Tina Wilston, M.Ed., RP

Tina Wilston, M.Ed., RP Her leadership focuses on fostering a supportive and innovative environment for therapists while ensuring our clients’ highest standard of care.

Tina Wilston is a Registered Psychotherapist and Clinical Director at MindSpa Mental Health, integrating psychotherapy, neurofeedback, and mindfulness-based approaches to support emotional regulation and long-term well-being. As the Clinic Director and Clinical Supervisor at MindSpa, Tina brings a depth of experience in psychotherapy, neurofeedback, and business management to the mental health fie

ld. Tina:

I have dedicated my career to shaping the future of psychotherapy and neurofeedback by mentoring therapists, supervising clinical practice, and leading a thriving group practice. My role extends beyond direct client work—I cultivate a space where mental health professionals can grow, refine their skills, and provide evidence-based interventions that change lives. As a clinical supervisor, I provide guidance and oversight to therapists, helping them navigate complex cases, enhance their clinical competencies, and integrate neurofeedback into their practice. My leadership in training and development ensures that our team stays at the forefront of emerging therapeutic techniques and best practices. As a business leader, I have successfully built and managed a group practice that prioritizes both clinician well-being and client outcomes. My strategic vision has positioned MindSpa as a trusted resource for psychotherapy and neurofeedback, serving a broad community in need of mental health support. Beyond clinic operations, I am a speaker and advocate for mental health awareness, regularly engaging in professional development initiatives, training workshops, and community education. I am committed to reducing stigma, advancing therapeutic innovation, and empowering both clients and clinicians through ongoing learning and collaboration. At MindSpa, my mission is to lead with integrity, inspire growth, and support mental health professionals in delivering transformative care.

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek

Emotional regulation is the capacity to stay connected to what you feel while still having access to choice in how you r...
04/30/2026

Emotional regulation is the capacity to stay connected to what you feel while still having access to choice in how you respond.

From a brain perspective, this reflects how different systems work together.
The emotional centers signal quickly.
The thinking parts of the brain help interpret, organize, and guide a response.

When the nervous system is under strain, that connection can narrow.
Emotions can feel more intense, more urgent, and harder to shift.

In those moments, reactions happen quickly.
Space feels limited.

Regulation is what begins to widen that space.

Over time, the brain can learn a different pattern:
to experience emotion,
without being overtaken by it.

This process is supported in small, consistent ways:
• noticing what is happening internally
• gently shifting perspective
• supporting the body through rest, breath, and movement

The goal is not to remove emotion.

It is to help the nervous system recognize that intensity can move through
without needing to escalate.

That is where resilience begins to build.

A quiet reflection:
Where do you notice even a small moment of space between feeling and reacting?

04/29/2026

Your brain is always learning, even when you don’t realize it.

One supportive moment can feel good in the moment.
A few can start to feel reassuring.

With repetition, something shifts.

The nervous system begins to recognize safety as familiar, not foreign.

This is part of how the brain changes over time.
Through patterns.

In therapy, we often work with both pieces:
• Understanding the emotional experience
• Supporting the nervous system in learning new responses

That’s where real, lasting change begins.

A gentle question to reflect on:
What patterns is your nervous system learning right now?
⸻

04/28/2026

New episode this week, one of my favourites. We’re exploring an AITA-style scenario with Michelle Massunken: Am I the A-hole for telling my husband he’s too dysregulated to talk during a fight?

When one person begins to change how they communicate, especially moving toward calm, regulated responses, it can shift the dynamic in ways that feel unfamiliar, or even uncomfortable, to the other.

Is it growth?
Is it avoidance?
Or is it something in between?

This is where real conversations begin.
Listen to The MindSpa Podcast S2 E9
Available on Linktree · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

On our way to an evening that feels especially meaningful.Honoured to be speaking at the 2026 International Women’s Day ...
04/25/2026

On our way to an evening that feels especially meaningful.

Honoured to be speaking at the 2026 International Women’s Day Celebration, hosted by Leading Ladies Canada.

This event brings together women who are shaping leadership, impact, and meaningful conversations in our communities, with a shared focus on empowered voices and inspiring change.

As someone deeply connected to the work of mental health, resilience, and nervous system regulation, these spaces matter.

They create the conditions for people to feel supported, understood, and more able to step into who they are, both personally and professionally.

Grateful to be part of this conversation, and to be heading into the evening with support beside me.

📍 Parliament Hill – Sir John A. Macdonald Building, Ottawa
📅 April 25
⏰ 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

It’s a free event , if you’re in Ottawa, you’re welcome to join.

Thinking about EMDR therapy?Here are 3 things people are often surprised to learn:1. You don’t have to relive every deta...
04/23/2026

Thinking about EMDR therapy?

Here are 3 things people are often surprised to learn:

1. You don’t have to relive every detail
EMDR doesn’t require you to retell your story over and over. The work happens at the level of how the brain stores the experience.
2. It helps the brain process what feels “stuck”
When something hasn’t been fully processed, the body can respond as if it’s still happening. EMDR helps shift that.
3. It can change how memories feel
The goal isn’t to erase the memory — it’s to reduce the emotional charge so it no longer feels overwhelming.

Your nervous system is not working against you.
It’s trying to protect you.

With the right support, it can learn new patterns.

Did you know…Your brain is constantly rewiring itself based on what you repeatedly think, feel, and do.This is called ne...
04/22/2026

Did you know…Your brain is constantly rewiring itself based on what you repeatedly think, feel, and do.

This is called neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt over time.

When stress becomes frequent, the nervous system can learn patterns of staying activated.

Neurofeedback works with this process by giving the brain real-time information about its own activity, so it can begin to regulate more efficiently.

This can support areas like:

• Focus
• Sleep
• Anxiety
• Emotional regulation

Therapy helps process the emotional experience.
Neurofeedback helps the brain learn a different rhythm.

The brain can adapt.
And with the right support, change becomes more accessible.

04/21/2026

When we look closely at people’s stories, patterns begin to emerge.

In this conversation with Julian McKenzie on The MindSpa Podcast, we spoke about what stood out to him while writing Black Aces.

One insight was the continuity across experiences, how individuals often reference those who came before them, shaping their path in ways that are not always immediately visible.

We are influenced by what we see, and by who we see.

Representation does more than create opportunity.
It creates direction.

🎧 Full episode available via link in bio

Big day today. I’m heading into my first roundtable discussion with the Ottawa Veterans Task Force.There is something me...
04/15/2026

Big day today. I’m heading into my first roundtable discussion with the Ottawa Veterans Task Force.

There is something meaningful about being invited into conversations that carry weight, especially when they center on supporting those who have served.

Veterans often carry experiences that extend beyond what is visible.
In clinical work, we often see how the nervous system holds these patterns long after the moment has passed.

This is where trauma-informed care matters.

Therapy helps process the emotional experience.
Neurofeedback supports the brain in learning safer, more regulated patterns.

Being part of this dialogue feels deeply aligned with the work we do.

I’m entering this space with curiosity, respect, and a commitment to listen.

This is how systems begin to shift, through thoughtful, informed conversation.

Plan Something to Look Forward To: Organize a future getaway or fun outing to give yourself something positive to antici...
04/15/2026

Plan Something to Look Forward To: Organize a future getaway or fun outing to give yourself something positive to anticipate.

Anticipation is not just a feeling.
It’s a nervous system experience.

When we have something to look forward to, the brain begins to shift out of survival mode and into a more future-oriented state.
This can support mood, increase motivation, and create a sense of movement during periods that feel heavy or repetitive.

It doesn’t have to be something big.

A quiet weekend away.
A walk in a new place.
A dinner you’ve been meaning to plan.

Small moments of anticipation can create meaningful shifts in how we experience the present.

Therapy helps you understand the patterns that keep you feeling stuck.
Neurofeedback supports the brain in learning how to access more regulated, flexible states over time.

Together, this makes it easier to not only get through your days
but to begin looking forward to them.

04/13/2026

We can spend a lot of time trying to understand mood, anxiety, irritability, or burnout, while overlooking something much more foundational: rest.

Sleep affects far more than energy. It shapes emotional regulation, stress tolerance, focus, and how we move through everyday life.

In this episode of The MindSpa Podcast, Michelle and I explore sleep as a core part of mental health. We talk about sleep stages, insomnia, routine, and why being in bed for enough hours does not always mean the body is getting the restoration it needs.

Sometimes the most important place to begin is also the most overlooked.

S2 · Ep 7: Sleep And Mental Health — Why Rest Changes Everything

04/10/2026

Many people are surprised to learn that the physiological wave of an emotion often lasts only 60–90 seconds.

What tends to keep distress going is not the feeling itself,
it is the thoughts, interpretations, and internal stories that continue after the initial emotional response.

This does not mean you can simply “think your way out” of emotion.

It means emotional regulation often begins with noticing what happens after the feeling arises.

The nervous system reacts first.
The mind then tries to make meaning of that experience.

When we learn to observe the story without automatically attaching to it, emotions often move through us more naturally.

Regulation is not the absence of emotion.
It is the ability to experience emotion without being overtaken by it.

04/09/2026

Anxiety itself isn’t always the problem.
Often, the bigger issue is how we respond to it.

When anxiety shows up, our natural reflex is often avoidance, but avoidance can quietly make anxiety stronger over time.

In this clip, Tina explains why the goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety entirely, but to build a healthier relationship with it.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen to the latest episode of The MindSpa Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧

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Kanata, ON
K2K2E3

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