Voth Family Therapy

05/24/2023

Do you ever wish your teenager had come with a manual?

Don't worry - you aren't alone.  Countless parents find themselves in my office scratching their heads and asking the same question: "How do I get them to talk to me?"  When I explore the issue a typical theme emerges: parents feel they're doing all the right things to set the stage for meaningful conversation with their teen, but nothing happens.  Questions are answered with the barest of information or the teen will address only 'light' topics and avoid anything with any depth, leaving the parent frustrated and feeling out-of-the-loop.  I find myself giving the same advice again and again...

📍 Learn What to Look For: In case you haven't already realized this, teenagers rarely approach their parents with the intention of initiating a conversation about 'the deep stuff', particularly teens who are struggling.  When they do, it isn't usually obvious that they have something on their mind that they'd like to share.  Some of the ways I see teens approaching adults when they need something: pick a fight, talk about something that seems meaningless (like music, or what so-and-so wore to school today), or by saying nothing but showing a lot of body language.  These approaches may be irritating and often don't make sense to adults, but they are bids for connection.  If you are seen as responsive and engaged with the 'fluff' of your teen's life, or you can tolerate some button-pushing without rejecting them, you'll be seen as someone who's safe enough to share the bigger issues with.  

Read more about talking with teens on our blog!
vothfamilytherapy.com/blog/talking-to-teens-101

04/14/2023

Good communication is part of the foundation in a healthy relationship. Within good communication is the art of listening, which helps to foster validation, build trust, and provide affirmation. 

Here’s some ways to bring the practice of listening into your conversations.

•Be curious and ask questions. Try thinking like a journalist - who, what, when, where, why? 

•Have an open mind. Good communication takes place in a safe space. Help create that safety by having an open mind and keeping any judgements to yourself.

•Use simple phrases to validate. Saying phrases, such as “Of course”, “That makes sense”, or “For sure!”, affirm someone’s experience or feelings. 

•Listen with your body. Use body language to be present in the conversation and notice their body language; there’s so much more to communication than what is being said. 

Listening takes practice! It’s often tempting to want to do something else like multitask, offer advice, or talk about your own experience. A great way to begin is by being present in the conversation with your mind and body.

If you’d like to connect with a therapist to talk about good communication and the art of listening, we’re here and happy to help.

12/06/2022

Ah, the holiday season.  Festive lights, smiling people, glowing firesides and all the images that a Bing Crosby album conjures up.  However cozy and quaint, this picture-perfect version of “the most wonderful time of the year” isn’t accurate for many for whom it might bring feelings of dread.

Often those who have suffered a loss, people who have had difficult holiday experiences in the past, introverts (*raises hand*), and those who have experienced trauma have a hard time.  They say, “I feel like the weird one,” or “No one understands why I feel the way I do.”  Many survive by faking it, forcing their way through the demands of the season, stumbling into January in a post-holiday depression with a desire to further withdraw from our lives and feeling sad, irritable or frustrated.  

If this is the real cost of the holidays, what can we do differently?

Stop faking it.  Be honest with yourself and those around you.  Your emotions are valid and they’re trying to communicate something important to you like, “This hurts!”.  If you burned your hand in the oven, would you force yourself to do it over and over again?

If your December isn’t merry and bright, the most healing gift you can give yourself is permission to feel as you do.

Read more about what we can do differently around the holidays if it isn't the most wonderful time of the year. Link in bio.

11/29/2022

Dealing with big changes can be a big challenge. Job change, graduation, loss, divorce, marriage, gender transition, diagnosis - any significant shift in life is going to come with changes that can leave you feeling unsettled, overwhelmed, or a bit lost. 

Acknowledge the mixed feelings. There’s going to be more than one emotion and often they’re even opposites, but there can still be space for each one. 

Identify what is lost and what is gained. Having an understanding of those mixed feelings can be helpful. 

Focus on what you can control. Bring movement into the day, get the little things done, take a few deep breaths. Ask yourself what it would look like to get through this and take a few minutes to write about that.  

Find some stability with the constants in your life. A same cup of coffee, a habit, this certainty can be super helpful when going through these changes.

If you're finding yourself going through a change and would like some support, we're here and happy to help.

11/15/2022

Meet Roy!

This playful kitten is ready or his forever home 😻

As Cat of the Week, Roy’s adoption fee this week is only $50. https://pvhsociety.ca/cats/ace

🚨 Voth Family Therapy Cat of the Week: Roy 🚨

Roy had a very tough start to his young life. He came into our care as a sick little boy, but after receiving treatment and spending some time in a loving foster home, he's back to tip-top shape! He's a very affectionate kitten, and is very playful and sweet. He loves to play with his foster siblings...especially his canine sibling's tail!

This week Roy's adoption fee is only $75, which includes his neuter, medical treatment (completed), and all age-appropriate vaccines and boosters. You also receive a complementary vet check after adoption to start your new family on the right foot. Learn more: https://pvhsociety.ca/cats/roy

11/08/2022

When do you feel most content?

Connect with that space and spend a moment there. ✨️

11/01/2022

Meet Ace!

Look at those whiskers! 😻

As Cat of the Week, Ace’s adoption fee this week is only $50. https://pvhsociety.ca/cats/ace

🚨 Voth Family Therapy Cat of the Week: Ace 🚨

Ace came into our care over seven weeks ago with his friend Molly. He’s a fan of people, cats, and snuggles (we don’t yet know how he would react to dogs). As we approach the cold months of winter, he’ll be the perfect companion to help keep you warm!

Ace’s adoption fee this week is only $50. Apply today! https://pvhsociety.ca/cats/ace

10/17/2022

Meet Winnie!

She's Pembina Valley Humane Society's Cat of the Week, sponsored by us cat lovers here at Voth Family Therapy.

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🚨 Voth Family Therapy Cat of the Week: Winnie Adopt Winnie for only $50! 🚨

Winnie has a long history with the PVHS…she first came into our care in 2018. She was adopted, but has found her way back to us. She is an interesting lady…a bit of a drama queen, very independent. She likes to rule her roost!

She’s been in foster, and they tell us that she can be affectionate when she wants to be 😂 If you’re looking for a companion for these coming cold winter nights, but don’t want a cat that’s too cloying, Winnie could be the right girl for you!

Learn more: https://pvhsociety.ca/cats/winnie

09/27/2022

Take a moment and share some compliments with yourself right now. Let those be thoughts that linger and the notes that get remembered.​​​​​​​​
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09/21/2022

This summer we came together to spend time sharing stories and striking poses for our photo session.

What you don't see in these photos is the sound of laughter in the background or the wonderful feeling of connecting that weaved its way through the evening.

Check out the new photos of our lovely team!

09/13/2022

We're here to support you every step of the way. ​​​​​​​​
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06/30/2022

School's out for summer! ​​​​​​​​
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That's a wrap on the 2021-22 school year and now it's time for staying up late and sleeping in, even on weeknights. ​​​​​​​​
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To everyone that was in school as we transitioned through the pandemic this past year - you are phenomenal! 🙌​​​​​​​​
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Here's to a fun summer filled with sunshine and smiles! 😎 ​​​​​​​​
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06/09/2022

What would it look like to bring meditation into your day today?​​​​​​​​
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A short practice or long, an active meditation or stillness, a guided practice or silence...​​​​​​​​
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Meditation can be present in many different ways with so many potential variations. Today, we invite you to find a moment of meditation that fits for you. ​​​​​​​​
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06/03/2022

As humans, regret is a normal part of our experience. And in true human fashion, we have a tendency to respond to the discomfort of regret by further punishing ourselves with negative self-talk, harsh judgment, and unproductive thought patterns. Often the fear of experiencing regret is enough to make us think twice about a choice or hesitate to make a decision altogether.​​​​​​​​
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Think about a decision you’ve made because you wanted to avoid feeling regret. Did you feel at peace about that decision, or did you feel like you were choosing “the lesser of two evils”? Did you successfully avoid regret or did you feel it anyway?​​​​​​​​
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Think about a time when you avoided taking action. What made you hesitate?​​​​​​​​
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Keep reading about what to do with regret on our blog post - link in bio! ​​​​​​​​
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05/20/2022

How will I know?​​​​​​​​
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Let’s be honest – finding a therapist that will be the right one for you can feel like an overwhelming crapshoot. We know it isn’t always going to work, but how will you know when it is a good fit?​​​​​​​​
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✔ You’ll feel safe, accepted​​​​​​​​
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✔ You’ll feel like the therapist “gets” you​​​​​​​​
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✔ You’ll feel comfortable talking about the things that have brought you to therapy​​​​​​​​
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✔ You and your therapist will have the same or similar goals for your therapy​​​​​​​​
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✔ You’ll find your therapist likeable​​​​​​​​
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We can help you start the work of therapy before you even set foot in the door by empowering you with the tools to find the right fit. Sometimes clients get lucky, but many people don't feel right about leaving a relationship as important as this one to chance. To feel less like you’re rolling the dice and more in the driver’s seat, you can pre-screen therapists by:​​​​​​​​
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☝ Reading our bios on the Therapists page before you book an appointment​​​​​​​​
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✌ Booking a free 15-minute consultation which can be in-person at the office or over the phone​​​​​​​​
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👌 Booking another free 15-minute consultation with a different therapist if the first (or second, or third) didn’t feel like the right one​​​​​​​​
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👉 Using some of your time in the first session to interview your therapist​​​​​​​​
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Say WHAAAA??? Interview my therapist?!? Yep, you read that right. ​​​​​​​​
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Read about some questions to ask your therapist in the first session (and read it with a Whitney Houston song in your head) in our blog post How Will I Know - link in bio!​​​​​​​​
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04/29/2022

Why should I see a Marriage & Family Therapist for individual therapy?

Marriage and Family Therapists broaden the traditional emphasis on the individual to take a holistic perspective to mental health care.

We know the best way to achieve mental health is by taking a holistic approach that considers the individual and the relationships they live in and we do this by using a systems perspective that’s unique to MFT training.

Connect with us today to schedule a free, 15 minute Meet & Greet to see if one of our therapists would be a good fit!

04/26/2022

Everyone deserves the feeling that comes from finding the right fit.​​​​​​​​
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Having a great fit between client and therapist is the difference between a positive experience and a 'meh', or worse yet, negative one. It's the difference between therapy feeling like an investment and a burdensome expense. It's the difference between feeling alone with the thing that's troubling you and feeling like you're sharing the weight of a heavy load with someone capable of carrying it.​​​​​​​​
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We believe in the importance of "The Fit" so much that we invest in making sure you find that person before we've even taken a toonie from you. We do this by:​​​​​​​​
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Maintaining detailed therapist bios on our Therapists page​​​​​​​​
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Offering free 15-minute consultations so you can get a feel for a potential therapist before you commit to paying for a session​​​​​​​​
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Providing a list of suggested questions you can use to interview us to make the most of your consultation or first session​​​​​​​​
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Abundant research has demonstrated that the number one predictor of success in therapy is the quality of the relationship between client and therapist. Read more about finding the right fit on our blog post - vothfamilytherapy.com/blog/why-i-incessantly-yammer-on-about-the-fit
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