Between Sessions: Gentle Practices to Support Your Growth
As a Calgary therapist, I’ve seen how small daily practices — such as noticing your emotions with compassion, setting gentle boundaries, or taking a mindful breath — can create profound change over time. These tools are meant to help you:
People-pleasing is a fawn strategy. It says, “If I meet your needs, you won’t leave.”
People-pleasing feels kind, but it chips away at self-worth. Learn how micro-sacrifices blur identity and how to reclaim your authentic voice.
Keywords: people pleasing, micro-sacrifices, self-worth, boundaries, self-abandonment, authenticity, nervous system healing, codependency, identity loss, emotional regulation
The Hidden Face of Avoidance: When Protection Turns Into Pushback
Avoidance hides behind control, criticism, or blame — not cruelty. Learn how this defense masks deeper emotions and how to meet it with compassion.
Keywords: avoidance, emotional defense, criticism, victim mindset, relationships, trauma response, emotional intelligence, therapy, self-protection, self-awareness
Face the Wave: How Turning Toward Anxiety Can Help You Regain Control
Learn why resisting anxiety makes it stronger—and how facing it with awareness can move you toward peace, clarity, and action.
Facing the Wave—Why Resisting Anxiety Doesn’t Work
Understanding the Fear and Anxiety Triggered by Narcissism
Image by Talip Özer from Pixabay
Narcissistic colleagues are often skilled manipulators who hide their toxic behaviors behind a veneer of charm, expertise, or even community admiration. These individuals typically do not exhibit any emotion unless they want something from others, whether it's validation, control, or an advantage in a work-related situation. They use tactics like gaslighting—making others doubt their perceptions of reality—and deflecting accountability for their actions, which creates confusion and frustration.