ML Family Counselling

08/01/2025

Boundaries are not about being distant—they’re about being clear.

They protect your well-being, create healthier relationships, and reflect self-respect. But for many, setting boundaries can bring up guilt, fear, or confusion. In therapy, we help you explore why boundaries feel hard and support you in building the skills to hold them with confidence and care.

Source: Hartstein Psychological Services�https://hartsteinpsychological.com/skills-to-cultivate-self-respect-and-strong-boundaries-with-others

07/31/2025

You can appear outgoing, warm, and fully engaged in social settings—and still feel physically, mentally, and emotionally depleted afterward. That exhaustion doesn’t mean you’re broken or antisocial. It often means your nervous system is working overtime to regulate, mask, and manage everything that comes with social interaction.

Source: by Michelle Labine, PhD, “Why I’m So Exhausted Before (and After) Socializing,” July 2025

07/30/2025

Mindfulness isn’t about clearing your mind

it’s about noticing what’s already there without judgment. Practicing mindfulness can help reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and increase your ability to respond—rather than reacting to stress.

At ML Family Counselling, we often integrate mindfulness into therapy to help clients slow down, reconnect with themselves, and build lasting inner resilience. 🧠 Your mind deserves care, too.

07/29/2025

🧠 Caring for your mental health starts with the basics.

Consistent sleep, nourishing meals, hydration, and movement all support emotional regulation and resilience. Small daily practices can lead to meaningful shifts in how we feel and cope.

07/29/2025

Submit your nomination before August 16th!

Link ⬇️

https://www.mentalhealthns.ca/lets-keep-talking?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4Sd62LkA2-74IvC1K8N2Vd5znutzLDCTJeWNg5QUxJTo32uZO3BK9U9WMj2w_aem_ixsBFHr7V4sRKWfZzA-sVQ

We’re once again proud to honour mental health champions from across Nova Scotia at this year’s Let’s Keep Talking, presented by Bell Let’s Talk.

If you know someone who’s making a difference by shifting attitudes or supporting those living with mental illness or addiction be sure to nominate them by August 16.

Along with celebrating our award recipients, this year’s event will also feature special guest Caitlin Morrison, Executive Director of Matthew Perry House.

We hope you’ll join us:

Let’s Keep Talking
October 7 | 6-8 pm
NSCC Ivany Campus, Dartmouth

For more information and to submit your nomination follow this link: www.mentalhealthns.ca/lets-keep-talking

A big thank you to our sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor:
Gold Sponsor: Medavie Foundation
Award Sponsors: Department of Psychiatry, . Mental Health and Addictions, and Scotiabank

07/28/2025

When you don’t have the words for what you’re feeling, everything can feel messy and unmanageable. But naming your emotions “really naming them” creates space between you and the reaction.

This process is called emotional granularity, and studies show it’s linked to better mental health, reduced emotional reactivity, and stronger coping. Therapy helps you learn the language of your inner world. You don’t need to have the right words yet - we’ll find them together.

Source: Oosterwijk, S. et al. (2021). Emotion differentiation and mental health: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin.�https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000335

07/27/2025

Now Accepting 4 Couples – Limited Pro Bono Spaces!

Now Accepting 4 Couples – Limited Pro Bono Spaces Available
We’re excited to offer free couples counselling sessions on Saturdays from August through December with Michael Coleman, Counselling Therapist Intern at ML Family Counselling.

Why This Is a Great Opportunity:
Working with a counselling intern like Michael means receiving compassionate, research-informed support at no cost. Under the supervision of experienced professionals, Michael brings fresh insight, empathy, and a strong commitment to helping couples deepen their connection and navigate challenges together.

Spots are limited — reach out now to express your interest!
Email: screening@MLfamilycounselling.com

07/27/2025

Sitting with discomfort isn’t easy, but it’s a powerful step toward healing. Avoiding emotions may feel better in the moment, but long-term, it keeps us stuck. Therapy helps build distress tolerance: the skill of staying present with hard emotions without shutting down or spiraling.

Marsha Linehan calls this radical acceptance, acknowledging what’s here, without trying to change or avoid it right away. You don’t have to run from discomfort. You can learn to stay with it, and grow through it.

Source: Linehan, M. (1993). Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. Guilford Press.

07/26/2025

What looks like a conversation is often much more. In therapy, you’re not just talking, you’re learning to regulate your emotions, challenge patterns, build insight, and connect to yourself in new ways.

This deeper work happens quietly. It looks like:
•Naming emotions instead of avoiding them
•Saying what you need, maybe for the first time
•Sitting with discomfort instead of pushing it away
•Practicing boundaries, compassion, and change

Therapy isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about building lasting internal shifts through safety, reflection, and relationship.

Source: Wampold, B. E. (2015). How important are the common factors in psychotherapy? Psychotherapy. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0038241

07/25/2025

For the Days When You’re Carrying Too Much. You’re allowed to put some of it down.

On the heavy days, your nervous system is working overtime. That’s not failure! It’s a sign you need care, not pressure. Being gentle with yourself helps reduce emotional overwhelm and supports long-term resilience.

Research shows that self-compassion lowers emotional reactivity during stress, especially on the hard days. Therapy can help you practice that.



Source: Self-compassion buffers stress and emotional reactivity: A 2024 study. PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38822622/

07/23/2025

In many relationships, one partner tends to reach out more, whether it’s starting conversations, initiating affection, or planning quality time. Over time, that imbalance can feel heavy.

But connection isn’t just about who reaches first, it’s about how we respond. This post explores the concept of bids for connection and how subtle shifts in responsiveness, perspective, and appreciation can help couples feel more balanced and emotionally connected.

Sometimes, love shows up in ways we don’t expect. When we learn to recognize it, we open the door to a deeper, more mutual rhythm of intimacy.

07/22/2025

You don’t have to be perfect. You just need to be willing to repair.
Research shows that the ability to repair after conflict is one of the strongest predictors of relationship satisfaction. It’s not about never messing up—it’s about how you come back together when you do.

Source: https://www.gottman.com/blog/how-to-use-repair-attempts-effectively/