Psychotherapy with Jackie Bristow

12/06/2025

"Acknowledging the good that is already in your life is the foundation for all abundance." —Eckhart Tolle

12/01/2025

I don't know who needs to hear this but no one is mad at you. Feeling like people are mad at us can stem from paranoia that comes up when we are really anxious or in survival mode. Abuse survivors can also feel chronic guilt because what happened to them was internalized (often blaming themselves), making them feel others hate them for being a 'burden.' You don't have to suffer alone as this is a really common problem with people who have suffered abuse and those who use pleasing people as a coping mechanism.

Reach out for a free 15 min consultation on my website to see if we are a good fit.

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11/27/2025

I have never talked to a victim of abuse that has not blamed themselves. Abusers usually project their anxiety, fears and hatred of themselves onto other people, whereas victims often internalize how other people treat them (or others projections). A victim is someone that accepts and holds the pain of the abuser, while the abuser dumps their pain onto others/victims.

I have often spoken to people who have suffered abuse and heard them say "but I hit them back," or "I said mean things too." There is no such thing as reverse abuse, and I believe being abused can make even the most kind person lash out in a way to try to protect themselves. Being aggressive back, is trying to be heard by someone that just can't listen to any other version of reality but their own. Remember, abusers often lack normal levels of empathy or have situational/transient empathy which means they can only see their own reality and not the victims.

If you have been suffering from this, please contact me for a free consultation to see if I can help.

11/24/2025

☃️🎄🎁It is the holiday season now and many of us feel like a big ball of tangled mess, and you are allowed to be. It is interesting that our society has evolved to develop such a judgmental stance on people who are suffering from mental health issues or do not have 'everything' together.

Sometimes it is that person who lashes out at the grocery store - most of us will criticize them but we often lack the understanding of why they behave this way. Sometimes it is the person who just needs those last minute presents but does not have the money, or maybe they don't get to see their kids at christmas because of a messy divorce or difficult ex. Sometimes it is the people who are alone at Christmas that can be the most kind too.

Ah, I think my post is a bit of a jumbled mess, but I realize that my posts do not have to be 'perfect' because none of us are, and I want to connect with everyone who is struggling this year, and give you permission to not judge yourself for your shortcomings.

My message: You, like all of us, are doing the very best you can and you too deserve to feel good about just making it through another day, even if you are one big sparkly ball of mess.

Reach out for a free consult to see if we are a good fit.

11/24/2025

This I feel applies to so many students I see.

For all the students out there. I know the pressure can be immense but you're doing amazing.

11/24/2025

Some moments don’t need to be fixed—they just need to be felt. 💛 Acknowledging “this is really hard” can be the most compassionate thing we do for ourselves. It’s a quiet act of courage and care.

What helps you stay present with yourself when life feels heavy?

11/22/2025

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11/20/2025

Being rude or mean or critical stems from someone’s low self esteem. Having a low self worth can manifest as feeling deeply insufficient when someone points out our flaws. For example you tell your partner something they are doing is hurting you and they respond by lashing out and criticizing you for having a problem. They may call you names or find ways to belittle you and lower your self esteem in an attempt to combat their feelings of low self worth when triggered. These traits can be the way someone operates and interacts with the world or can be solely displayed when feeling criticized. Of course, not all low self esteem folks respond in this way. Reach out for more help to find out what you can do if you or your partner suffers from this type of response.

Book your free consult now at jackiebritow.ca.

11/18/2025

When children live in a home where they can not feel emotional safety, they will blame themselves instead of the parents. But why? Part of the reason is that children only have primitive defence mechanisms like dissociation to deal with overwhelming emotions. They dissociate the parts of their parents that make them feel unsafe so that they can then feel a sense of safety in an environment where it actually does not exist. Blaming themselves and feeling that there parents flaws are a result of the child being wrong in some way, means this child develops a strong affinity for blaming themselves in the future when a situation goes wrong or someone is upset with them. This is a common theme in many clients I see with depression and anxiety. Did this happen to you ?

Reach out for a free consult to see if we we a good fit.

11/07/2025

Sometimes you experience a shut down response. This can mean feeling defeated about something, feeling demotivated, or feeling fatigue, and depression. Sometimes we try to force ourselves out of this state, as though it is a choice, however I do not think this is that simple. Siting with this difficult feeling can be about respecting our need to recover and rest, and to recoup our energy.

Reach out for a free consultation to see how I can help.

10/31/2025

From @ Social Thinking

10/30/2025

“The equivalent of external noise is the inner noise of thinking. The equivalent of external silence is inner stillness.” - Eckhart Tolle