Tara Leigh Counselling Coaching Consulting

04/30/2026

Becoming a parent is one of the biggest life transitions you'll go through. It's okay if it feels harder than you expected.

The identity shift is real. The exhaustion is real. Therapy gives you space to reflect without the pressure to perform gratitude. You're allowed to find it hard and still love your child.

04/23/2026

Your body might be telling you something important.

Wired and tired at the same time. Small things feeling overwhelming. Thoughts that won't slow down. These aren't character flaws. They're signs your nervous system needs support.

Therapy can help you understand what's happening and find ways to regulate.

04/16/2026

Feeling like your teen won't open up?

Many teens pull away when they're overwhelmed. Try shifting from advice to curiosity. Instead of 'What's wrong?' try 'What's been the hardest part of your day?'

Small shifts in how you ask can make space for them to share when they're ready.

04/09/2026

You don't need to wait for a crisis to reach out.

Sometimes therapy is for the big things — grief, trauma, major disruptions. But just as often, it's for the quieter struggles. The feeling that something's off but you can't quite name it.

Those reasons are enough. Therapy isn't reserved for emergencies.

04/02/2026

Living with OCD is exhausting—and often misunderstood.

It's not about being neat or organized. OCD shows up as intrusive thoughts that won't leave you alone, compulsions that feel impossible to resist, and a constant need for certainty that never quite comes.

The mental loops. The rituals. The checking, counting, or replaying scenarios over and over. It takes everything you have just to get through the day, and most people have no idea how much energy you're spending just trying to feel okay.

You're not imagining how hard this is. OCD is real, it's treatable, and you don't have to manage it alone.

Therapy can help you understand how OCD works, break the cycles that keep you stuck, and find relief from the noise.

03/26/2026

When your mind won't stop spinning, sometimes you just need to get it out.

Set a timer for ten minutes. Write down every thought taking up space. When the timer goes off, circle anything you can actually take action on today. Let the rest stay on the page.

This isn't about solving everything. It's about giving your brain permission to stop holding onto it all.

03/21/2026

Accepting new clients for in person appointments on Saturdays.

I provide in person and virtual counselling for teens and adults, along with supportive walk-and-talk therapy right here in Sherwood Park. A safe space to explore, heal, and grow. Specializing in anxiety, OCD and self image.

03/19/2026

Watching your teen struggle and not knowing how to help is one of the hardest things to sit with as a parent. Maybe they're withdrawing, overwhelmed, or pushing back on everything. Maybe you've tried bringing up counselling and it didn't land.

That's more common than you think, and it doesn't mean you've missed your chance.

Reaching out for a consultation is a good first step. Together we can talk through what you're noticing, what your teen might need, and how to open the door to support in a way that actually feels approachable for them.

Book a consultation with me today.

03/12/2026

Anxiety doesn't look the same for everyone. For some it's a constant background hum of worry that makes it hard to feel settled. For others it's the dread of social situations, or thoughts that loop no matter how hard you try to let them go.

Whatever yours looks like, you don't have to keep managing it on your own. Together we can start to understand what's driving it and build some real relief, at a pace that works for you.

When you are ready, feel free to book an appointment with me.

03/05/2026

When was the last time someone checked in on you?

Parents carry a lot, the logistics, the worry, the emotional labour that no one sees. You're allowed to say it's heavy, because it is. Two things can be true at once, you can love being a parent, and it can feel overwhelming and hard.

Parent coaching isn't just about strategies. It's about making space for you, too.

02/26/2026

Your body holds onto stress more than you might realize. It shows up as a clenched jaw, tight shoulders, a chest that won't quite loosen. And when that tension sticks around long enough, it can start to show up as chronic pain and physical exhaustion too.

Try this 2-minute body scan when things feel like a lot:
Notice where you're holding tension right now. Your jaw? Your shoulders? Your stomach? Gently soften those spots. Let your shoulders drop. Unclench your jaw. Take a slow breath in, and let it go.

Two minutes. That's all it takes to give your nervous system a little signal that you're okay right now.

02/21/2026

New office space !!