May 19, 2020
Dear Everybody,
Come and breath with me. Inhale. Sigh.
Since taking David Elliot's breathwork classes, among other classes in the past, and engaging in my own breathwork practice since the fall of 2019, I am discovering so much in the world of breathwork facilitation. First of all, I find it to be such a powerful healing modality. As well, the deepening of my skills in this area could not be better timed. For many (not all!), this is a time of stopping to breath. The earth is getting a time-out to catch its breath as I read reports about skies clearing up, and pollution indexes showing unprecedented improvements. What decorum to focus on the breath.
So far I have had the following reports about breathwork (disclosure: this is a mix of radically paraphrased and verbatim statements):
*I've been talking too much - this breathwork is a breakthrough! (To which I respond: don't 'diss' talking...it is good, and now this is good too).
*I feel so much lighter.
*What a release! (I hear this almost every time).
*I was exhausted and emotional the night following my first breathwork session as I was processing stored feelings that needed to come up. I felt ready to deal with it, and knowing that the breathwork was the reason it was being released, helped me to be mindful and accept the feelings. And after that, my mood radically improved.
*Doing breathwork regularly helps me manage my addiction cravings.
*I can't get enough of breathwork. Who needs drugs when I have this crazy breathing? (Ok, this comes only from me so far).
Well, I could go on. As described in the ABOUT section of this website, breathwork is addressing the somatic release of memories and energy blockages. And there is so much more to it, for example, doing the ego-tango and opening body, mind, and soul.
If you schedule a breathwork appointment with me, make sure to indicate that when you book an appointment. Put (breathwork) in brackets after your last name.
With much love,
Michelle
May 5, 2020
It is with sadness that I report I am letting go of the office space at 1827 Woodward Drive. I will no longer be at this location after June 30, 2020. It was hard to justify paying rent on a space that has been abandoned because of the pandemic. I have a feeling it will continue to be abandoned for some time. While aspects were hard to let go of, I am also excited to see what happens next. I'm anticipating the possibilities of lower commitment to a single brick and mortar structure. Perhaps I will locate a flexible space for the days when I do anchor down in Ottawa for in-person sessions when we are in the clear. I have a feeling my therapy practice will be a flexible hybrid model. Stay tuned.
April 13, 2020
As with the rest of the world, today, like every day since March 16th is a virtual day.
The times highlight the need for some semblance of a routine to maintain mental health. After the initial shock of a viral pandemic, there was this feeling of freedom of time that created a mania of sorts. At least this was my experience. Travel time was eliminated and social time was eliminated. Other time efficiencies came in to play such as fewer trips to the grocery store - the only store worth risking health over. Then the non-essential stores closed anyway. There were no more time wasting meanderings around Winners and no lingering rest-stops at the coffee shops or restaurants.
During the mania, I was going to bed very late compared to usual. I was like a child who was given way too much freedom. Look kid, you can watch as many Muppet Shows as you want and its all you can eat pizza and candy night! You don't even have to get dressed! I was feeling restless and excited about the limitless time. Was it because I was the most rested I had been in years? Was it because I wasn't dropping into bed exhausted from the rat race? At the same time, while I was getting out walking for the sake of walking more than ever before, it wasn't enough to counter the late bedtime.
While my work does not allow for rigid routine, I decided to establish a routine with one thing: Sleep. Today is day one. I went to bed before midnight. I am not playing virtual scrabble with my mother until 2 am. I am leaving my devices in a separate room so I may read and go to sleep. I woke up at 7:30 am - my new wake-up time. I'll let you know how it goes.
If routine is not already your default, how are you establishing a routine for yourself? If this hasn't occurred to you, what one new routine might improve your quality of life?
April 8, 2020
Yesterday I wrote April 40th on a document (it wasn't even the 4th). When someone mentioned how it might feel to hug a stranger again, I cried instantaneously. Within 30 seconds I was back to joy and garden planning.
There are no "right" ways to be right now or anytime. During a pandemic feelings and fallibility are normalised. The hierarchy of self-importance is being levelled. We are all cells in a body in a world. In therapy I am normalising FEELING every single day. For me, this time, where we are given permission to feel is a dream come true. There is an explicit example that we can all relate to that makes permission possible: "Hey, I get it" one might say. What I want to transfer over to a new normal is "Hey, I don't get your exact experience, but there must be something to it if it brings so much up for you. I believe your experience". I believe that you "BE".
Empathy. It is a word that has been overused and under applied. Empathy is happening right now in ways that I could never imagine.
For some other souls who aren't quite there yet, this is an affront to their autonomy and they are just going to stick their middle finger up to the alarmists and the government. They are attending beach parties and getting annoyed at the caution seekers. To the rebels, I say, go gentle on them. They are acting out their grief too. There is a little boy in there (that we sometimes refer to as the narcissistic type) who is wounded. This archetype needs to feel like they have agency and control because they had no control elsewhere in life - usually at a younger age. If they needed control before a pandemic, how do you think they are doing now? Don't put up with the bad behaviours, and distance yourself from the type, but see the boy too.
To be continued...
March 22, 2020
As we have all been acutely aware, not much has changed since my last post. All counselling sessions will remain virtual.
Today I want to wish you all resilience to get through this trying period. For some, anxiety is mounting in all the uncertainty. For others, anxiety lessens as the need to "perform" goes down. The spectrum is astounding to witness!
This strange time in our human history offers up the opportunity to slow down, assess what has worked and what has not worked so that we may adjust for the future and get priorities straight. It is a time to express love and gratitude to those people who are holding you up right now. Who are your people? Who are you able to count on? It may be becoming obvious.
Today I took two walks in the sunshine. I pet the cats and dogs on the street to feel the warmth of their sun-drenched fur. I stopped off at my friend's house and stood a safe distance away from her (she is 80+) for about 45 minutes chatting about everything and anything. What simple gifts.
One thing is for certain, as much as I feel overwhelmed with uncertainty at times, I also feel connected to something larger, something much larger that binds us all.
March 15, 2020
This page will be updated regularly.
Vulnerable people come to my office: both older adults and people with serious health conditions. As well, I am in contact with my mother, an older adult, who has experienced health issues in recent times. She is around people who have serious illnesses. This is a circle that I want to see and not transmit a quiet viral culprit to.
As of tomorrow, March 16, 2020 face to face sessions will be suspended until further notice. Virtual counselling will be offered in place of face to face.
Skeptical about distance counselling? Face to face is great, don't get me wrong. I love face to face. I love the people who come to visit me. Virtual counselling provides equal and unique benefits. I will provide you a link to video conferencing, or we can talk on the phone.
Unique benefits:
* Get the help you need from the comfort of your home.
* All therapy modalities may be applied, including art therapy.
* Feel disinhibited: my clients have reported that they are free to emote and talk about all topics that are weighing them down because of the distance virtual therapy provides.
The downside:
If you are a hugger and we've hugged, we don't get to hug at the end of our session.
Hugging is a bad idea right now anyway! Let's not hug generally. I miss it already. This is a small sacrifice for the greater good.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Dear Everybody,
Come and breath with me. Inhale. Sigh.
Since taking David Elliot's breathwork classes, among other classes in the past, and engaging in my own breathwork practice since the fall of 2019, I am discovering so much in the world of breathwork facilitation. First of all, I find it to be such a powerful healing modality. As well, the deepening of my skills in this area could not be better timed. For many (not all!), this is a time of stopping to breath. The earth is getting a time-out to catch its breath as I read reports about skies clearing up, and pollution indexes showing unprecedented improvements. What decorum to focus on the breath.
So far I have had the following reports about breathwork (disclosure: this is a mix of radically paraphrased and verbatim statements):
*I've been talking too much - this breathwork is a breakthrough! (To which I respond: don't 'diss' talking...it is good, and now this is good too).
*I feel so much lighter.
*What a release! (I hear this almost every time).
*I was exhausted and emotional the night following my first breathwork session as I was processing stored feelings that needed to come up. I felt ready to deal with it, and knowing that the breathwork was the reason it was being released, helped me to be mindful and accept the feelings. And after that, my mood radically improved.
*Doing breathwork regularly helps me manage my addiction cravings.
*I can't get enough of breathwork. Who needs drugs when I have this crazy breathing? (Ok, this comes only from me so far).
Well, I could go on. As described in the ABOUT section of this website, breathwork is addressing the somatic release of memories and energy blockages. And there is so much more to it, for example, doing the ego-tango and opening body, mind, and soul.
If you schedule a breathwork appointment with me, make sure to indicate that when you book an appointment. Put (breathwork) in brackets after your last name.
With much love,
Michelle
May 5, 2020
It is with sadness that I report I am letting go of the office space at 1827 Woodward Drive. I will no longer be at this location after June 30, 2020. It was hard to justify paying rent on a space that has been abandoned because of the pandemic. I have a feeling it will continue to be abandoned for some time. While aspects were hard to let go of, I am also excited to see what happens next. I'm anticipating the possibilities of lower commitment to a single brick and mortar structure. Perhaps I will locate a flexible space for the days when I do anchor down in Ottawa for in-person sessions when we are in the clear. I have a feeling my therapy practice will be a flexible hybrid model. Stay tuned.
April 13, 2020
As with the rest of the world, today, like every day since March 16th is a virtual day.
The times highlight the need for some semblance of a routine to maintain mental health. After the initial shock of a viral pandemic, there was this feeling of freedom of time that created a mania of sorts. At least this was my experience. Travel time was eliminated and social time was eliminated. Other time efficiencies came in to play such as fewer trips to the grocery store - the only store worth risking health over. Then the non-essential stores closed anyway. There were no more time wasting meanderings around Winners and no lingering rest-stops at the coffee shops or restaurants.
During the mania, I was going to bed very late compared to usual. I was like a child who was given way too much freedom. Look kid, you can watch as many Muppet Shows as you want and its all you can eat pizza and candy night! You don't even have to get dressed! I was feeling restless and excited about the limitless time. Was it because I was the most rested I had been in years? Was it because I wasn't dropping into bed exhausted from the rat race? At the same time, while I was getting out walking for the sake of walking more than ever before, it wasn't enough to counter the late bedtime.
While my work does not allow for rigid routine, I decided to establish a routine with one thing: Sleep. Today is day one. I went to bed before midnight. I am not playing virtual scrabble with my mother until 2 am. I am leaving my devices in a separate room so I may read and go to sleep. I woke up at 7:30 am - my new wake-up time. I'll let you know how it goes.
If routine is not already your default, how are you establishing a routine for yourself? If this hasn't occurred to you, what one new routine might improve your quality of life?
April 8, 2020
Yesterday I wrote April 40th on a document (it wasn't even the 4th). When someone mentioned how it might feel to hug a stranger again, I cried instantaneously. Within 30 seconds I was back to joy and garden planning.
There are no "right" ways to be right now or anytime. During a pandemic feelings and fallibility are normalised. The hierarchy of self-importance is being levelled. We are all cells in a body in a world. In therapy I am normalising FEELING every single day. For me, this time, where we are given permission to feel is a dream come true. There is an explicit example that we can all relate to that makes permission possible: "Hey, I get it" one might say. What I want to transfer over to a new normal is "Hey, I don't get your exact experience, but there must be something to it if it brings so much up for you. I believe your experience". I believe that you "BE".
Empathy. It is a word that has been overused and under applied. Empathy is happening right now in ways that I could never imagine.
For some other souls who aren't quite there yet, this is an affront to their autonomy and they are just going to stick their middle finger up to the alarmists and the government. They are attending beach parties and getting annoyed at the caution seekers. To the rebels, I say, go gentle on them. They are acting out their grief too. There is a little boy in there (that we sometimes refer to as the narcissistic type) who is wounded. This archetype needs to feel like they have agency and control because they had no control elsewhere in life - usually at a younger age. If they needed control before a pandemic, how do you think they are doing now? Don't put up with the bad behaviours, and distance yourself from the type, but see the boy too.
To be continued...
March 22, 2020
As we have all been acutely aware, not much has changed since my last post. All counselling sessions will remain virtual.
Today I want to wish you all resilience to get through this trying period. For some, anxiety is mounting in all the uncertainty. For others, anxiety lessens as the need to "perform" goes down. The spectrum is astounding to witness!
This strange time in our human history offers up the opportunity to slow down, assess what has worked and what has not worked so that we may adjust for the future and get priorities straight. It is a time to express love and gratitude to those people who are holding you up right now. Who are your people? Who are you able to count on? It may be becoming obvious.
Today I took two walks in the sunshine. I pet the cats and dogs on the street to feel the warmth of their sun-drenched fur. I stopped off at my friend's house and stood a safe distance away from her (she is 80+) for about 45 minutes chatting about everything and anything. What simple gifts.
One thing is for certain, as much as I feel overwhelmed with uncertainty at times, I also feel connected to something larger, something much larger that binds us all.
March 15, 2020
This page will be updated regularly.
Vulnerable people come to my office: both older adults and people with serious health conditions. As well, I am in contact with my mother, an older adult, who has experienced health issues in recent times. She is around people who have serious illnesses. This is a circle that I want to see and not transmit a quiet viral culprit to.
As of tomorrow, March 16, 2020 face to face sessions will be suspended until further notice. Virtual counselling will be offered in place of face to face.
Skeptical about distance counselling? Face to face is great, don't get me wrong. I love face to face. I love the people who come to visit me. Virtual counselling provides equal and unique benefits. I will provide you a link to video conferencing, or we can talk on the phone.
Unique benefits:
* Get the help you need from the comfort of your home.
* All therapy modalities may be applied, including art therapy.
* Feel disinhibited: my clients have reported that they are free to emote and talk about all topics that are weighing them down because of the distance virtual therapy provides.
The downside:
If you are a hugger and we've hugged, we don't get to hug at the end of our session.
Hugging is a bad idea right now anyway! Let's not hug generally. I miss it already. This is a small sacrifice for the greater good.
Stay tuned for further updates.