Wandering Willow Counselling Solutions

05/07/2026

Your brain reacts to difficult memories similarly to how it reacts to a physical accident. 🧠💥

​When we experience a shock or a memory that feels "too big," our nervous system takes over to keep us safe. It doesn't wait for us to "think"—it sends physical signals immediately.

​The Signals:

​Hyper-arousal: Feeling intense, jumpy, or on edge.

​Hypo-arousal: Feeling foggy, numb, or slowed down.

​Neither is a mistake. These aren't malfunctions; they are signals being sent so you can respond. 🛡️

​A goal in therapy can be becoming the boss of your own body. It’s about learning to listen to these shifts so you can hit the pause button—or the play button—and come back to your center. ⏸️▶️

​If things feel a bit "too big" or "too small" today, just remember: that’s okay. Your body is just trying to be a good teammate.

​You’ve got this. 🌿✨

​

05/06/2026

Wilderness Wellness Wednesdays just got a whole lot bigger! 🌲🤝

I am so honoured to announce that Wandering Willow Counselling is officially partnering with the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Centre to bring nature-based and Walk-and-Talk therapy to our youth.

We’ll be heading out onto the land together bi-weekly to connect, move, and heal. I am truly looking forward to supporting our youth through land-based practice here within Secwepemcúlecw.

Want to learn more? Connect with us:
KAFC:
📞 250-376-1296
Wandering Willow Counselling:
📞 Call: 672-226-0472

Stay tuned—more exciting updates coming your way!

Kafs Kamloops

05/04/2026

May the 4th: Reconciling & Sur-thriving
"We are the spark that ignites the fire." 💫
On this May the 4th, I’m reflecting on the powerful legacy of Jeffrey McNeil-Seymour. Jeff was a Registered Social Worker, a Master in Social Justice, and a respected Two-Spirit leader who knew that healing isn't just internal—it’s about reconciling with ourselves, the land, and our togetherness.
Jeff was a huge Star Wars fan, and he used that passion to teach us about "surthrivance"—the art of not just surviving trauma, but becoming more beautiful through the mending of our stories. He taught us how to honour our history while building a future of neighbourly connection and collective strength.
If you are feeling alone today, or if you are simply interested in how we can move forward together with strength and grace, I invite you to watch his TEDx talk. Let his wisdom be your guide in reimagining a future where we all belong.
Remember that we all have a spark, and I hope that you can share that with the world. May Jeff's knowledge live on through our actions, and may the 4th be with you all. 🌌✨
Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_59gXiy4NL8

38 likes, 3 comments. "Everything I Am, I Am to You | Jeffrey McNeil-Seymour | TEDxTRU"

04/26/2026

There is so much power in the collective energy of this community. ❤️

​I’m at Boogie the Bridge today, but in a different capacity—taking it all in from the sidelines. While I love the movement of this event, my body asked for rest today, and I’m choosing to honor that.

​Wellness looks different every day. Sometimes it’s pushing for a personal best, and sometimes it’s being present in the moment, soaking up the spirit of the crowd and listening to what you truly need.

​So proud of everyone out here today. Sending so much strength to every runner, walker, roller, and volunteer in the Sea of Red. Community wellness is about all of us showing up for ourselves and each other, however that looks today. 🌉✨

#​BoogieTheBridge

04/23/2026

Sometimes the body stages a protest just to get us to listen. 🤧
As the seasons shift and the pollen moves in, it’s a reminder that our "vessels" are constantly reacting to the world around us. When we feel "off" or unhinged, our Sympathetic Nervous System (the gas pedal) is often stuck in a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response.
To find our way back to the Parasympathetic state—where we can actually rest and digest—it helps to HALT and check the basics:
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
When these are out of balance, our window of tolerance shrinks. Taking a beat today to recalibrate, get land-bodied, and tune back in.
Staying for the chaos, but rooted in the connection. 🪶✨

04/09/2026

Mind Full vs. Mindful 🌿

​Today’s Wilderness Wednesday is a short one, but an important one. Sometimes we don’t have hours to get lost in the woods—we just have a few minutes to get out of our heads.

​I’ve been thinking about the difference between having a mind full of "to-dos" and "what-ifs," and actually being mindful of the world shifting around us.

​Right now, things are starting to blossom, change, and move. When we take a second to notice the fine details—the way a bud is forming or the smell of the air through an open window—something happens. We stop just "getting through" the day and start getting back into our bodies.

​The Challenge:

Find one small thing today that is changing. Open a window, step onto the grass, or just look up. Notice the detail.

​Get out of your mind. Get into the moment.

​

04/05/2026

Happy Easter, everyone! ☀️
There’s something about getting out on the trails that forces a different kind of presence. When the climb gets steep or the terrain gets technical, you don't have much choice but to tune into your body.
In those moments of high stress, coming back to the basics—focusing on the rhythm of your breath and the physical sensations of movement—can be an incredibly grounding way to regulate the nervous system. It’s a reminder that even when things feel heavy, we can find a sense of flow by simply staying present in our bodies.
Sending you all some goodness and light on this beautiful sunny day. Enjoy the fresh air!

04/01/2026

Resiliency shouldn’t be a requirement for existence. 🌿🏳️‍⚧️
​Today, for Trans Day of Visibility and Remembrance, I’m sharing some reflections on "forced resiliency." As a clinician and a human, I see how often strength is a survival mechanism rather than a choice.
​The science of Minority Stress tells us that the struggle isn't in the identity—it’s often in the weight of a world that clings to rigid binaries.
​To those at a crossroads: Your pace is your own.
​To those carrying hatred: I send love to you, too. That armor is heavy, and you deserve to put it down.
​Let’s move toward a world where we don’t just "transcend" the struggle, but where we are finally free to just be.
​

03/25/2026

Your feelings have a home in your body—and your breath is the key to the door. 🌿✨

​When we label our emotions—whether it’s the spark of joy, the heat of anger, or the weight of sadness—we are doing more than just identifying a feeling. We are practicing attunement.

​By adding a deep, intentional breath into that moment, we aren't just "calming down." We are actively engaging the prefrontal cortex, our brain’s center for logic and regulation. This "simple" (not always) act of mindfulness signals our nervous system that it’s safe to move from a state of survival into a state of understanding and growth.

​Take a moment to step outside today, breathe with the rhythm of the world around you, and give your brain the space it needs to reset. 🌲🌬️

03/20/2026

A little Spring Equinox ritual for your feed. 🌱
​As the world shifts into balance today, it’s a perfect moment to check in with your own internal scales. Nature doesn't rush to bloom, and neither should we.
​The Spring Reset:
​Acknowledge: What "festered" in the winter quiet? Let it be part of the soil now.
​Breathe: Take one deep breath for the darkness, and one for the light.
​Move: Find the sun, get on the trails, and let the warmth do the rest.
​See you out there (or in the office)! 🚲✨