Understanding and Reframing Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is often misunderstood and stigmatized. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we offer compassionate, evidence-based care to help you experience symptom relief and improve your emotional wellbeing.
Connecting ADHD and Depression: Exploring the Link and Symptoms
ADHD and depression often go hand-in-hand, although people may miss symptoms of either conditions. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we offer multidisciplinary treatment for individuals, children, and families.
Community Trauma After a Wildfire: Surviving Wildfire Season
Collective trauma amid wildfire season is important for everyone in Fort McMurray to understand. Anxiety and trauma symptoms affect individuals and communities at large. At Boreal Therapy Collective, we are here to help.
Mental Illness Is Real: Evidence You Should Know
Mental illness is often misunderstood and stigmatized, which can prevent people from seeking the support they need. Learn more about what causes mental illness and how treatment can be effective with Boreal Therapy Collective.
What Parents Need to Know About ADHD
ADHD is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, and it is important that parents are on the same page regarding treatment for their child. Learn more about ADHD and treatment options, including cognitive behavioural therapy and stimulant-based medication, with Boreal Therapy Collective.
Child Therapy for Divorce: Dispelling Common Myths for Parents
Separation and divorce is a life-changing event that can be difficult for everyone. It’s important that parents understand what to expect when seeking support for their child. Learn the myths from the facts and the benefits of therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective.
How to Effectively Co-Parent During a High-Conflict Separation or Divorce
Boreal Therapy Collective offers therapy for co-parenting during high-conflict separation and divorces. This transition can be tumultuous and seeking support can be one of the best decisions you make. Learn how to establish your communication boundaries, let go of ideals, avoid badmouthing the other parent, learn your own parenting style, and more with Boreal Therapy Collective.
How to Cope With Seasonal Depression (No Matter How Dark and Gloomy It Is!)
Boreal Therapy Collective offers therapy for seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder). Learn how to cope with the dark and cold gloomy months by getting more time outside, staying connected with friends, prioritizing your physical health, getting consistent sleep, and reaching out for medical support (if needed).
6 Important Reasons to Consider Therapy After a Breakup
Boreal Therapy Collective offers therapy for coping with breakups and other challenging life transitions. It may be beneficial to seek professional support if you’re struggling with difficult emotions, feeling stuck, experiencing low self-esteem, or engaging in unhealthy behaviours after a relationship ends.
What Depression Is (And What It Isn't)
Boreal Therapy Collective offers an overview of depression including the symptoms of depressive disorders, the various types of depressive and mood disorders, the causes of depression, and treatment options for depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy and play-based therapy. We suggest seeking professional support if you or a loved one is struggling with depression.
8 Guidelines to Consider When Choosing a Therapist
Boreal Therapy Collective offers eight guidelines to consider when looking for a therapist. We suggest considering your personal preferences, the therapist’s approach, training, registration, credentials, whether they have a protected title, and their affiliation with the Health Professions Act, your personal finances, the hours of operation, and goodness of fit.
How Parents Should Discuss and Approach Suicide With Their Teenagers
Boreal Therapy Collective explains how parents should talk to children, tweens, teens, youth, and young adults about suicide. We suggest having an open dialogue, acknowledge your child’s mental health, ask what your child thinks and knows about suicide, understand the risk factors, refrain from providing immediate solutions or advice, know when to seek professional help, and do not blame yourself. Consider therapy for suicide ideation, including CBT and DBT.
6 Tips for Dealing With Social Anxiety at School
Boreal Therapy Collective explains how children and teens can cope with social anxiety at school. We suggest reviewing the warning signs of social anxiety in school, reviewing and practicing social skills, challenging negative thoughts, imagining positive outcomes, and engaging in small challenges that will make a big impact. Consider therapy for social anxiety, including play-based therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy.
How to Stop Getting Into Power Struggles With Your Teenager
Boreal Therapy Collective explains how parents can better manage power struggles with their teens. We suggest conveying empathy and support, setting your non-negotiable boundaries, picking your battles wisely, staying respectful and calm, being clear with consequences, and praising and validating your teen. If more support is needed, consider family therapy. If you notice your teen is struggling with their mental health, consider cognitive behavioural therapy.
Social Inclusion: What It Is & Why It Matters So Much
At Boreal Therapy Collective, we are passionate about delivering mental health care that is socially inclusive. To be more socially inclusive, we recommend using respectful and inclusive language, recognizing your biasses, challenging discrimination when you face it, continuing to educate yourself, honouring your growth process, and being mindful of your privilege.
When Emotions Feel Too Big, Here’s What You Can Do
Boreal Therapy Collective explains how to navigate big emotions. We recommend naming how you feel, riding the wave of emotion, expressing the emotion, sharing the emotion, implementing more mindfulness, and considering therapy.
Why Self-Compassion Is Your Superpower (And How to Cultivate It)
Boreal Therapy Collective explains how children, teens, and adults can cultivate self-compassion. We suggest identifying your patterns of self-judgement, leaning on shared humanity, considering being more neutral with yourself, practicing more mindfulness, taking to yourself as you would a friend, and validating yourself more often.
Do You Need to Set Better Boundaries With Your Friends?
Boreal Therapy Collective offers eight guidelines to consider when assessing boundaries in your friendships. Signs of poor friendship boundaries include always saying yes, not communicating your needs clearly, often feeling hurt, gossiping about your friends (or friends gossiping about you), feeling unsupported, dreading spending time with friends, feeling as though friends “just want something from you”, and frequently being passive-aggressive or aggressive with your friends.
How Teenagers With Social Anxiety Can Overcome Their Discomfort
Boreal Therapy Collective explains how teens can challenge social anxiety. We suggest recognizing and challenging negative thoughts, setting small and realistic goals, gently exposing yourself to feared situations, accepting that some discomfort may be inevitable, avoiding avoidance, and knowing when to seek professional support.
Understanding Self-Harm
Boreal Therapy Collective explains the reasons behind self-harm behaviour. Reasons include tension release, seeking control, self-punishment, compulsive behaviour, peer pressure, using physical pain to cope with emotional pain, a way to cope with mental health challenges, and low self-esteem. We recommend reaching out to a therapist for support to navigate self-harm behaviour as soon as possible.