Jayla Schmidt, R. Psychologist

07/22/2023

Hi!!

I have some exciting new to share…

My colleague, Erica Ford Psychology, and I will be opening a new psychology clinic in Cochrane in September 2023!

Therapy West will offer counselling and assessment services to children, youth, and adults.

We are located in the heart of downtown Cochrane, in a lovely little character home on 3rd Ave…just down from The Greek Plate and right beside Jaipur restaurant.

I will be transitioning to the new clinic space in August, and hope to limit the disruption to my current clients. If you have any questions, let’s connect: jayla@therapywestcochrane.com

11/11/2022

Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a moment of silence to honour and remember those who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace.

We remember the more than 2,300,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation’s history and the more than 118,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice.

10/31/2022

🎃 Happy Halloween 🎃

09/30/2022

Truth and Reconciliation is a day to honour Indian Residential School survivors, their families, and communities and to ensure the public commemoration of history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Sept. 30 is meant to be a day of reflection as well as a day of action.

* Learn which Treaty territory or Métis Region you live and work on.
* View the Canadian Encyclopedia interactive map that indicates the location of many residential schools in Canada.
* Explore Indigenous artists and purchase their works.
* Read books, poetry, or graphic novels by Indigenous people.
* Explore the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
* Engage in virtual or in-person events for Truth and Reconciliation Day.
* Wear an orange shirt to show support on September 30.

07/30/2022

The truth is that many of us are so busy trying to move forward with our lives that we rarely take a moment to slow down and be at one with our thoughts. Plus, we often don’t recognize the importance of self-reflection and the impact it can have on our lives.

In my opinion, self-reflection is one of the best ways that you can shift your mindset, increase positivity in your life, and discover a greater connection to yourself.

Self-reflection can help you understand more about the way that you respond to situations, identify and explore your current stressors, and to find ways that you can deal with situations positively, instead of letting them consume you.

Today, take some time for self reflection and then consider how it has helped shape your mindset.

06/21/2022

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! This celebration takes place on the summer solstice, June 21. It’s a special occasion to learn more about the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Learning about Indigenous Peoples, places and experiences is a step forward each Canadian can take on the path to reconciliation.

06/19/2022

Those in the field of positive psychology agree that humor can aid in fostering connection and in reducing stress. Perhaps because of this, dad jokes have become part of the popular lexicon. Research on the subject suggests that fostering a sense of humor and playfulness while parenting may also help children learn how to cope with the everyday challenges of growing up.

So here’s to all the Dad’s! Happy Father’s Day

And my two favourite Dad jokes to celebrate the day:

"How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?” Ten tickles

“What do you call a fish without an eye?” F-sh

06/03/2022

June is Pride month, the time of year when we celebrate the impact that le***an, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. It’s a great time to recognize the contributions of your LGBT+ peers, learn a little bit more about LGBT+ history, celebrate diversity, and consider the ways that you can contribute to creating a more inclusive society. 🌈 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️❤️

05/08/2022

Happy Mother’s Day

What is to follow is certainly not going to be found on some Hallmark Card nor is it written with Rose Colored Glasses. Rather, it is my attempt to outline what I have come to understand about a mother’s sacrifice and love through my own journey as a son, grandson, father, friend, as well as psych...

05/08/2022

Happy Mother’s Day 💐

04/20/2022

Ma*****na is becoming a popular option for battling sleep troubles, despite limited research confirming its long term impact on sleep architecture and overall sleep quality. While one study found that,  80% of research participants reported that the intervention helped them sleep, other research has shown that ma*****na can suppress or disturb important stages of sleep such as REM and slow-wave sleep.  

Ma*****na contains multiple active ingredients, called cannabinoids, that may impact sleep. Its main ingredients are THC and CBD. THC has sedating effects on the brain, which may cause a person to relax and feel sleepy. In contrast, CBD has an alerting effect that may lead to arousal and ward off THC’s effect on the brain.  These findings suggest that ma*****na with higher amounts of THC than CBD may better induce sleep, but significantly more research is needed to know the ideal dose and timing. 

A 2017 review analyzed multiple studies that have looked into the effects of ma*****na on various sleep problems. Overall, the researchers found that short-term ma*****na use may have therapeutic effects in helping a person fall asleep faster. Additionally, numerous studies also suggest that ma*****na may help lower stress and anxiety levels, improve mood, relieve pain, and manage exhaustion, all of which may be associated with supporting sleep. Researchers highlight that ma*****na’s effect on sleep depends on the dose, time taken, and method of use. Additionally, relying on ma*****na as a long-term intervention for improving sleep may lead to dependence. This long-term or heavy use may worsen sleep problems and lead to shorter sleep duration, poor sleep efficiency, decreased REM and slow-wave sleep, difficulty falling asleep, and frequent nighttime awakenings.

If you’re looking to use ma*****na to help improve your sleep, consider speaking to a doctor first, who may look at your medical history, screen for potential sleep problems, and recommend treatment. For most people, healthy sleep promoting behaviors and behavioral therapy should be a first line of defense for improving sleep.