Mindset Solutions Counselling

Mindset Solutions Counselling Registered Provisional Psychologist providing in-person and online counselling in Calgary and Strathmore.

I support individuals and couples with anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship concerns through evidence-based, compassionate care.

What I wish clients knew before their first therapy session 🤍You don’t need to know what to say.You don’t need to have y...
02/19/2026

What I wish clients knew before their first therapy session 🤍

You don’t need to know what to say.
You don’t need to have your thoughts neatly organized.
And you definitely don’t need to have a “big enough” problem to be here.

Most people come into their first session feeling nervous, unsure, or worried they’ll say the wrong thing. The truth? There is no wrong way to show up.

Therapy isn’t a test.
It’s not about performing, impressing, or explaining yourself perfectly.
It’s a space to slow down, make sense of what’s been weighing on you, and start where you actually are — not where you think you should be.

You’re allowed to:
✨ Take your time
✨ Change your mind
✨ Feel unsure
✨ Not have answers yet

Progress doesn’t come from saying things “right.”
It comes from honesty, curiosity, and building safety over time.

If you’ve been thinking about therapy but waiting to feel more ready — this is your sign. Ready often comes after you begin, not before.

👉 Follow for honest insights about therapy, mental health, and relationships.



🌟 Why Low Self-Esteem Often Looks Like Burnout 🌟Many adults chalk up exhaustion, irritability, or feeling “stretched too...
02/17/2026

🌟 Why Low Self-Esteem Often Looks Like Burnout 🌟

Many adults chalk up exhaustion, irritability, or feeling “stretched too thin” to burnout — but sometimes, what’s really happening is tied to self-esteem.

When we doubt our abilities or constantly compare ourselves to others, we push harder to prove our worth. Over time, this chronic self-pressure can mimic burnout:

💭 Excessive mental fatigue – always monitoring performance, overthinking decisions
💬 Emotional exhaustion – feeling drained even after small tasks
🤝 Avoidance or withdrawal – procrastinating or pulling back from challenges to protect self-image
🔥 Perfectionism and overworking – trying to compensate for perceived shortcomings

Understanding the connection between self-esteem and burnout can shift the lens from “I’m failing” to “I’ve been overloading myself to prove my worth.” Therapy can help break this cycle by addressing self-beliefs, building realistic self-compassion, and creating sustainable coping strategies.

📌 If this resonates, you’re not alone — and support can help you feel seen and capable again.

✨ New on the Mindset Solutions Blog: Adult ADHD — More Than Focus and Productivity ✨Most people think ADHD in adults is ...
02/15/2026

✨ New on the Mindset Solutions Blog: Adult ADHD — More Than Focus and Productivity ✨

Most people think ADHD in adults is just about being distracted or struggling to cross off to‑dos. But adult ADHD often looks very different — and far deeper — than most stereotypes suggest. It affects how you regulate emotions, manage relationships, understand time, and even how you see yourself.

In the latest blog, I explore:
💭 Why ADHD isn’t just about focus — including emotional overwhelm and time blindness
💬 How intense emotions and rejection sensitivity show up in daily life
🤝 The impact on relationships and self‑esteem
🔥 Why masking and burnout are common — especially for high achievers
🧠 What effective support and therapy really look like

If you’ve ever wondered “Why does life feel harder than it should, despite trying hard?” — this is for you. You don’t need to be in crisis to explore your experience or seek support.

👉 Read the full blog here:
www.mindsetsolutionscounselling.ca/blog/adult-adhd-more-than-focus-and-productivity

Pondering Sunday – Part 4: Why Burnout Keeps RepeatingFor many people, burnout is not a one-time experience. Instead, it...
02/15/2026

Pondering Sunday – Part 4: Why Burnout Keeps Repeating

For many people, burnout is not a one-time experience. Instead, it follows a familiar cycle: pushing hard, feeling depleted, taking brief rest, and then pushing again as soon as some energy returns. When burnout keeps repeating, it is rarely because someone is “bad at managing their time.” More often, it reflects deeper patterns that quietly drive overextension.

Perfectionism is one of the most common contributors. When your internal standards are relentlessly high, slowing down can feel unsafe or unacceptable. People-pleasing is another. If your sense of worth is tied to being helpful, reliable, or accommodating, saying no may feel more distressing than exhaustion itself.

Another powerful driver of recurring burnout is tying self-worth to output. In this pattern, rest is experienced as guilt-inducing rather than restorative. Worth becomes something you earn through productivity, achievement, or constant availability.

This is why rest alone rarely prevents burnout from returning. While time off can temporarily restore energy, it does not address the beliefs, expectations, and relational patterns that created the exhaustion in the first place. Long-term recovery requires a deeper shift — redefining success to include health, sustainability, and emotional wellbeing, not just performance.

Breaking the burnout cycle involves learning to notice your internal warning signs earlier and responding to them with intention rather than self-criticism. It means practising boundaries even when they feel uncomfortable, and allowing your value to exist independently of what you produce.

This work is not about doing less for the sake of it. It is about creating a life that you can actually sustain — one where effort and rest are in balance, and where your nervous system does not have to collapse in order to be heard.

Call to action:
If burnout feels like a repeating cycle in your life, support can help you interrupt it and create lasting change. You can learn more about working together at www.mindetsolutionscounselling.ca

I fell head over heels for this bag the moment I laid eyes on it! It's crafted to perfection and has all the pockets a g...
02/14/2026

I fell head over heels for this bag the moment I laid eyes on it! It's crafted to perfection and has all the pockets a girl could ask for. No significant other? No problem, I'm treating myself! ❤️

✨ You don’t have to be in crisis to start therapy.One of the biggest myths about therapy is that you should only go when...
02/12/2026

✨ You don’t have to be in crisis to start therapy.

One of the biggest myths about therapy is that you should only go when things are “bad enough.”
When you’re barely coping. When everything feels like it’s falling apart. 💥

But many people don’t arrive in therapy in crisis.
They arrive tired. 😮‍💨
Stuck.
Frustrated by the same patterns showing up again and again. 🔁

They’re functioning — going to work, parenting, maintaining relationships — but underneath it all, something doesn’t feel quite right.

Maybe you notice:
• You’re more irritable than you want to be 😤
• You overthink everything and feel constantly on edge 🧠
• Your relationship feels distant or tense, but not “bad enough” to justify help 💔
• You keep prioritizing everyone else and feel disconnected from yourself 🤍
• You’re successful on paper, but quietly burnt out 🔥

Therapy isn’t just about fixing what’s broken.
It’s about understanding why certain patterns exist, where they came from, and whether they’re still serving you. 🧩

It can be a space to slow down, reflect, and make intentional changes — before resentment builds, before burnout takes over, before anxiety becomes your baseline. 🌱

You don’t need a diagnosis.
You don’t need to hit a breaking point.
You don’t need to justify why you’re struggling.

If you’ve been wondering, “Would therapy even help me?” — that question alone is often a sign that something inside you is asking for attention. 💬

You’re allowed to seek support because you want things to feel better — not just because things feel unbearable.

👉 Follow for honest conversations about therapy, mental health, relationships, and the realities we don’t talk about enough.



How ADHD Actually Shows Up in Adults (Not What TikTok Tells You)ADHD in adults rarely looks like constant motion or “can...
02/10/2026

How ADHD Actually Shows Up in Adults (Not What TikTok Tells You)

ADHD in adults rarely looks like constant motion or “can’t sit still.”
Most adults with ADHD look capable, intelligent, and high-functioning—until the internal load becomes exhausting.

Here’s how ADHD often shows up in real life:

• Chronic overwhelm
You know what needs to be done—but starting feels impossible. Tasks pile up, not from laziness, but from executive functioning overload.

• Inconsistent focus
You can hyperfocus for hours on something interesting, yet struggle to respond to a simple email or finish routine tasks.

• Time blindness
Underestimating how long things take, running late, or feeling like time “disappears” during the day.

• Emotional intensity
Big reactions, quick frustration, sensitivity to criticism, or feeling deeply affected by others’ moods.

• Mental exhaustion
So much energy goes into remembering, organizing, masking, and self-correcting that burnout becomes common.

• High self-criticism
Many adults grow up believing they’re “bad at life,” unmotivated, or unreliable—long before ADHD is ever considered.

ADHD isn’t a character flaw.
It’s a neurodevelopmental difference—and with the right supports, adults often experience significant relief and clarity.

If this resonates, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it.

💾 Save this for later
➡️ Follow for evidence-based mental health insights



Anxiety doesn’t always look like panic.Many adults live with subtle anxiety symptoms and assume they’re “just stressed” ...
02/08/2026

Anxiety doesn’t always look like panic.

Many adults live with subtle anxiety symptoms and assume they’re “just stressed” or “too busy.” But these quiet signs can still impact your relationships, sleep, work performance, and overall well-being.

If you’ve ever experienced:

Persistent overthinking

Physical tension without a clear medical cause

Irritability or reduced patience

Feelings of overwhelm despite functioning well

…it might be time to look beneath the surface.

I wrote a new blog exploring the subtle signs of anxiety in adults and how anxiety counselling in Calgary can help.

Read more here:
https://www.mindsetsolutionscounselling.ca/blog/anxiety-in-adults-subtle-signs-you-might-be-missing-anxiety-counselling-calgary

Whether you’re in Calgary or across Alberta, support is available.

Pondering Sunday – Part 3: What Actually Helps When You’re Burnt OutBurnout recovery is not about adding more self-care ...
02/08/2026

Pondering Sunday – Part 3: What Actually Helps When You’re Burnt Out

Burnout recovery is not about adding more self-care to an already overloaded life. It begins with reducing strain.

Containment comes first — identifying what can be paused, simplified, or delegated. Nervous system support follows: sleep, nourishment, gentle movement, and moments of quiet. Emotional permission is essential; healing requires self-responsiveness rather than self-judgment.

Burnout also thrives in isolation. Feeling understood and supported is a powerful part of recovery.

Call to action:
If burnout feels unmanageable on your own, professional support can help you recover sustainably. Learn more at www.mindetsolutionscounselling.ca

Expectations vs Reality of TherapyExpectation 1: Therapy will “fix” everything in a few sessions.Reality: True growth ta...
02/05/2026

Expectations vs Reality of Therapy

Expectation 1: Therapy will “fix” everything in a few sessions.
Reality: True growth takes time. Therapy is a journey, not a quick fix. The work happens gradually — in the insights you gain, the patterns you notice, and the small steps you take between sessions. Lasting change comes from consistent effort and reflection.

Expectation 2: My therapist will tell me exactly what to do.
Reality: Therapy is collaborative. Your therapist doesn’t hand you a roadmap, but they guide you in exploring your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, you uncover what works for you, develop coping tools, and find strategies that fit your life.

Expectation 3: I’ll feel better immediately after each session.
Reality: Some sessions feel heavy or emotional, and that’s normal. Feeling worse at times can be part of the healing process. The progress is often subtle — clarity, self-understanding, and confidence build over time.

Expectation 4: Therapy is only for “big problems.”
Reality: Therapy benefits everyone, whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, or simply want to understand yourself better. It’s about growth, not just crisis management.

Expectation 5: Therapy is all talking.
Reality: While conversation is central, therapy also includes reflection, exercises, skill-building, and goal setting. It’s about taking what you learn in session and applying it to real life.

Takeaway: Therapy isn’t magic, and it isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a safe, supportive space to explore, grow, and navigate life’s challenges — at your own pace. Trust the process, show up for yourself, and remember: you’re not alone in this journey.

Follow us for more insights on mental health, therapy, and practical strategies for personal growth.

5 Ways Anxiety Shows Up Differently in Adults (That Often Go Unnoticed)When people think of anxiety, they often picture ...
02/03/2026

5 Ways Anxiety Shows Up Differently in Adults (That Often Go Unnoticed)

When people think of anxiety, they often picture panic attacks or constant worry.
In adults, anxiety frequently looks much quieter—and much easier to miss.

Here are five common but overlooked ways anxiety shows up in adulthood:

1️⃣ Irritability and Low Patience 😤
Anxiety doesn’t always feel like fear. It can show up as snapping at others, feeling “on edge,” or having a shorter fuse than usual—especially with people you care about most.

2️⃣ Overthinking Small Decisions 🤔
Spending excessive time replaying conversations, second-guessing emails, or struggling to make “simple” choices is often anxiety disguised as being thorough or conscientious.

3️⃣ Chronic Fatigue (Even With Sleep) 🛌
An anxious mind rarely rests. Constant mental scanning, planning, and worrying can be exhausting, even if you’re technically getting enough sleep.

4️⃣ Avoidance That Looks Like Busyness 📅
Saying “yes” to everything, staying constantly busy, or overworking can be a way to avoid uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, or uncertainty—rather than a sign of productivity.

5️⃣ Physical Symptoms With No Clear Cause 💓
Tight shoulders, headaches, stomach issues, jaw clenching, or a racing heart are common anxiety responses, even when medical tests come back “normal.”

Anxiety in adults often hides behind competence, responsibility, and high functioning.
Just because someone is managing doesn’t mean they’re not struggling.

If this resonated, SAVE this post for later or FOLLOW for more practical, psychology-informed insights.

Pondering Sunday – Part 2: Burnout Symptoms You Shouldn’t IgnoreBurnout rarely announces itself clearly. More often, it ...
02/01/2026

Pondering Sunday – Part 2: Burnout Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Burnout rarely announces itself clearly. More often, it disguises itself as stress, tiredness, or a “busy phase.” This is why it is so often overlooked until it becomes severe.

Emotionally, burnout may appear as irritability, numbness, or detachment. Cognitively, it affects focus, memory, and decision-making. Physically, it often presents as chronic fatigue, sleep disruption, headaches, or frequent illness. A growing sense of dread about daily responsibilities is another key warning sign.

Burnout is cumulative. Ignoring early signs does not make them disappear — it only prolongs recovery.

Call to action:
If these symptoms feel familiar, early support can make a meaningful difference. You can explore counselling options at www.mindetsolutionscounselling.ca

❤️

Address

2804 16 ST SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2T 4G4

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Sunday 11am - 2pm

Telephone

+15878092356

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