Oak & Cedar Counselling Services

04/15/2026

Holding space for the journey of those navigating fertility treatments and infertility.

Even when we know we need to access fertility treatments, we hope the journey won’t be hard.

But all too often what we want and what we get is vastly different.

So here’s to noticing the pain and grief and struggles of infertility and fertility treatment

Here’s to acknowledging that having these experiences greatly impact your mental health, with new studies indicating risk of Depression, Anxiety and even PTSD.

Here’s to spreading awareness of how invasive and vulnerable and overwhelming the journey is, and doing more to be there for those we love navigating treatments.

04/14/2026

Sometimes we just want this acknowledged

That what we want

And what we get

When it comes to fertility, reproduction, expanding our family

Is heartbreaking

Research now validates that fertility treatments and infertility experiences can lead to

Depression and Anxiety Disorders
Complicated and Acute Grief
PTSD
Isolation
Partner conflict and Separation
Financial struggles

That what started off as trying evolved into planning and then into pain, anxiety, waiting, hoping, stressing.

What started off as excitement evolved into a calendar of appointments and strategic planning

What started off as something private evolved into public knowledge, invasive procedures, a lack of autonomy, a whole community (now this part can bring a lot of wonderful things too!)

So as we talk about fertility and infertility this month, take a minute to sit with what couples are going through. What their bodies and hearts and minds endure.

Because understanding from outside the community makes a huge difference.

03/29/2026

Dr Jen Gunter is giving a free talk on Menopause Hormone Therapy, sponsored by BC Women’s Hospital.

This Tuesday: 9pm - 10pm Atlantic Time

Zoom link to register:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1qRsV4sDQ2qpKqW-e5p-2w?fbclid=IwdGRleAQ2WOFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeOMfR3Jiiv5YMtbrKTS23G0yRvDyCYiRP6B6oXynJLJPblgsUPIaIQZz0m3E_aem_vSGIbl0nPF4UTNbLefBbpw #/registration

02/21/2026

Just a heads up

I will be out of the office for a bit in March, some planned and some a bit unexpected!

I will do my very best to get everyone seen as consistently as possible and to get new clients on waiting lists in as soon as I can, but also want to give you the heads up 💛

02/05/2026

So turns out “Mom Brain” is a real thing

Many neurological changes take place during pregnancy and postpartum, these are just a few!

Many studies (from the UK, Spain, US and more) have confirmed that there is grey matter reduction during pregnancy, a 4-5% volume decrease. Following birth it begins to reorganize and grow, but studies have confirmed that full return does not happen until approximately 6 years postpartum (meaning multiple pregnancies over the years can lead to grey matter reduction for a good portion of a woman’s early adulthood!) This reduction is due to increased efficiency (for bonding, empathy, attunement, caregiving , identity - it’s a process of pruning to become more adept, similar to what takes places during adolescence - so the research suggests) but it creates symptoms for women such as memory loss, brain fog, difficulty focusing/concentrating, increased emotional sensitivity, word finding struggles/word confusion. Research has confirmed this reduction is the result of estrogen changes (and studies query if this process repeats itself during perimenopause!?!) Grey matter reduction also increases pain tolerance, so is believed to be a natural instinct for preparing for labor.

While grey matter reduces, the Hippocampus increases, believed to be an integral process in bonding, social connection and attunement, as well as helping with emotional processing. Interesting note, some studies have shown that women who have traumatic births and extremely difficult postpartum mental health experiences have larger hippocampus’s and amygdala’s (the body’s stress alert system!)

For adolescents, the fact that many of these changes are happening already is why many researchers believe they are more at risk for postpartum complications. They already have intense hormonal changes and reactive emotional centres of their brain, and the impact of pregnancy further changes and impacts these areas.

So recap

Memory loss, brain fog, speech alterations can happen during pregnancy

The deep emotions, social connection, higher emotional sensitivities are parts of the ways your brain helps you manage motherhood even though at times it can feel like too much!

02/03/2026

Often therapists ask

“What do you feel you need right now?”
(Or a variation of this!)

Here are some reflection questions that can help as you get curious and explore that question!

01/06/2026

For some, 2025 was the hardest year of their lives

For some, 2025 was hard. heavy. heartbreaking.

For some, 2025 was a grind. it was exhausting and relentless.

For some, 2025 just really, really sucked.

I love a good highlight reel, I do. I love reflecting back through the year and seeing where we grew or stretched, what we learned or accomplished. Noticing our flowers amongst the weeds.

BUT sometimes there are very few flowers

And a crap ton of weeds.

So if this is you - if 2025 was the year it all fell part, was another year of trials and tears, another year of deferred hopes and dreams

You don’t have to have a highlight reel

You can have an honesty reel, and it’s okay if the truth hurts.

You don’t have to hide it, or stuff it, or lie or pretend.

And it’s okay if 2026 comes with new boundaries and new no’s and weird yes’s because of what 2025 dealt out

And if you want to talk about 2025 - process what happened (or didn’t) - just email. Anytime.

01/05/2026

Booking appointments for mid February

Looking forward to the honour of journeying with you 💛

12/04/2025

If I was transparent when asked some key things to implement during your pregnancy to reduce the risk of postpartum mental health complications, I would suggest these 9 things.

1. Know about lactation consultants and how to access one if you need it! When we want to nurse but there are difficulties, it can create a tremendous amount of stress and complex, heavy feelings. It can also begin to consume our thoughts and days. A lactation consultant you can quickly access right away can help make solid plans and get you the support you need!

2. Prioritize sleep in the postpartum period! And this can begin by talking to your partner in pregnancy on how to navigate sleep disruptions to mitigate the risks of sleep deprivation). Chronic sleep loss is one of the largest risk factors for mental health needs in postpartum.

3. Begin expressing your boundaries. So chatting with your partner about your values, beliefs and needs and identifying your boundaries for contact, visitors etc. can be super important!

4. Hire a postpartum doula! Their support during this vulnerable period of time can be invaluable. They provide emotional support, meal prep, night time sleep support, general cleaning and more.

5. Talk to your partner about coparenting tasks. Often the birthing parent can become the default parent, and tension between couples can rise during the postpartum period. Acknowledging invisible loads, emotional and mental labor can be incredibly helpful and valuable!

6. Connect with a therapist! Therapy can help support during pregnancy and postpartum, support with your expectations and anxieties, talk about safety in birth and so much more! Having a pre-established relationship before postpartum can be invaluable! It also ensures the therapist knows and understands your baseline, to ensure more timely responsiveness when challenges arise! It also gets you in before a crisis, rather than sitting on a wait list.

7. Know a bit about the drop in, mom, parent and play groups in your area! Isolation is another risk factors, and knowing what programs and supports are available allows you to access when you need it. Isolation is another risk.

**Continued in comments **

11/26/2025

For those wanting to start the New Year off with a deeper connection and compassion to the self

To hold space for feelings that maybe they’ve been avoiding

Make changes they know they now deserve

Heal trauma that they have been carrying for far too long

To find a safe space to explore grief or loss, anger or fear

My office is open, the coffee is ready.

And you can cozy up on the couch even after the coffee gets cold (new favorite book 😉)

To book a session please email
connect@oakandcedarwellness.com
Or text me at 506-261-1033

11/20/2025

:)

11/15/2025

🤣🤣

We both know there’s a person you want to send this too 💀

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