Martine Robar, Registered Counselling Therapist - Candidate

11/20/2022

What a year it's been.

Clinic hours have been full since the founding of MRCounsellingTherapy back in March. I am both grateful and humbled by the growth I have experienced alongside those who walked through our doors.

For the remainder of 2022 we will no longer be accepting new clients, however updates will provided as spots open up.

Looking forward to what opportunities 2023 may bring to expand the practice and work with more of you! 🌲

05/20/2022

All contact info can be found here 🌿

05/10/2022

There are two openings this Saturday, May 14th for a new or existing client ✅

04/02/2022

There is an opening at 12:00(noon) this Sunday the 3rd for a new or existing client ✅

03/11/2022

There is an opening at 12:15(noon) this Sunday the 13th for a new client ✅

03/09/2022

Why labeling your emotions (correctly!) is essential.

Showing up to your emotions is only the first part of actually dealing with them. It's an essential part—you can't expect to effectively deal with your emotions without accepting them. But the work doesn't end there. Once you acknowledge your emotions (without a positive or negative connotation surrounding them), the next phase is to try to make sense of them. One way to do this is by putting language around our experiences.

Let's take a deeper dive into STRESS. For example, there is a world of difference between stress/disappointment and between stress/exhaustion.When you label your emotions with such a big label, it doesn't help you. What does help you, however, is identifying what is actually underlying that "stress".

The same goes for sadness: Are you feeling lonely? Underappreciated? Defeated? They're all unique emotions in their own right, and finding the right language for them is crucial in order to process them effectively. Becoming more specific in labeling your emotion allows you to start noticing the cause of your emotion and recognizing what you need to put in place to deal with it.

How to specifically label your emotions: a quick practice.

Whenever you start to feel a difficult emotion creeping in, here is a 2-step practice in order to effectively process and deal with them.

First, try to figure out at least two other emotions you can identify with. If your initial thought is "I'm stressed," what are two other options that represent how you're feeling in that moment? Remember to be specific. That way, you'll be able to get to the root of what you're feeling rather than slapping on a giant "stress" label with no actionable ways to handle it.

Once you identify those underlying emotions, no longer are you stuck in: “I am stressed”. You are: “I am exhausted, so I need greater levels of self care”. This is very different from just “stressed”.

The next step for dealing with those emotions, is to discover what values the emotion is pointing to. We tend not to have strong emotions about things we don't care about, therefore your difficult feelings can shed light on what's important to you. For example, if you are lonely, do you yearn for social connection? Are you missing deep conversations with your friend, partner, or parent?

Next time you’re feeling a certain way, check out this grid to start the process of labeling your emotions. 🌲

03/07/2022

Are you or your teen feeling overwhelmed by world events lately? Take a look at this blog post sharing practical strategies for coping during these times.

Although the possibility of war has been in the news for weeks, I was still deeply unsettled when I heard that Russia had invaded Ukraine.

03/06/2022

How to suggest therapy to a friend or loved one 🌲

03/04/2022

Even Teens Receive Privacy In Therapy

When your teen begins therapy, you may be surprised to find that you're not expected to attend. You may also be surprised to learn that the therapist cannot share information regarding these sessions with you as this violates therapist-client confidentiality. The therapist can provide general information regarding progress, diagnosis, and referrals (if any), but that's it.

You may feel resistant to the idea that the therapist is bound by confidentiality rules when your child is still a minor. However, this allows them to express their thoughts and emotions openly without the fear of consequences. This is very important to teens because they value their privacy and often feel very little autonomy from their parents.

As previously mentioned, all of the information your teen shares with the therapist is considered confidential, with the exception of anything the therapist is legally mandated to report. These exceptions include the intent to harm themselves or others, sexual or physical abuse, and suicidal thoughts.

You may find comfort in this; if there's a serious issue, your teen will receive the help they need, and you will be informed. Otherwise, they will still be working through any concerns they may have without having to worry about the repercussions of sharing their feelings. 🌲

03/01/2022

Alright but hear me out.

02/28/2022

Why Your Teen's Therapy May Seem Off-Topic

The type of therapy used with adolescents depends on the precipitating problem. If you want your teen to attend therapy because they're struggling academically, the therapist may start there and then dive deeper. Why? Establishing rapport and trust is essential in therapy. After the initial intake session (with or without the parents), the therapist may spend the next session getting to know them. Make sure to trust the process, even if it seems off-topic from the outside. 🌲