Anchor & Oak Counselling and Consulting

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North Bay, ON
Anchor & Oak Counselling and Consulting

Registered Social Worker providing perinatal mental health services including individual and group psychotherapy, workshops and consulting.

11/11/2025

Burnout!

This is the season where our days become shorter, colder, and darker. It is also the season when the demands of our time and capacity increase. Families juggle work, school, activities, commitments, seasonal changeover, additional cognitive load, sickness, taking care of loved ones, and planning for the holidays (just name a few).

Paying attention to early warning signs of increased fatigue, disinterest, avoidance, resentment, irritability, sleep difficulties, anxiety/panic, compassion fatigue, shut down, or numbness can help to catch it and put a plan in place for support.

If you are noticing a change in your mood or relationships and want additional support, please reach out for a free consult to anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com or book a free consult online at https://aws-portal.owlpractice.ca/anchorandoakcounsellingandconsulting/booking

11/10/2025

A meltdown isn’t a child 'losing control' on purpose.
It’s the nervous system moving into overwhelm — often because things have felt too loud, too fast, too uncertain, or too much for too long.

When we understand the phases of a meltdown, we can respond with care rather than correction.
We can spot the early signs.
We can keep connection safe.
We can help a child return to calm without shame.

Today we’re exploring the Timeline of a Meltdown— what’s happening in the brain and body, what it looks like, and how we can support at each stage. Visuals for parents/educators and child voice style for young people. For more support, see our Timeline of a Meltdown Resource Pack – link in comments below ⬇️ or Linktree Shop in Bio.

11/07/2025

This month, our clinicians Stephanie RSW, and Anna RP, are engaging in over 30 hours of clinical learning and application towards Canadian certification in working with fertility and mental health with Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings

So many families struggle to conceive and also experience grief, loss, trauma, and relationship changes and challenges along the way.

If you or your family has struggled with trying to conceive, medical procedures in fertility, medication side effects, miscarriage, loss of embryos, loss of other reproductive access, medical trauma, surrogacy, or adoption, just to name a few, please reach out for support.

Connect with us via email at anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com
or book a free consult online at https://aws-portal.owlpractice.ca/anchorandoakcounsellingandconsulting/booking

11/06/2025

Anna is accepting new clients for couples work.

Anna is trained in Gottman Method for couples therapy and practices from an attachment-informed lens.

If you are looking for tangible and practical strategies to reflect on your partnership, strengthen connection, improve communication, and manage conflict and repair please reach out.

Anna offers a free 20-minute couples consultation to see if services meet your needs and therapeutic goals.

You can book directly at https://aws-portal.owlpractice.ca/anchorandoakcounsellingandconsulting/booking

Or, email anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com to schedule a meeting.

11/02/2025

Postpartum Support Group Winter❄️&Spring🌷2026

Launching new dates for January to May 2026 for parents of newborns to 18 months.

📍Group meets in person North Bay 222 Main Street East, bi-weekly on Thursday mornings from 10-11.

👩‍🍼🧑‍🍼Postpartum Support Group is a great add on for anyone with perinatal mental health challenges who is involved in additional therapy supports. It is also a space for those struggling in the adjustment to being new parents, those feeling isolated, or wanting a space to connect with other parents and build community.

📝Groups are facilitated by Amy Spencer MSW, RSW who has specialized advanced training in perinatal mental health. Groups are covered by most insurance plans.

💻Please each out to anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com or anchorandoakcounselling.com for more information and to register

⚓️

10/25/2025

With the temperatures dropping and kids back to school there are more viruses 🦠 floating around. For parents who are pregnant, bringing home a newborn, or have an infant or child, cold and flu season can feel scary.

If parents are setting boundaries with kissing their baby respect it. Ask if there is another way to show affection that feels safer.

🍂💜⚓️

10/22/2025

I love this differentiation. So many parents have alone time that’s not restorative and continue to feel tired or burnt out after.

10/14/2025

October is Perinatal and Infant Loss Awareness Month. 🤍

🦋Perinatal loss can be invisible for many on the outside of the experience. For those parents and families who have experienced loss it can be isolating, lonely, and painful to carry.

Perinatal loss can take many forms and Include (but not limited to):
pregnancy

🍂There are many myths about child loss, most of which are invalidating, time doesn’t heal all wounds, everything doesn’t happen for a reason, and subsequent children don’t make up for or replace the lost.

🍂Things that can be helpful are connecting with others, expressing and experiencing feelings, engaging in rituals to remember and continuing bonds with those who are gone.

🍂During this time of year there may be more community events and awareness campaigns that families can be a part of. However, others can feel bombarded by social media and may take space. Both are ok.

🤍There is no right or wrong way to grieve. If someone around you is reflecting on the loss of pregnancy or an infant ask what might be helpful.

💻If you are looking for therapeutic support both Amy and Stephanie have specialized training and certification to support those experiencing perinatal loss. 📧Please reach out to anchorandoakcounselling.com or anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com

10/07/2025

Welcome Fall! HELLO Cognitive Load!

This is a season for many that brings additional stress and pressure. Managing competing priorities, planning, organization, delegating, list making, errand running, and inserting 'magic' for littles into the holiday season.

This load can increase burn out, fatigue, resentment, stress, anxiety, worry, anger, and rumination. If you are default parent this can also show up in your couplehood.

Reach out for support. We can offer skills to support emotions, communication strategies, support with boundary setting (with self and others) and increase self-compassion as you navigate this transition.

anchorandoakcousnelling.com or email us at anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com; amys@anchorandoakcounselling.com for a free consultation to start services.

10/03/2025

So excited to share that Anchor and Oak Counselling and Consulting won Bronze for Therapy and Counselling North Bay.

We are a smaller practice with three amazing clinicians dedicated to bringing enhanced services in perinatal mental health. We support parents, families, and couples, in fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition to parenthood.

Thank you to all of those who support us in the community, our friends, family, community partners and our amazing clients.

Thank you to the Port North Bay for the continued support of our growing small business.

https://northbay.communityvotes.com/2025/05/healthcare/therapy-and-counselling

10/01/2025

October is pregnancy and infant loss month.

If you have lost a child at any stage of pregnancy and postpartum are are looking for support to hold and process your experience, navigate relationships, or manage symptoms of trauma, depression, or anxiety please reach out.

Both Amy and Stephanie are certified in perinatal grief and loss and have lived experience.

You can find us as anchorandoakcounselling.com or email us at anchorandoakcounselling@gmail.com

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Address

North Bay, ON

Website

http://anchorandoakcounselling.com/

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