Alessia Manzoli - Registered Psychotherapist

02/26/2026

It is so so so common to have mixed feelings before your first therapy session.

> You don’t know your therapist very well yet
> You don’t know what the process will feel like
> You don’t know what questions will be asked
> You don’t even know where to start because you have so much to say (or maybe you feel like you have nothing to say)

There are so many unknowns, and us humans generally don’t like unknowns!

So if you find yourself with any of these thoughts, please know that it is very common. It’s hard to open your inner world to someone within an hour of meeting them. Give yourself grace and patience through this process. The mixed feelings are not a signal that you’re doing the wrong thing - they’re just a part of doing something new.

You are allowed to take time to build safety and trust in the therapy space.
Sharing these reservations or worries can even be a really great first step in building trust with your therapist, and gaining clarity about any unknowns you’d like answered.

And therapists generally respect this process. I certainly welcome your questions and honour the courage it takes to show up, even with all these feelings. 🫶

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If you’re in Ontario and considering virtual therapy, I offer free consults to help you explore your options.

» Contact link in bio
» Email me at info@alessiamanzoli.com
» Visit www.alessiamanzoli.com/blog to read more about starting therapy ✨

02/16/2026

02/09/2026

Lately, I’ve been sitting with a word I learned recently: bloomscrolling.

It’s not a formal dictionary word (yet), but it’s being used to describe something many of us are craving.

Bloomscrolling means scrolling with intention, choosing content that feels life-giving instead of draining.

Stories that heal.
Words that slow you down.
Reminders that God is still good,
even on hard days.

In a world where doomscrolling is easy and anxiety spreads fast, bloomscrolling is a soft rebellion.

If you’re here, I hope this page becomes that kind of space for you.
A place you don’t leave heavier.
A place that reminds you to breathe.
A place where faith and healing are allowed to take their time.

If you’ve been tired of carrying too much, maybe you weren’t meant to scroll harder.. maybe you were meant to bloom.

Welcome. 🌱

01/26/2026

You might be feeling the pressure to figure life out in your 20s.

I’m here to remind you that it’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out. If what you pursued turns out to be out of alignment, you’re allowed to pause and reflect, and possibly even pivot.

This is your life, no one else’s. Only you can know what’s really best for you. 🤍

If you need guidance in tuning out the expectations, and tuning in to what you truly want, I would be honoured to support you ✨

Contact me for a consultation today at info@alessiamanzoli.com, and read more about navigating this time of life on my blog. Link in bio. 💌

01/05/2026

PSA 🥰 Your 20s aren’t a race.
And they aren’t a test you can fail.

If you’re in your 20s and feeling pressure to make life “amazing,” or if you’re beyond your 20s and wondering if you missed your chance, you’re definitely not alone.

There are soooo so many expectations placed on this decade. And when real life doesn’t match them, it’s easy to believe you’ve fallen behind.

But you don’t have to have it all figured out by any age.

Growth isn’t linear, and there are infinite opportunities for fulfillment and change.

This month, I’m unpacking the expectations vs. realities of your 20s (and beyond).

Read more in my latest blog post: http://www.alessiamanzoli.com/blog/expectations-vs-realities-of-being-in-your-20s

And stay tuned for self-compassion practices 🤍



https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTJCO_xElvp/?igsh=MTF4dTF6eW1jbnloNQ==

12/08/2025

This time of year can bring many mixed feelings. Let this be your reminder that you are allowed to feel it all, no matter what social media or societal expectations imply.

Be gentle with yourselves. ❄️🫂

Read more about how finding presence can bring some peace amidst the pressures of this season at www.alessiamanzoli.com 🫶 Full link in bio!

11/18/2025

Many people live with a body that’s always scanning and searching for cues of danger, even when life looks calm on the outside.

This is called hypervigilance, and it’s rooted in neuroception, which is the nervous system’s subconscious way of detecting safety or threat.

When that system has been exposed to unsafe situations, it may have learned to over-protect you. Because of this, the world can start to feel unsafe, even when there are no threats present.

Healing means teaching your body to relax into safe situations, and be on alert only when necessary. This is done through connection, awareness, and compassion. 🌿

📚 Read more: The Science Behind the Mind–Body Connection (link in bio)



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10/11/2025

The loneliness of feeling like you have to perform.
Be unapologetically you!!
🩵🩵

🎭 Masks
by Shel Silverstein

She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid,
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by—
And never knew.

>>Meaning & Reflection

1. The “blue skin” symbolizes what makes us unique — our differences, our true selves, the parts we often hide to fit in.

2. Both characters spend their lives concealing their real identity, fearing judgment, longing for acceptance.

3. Their tragedy lies not in being different, but in pretending to be ordinary.

4. The poem reminds us that when we hide who we are, we risk losing the people who might have truly understood us.

5. “Masks” is a quiet yet piercing message: authenticity is the only way to be seen — and to find belonging.

“Be brave enough to show your color. Someone out there has been looking for your shade all along.”

10/09/2025

You are not your thoughts.

Though they can be convincing, our thoughts and beliefs are not facts. Nor are they rules that we need to abide by. But sometimes, they start out as an energetic contract that was signed in a moment of pain, fear, or survival.

Though it may have served you then, you certainly don’t have to adhere to its terms anymore.

Here’s how to release limiting beliefs and invite intentional action:

1. Make the choice to begin: No change happens without your permission. Being intentional about change is an important first step.

2. Notice the pattern: Pay attention to when you feel small, shut down, or “not enough.” In those moments, ask yourself: “What am I believing about myself right now?”

3. Feel it in the body: The body listens to what the minds tells it. Notice where you hold the pain of your limiting belief in your body. Is there a particular body part that suddenly feels achey, painful, or tight?

4. Meet yourself with compassion: It’s important not to add more shame to the story you’re already carrying. After all, at one time, this belief kept you safe and protected. Try saying to yourself: “It makes sense that I learned this. I don’t need to shame myself for it. And now, I’m ready to let it go.”

5. Recognize your behaviours: Notice how you act when you’re living out that belief. Do you find yourself engaging in self-defeating behaviours, avoiding challenges, or shutting down opportunities?

6. Shift into a curiosity mindset: Gently invite yourself to explore a different perspective. Ask yourself questions from a place of curiosity. “How would I show up if I believed something more empowering about myself? What’s one small thing I’m willing to try today that aligns with the more empowered belief?”

This experience will push you outside of your comfort zone, so please be gentle with yourself, and know that there can be support along the way if you ever need it. ✨

Find more information and journaling prompts in my blog. Link in bio 📝

09/19/2025

Sometimes the patterns we repeat happen in our subconscious, which can make it hard to move forward or grow from them.

As we continue into the season of letting go, I hope that these prompts can help you reflect, release, and realign ✨

Upon reflection, you may learn that your journey is about transforming the belief that you always need to prove yourself, into the belief that you are inherently worthy.

Or perhaps it’s about challenging the rule you have which is that you can only be acceptable when you’re productive.

Maybe it’s about setting a boundary in a one sided relationship.

No matter the realization, taking time to journal and understand yourself more deeply can empower you to choose how you want to move forward.
�If this speaks to you, grab your journal and give yourself the space to explore what you’re ready to let go of, and what you’re ready to embrace more of 🖊️💭

🩵

09/12/2025

You know something isn’t quite working for you…but you can’t pinpoint what you need to let go of.

That’s the thing about letting go. It’s not always obvious what isn’t really working anymore.

Sometimes what needs to be released is internal:
Old roles. Perfectionism. A belief that once protected you.

Other times, it’s more external:
A boundary. A goodbye. A decision to stop proving yourself.

If you’re navigating this and need support, you’re not alone. Feel free to reach out.

✨ And if you’re unsure where to begin, stay tuned for journaling prompts to help you unpack what might be ready to release.

Your clarity doesn’t have to come all at once. It all starts with getting curious. ✨

🤍

07/29/2025

Not everyone feels light in the summertime.

If you’re moving through this season feeling low, anxious, or out of sync, you’re not alone. 🌿

There are many quiet reasons summer can be hard: disrupted routines, overstimulation, body image pressure, or just a feeling you can’t quite name.

Here I’ve shared some gentle ways to care for yourself and help you move through it with softness and self-compassion. 🤍
Take what resonates, leave the rest.

Remember: you’re allowed to slow down, even when the world is speeding up.

If you’d like to learn more, read my latest blog post on summertime depression at www.alessiamanzoli.com

If you find that you need some extra support moving through this season, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be honoured to support you 💌