Your Emo Social Worker

08/06/2025

The 2025 Tools for School applications are officially ready to be filled out on behalf of Crisis Aid at the Stettler FCSS office.

For more information on applying feel free to give us a call or come visit us at the office. For a downloadable form please visit stettlercrisisaid.com

05/01/2025

Welcome to May.
Welcome to .

Just Perry (the Platypus) and myself checking in over our morning (and now afternoon) coffees to see how we’re starting out the month.

Self check in with your current emotional state using the emojis below and identify one thing you could do to help you manage:

💛 grateful and excited (identify something you’re looking forward to in the next couple days to keep the feels flowing)
💚 happy and content (spend some time with people you love to spread the vibe)
🤍 mostly okay (do one activity you really enjoy to help boost your mood)
🧡 anxious and overwhelmed (try not to believe all your thoughts - they tend to lie; practice mindfulness strategies to stay present; focus on what is presently in your control)
💙 kinda sad and down (try to get outside even for a short time and get some sun; talk to a trusted adult about what’s going on; express your feelings creatively - write, paint, listen to music)

A friendly reminder that we ALL have mental health and that it is essential to do the things that support your mental health journey.

03/13/2025

HAPPY SOCIAL WORK MONTH!

Props to all my social workers out there. Hug one if you know one cause the world is heavy and they’re probably dealing with a lot.

Healing happens in so many ways. Let’s deconstruct what therapy and healing is “supposed” to look like and make it suited to everyone’s unique and individual needs.

Healing happens
🫂 in healthy, attuned relationships
🤍 in communities
🎨 through art and creative expression
🤩 through play
✅ when we feel seen, heard and validated
🔊 by expressing and communicating our feelings
🌴 in nature
🔋 by recharging, resting and restoring
📿 through prayer, spirituality and surrender
💖 through consistency and stability

Your healing journey may look like all of these things, some of them, or none of them. Make it look and feel right to you and the healing will (slowly) take place.

02/20/2025

Check out these great workshops for parents of teens!

Save the Date- Join Kailey Semen, Registered Provisional Psychologist, for this free three-part session on emotional regulation tools. As our kids get older the tools we use to help navigate their big life changes and emotions need to shift- Kailey will share tools to help you and your teen recognize and regulate these emotions. These learning sessions include dinner and are free to attend, but registration is required as space is limited. Please call/text Lisa at 403-740-2558 or email lisa.tait@mcmancentral.ca to register.

11/13/2024

Even as a therapist, consistently coping (well) with mental health can be hard.

I too fall off the bandwagon and forget to keep using effective coping strategies. I stop tracking and noticing how I’m feeling. I don’t always eat well, I don’t always go for walks, I don’t always drink my water.

It’s normal and it does not mean you aren’t making progress. It means you are human and that sometimes that is hard.

Notice what habits and strategies are effective for you.
Notice when you start to slide and stop using them.
And then get yourself back on the wagon and keep going.
(Sometimes it helps having an accountability partner to help motivate you - maybe a parent, friend, coach or therapist.)

You’re doing good as you are.
It’s takes practice and effort to make change, or learn to cope with difficult things.
Give yourself time. Space. And room for learning.

10/31/2024

Don’t mind me, just gonna spike my anxiety by drinking all the caffeine and energy drinks, and eating all the candy.

Just a friendly reminder from a youth therapist that Anxiety is trying to protect you from things that are scary and overwhelming. But that doesn’t mean anxiety is true!

When experiencing high levels of anxiety practice strategies to regulate your nervous system like:

🧡 taking slow breathes
🧡 engaging your senses to ground yourself
🧡 listening to music
🧡 taking slow, mindful drinks of water
🧡 eat a jolly rancher and notice EVERYTHING (literally everything) about it - the taste, textures, smells
🧡 challenge anxious and negative thoughts by journaling
🧡 pick a colour and name all the things you can of that colour (trust me it’s harder than it sounds!)
🧡 talk to an adult you trust about your feelings
🧡 reach out to the if you need extra support (text 686868)

Happy Halloween ✌🏻👻🎃

10/22/2024

Walk in services available in Stettler!
See below.

For those in Stettler and area, we are so happy to partner with Recovery Alberta (formerly known as AHS-Mental Health & Addiction) on providing access to walk in counselling support downtown. Available each Wednesday, between 12-3pm at our Central Office (4804 50 Street), directly across from Scotiabank. Everyone welcome, no appointment needed.

10/16/2024

Your mental health is just as important as all other aspects of your health. It deserves a proactive approach and early-intervention. There should be no reason for someone to have to hit rock bottom to receive support. This is how our current system is structured and that needs to change. If we wouldn't wait for someone to break every bone in their body before fixing one broken bone, why do we wait for rock bottom for someone to receive mental health support?

10/10/2024

It’s 🌎 WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 🌎 so just sneaking on here quickly to remind you that we ALL have mental health and therefore we ALL have to be diligent in taking care of that health!

Some things that work for me include:
🏋🏼‍♀️ working out regularly
💗 connecting with the people I care about
🗣️ seeing my therapist
🎨 art and being creative
💎 connecting with spiritual practices
🖊️ journalling
🐶 walking my dog / being outside in general
🐱 pet snuggles
😴 giving myself permission to rest (this is really hard for me)
🪜 seeking supports when things are hard
📱 stepping away from social media (also really hard)

What supports your mental health??

09/10/2024

Sept 10 is WORLD SU***DE PREVENTION DAY.

Su***de prevention goes beyond building awareness, reducing stigma, and enhancing understanding for mental illness and suicidality (though these are obviously extremely important preventative measures as well!!).

It includes such measures as:
- access to mental health supports
- access to addictions supports (including harm reduction strategies)
- affordable, timely, compassionate and empathetic care
- addressing financial insecurities (including food insecurities)
- access to safe and affordable housing
- community engagement and connection

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, reach out and ask for help from an adult you trust.

If you or some you know needs support but don’t know where to turn, call or text a crisis line. - may I recommend the - text CONNECT to 741741 - or the - text CONNECT to 686868.

If you or someone you know requires immediate assistance, call 911 or attend your local ER.