Lesley Hartman & Associates Inc.

12/16/2025

12/03/2025

Responsive Counselling and Psychological Services - Halifax - Therapists, Psychologists, Counselling - Lesley Hartman & Associates | Helping People Rise Above

11/17/2025

If climate change is stressing you out, you’re not alone — and there are ways to feel calmer, stronger, and more hopeful.

Here are some expert-recommended strategies:
🌍 Acknowledge your feelings — worry, anger, sadness, and fear are normal human reactions.
🌍 Talk about it — share with friends, family, or groups; it reduces isolation and builds support.
🌍 Get outside — reconnect with nature through mindful walks, parks, sky-watching, or gardening.
🌍 Do grounding activities — cooking, cleaning, caring for plants, and simple routines can calm the mind.
🌍 Start climate writing — journaling, letters, or noting daily observations helps process emotions.
🌍 Limit doom-scrolling — curate your feed with positive climate stories and even a little humour.
🌍 Take meaningful action — volunteer, join local climate projects, or reduce your personal impact.
🌍 Focus on what you can control — small habits like composting, reducing waste, or choosing low-impact foods restore a sense of agency.
🌍 Join citizen science — use apps to identify plants or birds; contributing to research builds empowerment.
🌍 Engage your community — connect with others who care; action feels easier together.
🌍 Contact your elected representatives — turning worry into advocacy can provide purpose and relief.
🌍 Balance engagement with rest — you don’t have to solve everything. Protect your energy.
🌍 Stay hopeful — progress exists, change is happening, and your efforts matter.

🌱 Climate anxiety isn’t a weakness — it’s a sign your heart is awake. Take care of yourself so you can keep caring for the planet. 🌱

If you want to learn more about ways to manage climate anxiety, here are some helpful articles:
📚 UBC Alumni — 3 Calming Ways to Work Through Your Climate Worries:
https://magazine.alumni.ubc.ca/2024/environment-life/3-calming-ways-work-through-your-climate-worries
📚 Greenpeace Canada — Advice From a Climate Activist: How to Manage Eco-Anxiety:
https://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/story/49789/advice-from-a-climate-activist-how-to-manage-eco-anxiety
📚 Psychology Today — 5 Things That Can Alleviate Your Eco-Anxiety:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healthy-minds/202204/5-things-that-can-alleviate-your-eco-anxiety
📚 University of Colorado — Climate Anxiety:
https://www.colorado.edu/health/blog/climate-anxiety
📚 Harvard Health — Is Climate Change Keeping You Up at Night?
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-climate-change-keeping-you-up-at-night-you-may-have-climate-anxiety-202206132761
📚 Climate Institute — Climate Anxiety Overview:
https://climateinstitute.ca/climate-anxiety/

10/27/2025

A recent study explored how a therapy called Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help adults who have PTSD caused by multiple childhood traumas. Seventeen people took part and received 16 weekly IFS sessions.

After treatment, most participants had much fewer PTSD and depression symptoms, felt less shame and emotional pain, and were better able to handle their emotions. About 90% no longer met the criteria for PTSD one month after finishing therapy.

IFS therapy is based on the idea that our mind has many “parts” — like inner voices or emotional sides.
Some parts carry painful memories and feelings from the past, while others try to protect us from that pain (for example, by avoiding, numbing, or being angry). Beneath all these parts, everyone has a core Self — calm, caring, curious, and wise.

The goal of IFS is to help people connect with this Self, so they can approach their inner parts with kindness and understanding instead of fear or judgment. In therapy, clients learn to notice their emotions and body sensations, understand what each part needs, and begin to heal the parts that were hurt by trauma.

Advantages of IFS therapy include:
🌿It’s gentle and doesn’t require re-living traumatic memories.
🌿It builds self-compassion and reduces shame and guilt.
🌿It helps people understand and care for all parts of themselves instead of fighting them.
🌿It strengthens emotional balance and inner peace.
🌿It works well for complex childhood trauma and can be combined with other treatments.

Although this was a small, early study without a comparison group, the results were very encouraging. The researchers believe IFS could be a promising, compassionate, and effective way to help people heal from deep emotional wounds caused by childhood trauma. As an experienced IFS therapist who has witnessed the tremendous benefits for clients, Lesley Hartman agrees.

🔗 Read the full article here:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10926771.2021.2013375?fbclid=IwZnRzaANlsRJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsz9WI64E8ZhiV1k8X9cJvpL7fy7RGoFQOTk-OIsxYKZ4wfIU0QEz4PDMWJX_aem_HhUAIN0VHovn0N6Eun-3gw

07/08/2025

Looking for insightful summer reading? Our team recommends The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D. 🌿
This book offers valuable guidance for those who process the world more deeply. Whether you're a highly sensitive person or support someone who is, this read can offer clarity, validation, and tools for self-understanding.
🧠Recommended by our clinicians for personal growth and emotional wellness.

05/16/2025

🌿Welcome to our two newest team members, Kenisha Reid (MSc, M.A., Psychologist, Candidate Register) and Ellène Comeau (PsyD. Clinical Psychology Student) 😄

LHA is accepting new clients. If you are interested you can book your free intake appointment here: https://www.lesleyhartmanassociates.ca/see-a-therapist

01/31/2025

🛡Stress Survival Guide for the Body, Mind & Soul🛡
Stress happens--but how you handle it matters. Simple daily habits can make a world of difference in how you feel, think, and move through challenges. Prioritizing rest, nourishment, practicing mindfulness, learning how to set boundaries, and seeking support can all help you build resilience and find balance. Try these tips to care for yourself from the inside out! 💚 Interested in learning more skills like the ones listed here? Book an intake appointment to start your therapeutic journey: https://www.lesleyhartmanassociates.ca/see-a-therapist

12/20/2024

~Happy Holidays~

As we approach the holidays, we want to send our warmest wishes for a restful season. May you have the opportunity to experience moments of warmth, love, connection, and self-care.

While reception is closed between December 23rd and January 2nd, new clients are welcome to self-refer using our online referral process (lesleyhartmanassociates.ca). Our intake workers will have reduced hours during this time, but you will be able to schedule an intake appointment on December 27th, 28th, 30th or 31st.

Kindly note, email responses will be delayed over the Holidays, and phone messages to our administrative and intake teams, and many of our therapists, will be returned when we re-open in January. If you have any urgent needs over that time, please connect with the Crisis Services in your area. In NS, the number for Mobile Crisis is 1-888-429-8167.

Thank you for choosing Lesley Hartman & Associates Inc. We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!❄️☃️