J. A. MURRAY CONSULTANTS

06/16/2025

June 16th, 2025!!!
Can't believe it!
Today marks 47 years since I saw my first "paying" client.
What a day that was " on call" for the very first time!!
You can listen to my recollection of that day from the moment the phone rings on my podcast "jamsessions2020" on Anchor, Spotify and Apple.
It takes a village!!!
My career as Marriage & Family Systems Therapist has been blessed and anointed by many incredible professors, leaders in the field-Experts, Ministers, Spiritual directors, Supervisors and colleagues.
Thankyou all for your part In my life & career to date!
As long as you keep serving, I will tooo!!
- OAMFT
# Annette Kussein
# Alpha Psycholigical Services- Dr's Mary and Tom Clarke
. Clarke Barshinger
. Deb Brock & Ron Johnson
Dupage Assiciates in Psychology- Josette Nard and Dr Donna Amstutz
Counselling Services- Dr. Ken Van Wyk and Mary Vandervennan
# Lewis Richardson-Family Law
Churches
. George Slater
Golden
.A.Murray Consultants- my Consulting group members!
Christian Centre
# Salt Group- CCSJ
Dr. Frances White, who encouraged me to pursue this life work in the first place!.and so many others I apologize for omitting!..See how much insight, wisdom, teaching, friendship, prayer and fun I needed to keep doing this work for sooo long?!!!
Thank you Thank you Thankyou !!!..And to those who knew someone, who knew someone who you referred to me...into the thousands... my utter and complete gratitude for your belief and support of my work.
Celebrating You all and My Practise today!!!

06/16/2025

June 16th, 2025!!!
Can't believe it!
Today marks 47 years since I saw my first "paying" client.
What a day that was " on call" for the very first time!!
You can listen to my recollection of that day from the moment the phone rings on my podcast "jamsessions2020" on Anchor, Spotify and Apple.
It takes a village!!!
My career as Marriage & Family Systems Therapist has been blessed and anointed by many incredible professors, leaders in the field, experts, ministers, Spiritual directors, Supervisors and colleagues.
Thankyou all for your part I my life & career to date!
As long as you keep serving, I will tooo!!
- OAMFT
# Annette Kussein
# Alpha Psycholigical Services- Dr's Mary and Tom Clarke
. Clarke Barshinger
. Deb Brock & Ron Johnson
Dupage Assiciates in Psychology- Josette Nard and Dr Donna Amstutz
Counselling Services- Dr. Ken Van Wyk and Mary Vandervennan
Churches
. George Slater
Golden
.A.Murray Consultants- my Consulting group members!
Christian Centre
# Salt Group- CCSJ
Dr. Frances White, who encouraged me to pursue this life work in the first place!.and so many others I apologize for omitting!..See how much insight, wisdom, teaching, friendship, prayer and fun I needed to keep doing this work for sooo long?!!!
Thank you Thank you Thankyou !!!..And to those who knew someone, who knew someone who you referred to me...into the thousands... my utter and complete gratitude for your belief and support of my work.
Celebrating You all and My Practise today!!!

07/06/2024

Fabulous summer flowers for the Elora Festival!
Took 3 of us 2.5 hours up on ladders Friday night!
Check out the incredible threads of the tapestry on the alter by Elisabeth Litch
Join us and Enjoy St John's Services during the Festival with special guests- the Elora Singers !- frreeeee!
11 a.m. Choral Matins & Much Music!

03/22/2024

Love this statement sent to me this morning by a business colleague!

12/18/2023

‘Tis the season to be “jolly” yet , it often ignites family drama, memories of Christmases past, “firsts”, new and different situations coupled with a gamut of emotions!!
Be kind to yourself at this time!
If the situation is really bad, reach out for help and support. It is o.k to NOT be O.K!!!
Otherwise,
“Hang your shining star on the highest bough… and have yourself a Merry Christmas now!”

11/19/2023

Let's dig deep together to find YOU!

09/08/2023

September is self care month!
What will you do for you!?

09/04/2023

September has always been “ the New Year” to me!
New schedule, new clients, new pen, new journal- everything NEW with a fresh start!
As you begin anew this fall, remember…..

You are enough. You have always been enough.
There's nothing like the feeling of fully getting that.

If you're not there yet, do the work. You can get there.

08/02/2023

12/20/2022

This was sooo well said.
Please please empathize ...
Come along side of those you care about but might assume wrong about their mental health or state of mind.
Show kindness and care.
Listen for what is not said.
This morning i opened my referral network, and there were 112 requests for counselling.
The needs are great.
The season heightens everything while being the darkest in the calender.
Show Love.

Brilliant poet puts it perfectly: “It doesn’t always look like darkness… “


・・・
It doesn’t always look like darkness
Disheveled
Discombobulated
Sometimes it looks like dance
Like joy
Like syncopated rhythms
Like grace
Like choreography channeling
Ancestor’s dreams
Powerful
Successful
Enviable

Sometimes we get so good
At the act
At the entertainment
At wearing the mask
That we can fool ourselves
A little bit
Long enough for the public
To believe
That we
Have it all together
That the airbrush portrait
Is real
The Instagram smile
Is permanent
That the steps aren’t automatic
That happiness 24/7 isn’t toxic
But the truth is
Living is hard
Lonely is real
Grief is too heavy to hold
People don’t check
On the strong friends
The smiling friends
The dancing friends
The friends who look like
They are on top of the world
Looks are often liars
Hopelessness can grow
Like weeds in the most beautiful
Garden
It doesn’t always look like
Darkness
And it’s so hard to say the words
Out loud
“I need help
This is too much
I don’t want to try anymore”
Because we clap for stunning
Clap for the performance
And ignore those in pain
It doesn’t always look like darkness
Sometimes it just looks like
Our reflection
In the Mirror
Sometimes it’s just too hard
To stay in the light

If life feels like it is too much
to take one more step
let someone hold your hand while you walk
You aren’t alone
You aren’t the only one
I’ve had those thoughts too
You are not alone
I promise

National Su***de prevention life line 1-800-273-TALK or call 988.
suicidepreventionlifeline.org

12/14/2022

This was sooo well said!
Thank you, Naomi!

A gentle reminder about why you are utterly exhausted…

No one I know began this year on a full tank. Given the vicious onslaught of the previous two years (let’s just call it what it was) most of us dragged ourselves across the finish line of 2021… frazzled, spent, running on aged adrenaline fumes.

We crawled into 2022 still carrying shock, trauma, grief, heaviness, disbelief…
The memories of a surreal existence…
And then it began…
The fastest hurricane year we could ever have imagined. Whether we have consciously processed it or not, this has been a year of more pressure, more stress, and a race to “catch up” in all departments… Every. Single. One. Work, school, sports, relationships, life…

Though not intentionally aware, perhaps hopeful that the busier we are, the more readily we will forget… the more easily we will undo the emotional tangle… the more permanently we will wipe away the scarring wounds…
We can’t.

And attempts to re-create some semblance of “normal” on steroids while disregarding that for almost two years our sympathetic nervous systems were on full alert, has left our collective mental health in tatters. Our children and teens are not exempt. The natural byproduct of fighting a hurricane is complete and utter exhaustion…

So before you begin questioning the absolutely depleted and wrung-dry state you are in- Pause.
Breathe.
Remind yourself of who you are and what you have endured.
And then remind yourself of what you have overcome.

Despite it all, you’re still going. (Even on the days you stumble and find yourself face down in a pile of dirt).
Understanding brings compassion…

Most of the world’s citizens are in need of a little extra TLC at the moment. Most are donning invisible “Handle with care” posters around their necks and “Fragile” tattoos on their bodies…

Instead of racing to the finish line of this year, tread gently.
Go slowly.

Amidst the chaos, find small pockets of silence.
Find compassion.
Allow the healing.
And most of all… Be kind. There’s no human being on earth who couldn’t use just a little bit more of the healing salve of kindness.

With love ♥️

Naomi Holdt
Psychologist and Speaker
Website: https://naomiholdt.com/

06/06/2022

Reviewing amazing posts I have seen lately that need to be shared!