Oceanside Psychology Group

04/12/2025

The adults and youth that Anna sees in her practice are often looking for help with anxiety, depression, relationships, concentrating, and even physical discomfort. They struggle to express their needs and emotions and have difficulty setting boundaries.

They don’t feel like they can be themselves due to fear of being misunderstood, judged, or rejected if they are.

Often, her clients describe traumatic pasts or difficult life events that remain unresolved. They’re hypervigilant for things that could go wrong or numb and dissociated. Negative beliefs such as “I’m not lovable,” “My feelings aren’t important,” or “I’m a failure” are deeply ingrained, and serve as stumbling blocks on their path to happiness and more fulfilling relationships.

Internalized messages from society or family on how to live, what to like, and how to behave often further undermine their self-esteem, hold them back, and make them feel like they don’t belong. They may feel confused about their direction in life, who they are, and where they stand with others.

Parents of Anna’s teen clients are often worried about their child. They want more for them, but don’t know what to do.

If you’re ready to get support for yourself or your teen and experience a lasting change, contact our office to schedule a free phone consult or session today. Anna speaks Russian fluently and offers sessions in both English and Russian.

**Please note that therapists are restricted to practicing in the province in which they are licensed. We are only able to offer sessions to residents of BC.**

04/05/2025

Forgiveness is often described as a decision in which a person who has been wronged actively decides to let go of resentment and replace it with feelings of compassion and kindness, even if the person who caused the hurt may be undeserving of such feelings.

Holding onto resentment isn’t beneficial, which is where forgiveness can come in (although it’s not always necessary or the only route to healing…another route is holding the person accountable for their wrongdoing and working through the feelings around it).

First, it’s important to differentiate between what forgiveness is and what it isn’t...

Forgiveness IS:
✅An internal process that isn’t influenced by others.
✅Letting go of hostile feelings towards the person who caused the harm.
✅Not focusing on past events that won’t change.
✅Giving up on the need for revenge or punishment.
✅Cultivating concern (and sometimes compassion or pity) for the offender and wishing them well.

Forgiveness ISN’T:
❎Allowing harm to continue.
❎Ignoring the harm and unfairness.
❎Forgetting or denying the events that took place.
❎The same as reconciling, which isn’t always possible or necessary.
❎Giving up on proper justice.
❎Letting the problem ‘slide’ or ‘pushing it under the rug.’
❎Giving up on what can’t be changed.

Forgiveness often takes time and is a process that requires unpacking many feelings (e.g., anger, hurt, sadness, disappointment, disgust). However, when we arrive at a place of forgiveness, it often provides a sense of inner peace and opens the door for more positive emotions to make their way back in. ❤️

03/29/2025

For many, the “need” to be productive results from feeling we’re not good enough unless we’re productive. Our worth is tied to our performance and how much we achieve, accomplish, or produce.

For many, constantly being our productive best has become a norm. While we may be navigating a web of external expectations, self-imposed standards are often also at play.

Does your inner dialogue reflect a negative view of yourself? If so, it might sound like:

“I can’t slow down, there’s always more to do.”
“If I’m not constantly working or achieving, I feel like I’m falling behind.”
“Everyone else has it together. I just can’t keep up.”
“I’ll be fine. There are priorities higher than my rest.”
“People will think less of me or won’t like me if I’m not giving them what they need.”

Valuing ourselves enough to embrace downtime requires a shift in perspective towards self-compassion and self-care. Rest and relaxation are not signs of weakness or underachievement but rather crucial components of a healthy and balanced life.

12/24/2024

From our family to yours, sending care and warm wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season. ❤️

12/14/2024

The clients Amrit sees in her practice often feel overwhelmed and need a safe space to help them understand what they’re experiencing and why. Many of them are afraid of not being heard or understood, not unlike in their past or other aspects of their life.

Many of my clients have histories characterized by long-term abuse and multiple victimizations.

As adults, they view themselves as “damaged,” “defective,” and vulnerable to more harm. They’re vigilant for any signs that they’re not safe.

At an emotional level, my clients describe feeling “out of control.” They struggle with panic, anger, fear of abandonment, shame and depression, and many fluctuate between these feelings and extremes. Their emotions control them, not the other way around.

To cope, they often turn to substances, self-harm, eating unhealthy food, overworking, impulsive spending, “scrolling” on their phones, and other similar strategies. These behaviours often represent their best attempt not to feel painful feelings, only they hurt them in other ways. Their relationships suffer and their work or other commitments often do too.

They’re tired of things always feeling so hard. They want to have more control over their lives but can’t seem to figure out how.

If this sounds familiar and you live in BC, we invite you to reach out to our office to book an appointment or schedule a free phone consult with Amrit today.

**Please note that therapists are restricted to practicing in the province in which they are licensed. We are only able to offer sessions to residents of BC.**

12/14/2024

The holidays are meant to be a time of joy, togetherness, and festivity. But for many, they also bring stress, overwhelm, and anxiety…

Between the pressure to meet expectations, manage family dynamics, and juggle busy schedules, the holidays can quickly become overwhelming.

If you're feeling the weight of the season, you're not alone.

In these moments, it’s okay to take a step back and breathe. Refocusing on meaning and setting boundaries can often help reduce feelings of overwhelm and re-ground us when life gets stressful and chaotic. ⭐

12/14/2024

It’s completely okay to feel stressed or overwhelmed during the holidays…it doesn’t make you any less capable or festive (yes, we hear you inner critic!).

The pressure to make everything perfect, from gift-giving to family gatherings, can feel like a lot. But remember, the "ideal" holiday is often more of a fantasy than a reality.

It’s okay if:

>>Things don’t go perfectly.
>>You can’t keep up with all the expectations.
>>Or, you need to take a step back.

Keep these reminders in your back pocket for when you start to feel that stress creeping in this season. You’re not alone in feeling this way.

11/03/2024

Welcoming Dr. Taylor Willi, our newest clinician to the Oceanside team!

A lot of the people Taylor sees in his practice are grappling with a constant fear of judgment, feelings of inadequacy, worry, and a relentless drive to achieve. This combination results in overachievement as a way to avoid failure or criticism, but often leads to burnout, isolation, and a deep sense of hopelessness.

They worry that making one mistake will ruin everything they have worked for. There’s no room for error. They think that although others may think they’re capable, it's only because they haven’t seen their flaws yet. They may over-prepare, and frequently criticize themselves, procrastinate, and avoid asking for help. Deep down, they fear they’re broken and will be like this forever.

Many find themselves trapped in these cycles of negative thinking, struggling to manage their emotions, and feeling disconnected from their goals and what matters most to them. This can lead to avoiding people and situations that get in the way of their personal and professional growth, leaving them feeling stuck, frustrated, exhausted, and worthless.

Taylor works with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD, OCD, chronic pain, insomnia, and adjustment to injury or illness. He helps people learn to approach their thoughts and feelings with more compassion and curiosity, instead of getting “hooked” by them. Clients leave therapy equipped with practical tools and insights that help them live a life with more contentment and ease.

If this sounds like what you’re looking for, reach out to our office to book an appointment or schedule a free phone consult today.

**Please note that therapists are restricted to practicing in the province in which they are licensed. We are only able to offer sessions to residents of BC.**

11/02/2024

When boundaries are unstable (or non-existent), we often put our needs aside in favour of others’ wants or needs. While this is healthy and adaptive at times, when it’s our default mode of operating, we end up abandoning and neglecting ourselves. ⁠
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Chronically tending to others’ needs at the expense of our own is often a guilt- or fear-based response:⁠
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👉️We might be scared that something bad will happen (e.g., that we’ll be seen as selfish, disappoint others, lose a relationship, or not be “needed,” loveable, or valuable anymore). ⁠
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👉️Or, we might view ourselves as bad and not worthy of love or care if we’re not there to tend to others’ needs.⁠
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Over time, you might notice resentment build and end up feeling used or manipulated, or you might realize you don’t even know yourself and what your likes, needs, and interests are anymore.⁠
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If this sounds familiar, it’s time to reassess your boundaries. ⁠
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Changing our boundaries, or having boundaries where we don’t have any, isn’t easy. To change or implement boundaries, we often need to work through the blocks to having them in the first place: guilt and fear and an inner critic that keeps these feelings intact.⁠
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11/02/2024

Emotional acceptance is the practice of recognizing and embracing one’s feelings without judgment.

It involves acknowledging emotions as valid experiences, whether they’re positive or “negative” emotions, and understanding that they are a natural part of being human.

This openness and acceptance towards our feelings allows us to experience and understand them on a deeper level.

This sounds easy, but as most of us know…it’s not! It takes a lot of courage and vulnerability to allow and sit with emotions that feel uncomfortable. When we learn how to do this, however, we end up responding to our emotions more constructively, instead of reacting impulsively to them or becoming overwhelmed by them. We learn to have our emotions, instead of our emotions having us.

10/27/2024

Hanna collaborates with her clients to create validating and empowering therapy for individuals and couples who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, monogamous/non-monogamous, kinky, gender-diverse, alternative, heteros*xual, and people with intersectional identities.

The individuals she works with often seek support in expressing their s*xuality, forging meaningful connections, and living an authentic and meaningful life. They may be navigating complexities in their relationships or personal identity, and her approach offers a non-judgmental space for exploration and growth in these areas.

In individual therapy, Hanna works with clients who want to explore and heal from issues related to s*x and s*xuality, identity, trauma, neurodiversity, and relationship dynamics. Whether it’s anxiety, shame, or grief holding you back, Hanna will work with you to process these emotions and move toward a more authentic and fulfilling life.

In relationship and couples therapy, Hanna supports clients working to resolve conflicts, improve communication, and re-establish intimacy. Many couples come to her when they feel disconnected or stuck in patterns of conflict, especially in relationships that are experiencing s*x and s*xuality-related challenges.

Hanna also works with families struggling with communication and those navigating issues related to their teen’s identity and growing independence.

If you’re ready to heal from past hurts, embrace your full self, and feel more at ease and authentic in your life or closer to your partner, Hanna offers a compassionate and inclusive space to explore and heal. Reach out to our office to schedule a free phone consult today.

**Please note that therapists are restricted to practicing in the province in which they are licensed. We are only able to offer sessions to residents of BC.**

10/05/2024