Anchor & Oak Counselling and Consulting

01/31/2026

As many of my clients and colleagues know I have been working towards my full certification in EMDR- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy over the past year.

This professional development has been intensive and enriching.

Recently, I have been doing advanced training using EMDR for grief and I was reminded of this powerful quote by Dr Francine Shapiro, “EMDR doesn’t take away anything that is needed or true”.

Some folks are concerned that reprocessing will impact their memory of their loved one. Instead what we see is a decease in the pain and suffering of loss, which can be traumatic. There is often a reorienting to their sense of self after the loss and connection to the meaningful parts of the person or relationship that come forward.

I am looking forward to integrating EMDR into the grief therapy I am already doing in practice.

Grief is one of the most common human experiences we have; both tangible and intangible things can be mourned.

If you are interested in connecting for grief support and EMDR therapy please reach out:

🌐anchorandoakcounselling.com
📧 anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com

📍222 Main St East

01/28/2026

Returning to work after baby is a major transition for parents—not simply a logistical one.

For many parents this period can activate grief, anxiety, identity shifts, attachment concerns, and stress. Even when the return is planned or desired, it often involves holding competing emotions at once: competence and self-doubt, relief and loss, connection and separation.

The transition can also include:
• increased anxiety or mood symptoms
• sleep and regulation challenges
• identity and role strain, relationship challenges
• attachment-related stress for parent and infant

Support during this phase matters. Therapeutic support and connecting with others of lived experience can buffer distress and reduce risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

If you are looking for additional support please reach out to anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com or through the website at anchorandoakcounselling.com

The 5th trimester group is a two-hour workshop that includes reflection on this transition, connection with others, and evidence-based skills to manage stress, anxiety, and grief in this transition.

March 4, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm in-person at the Port North Bay Session is covered by most insurance plans under registered social work.

01/26/2026

Let’s talk about s after baby.

If intimacy feels different postpartum—physically, emotionally, or just not on your radar at all—you’re not broken.

Hormones shift. Bodies heal. Sleep disappears. Identity changes. Touch can feel overwhelming, painful, or complicated. Desire might be lower, different, or unpredictable. All of this is common and normal.

S after baby isn’t about “bouncing back.”
It’s about relearning your body, communicating with your partner, and moving at a pace that feels safe and consensual for you.

There is no timeline, there is no “should” here.

If s feels hard, confusing, or emotionally loaded after baby, support can help—because intimacy is more than just physical, and postpartum deserves care too.

If you are noticing a change and want to speak with a therapist with specialized training in perinatal mental health (pregnancy or postpartum) please reach out at anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com or book a free consultation online at anchorandoakcounselling.com and 'click' Get Started Today.

01/19/2026

5th Trimester Group Session for working parents. 💼

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒This group is for individuals who are returning or have returned to work after maternity or parental leave in the last 3 years.

📆Group will held in-person on Wednesday March 4th 2026,
⏰5:30-7:30pm.

Group should be eligible by most insurance plans under ' registered social work' for those with coverage.

Please reach out via email or telephone to register at
📧amys@anchorandoakcounselling.com or
📧anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com or through the website at
🌐

Anchor & Oak Counselling and Consulting. Social Worker, Psychotherapist in North Bay, Ontario offering individual and group therapy services.

01/15/2026

Many parents don't have time or space to step away and use skills like journaling or meditation to help emotionally regulate.

Parents often need skills they can do quickly, hands free, or with their children.

Skill stacking can help this process.
By combining skills with other types of parenting activities, it becomes more accessible to use skills regularly throughout the day as maintenance or as a stress response strategy to big emotions as they come up.

For more information or to speak with a perinatal mental health clinician about your experience and to learn new skills and strategies please reach out to anchorandoackcousnelling@gmail.com

01/05/2026

Save the Date!
February 25 2026, 5:30pm-7:00pm

No cost, Birth Planning Session.

Delivered virtually and open to anyone in Ontario.

Join Amy and Stephanie in this session to develop a trauma-informed birth plan.

This session is for anyone expecting a baby or babies through pregnancy or surrogacy in the next 35 weeks.

This session discusses the social, emotional, and psychological aspects of birth and develops skills and strategies for coping ahead.

Please note this session does not review medical information or medical choices.

Please contact anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com to register as spaces are limited.

12/30/2025

Anchor and Oak is growing again!

Looking for a clinician who is interested in working in life transitions, trauma, grief, and reproductive mental health.

Looking for an individual to work in-person or virtually in Northern Ontario with individual psychotherapy experience and advanced training in their modality of choice. Experience with couples, families, or groups is an asset.

Interested candidates can reach out to anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com

12/24/2025

Happy Holidays from Amy, Anna, and Stephanie at Anchor and Oak Counselling and Consulting.

It has been an honour and privilege to work with individuals and families this past year. Thank you again for trusting us with your lived experiences.

Thank you to all of our community partners and fellow clinicians for your continued support providing services.

Running a small business is truly a collective effort. Every referral, conversation, session, and partnership helps shape what we do and why we do it. We are deeply grateful to walk alongside such thoughtful and committed people.

Thank you for choosing to work with us and for believing in our services. We look forward to continuing to grow, collaborate, and support you in the year ahead in 2026.

12/17/2025

Invisible cognitive and emotional load/labour of women!

My joke this week is that the holiday season feels like the group project where one person does all the work and the whole group gets the grade. 👀

If you are the default parent this holiday season be gentle with yourself, lower expectations, and take whatever minutes to rest when you can get them.

🎅🏻🖤

Edit: Getting a few comments like this ”what about men?!” And I would just like to say that I personally was raised by a single monther. From my perspective, this is always how it’s been. I pride myself of sharing my own personal experiences on MY page.

12/16/2025

Ways to get your body back postpartum.

This is not about losing weight or inches; this is about identity and ownership of your body.

For many people who are pregnant, birth, and care for infants their body can feel like it doesn’t belong to them. From medical procedures, breastfeeding, care tasks, holding and nurturing children our body often feels like it is of the service to others or doesn’t belong to them.

This is a common experience and recovery also includes caring for your own body as a parent as you carve this new identity as a parent.

Some strategies can include physical self care tasks like showering, eating favourite foods, washing your face or doing skin care routine. It can also include wearing clothes that feel good and fit your body. It may be setting boundaries with yourself or others on how and when you use your body. It might look like engaging in movement or rest.

If you are looking for support postpartum while recovering please reach out:

📞 705-499-2810
💻 anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com
🌐anchorandoakcounselling.com
📍222 Main St East North Bay

Services available in person and virtually across Ontario

12/15/2025

These are some helpful tips for families trying to regulate through the busy and demanding holiday season.