Dr. Jody Carrington

Dr. Jody Carrington Psychologist | Speaker | Best-Selling Author I passionately believe in the power of the relationship with the people we love, lead, and teach.
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As a clinical psychologist, I have spent most of my career working with children and families who have experienced trauma. Growing up on a farm in rural Alberta, Canada, and after 13 years (!) of post-secondary education, I took my first job on the Mental Health Inpatient Units of the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. It was during those 10 years that I learned the most about kids, families,

relationships, and the vital importance of connection. Today, I’m back living in a rural setting, managing a private practice, raising a family, speaking around the country about relationships, connection and my new book, Kids These Days. My favourite thing on the planet to do is to speak with educators—they have the power to change the trajectory of a life every single day. It’s time that we need to start focusing less on kids these days, and more on those of you who hold them every day. The core of everything I speak and write about comes down to this: we are wired to do hard things. We can do those hard things so much easier when we remember this: we are wired for connection. Join us on this journey to build a strong, connected community—it’s a (re)connection revolution starting now.

Acknowledgement is the necessary balm that we so often miss. It is clear that it isn't either of the two things, an apol...
04/23/2026

Acknowledgement is the necessary balm that we so often miss. It is clear that it isn't either of the two things, an apology or a one shot deal. Maybe most importantly, it must be genuine. This act of holding space, of simply noticing something in another, is absolutely the key to so many things, including strong relationships and successful teams. It can feel like we're not doing anything-which probably means you're doing it right. It can feel helpless to listen. To get out of our own heads where our own judgment, guilt, and pain live to make room for the experience of another.

In this noisy world, one of the antidotes to staying in the relationships that matter most to us, is to simply, on purpose, think about how we respond to the good things. Here's a couple questions to help you just notice. First, consider the last time someone genuinely acknowledged you (like - really consider it. Remember where you were and who was there).

What did you notice the most about that experience?

How did it leave you feeling?
..don't underestimate these moments. And take a few seconds to settle them in your nervous system. It's how we get better and do better. I promise.

I’m often asked what I do in my personal family when it comes to screen time, and one thing we’ve done with our kids is ...
04/23/2026

I’m often asked what I do in my personal family when it comes to screen time, and one thing we’ve done with our kids is let them choose two screen free days a week.

Every household has to find what works for them. Start small. Maybe it’s a simple window of time that helps build the habit. No screens before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. That might be for your kids or maybe even for you.

Another way to support those habits is to create spaces that don’t need phones. Like the kitchen table, for example. And if you’re a parent, you get to decide. Or better yet, invite your kids into it. Talk as a family about how you can all participate.

What’s working well for you and your loved ones now or does this inspire you to try something new?

Huge fan of golf over here. There’s something about moments like that at The Masters Tournament that stop you in your tr...
04/21/2026

Huge fan of golf over here. There’s something about moments like that at The Masters Tournament that stop you in your tracks.

No phones.
No distractions.
Just people, fully there.

And yes, at Augusta, phones are not allowed for patrons during the tournament. You walk in, and you are asked to be part of it, not just capture it. Sometimes we don’t choose presence, it is chosen for us. And when it is, something shifts.

You hear more.
You feel more.
You remember more.

On the sidelines of your kid’s game. On the couch watching a show you both love. In the middle of a movie night, a concert, a quiet moment at the end of the day. So maybe we do not need a rule like Augusta. But maybe we need to borrow one.

Ten minutes.
The whole game.
One episode.
No phones.
Just people.

Tell me, where are you putting yours down today?





We’ve somehow been taught that rest is something we have to earnafter we’ve done enough, given enough, produced enough.Y...
04/20/2026

We’ve somehow been taught that rest is something we have to earn
after we’ve done enough, given enough, produced enough.

Yet sometimes the most regulated, grounded, best version of you
comes after a 20 minute nap. Not a scroll. Not pushing through. A pause.

Close your eyes. Even if you don’t fall asleep. Put your hand over your heart. Let your body come back to itself. Just send a little signal that at least in this moment, you're safe. Because the goal isn’t perfection it’s regulation.

And the people you love, the work you care about, the life you’re building all get a better version of you when you take yourself back home, first. We need you friend. They need you. And mostly, you deserve a little more access to the best in you.

04/18/2026

Somebody needs to hear this today:

Healing doesn’t start when the world finally believes you.
It starts the moment you stop carrying it alone.

In this episode of , I sit with the brilliant, fierce, truth-telling , Alreen Haeggquist, a woman who survived unspeakable abuse, grew up inside silence, and built a life (and a law firm) dedicated to helping women reclaim their voices.

This is a conversation about:
• why silence keeps us sick
• why “just get over it” is bu****it
• what trauma actually does to the body
• and how finding your voice, slowly, imperfectly, bravely is often the beginning of real healing

Alreen reminds us of something I know deep in my bones:
he secret isn’t strength.
The secret isn’t toughness.
The secret is telling the truth to someone safe.

You don’t have to burn the system down today.
Just do the next best, right, kind thing.

And sometimes?
That thing is saying it out loud.

🎧 https://www.drjodycarrington.com/podcast
💬 Share this with someone who needs permission to stop carrying it alone

There are a lot of things I believe in. Despite the noise and the divisiveness in this world, even on my worst days, I s...
04/17/2026

There are a lot of things I believe in. Despite the noise and the divisiveness in this world, even on my worst days, I still believe most people are good. There is so much hope in this sacred human race.

What I can't believe the most is that this morning, it's been one full lap around the sun without my Dad. Lane Carrington. The complexity that often embodies a dad and a daughter did not escape us - and oh how I miss all of it. The memories are rich, his laughter I can still hold on to. I play his old voicemails, just so I don't forget. I talk about him all the time because I just wish his grandbabies - our babies - had more time with all the best in him. And I just really want to hold his hand. The one that only had two full fingers and three halfers. I just really can't believe that people, all people, go through this life hanging on to hope and grief. All at the same time. On days like today, that paradox feels like the cruelest part of the human price of admission.

So much has happened without you Dad. Although we talk about it all the time. I'll be honest - some days that feels like enough. And then there's the heartwrenching moments that it just simply isn't.

The answer, I know, is to feel it all. To be with the ones who loved him the deepest. To tell the stories and laugh at all the parts - because that's what mourning looks like, they say. That's how we heal. So today sweet Dad, the rose is chilled and the kitchen-table stories will be only about all the good parts that you gave us. You didn't get to stay long enough, Dad—but your love does. And that’s what I’ll spend my life giving away. The Lane Lessons. xo

Marti and I listen to true crime pods on our many road trips across this land. Full detective energy. So I’m not judging...
04/15/2026

Marti and I listen to true crime pods on our many road trips across this land. Full detective energy. So I’m not judging you.

We've learned a little something in this season of easily-accessible everything that I thought I'd put out there for us to consider: timing matters. Consuming the endless reports on war, political divide, and the latest Datelined victim is wildly compelling (by design). It's also wildly disregulating for our tender nervous systems, mostly because our bodies can't tell the difference between our real life and living through someone else's. A few of us (hypothetically of course), might watch three episodes of murderous true crime before bed and then say, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't sleep".

Remember that our bodies keep the score.

This isn’t about never watching suspense. It’s about being aware of how you feel after and considering when it’s actually the best time. You become what you rehearse, especially at 10:47 p.m. Choose your bedtime vibe (at least as often as you can swing it), and we'll all be better for it.

In Feeling Seen, I wrote about this universal truth: we rise when we are acknowledged.We look all the time, but we don't...
04/14/2026

In Feeling Seen, I wrote about this universal truth: we rise when we are acknowledged.

We look all the time, but we don't see. We listen, but we don't hear. In this world where there is so much noise, we've been missing, more and more these days, the thing that matters most: We were never meant to do any of this alone. I remember where I was standing when this knowing sunk into my soul—both the biggest reason for such pain in this world and the solution for it all—we just want to feel seen.

If you're up for it, give a shout-out acknowledgement to anyone who makes you feel seen. Go wild and tell me one thing you genuinely admire about someone in your life and then tag them here so they can feel it too.

What is your maiden name? I get that a lot. It's Carrington. I love my husband and his lineage is beautiful. And it's no...
04/09/2026

What is your maiden name? I get that a lot. It's Carrington. I love my husband and his lineage is beautiful. And it's not mine.

In 2026, we’re asking different questions about identity. Not to tell anyone what to do, but to make space for the questions themselves.

For a long time, taking a partner’s last name was just expected. Not always discussed. Not always chosen. But more and more, people are asking why. Some still choose to change their name. Some choose not to. I've seen people combine their names and create a whole new legacy. Both are valid. What matters, for me anyway, is that it’s intentional.

Keeping my last name was exactly that. Intentional. It holds meaning, history, and a connection to where I came from. I earned three degrees as a Carrington. And it seems to matter even more to me since my Dad died. As for our kids? When they were born, we landed on their Dad's last name, and have always told them Grant, Carrington, or a hyphenated version is always up to them. They are, after all, the best of both of us.

Listen - there's no right way and no judgement in any way. As we make more sense of who we are as humans, what we stand for, where we've come from, and most importantly where we're going, curiosity is our greatest companion.

Not all therapy looks the same and that’s a good thing. There's also a lot of acronyms that can feel overwhelming. My to...
04/08/2026

Not all therapy looks the same and that’s a good thing. There's also a lot of acronyms that can feel overwhelming. My top three faves right now are often good indicators that the therapist you're vetting has a solid background in understanding how the brain and the emotion works:

ART, EMDR, EFT. It can feel like a lot. Each of these approaches overlap in some ways but offers something different, depending on what kind of support you need.

Some focus on processing trauma.
Some help you understand your emotions.
Some give you tools to regulate in the moment.
Some help you feel more connected to yourself and to others.

There isn’t one right way to heal, just the one that meets you where you are.

At the end of the day, healing happens in safe, connected relationships. That, in fact, is the greatest predictor of success: fit with your therapist. When looking for "fit" though, I want to ensure that there's a registered or certified therapist that has some training in any of these areas - it's a quick litmus test for me that the human offering "help" has the chops to do so. There are so many people who claim to have the background to help; being diligent about who you'll let in to your sacred stories is the most important step.

Edmonton, Alberta!!! I'm coming for you! You, me, and an evening of hope in support of Make-A-Wish®.Right now, our world...
04/07/2026

Edmonton, Alberta!!! I'm coming for you! You, me, and an evening of hope in support of Make-A-Wish®.

Right now, our world needs a little hope. Presented in partnership with Paris Jewellers, this event is about more than just inspiration, it’s about making a real difference.

This live event will leave you feeling connected, uplifted, and deeply inspired.

The evening will include a moving story from a local Make-A-Wish recipient family, sharing firsthand the life-changing impact of a wish come true. Their journey is a beautiful reminder of the hope, strength, and joy that your support helps create.

Guests will be welcomed with a complimentary drink upon arrival, along with light snacks, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for connection and community.

As a special bonus, every ticket purchased will be entered to win one of 2 amazing door prizes, adding an extra element of excitement to an already unforgettable night. Stay tuned for a raffle that we will launch May 1st - with even more ways to win (and support) this incredible organization.

100% of proceeds will go directly to Make-A-Wish, helping grant wishes for children facing critical illnesses. Get your ticket today and we will see you at the Mayfield Dinner Theatre on May 25 at 6:30pm. I can't wait.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/an-evening-of-hope-with-dr-jody-carrington-in-support-of-make-a-wish-tickets-1986012928130

I don’t mean the kind where you’re half-listening while your brain is doing seventeen other things and your phone is lig...
04/06/2026

I don’t mean the kind where you’re half-listening while your brain is doing seventeen other things and your phone is lighting up in your lap. I mean the kind where you're all in. You notice the tiny shifts in their face, in their tone, in how they shift in their chair. You actually see someone.

Your face says “I’m with you” before your words even show up. People don’t need more advice. They don’t need more fixing. I promise. What they (we) need is to feel like they matter in the room they’re standing in. And that only happens when we choose, on purpose, to be fully there.

So here’s your gentle gut check: Who in your life needs your undivided attention right now. Not later, not when it’s convenient, but today? Call them. Sit closer. Look up. And lock in.

Now pause here and type one way you’re going to be present today, even if it’s just for ten minutes. This isn't a demand - you certainly don't have to. But I promise you, you deserve it. And so do they.

Address

2nd Floor 5037 50th Street
Olds, AB
T4H0C9

Telephone

+14035594061

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