Expressive Minds

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Orillia, ON
Expressive Minds

Helping children and youth overcome challenges, feel good about themselves, experience a fulfilling life and develop resilient and secure relationships.

Empowering, supporting and promoting emotional wellbeing, through individual and family sessions, working with children, youth and their parents to overcome challenges and realize their potential. Helping parents in their journey, providing strategies and reflecting on what works for their family, to support themselves and their children. I am registered psychotherapist in Ontario, specializing in working with trauma and adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, emotional regulation, attachment and relational difficulties, grief and loss, divorce and separation. I bring authenticity and deep connection along with playfulness and creativity in my work with kiddos and their families. Through the Expressive Minds page, we will strive to promote emotional wellbeing of parents and children and advocate the importance of play and mindfulness in everyone’s lives. We will be posting easy to follow resources, tips and creative strategies to support kiddos and their families.

12/17/2025

As the year draws to a close, I've been reflecting on the growth of my practice. I'm grateful to have steadily expanded my business and am now able to focus on it full-time, offering more in-person sessions in the Simcoe Muskoka area.

This reflection has also led me to consider the growth I've witnessed in the children and families I work with. I want to highlight the small, meaningful changes that can sometimes go unnoticed in our busy lives, rather than focusing on the larger personal transformations.

These successes include:
- The smiles we see when children walk through the door.
-A parent expressing confidence in their skills.
- A child inviting me to play together after previously engaging in solitary play.
- A child who rarely chooses a toy coming in one day and clearly outlining their plan for the session.
-A child who shares making a new friend.
- A child stating that they feel calm or that the therapy room is their calm place.

These moments confirm that the relationship we build with our clients is the true core of therapy, acting as the primary agent of change and healing.

These are the meaningful successes of our work, and I am grateful to have walked alongside our community families for the last three years.

We are here for you whenever you are ready to connect. Reach out to us to learn more about our services www.expressive-minds.com

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12/15/2025

Some thoughts about the new year approaching soon by Grant Snider in the book ‘The art of Living’

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12/10/2025

I recently watched the Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood episode "Daniel plays in a gentle way," and it sparked some interesting reflections on the pace of a child's development.

The scene where Daniel pushes his younger sister to move faster through an obstacle course—causing both of them distress—highlighted a common challenge: the tendency to rush a child's natural process of growth. We often wish for children to reach certain social, cognitive, emotional, or physical milestones by a specific age, but this isn't always realistic or necessary if we trust in their individual pace.

In therapy, I often use the metaphor of a child's growth process being like cooking a slow-cooked, homemade meal versus ordering fast food. While I enjoy fast food, I prefer the deliciousness and lasting impact of the slow-cooked dish.

The challenge with the slow-cooked meal is that it requires patience. We gather the ingredients, understand the recipe, and wait for the cooking to finish under a closed lid, often without visual confirmation of the progress inside. This mirrors the work in the therapy room: the growth happens internally, and visible change may not be immediate.

We know we are on the right track when the "aroma of the meal" begins to emerge, but we must still wait until the food is ready and then a bit longer until it is ready to be served. Trusting this slow process ensures that the resulting "meal"—the child’s internal growth—will stay with them for a long time, often permanently.

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12/08/2025

I recently had a conversation about how happiness is often intertwined with the happiness of those around us. This can lead to a cycle where we feel overly responsible for others' comfort or where our self-worth becomes tied to their contentment. I feel this dynamic will especially resonate with parents who are constantly striving to make their children happy.

During this discussion, an image came up that deeply resonated with me: the image of a braid. As someone who appreciates the power of metaphors, I wanted to share it with you.

Imagine a braid with three strands: my happiness, the happiness of others in my circle, and the happiness of the world. When the braid is very tight, this manifests as feeling responsible for others' happiness or believing our worth is tied to their contentment. As a parent, you might find this tightness amplified during the holiday season when you fear your child may be disappointed or overwhelmed.

This image helped me reframe my perspective with two key insights:

1. A beautiful braid requires all strands to be of relatively equal size.
2. A loosely tied braid can still be beautiful.

I would choose the loose braid—allowing myself to maintain my self-worth and feel good, even when others may not be happy with me, as long as I remain true to myself and my values.

I invite you to consider: which braid would you choose?

Reach out to us to learn more about our services www.expressive-minds.com

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12/03/2025

At Expressive Minds Therapy, we provide specialized therapeutic support to children ages 0 to 18 and their parents. We deeply believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship as a fundamental agent for both healing and change. We are committed to supporting our families for as long as they need us to walk alongside them.

One of the most heartwarming moments in our work is welcoming back children and teens and their families, for "refresher" or ad hoc sessions as needed. Seeing the enduring trust in these relationships is always rewarding and a testament of the power of the relationship a client forms with their therapist, no matter the age.

As the owner of Expressive Minds Therapy, my vision is to provide tailored and developmentally appropriate services taking into consideration the uniqueness of each child and the uniqueness of their family. My passion for the parents to access the most fitting information and support for their family as early as possible and for children to build their confidence and resilience to manage the ups and downs of life.

We are here for you whenever you are ready to connect or reconnect. Reach out to us to learn more about our services www.expressive-minds.com

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12/01/2025

The calmness of the late and the brightness of the early moon made me wonder about the ways that I can keep a balanced physical and mental health over the next few months. What are yours?

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11/26/2025

As winter approaches, it's important to be mindful of how this season, which can sometimes feel isolating and harsh, impacts our mental well-being. This is a good time to check in on our mental health.

Taking proactive steps to care for ourselves can make a big difference. This might include prioritizing your physical health, spending time outdoors, scheduling a mental or physical break, pursuing an enjoyable hobby, connecting with yourself or others, taking a warm bath, listening to your favorite music, or journaling. Focus on activities that bring you a sense of pleasure, achievement, or calmness—whatever works best for you.

Please remember that it is always okay to seek support. If you are struggling, reaching out to a therapist or mental health professional is a valuable and necessary step.

As the owner of Expressive Minds Therapy, my vision is to provide tailored and developmentally appropriate services taking into consideration the uniqueness of each child and the uniqueness of their family. My passion for the parents to access the most fitting information and support for their family as early as possible and for children to build their confidence and resilience to manage the ups and downs of life.

Reach out to us to learn more about our services www.expressive-minds.com

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11/24/2025

The focus of this issue is to discuss ways to create a safe space where youth can express themselves, develop their sense of self, expand executive functioning skills, and establish meaningful connections and relationships while exploring ways to constructively navigate conflicts and power struggles.

As the owner of Expressive Minds Therapy, my vision is to provide tailored and developmentally appropriate services taking into consideration the uniqueness of each child and the uniqueness of their family. My passion for the parents to access the most fitting information and support for their family as early as possible and for children to build their confidence and resilience to manage the ups and downs of life.

Reach out to us to learn more about our services www.expressive-minds.com

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11/19/2025

Today, I want to focus on the powerful impact of working with the "here and now" in the therapy room. As Dr. Karen Treisman wisely states, "Every interaction is an intervention!" I've observed firsthand the magic that unfolds when we, as therapists, are attuned to what is happening with our clients, and within ourselves, in the present moment.

This can range from noticing a mild discomfort or a subtle pause during a client's narration, to observing a genuine smile when sharing a positive experience, or even the feeling of confusion at the end of a session. Bringing awareness to these moments consistently leads to fruitful discussions and profound self-discoveries for everyone involved. As therapists, we are continuously growing and learning, and our clients play a vital role in expanding our own awareness as we support them in developing theirs.

Healing truly happens within the relationship, and these relationships can be messy, complicated, smooth, caring, nurturing, or even scary. Kudos to all the therapists and clients who embrace this journey.

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11/17/2025

Which one do you prefer? Northern lights or Starry night?

May all of us welcome the beautiful wonders of the world this week!

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11/12/2025

This post outlines the "7 A's of Healing," a concept developed by Dr. Gabor Maté. These principles are designed to help individuals develop emotional competence by learning to manage emotions and stress, which are key factors in the healing process for both mental and physical health.

The "7 A's" include:

Acceptance: Acknowledging one's situation and emotions without judgment.
Awareness: Being conscious of one's internal state and external environment.
Anger:Learning to express anger in a healthy and constructive way.
Autonomy: Developing a sense of self-governance and personal responsibility for one's life and choices.
Attachment: Building and maintaining healthy connections and relationships with others.
Assertion: Speaking and acting on one's own behalf in an honest and authentic way.
Affirmation: Believing in and validating oneself and one's own experiences.

As the owner of Expressive Minds Therapy, my vision is to provide tailored and developmentally appropriate services taking into consideration the uniqueness of each child and the uniqueness of their family. My passion for the parents to access the most fitting information and support for their family as early as possible and for children to build their confidence and resilience to manage the ups and downs of life.

Reach out to us to learn more about our services www.expressive-minds.com

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11/10/2025

Check out our updated website and learn more about our services!

As the owner of Expressive Minds Therapy, my vision is to provide tailored and developmentally appropriate services taking into consideration the uniqueness of each child and the uniqueness of their family. My passion for the parents to access the most fitting information and support for their family as early as possible and for children to build their confidence and resilience to manage the ups and downs of life.

Reach out to us to learn more about our services www.expressive-minds.com

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Address

53 Andrew Street S
Orillia, ON
L3V5J2

Website

https://expressive-minds.com/

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