Manon Dulude Counseling Services

12/20/2025

Divorce isn’t failure - it’s a life transition.

Many people carry the weight of shame when a marriage ends, believing it means they’ve failed. But what if that isn’t true? What if it’s just a chapter in your love story, not the whole book?

In this video, I offer a different perspective on divorce: one that acknowledges the pain, but also the growth that follows.

Marriage is complex. Leaving one doesn’t make you broken. It means you’re rewriting your story, redefining who you are, and building a new future - one step at a time.

Whether you chose to leave or were left, this transition brings big emotions. You don’t have to face them alone.

📍 In-person therapy in Halton Hills
💻 Virtual sessions across Ontario
📞 905-703-0003
🔗 manondulude.com

12/17/2025

12/16/2025

Not all therapists are the same and that matters.

If you’re considering therapy, it’s important to understand the difference between a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) and a Qualifying Therapist (RP-Q) who is still completing their clinical training hours under supervision.

Both can offer support, but their education, experience, and level of independence are very different.

With over 35 years of experience in psychotherapy and human development, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside individuals, couples, and professionals as they work through anxiety, trauma, grief, burnout, and relationship challenges. My approach is grounded in both formal training and decades of real-world experience. When you’re sharing the most personal parts of your life, that depth of experience matters.

Choosing the right therapist is deeply personal, but also practical. Ask questions. Learn about credentials. And trust your instincts. Do you feel safe? Do you feel heard? Do you believe this person can help you grow?

Therapy is more than just talking. It’s about rebuilding, reconnecting, and becoming. That process deserves someone who can hold space with clarity, experience, and respect.

If you're ready to begin or return to therapy, I’m here.

📍 In-person in Halton Hills | 💻 Virtual across Ontario
📞 905-703-0003
🔗 manondulude.com

12/12/2025

From sunshine to snowfall: Ways to manage mental health as the seasons change

As autumn settles in and daylight hours shrink across Canada, many people notice their mood and energy dip. While it’s common to feel a bit slower in the darker months, some experience a more serious condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is a type of depression triggered by seasonal changes.

SAD can cause symptoms like sadness, low motivation, trouble concentrating, and loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy. The good news: there are proven ways to manage SAD and protect your mental health through fall and winter.

7 ways to manage Seasonal Affective Disorder

▪️Get natural light daily – Try to spend time outside, especially in the morning. ▪️Even on cloudy days, exposure to daylight helps regulate your mood and sleep cycle.
▪️Brighten your environment – Use bright indoor lighting or a light therapy lamp to mimic natural sunlight.
▪️Stay physically active – Regular movement is a powerful mood booster. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days.
▪️Eat for energy – Fuel your body with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3-rich foods like salmon or walnuts.
▪️Keep a steady sleep routine – Go to bed and wake up at consistent times to support your body’s internal clock.
▪️Stay socially connected – Schedule time with family or friends, join a community group, or volunteer. Connection helps reduce feelings of isolation.
▪️Reach out for help – If symptoms persist, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Treatment options like therapy, medication, and light therapy can make a real difference.

And remember, you are not alone in feeling this way. Seasonal Affective Disorder is common in northern climates, and help is available. Small daily changes can make a big impact on your overall well-being.

Credit: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/hitting-the-headlines/detail/hitting-the-headlines/2025/10/22/from-sunshine-to-snowfall--ways-to-manage-mental-health-as-the-seasons-change

12/10/2025

Emotional healing doesn’t always begin in the crisis - it often starts after.

Many people expect to feel better once their medical treatment ends. But for some, that’s exactly when things start to fall apart emotionally.

After a serious health event, like cancer, a stroke, or another major diagnosis, our bodies may begin to recover, but our minds are often left carrying the weight of what just happened.

In this video, I share why it’s completely normal to feel emotionally unravelled after the crisis is over, and why seeking therapy at that stage can be just as important as physical recovery.

If you’re struggling to process what you’ve been through, you don’t have to carry it alone.
📍 In-person therapy in Halton Hills
💻 Virtual sessions across Ontario
📞 905-703-0003
🔗 www.manondulude.com

12/06/2025

Don’t Become a Fish Over the Holidays
by Manon Dulude

You may be completely content being alone for 363 days of the year—then Christmas and New Year’s Eve arrive, and suddenly your life feels lacking.

For most of the year, you’re excited about everything your single life offers. You invest in your career, nurture your friendships, dive into your hobbies, and relish the independence to shape a meaningful life on your own terms. You’re the dolphin, playful and free in the open ocean.

Then Christmas morning hits, and the narrative shifts. Suddenly, you’re the goldfish staring out of a bowl, telling yourself you’re missing out on the “real” gift: a partner, shared traditions, someone to kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve. What changed? Not your life—just the story you’re telling about it.

Your social network can reinforce that story, too. They ask who you’ll spend the holidays with and react with subtle discomfort when you say you’re spending them alone. When they invite you to join their family, what meaning do you attach to that gesture? Do you see yourself welcomed as part of an extended family, or do you cast yourself in the role of the lonely outsider being included out of sympathy?

Despite the fact that family structures today come in countless shapes and forms, the holiday season tends to pull us back toward traditional templates. When we elevate romantic relationships and family units as the heart of the holidays, we can easily forget that for the other 11 months of the year, we’re perfectly at peace with our lives.

This holiday mindset can be powerful. It can feel instinctual—like a salmon returning upstream, pulled by old norms and expectations. But before you get swept up in that current, pause and ask yourself: What helps me stay grounded in the life I’m actually living right now? Who can you spend time with—friends, chosen family, community—to stay connected to the joy that already exists in your life?

And remember: nothing stays the same. What your holidays look like this year doesn’t determine what they will look like in the future. Enjoy “what is” this year and remain curious about what you will create next year.

12/02/2025

What Depression in Men Really Looks Like
by Mark Rego M.D.

When we think of clinical depression, we usually think of sadness, anxiety, poor motivation, the "blahs," guilt, and negativity. These all have the negative inclination that characterizes depression. We may also think of women as they are subject to depression more often than men. Depression in adult men is frequently quite different.

As an example: A man who is usually calm and even tempered, becomes irritable, prone to anger, criticism, disparaging remarks and cynicism. He does not show emotions such as sadness, pessimism and guilt.

Or, if he already has these anger laden traits, they become clearly worse. Of course, a thorough psychiatric evaluation is in order, but in most cases the conclusion is reached quickly. This man is depressed.

The cause of this different presentation of depression in men is subject to debate. Is it genetics and testosterone? Family upbringing of boys? Or our culture’s expectation of men? The answer seems to be that all these factors contribute.

Continued at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modern-world-modern-mind/202511/what-depression-in-men-really-looks-like

11/26/2025

Aloneness isn’t loneliness and knowing the difference matters.

Last month, I took some time to walk by the lake in Oakville. I had a coffee, watched the water, and let the day unfold quietly. Time alone, when chosen with intention, can be calming and restorative. That’s aloneness.

But sometimes, aloneness slips into something else: loneliness. That feeling of disconnection, of wanting to reach out and finding no one there in that moment.

In this video, I reflect on how to recognize where you are on that spectrum—and why both connection and solitude have a place in a healthy, grounded life.

📍 In-person and virtual sessions available
📞 905-703-0003
🔗 www.manondulude.com

11/20/2025

Steps You Can Take Now to Help You Rebound from a Serious Illness or Accident
by Manon Dulude, Ph.D.

When a serious illness or accident strikes, it can be devastating. Whether it’s an acute event such as a motor vehicle collision, heart attack, or aneurysm, or a frightening diagnosis like cancer or diabetes, for most people, the first reaction is “How can this be true?”.

A sudden health challenge can make us feel cheated by life and betrayed by our body. Our usual sense of being in control can feel ripped away, leaving us feeling emotionally destabilized and vulnerable. This can trigger an avalanche of emotions, including sadness, fear, and anger, and we may vacillate rapidly from one to another. In turn, these emotions can cause a multitude of questions. What’s next for me? What’s safe to do now, and what should I avoid? How will I cope with losses, such as mobility, strength, or the ability to drive? How will I manage my job? And, most importantly, will I still be able to lead a fulfilling life?

The illness or accident can be such a marker in life that we might come to view life as having two distinct periods: the time before and the time after whatever occurred. Further, if unchecked, it can begin to define our identity and impact how we perceive ourselves and the choices we make. If this happens, there can be a great benefit in working through the emotional impact of what’s taken place as part of the recovery process, just as we would undergo physiotherapy to help with the physiological aspects of healing.

Continued at https://manondulude.com/steps-you-can-take-now-to-help-you-rebound-from-a-serious-illness-or-accident