Tandem Waves Counselling Collective

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Canada
Saint Catharines, ON
Tandem Waves Counselling Collective

We offer individual, children, youth, and family counselling located in Niagara Region.

Tandem Waves Collective is a boutique, group focused centre that offers group therapy, corporate wellness training, and group clinical supervision. Our services is deeply rooted in being trauma informed, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, feminist framework while creating and implementing specialized group therapy, corporate training, and clinicial supervision. This foundation is important to us as we recognize, understand, and envision a space that is rooted in a deep understanding of individuality within the collective group. With a combined 20 plus years of clinical experience, Marisa and Yiching offer unique perspectives in serving clients whose various identities intersect, change, and mold. As a racialized, women led company, Tandem Waves Collective is about coming together to learn how to be better versions of ourselves.

03/09/2024

Dear parents,

As we enter the weekend before March break, we hope that you remember that your children don't need you to be perfect. They need you to be real, imperfect with possibilities. Humble yourself if you made a mistake or took a misstep. Be kind to yourself.

03/07/2024

We have all experienced this. When we are feeling bad or sad, we isolate, we distract, we numb. We avoid the feeling. And yet, we need to let ourselves feel bad or sad. That means we let ourselves cry, we let ourselves sit in silence, or we let ourselves be still.

And once we are able to feel those emotions we then need to ensure we make the decision for action. Feeling sad or bad prepares us for inaction which will continue to feed into our negative emotions. If we choose to engage in action such as going for a walk because we haven't gotten out in days, cleaning our home because we haven't been able to keep up with the chores, or just engaging in some sort of physical activity or chore, this helps our body and mind reset. Through this reset we will feel better. We may not have the solution to what have caused us to feel sad or bad; however, we have made a decision to help ourselves move through those difficult emotions.

03/04/2024

We often find ourselves trying to avoid or distract ourselves from those difficult emotions. Let's face it - it's doesn't feel good when we are feeling bad. Perhaps it's more about giving ourselves the permission to feel - the bad and the good. Embracing the negative feelings is a part of us learning to manage our wellbeing AND just don't stay in it for too long.

03/01/2024

With time, you will be able to reflect on that difficult season that you had to experience. It wasn't fair, it wasn't easy, it was what it was. And yet, you kept moving, trusting that time will reveal why you had to experience that difficult season.

Think about where you were 5 years ago, 2 years ago, even 6 months ago. What challenges did you have to face then that you are now able to recognize that it changed you in a way that help strengthened you? Life is tough. We don't have control of the outcomes of what is to come and yet we do have control of how we push through those outcomes - with self compassion and grace.

02/27/2024

Just keep moving.

02/10/2024

For all our Asian family and friends, wishing you a Happy Lunar New! In the year of the dragon, may you embrace your fierceness, lean into your wisdom, and execute your goals with confidence.

Wishing you health and wellbeing. Be blessed.

01/27/2024

We sometimes need to do the hard work in order to practice self care. We know how it goes because we also have the same challenges!

"I'm tried today - I'm resting instead of going out for a walk. It's too cold"
"I'm drinking wine AGAIN tonight. I'm treating myself. It's been a hard day."
"I'm too tried to cook tonight - I'll just do take out."

Of course sometimes we just need to rest, drink that glass of wine, and do takeout. There's nothing wrong with that. However, when we become dependent on these habits and not make any small, active changes, it becomes less "self care" and more "self enabling".

Let's take a look at ourselves and see what we can do for ourselves for all wellbeing. Your body, brain, and soul is worth investing and nurting.

01/22/2024

Winter Blues.

It's normal for us to stay indoors in cold weather. Our bodies naturally want to stay warm. And we also know that our wellbeing is not just about staying warm - but feeling warmth in our body, mind, and soul.

When we isolate ourselves from others and the outside world, we feed into more isolation. When we stay indoors, inactive, and behind our phones, the isolation we feel will continue to grow.

To help us feel better, we need to increase our engagement to others to help decrease our isolation. Reach out to that one friend or family member that you haven't seen in sometime. Call them instead of texting. See them in person instead of video calling.

So let's get out and connect with others - your body and brain will thank you.

01/20/2024

We often hear so many of our clients being so hard on themselves. The lack of self compassion continues to fuel our disappointment with ourselves. It's hard to be successful when we play the comparison game.

How are they making so much money? How are they so fit? How do they fund their lavish lifestyle? Why are their kids so well behaved and mine are just having melt downs?

Perhaps we need to start reviewing our measure of what "success" is. Success means "accomplishment of an aim or purpose". Maybe we need to redefine what our aim or purpose is - it's not to compare with others; rather, compare ourselves with ourselves.

"Finances are tight and I'm so grateful that I'm making more money now than I was 2 years ago. It means I can continue to increase my salary."
"I couldn't even walk up a flight of stairs in my condo, I can finally walk up without much effort!"
"I do like those nice toys and I rather pay for an experience; rather than a car that I can't afford".
"My kids do have melt downs at home and it's because they feel safe enough to do so. And kids are suppose to have melt downs!"

So let's not beat up ourselves because we didn't try harder. We tried. That's success. So let's build on that....

01/15/2024

Winter blues.

The weather and darkness does not help our wellbeing. What helps us? Just moving.

Inaction feeds into more inaction. If we move just a little bit more today, than we did yesterday, it helps us feel better. We don't have to set expectations of going to the gym (although that's great!). We can run, do jumping jacks, or play "floor is lava" with our kids. We can park our car all the way at the back of the parking lot. We can take that lunch break - that we don't pay into mind you - and go for walks with our coworkers.

Whatever the movement is for you, just move. Moving helps us feel well. Inaction continues to keep us feeling unwell.

01/13/2024

The answer? Yes, of course we can only if we allow ourselves to learn from our past, continue to strengthen our skills in the present, we will grow into the future a version of ourselves that we didn't think was possible.

You can do it.

01/08/2024

Winter blues - family edition.

With the holidays coming to an end, we start back in the routine of school, work, and activities. It becomes chaotic quickly. The mad rush in the morning getting the kids and yourself out the door. The mental load of thinking about preparing meals. The evenings of rushing kid from activity to activity. To then all come crashing down in the late evening for that brief moment to yourself before you shut your eyes to do it all over again.

With the cold, dark weather, it fuels this unbalanced life. To get out of the winter blues as a family we need to increase our time together.

Let's start bringing back family dinners, having conversations with our children and partners.
Let's start bringing back reading to our children. If they're older, let's bring back connecting with our teenagers through having meaningful conversations before bedtime.
Let's start putting boundaries around our devices so that we can be present with one another.

Families that do things together thrive together.

01/03/2024

As we enter 2024, we hope for a year of health and wellbeing for all. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you are interested in therapy. We are now located at 154 James Street in St. Catharines. Virtual sessions available for residents of Ontario. Check out our online booking site to schedule your first session with us.

⭐We hope you take a leap of faith with us!
'
📱💻https://www.tandemwavescollective.com/therapists

01/01/2024

May you look back on this year, reviewing all you have done to be where you are today. With the new year upon us, the hope of a new year for continued health and wellbeing is possible.

Happy New Year!

#2024

12/24/2023

May you take this Christmas holiday season to rest, recharge, and just be. You have done everything you can do up to today to check off your "to do list". You may have children and feeling like you need to make this day magical. You may be in a relationship, feeling like you need to impress your partner. You may not be in a relationship and feeling like our culture has told you that you're not good enough. You may be at odds with your family, feeling sad.

Remember what this season is about - love, peace, and joy not just for others, but for yourself. You deserve love, peace, and joy in your heart, mind, body, and spirit.

May this season fill you with new found hope of a new chapter for you.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.

12/21/2023

📣WE ARE MOVING!📣

Some exciting things are happening here at Tandem Waves! We are very excited to announce that starting January 2024, we will now be located at 154 James Street in St. Catharines for in-person appointments!

We continue to offer virtual services to residents of Ontario.

If you are interested in services, please check out our website www.tandemwavescollective.com where you can book an appointment at your convenience.

12/18/2023

⭐NOW OFFERING: ONLINE BOOKING!⭐

Finding the time to book appointments can be hard if you have a lot on the go. We are thrilled to now offer online booking with Jane, where you can book a session within minutes, when it is convenient for you!

You can find links to book on on our website www.tandemwavescollective.com, or you can check out our Jane App Page at https://tandemwavescollective.janeapp.com/

11/23/2023

Dear parents,

We don't like to see our kids disappointed. They may not get the toy that they were hoping for. They may not like the snacks that we packed for their lunches. They may feel rejected when their peers may not include them in play or social opportunities. It pains us to see them feeling sad, upset, or disappointed because what parent doesn't want their child to be happy?

And as parents we need to embrace disappointment. Disappointment is a reality and it can help us learn to regulate our emotions and engage in helpful self talk. As parents we want to protect our children from these experiences and with the support from loving parents, children will be able to build a foundation of self awareness and self preservation.

During these moments, as parents we can teach our children by:

🔹Validating their hurt feelings through words and action (giving them a hug).
🔹Reflecting on their experience through their words.
🔹Encouraging the importance of us feeling big emotions.
🔹And the importance of moving past these big emotions through encouraging helpful self talk.

Let's embrace disappointment in a way that can help build our children's foundation.

Address

Saint Catharines, ON

Website

https://www.tandemwavescollective.com/

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