Tara Forgeron Psychology & Associates Inc.

10/07/2025

Volunteering is a proven way to boost your mental health. 😉 (That's actually true!). As someone who runs, I can say that it truly means the world to have amazing volunteers present on race day- from passing out water to cheering runners on when that extra push is needed. 😀 Complete the form here to help out!

Event registration: Fiddler’s Race Day Volunteers @ Sydney, NS, Canada. Sunday, October 19, 2025 8:00 AM (GMT-3) - Sunday, October 19, 2025 3:00 PM (GMT-3)

10/06/2025

I speak with a lot of clients who will say that they know they're spending too much time on their phones. They're seeing it impact their focus, mood, irritability, presence with their family, and more. Typically, they'll then state that they'd like to reduce their time on their phones. I love the awareness and how they shift it into wanting to take action. However, in my experience, (professionally, and through personal trial and error), I don't find people to be overly successful when they say they want to 'reduce' their screen time, without having a clear goal as to how they'll make that happen.

So, what do I recommend? Clear blocks of phone-free (or social media-free) time, no exceptions. For instance, from 4-8pm M-Th, no social media, or, take a break on weekends. Find something that will suit your lifestyle and reason why you're wanting to do this. It will be challenging- it's quite an addiction, after all- but your mind, relationships, and well-being will be better for it. 🙏

10/02/2025

Our wonderful child psychologist currently has some availability to see children, adolescents, and parents. She provides evidence-based support for challenges including anxiety, behavioural concerns, depression, school-related difficulties, and more. Please note that this availability is for counselling only, and does not include ASD assessments. 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦

To book an appointment, please call (902) 567-3756 or email tara@taraforgeron.com

09/22/2025

09/08/2025

Great question. Sometimes, when we share that we’re accepting new clients for psychoeducational assessments, we receive some messages of confusion on what that really means. So, I thought I’d provide some more information here to hopefully bring clarity on the differences.

A psychological or diagnostic evaluation typically aims to understand an individual’s overall mental health, personality, behavioural, and social functioning. In short, it can help diagnose mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, etc. It does not involve academic/cognitive testing.

A psychoeducational assessment is an in-depth assessment that explores one’s cognitive and academic functioning. Typically, if an individual is having challenges with learning, memory, attention, processing, etc., this would be a more appropriate avenue for them. It can help to identify learning disorders, intellectual disorders, as well as areas of strength and weakness. We then look to make appropriate recommendations or accommodations for schooling and work that can help the individual to function better in this environment.

Hope this helps! :)

09/05/2025

Tara is now accepting new clients for ADHD and Full Psychoeducational assessments (ages 16+ only). Please note that this is for assessments only, and does not include counselling.

There is limited availability for these assessments, and once initial spaces are filled, we will take names for a waiting list. Please contact our office for more information on scheduling, fees, and any other questions you may have (tara@taraforgeron.com; 902-567-3756). Thank you! 📚✏️

09/04/2025

A few thoughts as the big day approaches-

For the parent whose child just wouldn’t get out of the car-we see you. 💙For the mom holding back tears as her little one starts at a brand-new school- we see you. For the caregiver who feels the silence in the car on the way home- we see you.

The first day brings so many feelings- excitement, nerves, and even grief. Please give yourself whatever compassion and kindness you and your little ones might need, and know that you’re not alone in whatever you may be feeling. 💕

PS- Try a little experiment and see if you can be as gentle on yourself and your expectations as you are in May. 😉 As I remind myself and others every year, the first day of school doesn’t have to be perfect. 😉

08/22/2025

It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to say this… but we’re officially accepting new adult clients again! ✨ Even better, we’re celebrating by welcoming a new full-time psychologist (candidate register) to our team!

Before I introduce her, a quick note: our admin team has already contacted everyone on our waitlist. If you believe you were on the list and didn’t hear from us, please reach out by phone or email as soon as possible. ✉️ We are currently booking new clients for early October.

Now for the fun part — meet Alicia Berze-Butts, who is joining us in Cape Breton after several years of private practice in Halifax.

Alicia holds her M.A. in Clinical Psychology and brings strong experience supporting adults (17+) with concerns such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, ptsd, grief, body image, work/school stress, and relationship challenges.

Alicia utilizes evidence-based treatment methods to facilitate the well-being of clients, namely Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), which she tailors to the individual’s personal therapy needs, concerns, and goals. She highly values taking a collaborative, client-centred approach to therapy and maintains a warm and empathetic interpersonal style in order to provide a comfortable environment where clients can feel safe, supported, and understood.

We’re so excited to have her on our team, and just as excited to be able to open our doors to new clients again! 🤩

08/13/2025

Just a reminder that it's quite warm in the office given we're awaiting our AC replacement. ❄️ If you mind the heat, have any medical issues that are exacerbated by the heat/humidity and have an appointment, we're more than happy to do a virtual appointment. If you can bear through it, we've got lots of cold water, popsicles, and freezies. Just say the word and we'll grab you some. 🍦🍧

07/31/2025

Post # 2 in our attempt to clarify some confusion on professionals in the mental health world.

We often get asked:
“Should I see a psychologist or a social worker?”

The truth? Both are highly trained, regulated professionals who provide therapy. But there are some differences.👇

🔹 Psychologist
🧠 Master’s or PhD in Psychology
📝 Can conduct assessments and provide formal diagnoses
💬Trained in therapy using evidence-based approaches
✅ Regulated by the Nova Scotia Board of Examiners in Psychology (NSBEP)

🔹 Registered Social Worker (RSW / MSW)
🌱 Master’s degree in Social Work
💬 Also trained in therapy using evidence-based approaches (sometimes from a different perspective)
✅ Regulated by the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW)

💡 So—how do you choose?
✔️ Need an assessment or formal diagnosis?
→ You’ll need to work with a psychologist.

Beyond that, we recommend looking at the individual:

→ What’s their area of expertise? (You'll want to ensure they work in the area that you're trying to work through!)
→ What approach do they use?
→ Do you feel safe and understood working with them?

Most insurance plans cover both professionals, but there are some exceptions, so you'll want to check your plan. ✅

At our practice, we’re proud to have both psychologists and social workers on our team—and we’re always happy to help you find the right fit for your needs. 💛

07/24/2025

It’s no wonder people are confused—there are so many mental health designations out there: psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, counsellor, social worker, coach… it’s a lot to sort through.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of posts to help clarify who does what in the world of mental health—starting here:

👉 Myth: If someone has a Master’s Degree in Psychology, that makes them a psychologist.
🚫 Not quite.

💡 Some graduate programs offer degrees in counselling psychology or psychology that don’t meet these regulatory standards—so while the word “psychology” may appear in the degree title, they do not lead to becoming a psychologist.

And that’s ok! There are many wonderful programs, but the purpose of this post is to bring more education and awareness to the many questions we receive. 🤓

To become a Registered Psychologist, you must:

🔹 Be accepted into a competitive graduate program (requiring a strong academic background and an Honours degree with a thesis).

🔹 Complete a graduate program (between 2-6 years) that meets CPA accreditation standards
(Canadian Psychological Association-accredited programs are held to rigorous national criteria for research, ethics, and clinical training).

🔹 Pass the EPPP – a standardized, North American licensing exam that evaluates clinical and ethical knowledge.

🔹 Complete multiple years of supervised clinical experience (often 1600+ hours)

🔹 Pass oral exams with the provincial board (NSBEP, for us in Nova Scotia).

🔹 Maintain ongoing licensure, regulation, and ethical accountability under the governing body.

🙋🏼‍♀️ When in doubt and you’re particularly looking to work with a Psychologist? Look for:

✅ Registered Psychologist
✅ Psychologist (Candidate Register)

Or—just ask! A regulated provider will always be transparent about their credentials.

More posts coming soon to help you navigate mental health designations with clarity and confidence.
💬💛

07/16/2025

✨ Now Accepting New Clients ✨
We’re currently welcoming new clients — from young children through to age 25.

Our team supports kids, teens, and young adults with evidence-based therapy tailored to their unique stage of life.

📍 In-person & virtual options available
📆 Visit our website or call to book an appointment
📧 tara@taraforgeron.com
📱 (902-567-3756)

👉 If you were previously on our waitlist and haven’t received a call, we may not have your exact age on file. Please reach out so we can update your info and offer you a spot.