Carbray Counselling Services

05/12/2026

It can be the hardest work of your life. And the most rewarding.

05/06/2026

I often hear “I didn’t think journaling will help, but I really think it has”. This is why.

04/30/2026

04/28/2026

Veith House is excited to invite you for a Q***r Potting Garden Event on May 13th! Please come join us and help our Urban Farm prepare for our seedling Sale starting May 15th!
Light refreshments and snacks will be provided! And expect to get dirty!
This event is for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ and ally community! 💚💚

04/25/2026

Join us next week for a free Gender Marker & Name Change Clinic! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

In partnership with Dalhousie Legal Aid, we will be hosting a gender marker and name change clinic on Wednesday, April 29th from 2:30 - 5 pm (room 5339). There will also be snacks, bracelets, and button making!

A shuttle bus will be available from Akerley and IT Campus for any Akerley or IT students who would like to join.

Scan the QR code to register and learn more.

Questions? Email: Mel.Karas@nscc.ca

04/25/2026

When you're chronically dysregulated, your body filters out the good. Not because you're ungrateful or negative. Because your nervous system is too busy scanning for threat to notice what's safe, beautiful, or worth savoring.

You can be surrounded by good things and feel nothing. Your kid laughs and you're already thinking about the next task. Your partner says something kind and it doesn't land because your body is still braced from earlier. The sunset is beautiful but you're too activated to actually see it.

This is what chronic stress does. It narrows your focus to survival. Good moments don't register as important when your system is prioritizing keeping you alive.

The work isn't forcing yourself to be more grateful. The work is regulating your nervous system enough that it can actually receive the good when it shows up.

When your body feels safe, gratitude becomes automatic. You notice the coffee tastes good. You feel your kid's hug instead of just going through the motions. You can sit with beauty without your brain immediately jumping to what's next.

Your life might already have more good in it than you realize. But if your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, you're missing it. Not because you don't care. Because your body can't process it while it's still trying to protect you.

Regulate first. The gratitude follows. 💛

Xo, Dr. B

04/21/2026

04/20/2026

03/25/2026

The science behind why journaling works

Putting feelings into words does more than help you reflect. Brain imaging research shows it can shift activity inside emotional circuits.

The amygdala is often described as the brain’s threat detector. It helps you quickly respond to stress and uncertainty. When emotions feel intense or overwhelming, this region can become more active.

Studies using brain scans have found that labeling emotions — even briefly — is associated with reduced amygdala activity and increased engagement of the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex supports planning, reasoning, and self-regulation. In simple terms, writing about emotions appears to shift processing from automatic emotional reactivity toward more deliberate control.

Expressive writing research, including randomized controlled trials, suggests that structured emotional writing can reduce rumination and improve psychological well-being over time. When experiences are translated into language, the brain organizes them differently. What felt chaotic becomes structured, stored, and easier to reflect on.

This does not mean writing erases stress. It means the act of labeling feelings recruits regulatory networks that help the brain process emotional information more efficiently.

Even brief writing sessions have been linked to measurable changes in emotional processing patterns.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology; Mindfulness (Springer)

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personal concerns.