Calming Tree Counselling

Calming Tree Counselling Calming Tree Counselling is an inclusive and experienced counselling practice in Doon South, Kitchener, Ontario.

Calming Tree Counselling is an experienced social work practice where everyone; regardless of race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or age, will be met with warmth, empathy and confidentiality. Counsellors employ a personalized, holistic and client-centred approach that ensures clients feel safe, respected and understood.

Michelle is a therapist with her MSW with more than a decade of experience who genuinely loves the work she’s in.Whether...
11/24/2025

Michelle is a therapist with her MSW with more than a decade of experience who genuinely loves the work she’s in.

Whether you’re seeking one-on-one support, navigating relationship or family stress, or simply looking for a compassionate space to share your story, Michelle walks alongside you with kindness, practical tools, and acceptance.

Michelle lived in Australia for 6 years, and now enjoys wandering the beach with her toddler, discovering hidden gardens, and enjoying slow coffee shop mornings with a book in hand.

You don’t need to arrive with all the answers. You just need one brave step. Michelle will meet you there.

If you’d like to book an appointment with Michelle, you can book online via the link in our bio, or contact our office by calling 519-208-2256, or by emailing info@calmingtree.ca.

11/21/2025

In terms of privilege, many of us have ease in some areas and barriers in others; a mix of smooth and bumpy rides.

When the ride is bumpy in places like gender, race, income, or language, it’s natural to look for moments of power. Not power over others, but power that restores dignity, voice, and safety.

Sometimes that looks big, like advocacy. Sometimes it’s small, like standing up to a microaggression or finally choosing what you want.

Not everyone has access to every form of power, but everyone deserves moments where they feel agency, self-trust, and grounding.

Awareness isn’t about guilt. It’s about understanding where you need support, where life has asked more of you, and where you can safely reclaim your sense of power.

A recent Harvard study found that almost 80% of people using AI tools are using them for therapy support.We get it, and,...
11/19/2025

A recent Harvard study found that almost 80% of people using AI tools are using them for therapy support.

We get it, and, we’re not going to tell you not to use it.

Therapy isn’t accessible for everyone. And, if you’re choosing between groceries and therapy, AI can feel like the only option.

AI can help you, but it can’t replace the value of engaging in therapy with a living, breathing, feeling human:
➤it cannot get curious
➤it cannot hold context
➤it cannot attune to your nervous system or sit with your emotion
➤it gives answers, not connection

Therapy isn’t about “fixing”. It’s about being seen, understood, and having someone safe to explore your inner world with. AI can’t do that.

Therapy is:
➤“Tell me more.”
➤“What happened before that moment?”
➤“How did that feel in your body?”

There’s no shame in using AI; it’s evidence of resourcefulness. And, if you’re able to return to human support, or you’re ready to explore it for the first time, we’re here.

Influencers, coaches, and those with large followings can sound “expert” while sharing information that’s inaccurate, ha...
11/17/2025

Influencers, coaches, and those with large followings can sound “expert” while sharing information that’s inaccurate, harmful, or completely lacking context.

Some even build platforms through oversimplified “diagnoses,” calling everything narcissism, trauma, or attachment issues, without any clinical training.

→ And, sadly, AI tools pull from all of it.

So here’s the reminder:
→ Influence is not expertise
→ Charisma is not clinical training
→ Virality is not credibility

If you need support, seek out trained, ethical professionals who understand nuance, safety, and context. Someone who can ask, “What happened before this?” instead of giving you a one-size-fits-all answer.

Your mental health deserves informed care, not just confident content.

11/14/2025

We’re not protected from anxiety, but we do know how to cope with it. 

If anxiety shows up, here are a few simple things that help:
→ Name what’s happening (physically) in your body, not the worst-case story
→ Drop your shoulders and breathe low
→ Focus on one small, doable task
→ Lean into someone who helps you feel steady
→ Give yourself permission to pause

You don’t need to be “calm all the time” to be doing okay. You just need support, the same way we all do.

A lot of people found their way into therapy during the pandemic partly because life felt heavy AND also because they we...
11/12/2025

A lot of people found their way into therapy during the pandemic partly because life felt heavy AND also because they were given something most of us rarely have: time.

If you were one of them, Covid likely allowed you to notice what wasn’t working, allowed you to feel instead of push through, and finally gave you the push you needed to say, “I can’t keep carrying this alone.”

For many, as the world sped back up, mental health slid back into the margins.

Life filled back in, responsibilities returned, and the pressure to “keep going” came roaring back.

And maybe you haven’t had the same space to pause and ask yourself how you’re really doing. So, consider this a gentle check-in.

Are you giving yourself the same care you gave yourself when the world slowed down?

Are you still making room for your inner life, the way you did when everything felt raw and honest?

It’s okay if therapy drifted off your schedule and it’s okay if you’re realizing you might need support again.

You don’t need a crisis to deserve support and you don’t need permission to come back.

Take good care!

The Calming Tree Team

Somewhere along the way, we’ve retreated in instead of reaching out.And suddenly, you’re trying to heal, regulate, and m...
11/10/2025

Somewhere along the way, we’ve retreated in instead of reaching out.

And suddenly, you’re trying to heal, regulate, and make sense of your life without anyone beside you.

A healthy emotional life isn’t total independence - it’s interdependence. Healing requires connection, support, co-regulation, being held, and holding others when you can.

We don’t grow stronger by withdrawing into ourselves forever. We grow by moving between self-support, shared support, and community support.

Being human means needing others. Period!

Address

10 Pioneer Drive, Unit 109
Kitchener, ON
N2P2A4

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 9pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 9pm
Thursday 9:30am - 9pm
Friday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+15192082256

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Calming Tree Counselling posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Calming Tree Counselling:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram