmonton

We are excited to share that Holistic Healing Counselling has been added to the Best in Edmonton's Best Marriage Counseling Therapists in Edmonton list. We are glad to hear that the Best in Edmonton has selected us from all of the counselling therapists in Edmonton as one of the best to of

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Preparing For Your First Counselling Appointment

You’ve booked in your first appointment for counselling! It is a big step and one that is often followed by the question, what happens next? This blog post is to help you prepare for your first session. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us using the button bel

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Building Safe and Supportive Parent-Child Relationships

In this blog series Edmonton-based family counsellor Adam Sartore, will share ideas and strategies for how to build safe, resilient, and healthy families. In this blog post, Adam illustrates how safety and trust can be formed between the caregiver and child. He also discusses an evidence-b

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My Mindful Mondays

During the months of April and May this year one of our very own counsellors at Holistic Healing Counselling, Adam Sartore, created a series of mindful exercise videos called Mindful Mondays. In this series Adam lead you through different mindful exercises to help bring you to the present

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My Journey

Juanita Marshall is a Canadian Certified Counsellor at Holistic Healing Counselling. They work with adults, teens and couples and have a special interest in counselling first responders and individuals looking to connect with their authentic selves. Juanita shares about their life's journe

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EMS Burnout

Emergency medical services (EMS) workers deal with unique work-related stresses that can affect overall mental health and well-being. EMS's daily work life holds significant occupational hazards that can negatively impact an individual’s quality of life and heighten risks for post-trauma

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What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a highly researched and effective form of therapy. Whether you are new to therapy or you have worked with a mental health professional in the past, EMDR therapy might help you resolve your past hurt and help you to live a more

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Intimacy in Romantic Relationships

In our last blog post on Boundaries in Romantic Relationships, we explored how unmet needs and mismatched boundaries can impact the strength of our intimate relationships. In this blog post, Edmonton-based therapist Selena Arcovio, looks at the role of intimacy, affection, and connection i

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Boundaries in Romantic Relationships

As we discussed in our last blog post on Boundaries and Communication, being vulnerable, reflecting on our authentic needs, and opening ourselves up to what might happen as a result of setting boundaries can be difficult. This is especially true when it comes to our romantic relationships.

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What to Expect When Booking Your Teen in for Counselling

Booking your teen in for a counselling session can be both scary and exciting for all involved! Prior to booking the appointment, you will have already had an open conversation with your teen or them with you about wanting to go to counselling (or they will have talked to you about wanting

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Communicating Boundaries

Learning how to communicate with others about boundaries can help us cultivate more fulfilling relationships with ourselves and others. This is the third post in our All About Boundaries Series by Edmonton-based registered provisional psychologist, Selena Arcovio. To get caught up, check o

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What Happens When Our Boundaries Are Crossed?

Learning about boundaries, our reactions, and how to implement boundaries, can help us to live a more authentic and fulfilling life. This is the second post in our All About Boundaries Series by Edmonton-based therapist, Selena Arcovio. Check out the first post exploring what boundaries ar

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All About Boundaries - Part 1

The topic of “Boundaries” has become quite popular these days. We often hear that we need to set better boundaries, however many of us feel unsure about what boundaries actually are and how to implement them in our relationships. Over the next few blog posts, Edmonton-based counsellor,

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Going Beyond Rainbow Flags

Pride and support for our 2SLGBTQ+ community goes beyond a month. In this blog, Edmonton Based Counsellor, Adam Sartore, explores how we can consciously show up as allies for 2SLGBTQ+ folks every day.

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5 Ways to Cope with Pandemic Burnout

Pandemic BurnoutRecently, Edmonton-based counsellor, Shaheen, had the chance to talk to Sound Sugar Radio, a local radio station, about pandemic burnout and how to cope with it. So what is pandemic burnout and how can you reduce the symptoms of it? Read on to learn more and check out the i

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Holistic Healing Counsellor, Shaheen, recognized on Virgin Radio's A Women A Day Edmonton

COUNSELLOR, SHAHEEN ALARAKHIA, FEATURED ON FOR A WOMEN A DAY EDMONTONThis week, we are thrilled to share that our counsellor, Shaheen Alarakhia was featured on iheart radio's Women A Day Edmonton. To listen to the segment, click here.You can find the write up on our counsellor, Shaheen Ala

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Caregiver Burnout

CAREGIVER BURNOUTResearch suggests that caregivers can experience burnout similar to health care professionals. If you are a caregiver, one of the ways you can protect yourself is by understanding caregiver burnout as well as knowing risk factors, warning signs and when to seek help. Careg

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The Caregivers Circle

Caregiving comes with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Currently, caregivers are dealing with reduced supports, both formal and informal due to covid-19 constraints. Constant changes to routines, due to covid-19, may also be an extra stressor. This combination is one that could

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SMARTER Goals for Success

WHY SET SMARTER GOALS?According to a study by Strava of over 800 million activities, most people who had new years resolutions will abandon them by January 19th. Although, we don't have to wait until a new year to set goals for ourselves, the way that we set the goals can have a big impact

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Interview with Sound Sugar Radio

RADIO INTERVIEW ON RESILIENCE2020 has been a year like no other! Overall, people have been under increased pressure with less resources to deal. This had lead to worsening mental health for many Albertans. New ways to cope need to be introduced in order for people to avoid negative long te

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5 Ways to Complete the Stress Cycle

Stress is at an all-time high for many of my clients right now. Some talk about how the coronavirus has taken away social supports, financial stability, and has resulted in health anxiety. Others yet, cite politics. Some talk about the strain on their current relationships due to changes i

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WELCOME TO HOLISTIC HEALING

Meet our certified therapists, Adam, Selena, Danielle, Shaheen and Linda. No matter what you want to work on, we have a therapist to help. Our Counsellors focus on helping you feel at ease by allowing you to feel heard and understood. By using a holistic, or whole picture approach, our trained Counsellors can help their patients live a happier, more authentic life. Our therapists offer adult counselling, couples counselling, and adolescent/teen counselling. Interested in learning more? Need to book a session? Contact Us here.

LIVE A HAPPIER LIFE

Counselling doesn’t just have to be for those who have reached a crisis situation. If you want to live a happier life by discussing the issues that are causing you stress, anxiety, or fear, contact Holistic Healing today to book your free initial consultation.