North Bay Counselling Services

11/14/2025

11/14/2025

11/02/2025

Expectations vs. Boundaries

Expectations often come from our hopes about how others should act — how a friend should respond, how a partner should communicate, or how life “should” unfold. But expectations can create tension, disappointment, and resentment when reality doesn’t align with the story we’ve written in our minds.

Boundaries, on the other hand, come from within. They’re not about controlling others — they’re about honoring our own needs, values, and limits. While expectations look outward (“They should…”), boundaries look inward (“I will…”).

Letting go of expectations can feel like releasing a heavy weight. It opens the door to acceptance, curiosity, and peace. You may find more space to respond rather than react — to meet people where they are, not where you wish they’d be.

Holding boundaries while loosening expectations is a skill — one that invites both freedom and safety. You can stay rooted in what matters to you without trying to manage anyone else’s choices or emotions.

If you’re noticing how hard it is to balance these — or feeling the pull of old expectations — you don’t have to navigate that alone.
Reach out if you’d like support.

North Bay Counselling
Supporting growth, clarity, and connection.

10/28/2025

✨ Welcome to Our Family Room ✨

This is where families come together to heal, connect, and grow. 💛

In family therapy, we explore how each person’s voice, emotion, and experience shapes the whole family system. It’s a space where we learn new ways to listen, express, and support one another.

Our family room connects directly to our playroom — because for children,
play is their language.Through play, kids communicate feelings that words can’t always express. When families join their child in play, something powerful happens: connection deepens, understanding grows, and healing begins. 🌿

Whether it’s through conversation on the couch or imagination on the playroom floor, every moment here is an opportunity for growth and love to unfold. 💫

10/06/2025

🌿 Thank You, North Bay!🌿

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to vote for The Collective at North Bay Counselling Associates in the Community Votes. Your support reminds us of the strength and compassion that thrive in our community — and how healing truly happens through connection.

To our incredible clients: thank you for trusting us with your stories, your growth, and your courage. You inspire us every day to keep showing up — as therapists, as humans, and as part of a collective committed to hope and transformation.

Together, we continue to learn, heal, and empower one another. 💚

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein

09/07/2025

🌟 What a wonderful surprise! 🌟

While going to cast a vote for another amazing local business, we discovered that North Bay Counselling Services has been nominated for the Ontario Business Awards – Mental Health Therapy Services category. 💙

We are deeply grateful to whoever took the time to nominate us. It means so much to know that the work we do to support mental health and well-being in our community is being recognized.

A big thank you to our clients, colleagues, and community for trusting and supporting us along the way. 💫

With gratitude,
The NBCS Team

https://ontariobusinessawards.com/north-bay/mental-health-therapy-services/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMqaKBjbGNrAypogGV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAAEd6c8e5r8leWTW29hE3rsXKDbHY2-w1xDwdpALc97rBoRukmfjXLO_sn90_aem__GdLIG_8MzXVktNsdPpIxg

Explore the best Mental Health Therapy Services in North Bay as chosen through public voting. Browse businesses in the Ontario Business Awards directory.

08/19/2025

Our Playroom: Quiet & Regulation Space

Alongside active play, it’s just as important for children and adolescents to have a space where they can retreat, reset, and regulate. That’s why our playroom includes a quiet and regulation area—a cozy space designed to feel safe and calming.

This space features soft nugget couch, pillows, gentle lighting, calming books, and noise-reducing headphones. It’s intentionally created to provide comfort when a child feels overwhelmed, overstimulated, or simply needs a break.

The therapeutic benefits of this space include:

Emotional safety: A child learns they can step away when feelings become “too big,” supporting self-awareness and autonomy.

Self-regulation skills: Using calming tools teaches kids how to manage stress and soothe their nervous system.

Reducing overwhelm: Quiet retreat helps prevent escalation and supports smoother re-engagement in therapy.

Building coping strategies: Adolescents especially benefit from practicing healthy breaks rather than shutting down or withdrawing completely.

The Quiet & Regulation Space empowers children to honor their needs, regain a sense of control, and return to play or conversation feeling more centered and ready to engage.

To learn more about how our playroom supports emotional growth—or to book a consultation—please contact North Bay Counselling.

08/17/2025

https://www.northbaycounselling.com/navigating-anxiety-easing-the-transition-back-to-school-for-all-ages/

As summer fades and the school year approaches, a familiar wave of anxiety sweeps over students of all ages—preschoolers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers alike. The transition back to school can be daunting, often filled with uncertainties about new environments, social dynamics, and academic...

08/16/2025

https://www.northbaycounselling.com/navigating-anxiety-in-college-strategies-and-supports-for-a-smoother-transition/

As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, many students find themselves grappling with anxiety, whether they are entering college for the first time or returning after a hiatus. This phenomenon is not uncommon; in fact, recent studies indicate that anxiety affects a significant porti...

08/15/2025

https://www.northbaycounselling.com/riding-the-anxiety-wave-understanding-and-managing-anxiety-across-all-ages/

Anxiety is a universal human experience, an emotional response that can surface at any moment, regardless of age, background, or circumstances. The phenomenon often referred to as the "anxiety wave" encapsulates this experience—an overwhelming surge of anxious feelings that can disrupt daily life....

08/15/2025

✨ Spotlight on Our Playroom & Sandtray Therapy

At North Bay Counselling, we believe that healing doesn’t always start with words—especially for children. That’s why our playroom is designed to be a safe, creative space where kids can express themselves freely.

One of our favourite tools is **Sandtray Therapy**. Using miniature figures and a tray of sand, children can create scenes that reflect their inner world. This hands-on, sensory experience can help:
🪁 Express feelings they might not yet have words for
🪁 Work through difficult experiences in a safe way
🪁 Build problem-solving skills and resilience
🪁 Foster creativity and self-awareness

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting the different services and spaces we offer—each designed to support emotional growth, healing, and connection.

📍 Whether it’s sand, art, or play—therapy can be a place where children feel seen, understood, and empowered.

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