Why I Love Self-Employment with a Capital “L”

By Laura Cohen / October 18, 2024

Let’s talk about self-employment and why I love working for myself. Many clients with salaries often ask, “How do you do it without benefits?” or “How do you manage without a pension or regular paychecks?” Running a business can seem scary! My answer? It doesn’t have to be scary. It’s all about a mindset shift.…

Nurturing Minds: Integrating Nature and 5-Senses Education into the Canadian School Curriculum

By Laura Cohen / September 17, 2024

As a Registered Counselling Therapist offering nature-informed therapy and as a professional collaborator with Forest Schools, I’ve witnessed the powerful healing benefits of nature therapy firsthand. Using nature-based approaches in counselling helps clients tap into emotional healing through outdoor environments. I also train other therapists on how to use ecotherapy in their practice, backed by…

The Surprising Power of Tarot as a Projective Technique in Therapy

By Laura Cohen / August 23, 2024

Tarot, often associated with divination, has a growing presence in psychology, particularly as a projective technique found in expressive therapy. In this context, Tarot is not about predicting the future but about tapping into a client’s intuition and subconscious. Just how the Rorschach technique (aka “inkblot”) uses imagery to help clients express and process thoughts…

Tax-Free Therapy is here!

By Laura Cohen / July 6, 2024

Hello everyone, I have some wonderful news to share! Thanks to the passing of Bill C-59 on June 20th, 2024, the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) has been removed for all services provided by Registered Counselling Therapists and other regulated counsellors/psychotherapists in Canada. This is a step forward in making therapy more accessible and affordable for…

Wilderness First Aid Training for Nature Lovers

By Laura Cohen / June 10, 2024

I recently completed an intensive 3-day Wilderness First Aid certification training with Halifax Search and Rescue, and I wanted to share my experience with my readers and clients here. The training was challenging but incredibly valuable. We covered a wide range of topics, including wound care, infection prevention, hypothermia treatment, allergic reactions, seizures and CPR.…

Decolonizing Your Workplace Mindset

By Laura Cohen / May 14, 2024

Hey, let’s talk about reshaping how we think at work. I often hear my clients express being unhappy at work because their basic work needs aren’t being considered like having little support, or they feel their values of work-life balance are not aligned, leaving them feeling “not enough” or siloed as a cog in the…

Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Therapy: Different Terms, Same Practice?

By Laura Cohen / April 9, 2024

Have you ever been confused by the terms counselling, psychotherapy, and therapy? As a Master’s-level therapist (Registered Counselling Therapist) who provides personal and career counselling, I am licensed with the NSCCT. Sometimes clients wonder what they bill under with insurance companies: is it psychotherapy, clinical counselling, counselling therapy or therapy?! Despite these regional differences and…

De-Stress Your Career with Polyvagal Wisdom

By Laura Cohen / March 19, 2024

Ever felt your heart race during a big presentation or your stomach churn before a meeting? That’s your body’s autonomic nervous system, always on the lookout for threats. Polyvagal Theory, a concept by Stephen Porges, dives into this, explaining how we react to stress and danger. It’s like having an internal radar, picking up on…

Navigate Job Transitions with Grace: Tips for Closure and Moving Forward

By Laura Cohen / January 2, 2024

Navigating the end of a job is like untangling a complex knot—it can be disorienting and emotional. Work is more than just a paycheck; it’s intertwined with our identity and self-esteem. Whether leaving due to a toxic environment or bidding farewell to a beloved workplace, it’s natural to feel a sense of loss. Reflecting on…

5 Personality Traits that Contribute to Burnout

By Laura Cohen / December 6, 2023

Burnout is the #1 reason employees go on short-term disability. A lot of my clients who experience chronic burnout carry certain personality traits that contribute to poor mental health. Usually there are other factors at play that contribute to burnout including work-related circumstances (ie. lack of support, unclear job expectations) and lifestyle (ie. lack of…