Rooted In Grace Counselling

12/18/2025

3 Tips for the Holidays

1. Prioritize what truly matters
- Avoid overscheduling and overbooking yourself
- Decide ahead of time what (and who) you will prioritize
- Release the pressure to act only out of obligation—you don’t have to do everything you’ve always done
- Remember: you’re not a child anymore. You can leave early, take breaks, drive your own car, and choose how you spend your time

2. Create space to breathe
- Build in moments to pause, rest, and check in with yourself
- Make room to notice what you’re feeling—without judgment
- Anchor yourself in the heart of this season: Emmanuel, God with us
- If Christmas looks different this year, give yourself time before gatherings to appreciate what has been and to grieve what has changed

3. Gently manage expectations for family gatherings
- These spaces often awaken our inner child (and everyone else’s too)
- Big emotions can surface more easily during this time
- Take time beforehand to comfort and prepare your inner child
- Make a plan: What helps you feel safe, supported, and grounded?
The more attuned you are ahead of time, the fewer surprises you may face in the moment

If the holidays feel heavy this year, please hear this: there is no “right” way to experience Christmas. Jesus meets you exactly where you are.

12/03/2025

Grief and loss have been a theme in my corner of the world lately. Sometimes they can feel so tricky to navigate. As a counsellor, one of the biggest privileges I have is to hold space for someone who is grieving: to simply invite the to share their story, their pain, their loss and to mourn with them through tears, laughter, silence, stillness-or whatever else is needed. Grief can catch us off guard as it never really goes away when we have lost someone. If you are grieving and could use some prayer, DM me. I would love to be praying for you in this season.

11/26/2025

10/22/2025

As I look outside my office window, watching the rain and wind push the big maple’s leaves around, watching the sky grow dark and stormy, I’m reminded how difficult this season can be for some. With the longer days of darkness can come feelings of hopelessness and despair. This can be a natural part of the change of seasons.

If this is you today, take hope and remember: this is just a season that will come and go. Seasons change but Jesus remains the same. Reach out to get the support you need through this time. You’re not alone.

10/15/2025

Many clients come in with relationship issues whether that is in their marriage, with their children, friends or in their family of origin. Relationships are hard and sometimes we need to go back to the basics of communication to learn how to hear one another in moments of stress.

Try active listening! It helps your brain go from panic back to reasoning. Bonus: it can also make you into a better friend, spouse, and parent.

10/09/2025

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10/01/2025

As a faith-based, Christian counsellor, I have something to offer that so many other counsellors don’t. A deep understanding of our purpose in this challenging and beautiful world. I love to combine faith and counselling because I believe we can’t take Jesus out of the healing process. So many of my clients have appreciated this approach as they navigate their faith journey and their mental health.

If you’ve been considering counselling and are follower of Jesus, maybe we would be a good fit! Get in touch for a 15-minute consultation today and we can get your journey started.

09/25/2025

This post has some information about medication. While counsellors are not doctors, we like to work collaboratively with other health care professionals to help people live healthy: body, soul, and spirit. If you are someone who takes medication to support better mental health, ask your doctor what natural ways you can care for your body, mind, and spirit that will work collaboratively with the medication your taking.

09/17/2025

As co-regulating people who were made in God’s image, we require the presence of others for our healthy growth and development. Community bears witness (Hebrews 12-1-2) to our lives and provides us with the support me we need to rewrite our stories.

We need to choose to live in community for this to happen. What community do you surround yourself with? Do they support you as you seek to retell parts of your story that are painful? How does God want to redeem you in vulnerability with others?

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

09/10/2025

Clients come to counselling to practice setting boundaries and to understand when and why boundaries are appropriate.

Whether you have a Christian background or not, boundaries are vital to a healthy life. Boundaries help us understand what is my responsibility and what is yours.

If you have a hard time saying no, if you struggle with resentment and people pleasing, counselling might be a good place to discover why you haven’t been able to set boundaries so far and to practice setting boundaries for a healthier, more loving future.

Reach out if this post hits home!