Five Star Wellbeing

12/15/2025

Five Star Wellbeing Counselling and Mental Health is a small practice located in the Annapolis Valley. Our team provides compassionate care to individuals, couples, teens and families who are seeking clarity, healing and healthy connections with partners, family members and friends.

We are seeking a skilled and experienced therapist to join our practice.

Therapist Position at Five Star Wellbeing, a small . Counselling Careers in the Annapolis Valley.

12/04/2025

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺-𝗕𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Five Star Wellbeing Counselling and Mental Health is a small practice located in the Annapolis Valley. Our team provides compassionate care to individuals, couples, teens and families who are seeking clarity, healing and healthier connection.

𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚.
We are seeking a therapist with interest, foundational training and some experience in Emotionally Focused Therapy, along with skills in at least one additional modality such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy or Compassion Focused Therapy.

𝘙𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴
Applicants must be licensed in Nova Scotia as one of the following:
-Registered Counselling Therapist or Candidate
-Clinical Social Worker with a clinical designation
-Registered Psychologist or Candidate Registered Psychologist

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴.𝗰𝗼𝗺/𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻-𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺/

We welcome applications from therapists who value ethical care, collaboration and a warm, attachment-based approach.

11/01/2025

𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀
Strong relationships aren’t about avoiding problems, they’re built by working through them with honesty and care.
This post explores how expecting more from our partner's can create a calmer, safer home for you and your kids.

Read more here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/raising-expectations-how-healthy-boundaries-build-stronger-relationships/

Five Star Wellbeing offers flexible in-person and online appointments to suit your family's schedule. Book an Appointment https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com/

Learn more about Counselling Therapy here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-therapy-2/

10/23/2025

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀?
Have you ever been in a relationship that just felt easy? One where you didn’t have to second-guess yourself, where trust came naturally, and where you felt safe being yourself? Maybe you’ve felt anxious in relationships, worrying about whether the other person really cares about you. Or maybe you tend to pull away when things get too close, valuing your independence but sometimes feeling lonely. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

The way we experience relationships is largely shaped by attachment style, a pattern of relating that we develop in childhood. It’s not just about romance; it affects friendships, family bonds, and even how we connect with coworkers.
There are four main attachment styles: Secure Attachment, Anxious Attachment, Avoidant Attachment, and Fearful-Avoidant Attachment. Understanding your own can help you grasp why you behave in certain ways in relationships.

Read more here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/why-do-some-relationships-feel-secure-while-others-leave-you-anxious/

Five Star Wellbeing offers flexible in-person and online appointments to suit your family's schedule. Book an Appointment https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com/

Learn more about Counselling Therapy here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-therapy-2/

10/21/2025

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲
When you move your body, eat better, and sleep well, your mood improves. And when your mood improves, you’re more likely to take care of yourself. It’s a loop—a feedback system where small actions create bigger benefits over time. But it also works the other way. If you’re tired, stressed, and eating poorly, you might feel too drained to exercise or make healthy choices—which keeps you stuck in a cycle of low energy and low motivation.

Food = Brain Fuel – Eating whole, nutrient-rich foods gives your brain the steady energy it needs to keep your mood and focus stable. Swap processed snacks for something fresh, like fruit, vegetables or nuts.

When it comes to improving your Wellbeing and Mental Health, you don’t have to do everything at once. Small changes add up. Pay attention to how you felt before a change, and after. Knowing you're starting to feel better makes it easier to stay on track.

Read more here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/how-your-body-and-mind-help-each-other-thrive/

Learn more about Counselling Therapy here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-therapy-2/ or take our 5 minute Wellbeing Assessment https://fivestarwellbeing.com/wellbeing-assessment/

Five Star Wellbeing offers flexible in-person and online appointments to suit your family's schedule. Book an Appointment https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com/

10/09/2025

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗪𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴?
The Science Behind Belonging-Belonging isn’t just a warm, fuzzy feeling—it has measurable effects on our brains and bodies. When we feel connected to others, our brain releases oxytocin, also known as the "bonding hormone." This chemical helps reduce stress, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens feelings of trust and emotional security. Researchers at Harvard found that people with strong social connections are not only happier but also live longer. The famous Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has tracked participants for over 85 years, found that close relationships—not wealth or fame—are the strongest predictors of a happy and healthy life. On the flip side, loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 ci******es a day. It increases the risk of heart disease, depression, and even dementia. Clearly, humans are wired to be social.

Read more here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/why-do-we-feel-happier-when-we-belong/

Five Star Wellbeing provides in-person and online appointments with flexible booking times to fit your family's schedule.

Book an Appointment https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com/

Learn more about Counselling Therapy here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-therapy-2/

09/18/2025

Communication with your teen can be challenging. When teens pull away or shut down, it can feel frustrating and leave parents wondering what's really going on. Sometimes the silence comes from developmental changes, peer pressure, or the overwhelming emotions that often accompany adolescence.

Have you noticed your teen withdrawing, becoming more irritable, or avoiding conversations with you? Do you sometimes feel unsure how to support them, or how to even start the conversation?

Encouraging better communication can strengthen your relationship and create a deeper understanding of your teen's needs and feelings.

Kathryn Burgher offers individual therapy for teens. She provides a safe and respectful space where adolescents can discuss their needs, develop coping skills, and feel more confident navigating life's challenges.

Derrick McEachen offers Emotionally Focused Couple and Family Therapy to help parents and families improve communication, work through challenges, and rebuild connection when conversations break down.

Five Star Wellbeing provides in-person and online appointments with flexible booking times to fit your family's schedule.

Book a free consult with Kathryn https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com/locations/greenwich-ns-with-kathryn/book #/free-consultation

Learn more about Counselling for teens and families https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-therapy-2/ and https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-for-teens-and-adolescents-support-for-families/

09/16/2025

Following my March 13th post on 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘵, I was delighted to learn that my post inspired a 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 this week. The session is titled Self Censorship In a Polarized Nation https://link.msgsndr.com/sp/91570b79c2a. I look forward to taking part as a panel speaker.

The topic is particularly relevant, given the heightened tension and political polarization in the US.

Have you ever felt like you had to watch what you say, even in a casual conversation? Maybe you held back an opinion in a group discussion, worried about how others might react. That feeling—that hesitation—is a tiny glimpse into what happens when censorship starts creeping into a society.

Censorship isn’t just about controlling information. It affects how we think, how we feel, and how we connect with others. When people can’t speak freely, they start to self-censor, second-guessing their thoughts and avoiding difficult conversations. Over time, this kind of fear seeps into every part of life, increasing stress, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness.

Read the full post here: https://link.msgsndr.com/sp/640e0903fb6/

09/16/2025

Build Teen Identify, Confidence and Resilience

The conversation you have with yourself is a lifelong one, so it's important to make it a positive and encouraging one".

Our Therapists at Five Star Wellbeing work with teens to help build and support their sense of identity, confidence and resilience.

Areas of focus include:
-Anxiety & Panic
-Stress & Burnout
-Emotional Regulation
-Relationships & Parenting
-Depression & Grief
-Neurodiversity Support
-School Stress & Transitions
-Identity & Self-Esteem

Derrick McEachern M.Ed., RCT and Kathryn Burgher (MA, RCT-C) create a safe and respectful space where adolescents, teens, and parents can discuss openly, develop coping skills, and feel more confident navigating change and life’s challenges.

We offer in-person and online appointments with convenient booking times that fit your schedule.

Unsure if counselling is the right fit for you or your teen? Book a free consult with Kathryn https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com/locations/greenwich-ns-with-kathryn/book #/free-consultation

Book your appointment here:
https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com/

Read more about Counselling Therapy and Counselling for Teens and Adolescents here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-therapy-2/ and https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-for-teens-and-adolescents-support-for-families/

Take good care,

Derrick and Kathryn

09/15/2025

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀

When a teen faces loss, whether it's the death of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, or even the loss of a goal, they may struggle to process their feelings. Grief and depression can manifest in various ways. Some may experience difficulties with concentration and motivation, sadness, feelings of hopelessness, anger, or anxiety, a lack of interest in activities that once brought joy, withdrawal from friends and family or show changes in their usual behaviour.

Additionally, it's essential for parents and caregivers to prioritize their own well-being while supporting a grieving teenager. By modelling healthy coping mechanisms and seeking help when needed, they can provide a more stable environment for their child.

Kathryn Burgher offers a safe and respectful place where adolescents, teens and parents can talk openly, build coping skills, and feel more confident navigating life's changes. Five Star Wellbeing offers in-person and online appointments with convenient booking times that fit your schedule.

Unsure if counselling is right for you or your teen? Book a free consult with Kathryn https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com/locations/greenwich-ns-with-kathryn/book #/free-consultation

Read more about Counselling Therapy and Counselling for Teens and Adolescents here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-therapy-2/ and https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-for-teens-and-adolescents

09/09/2025

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱?

At Five Star Wellbeing, we support teens and families navigating ADHD, autism, anxiety, and emotional stress.

Kathryn Burgher works with teens to build confidence, communication, and coping skills. Derrick McEachern supports families and couples in building trust, connection, and resilience.

Learn about our counselling services for neurodiverse teens and their families here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/counselling-for-neurodiverse-teens-and-their-families/

Free consultations available.
Book online: https://fivestarwellbeing.janeapp.com
Learn more: http://fivestarwellbeing.com

09/03/2025

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁: 𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸

Do you feel anxious just thinking about walking into work, heading back to school, or even starting a conversation with your partner? That knot in your stomach or the racing thoughts before anything even happens is often a sign of anticipatory anxiety, your mind and body reacting before the interaction has even begun.

For some, it is the dread of facing a boss who might cut them down in front of others. For students, it might be the worry of being mocked by a teacher or classmate. At home, it could be the heaviness of preparing for another moment where your partner makes you feel small. These experiences are tied to emotional triggers, automatic responses that happen so fast, you don’t always realize what sets them off.

Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) offers a way to slow this process down. By learning to notice the steps in your reaction, triggers, body responses, thoughts, actions, and underlying feelings, you can better understand yourself and choose healthier ways to respond.

This article uses examples from work, school, and home, that an Emotionally Focused Therapist would take to help you recognize triggers, understand underlying emotions, and practice more assertive responses.

Read More here: https://fivestarwellbeing.com/responding-to-conflict-an-emotionally-focused-guide-to-managing-stressful-relationships-at-home-school-and-work/