Parenting your children in today's world can be difficult. In the midst of our busy lives we are confronted with guiding our children through a variety of minefields.  This workshop will focus on developing and improving upon our relationships with our children. Having a supportive, trusting relationship with our kids will benefit them as they continue their journey towards adulthood.  

When:  January 26, 2012 6:30 – 8PM      
Where:  Suite 205, 300 March Road     
Please register online or call to reserve a seat as seating is limited

How many times have you been in the middle of a conversation with someone and their cell phone rings? What happens next? Does the person excuse themselves to take the call, look at their phone or do they continue focusing on you?  I feel the average person will at least take out their cell phone and see who is calling before determining if they answer or ignore the call.

I am confused on how an invention created to allow us more freedom has changed how we interact with each other.  If we step back and reflect if we’re in the middle of a conversation how many of us would let someone else interrupt the conversation.  If I’m talking to you and focusing my attention on you why would I let someone else come between us if they just walked up and started talking?

How many times do we see people texting while “engaged” in a conversation with someone else? How is this possible to be truly engaged in a conversation if your mind is somewhere else? What does this say about us and about how we view relating to others?

If we are truly engaged in a conversation or dialogue with someone then that person needs to be your sole focus.  I think we need to rethink how we view our cell phones usage.

Watch this video from wimp.com. Let me know what you think about their message about cell phones and connecting with others. I think it’s a great message. I promise not to look at my cell

Come visit us at the Kanata Health and Wellness Expo at the Sensplex,  Saturday January 21 from 9-4pm. We’re giving away three door prizes.   Drop by and pick up our flyer announcing our Free Winter talk Schedule. We look forward to seeing you.  Sensplex is located at 1565 Maple Grove Road in Kanata

Keep watching this space for announcements about our Free Thursdays Evening Talks. All of our Family-Therapy talks will start at 6:30 pm in Suite 205. Each week a different therapist will present on a specific issues relating to therapy.  Please call to reserve your spot, as seating is limited.

January 19, 2012                                  Connecting and Your Intimate Relationships - for everyone. You don't
                                                             need to be in a relationship to learn more about love 
                                                             Speaker: Nataxja Cini

 January 26, 2012                                 How to talk to your children  
                                                             Speaker:  Karen McRae


February 1, 2012                                   Coping with Depression  
                                                              Speaker: Arash Kameli 

Please call to reserve your spot, as seating is limited. 613 287-3799

In this day of instant messaging and texting we sometimes forget that " hearing your voice” can be more important than just our words.

In a new study led by Leslie Seltzer of the University of Wisconsin, girls who had heard mothers' words were consoled compared to girls who didn’t talk to their mothers at all and girls who only communicated through texting. Researchers looked at the girls’ cortisol and oxytocin levels before and after completing a math test. Cortisol levels are related to our stress levels. Oxytocin is associated with the ability to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships.

Girls who heard their mother's voice, either in person or on the phone, were consoled. Their oxytocin levels rose, (which means they felt connected to their mothers) and their cortisol levels dropped (which means they felt less stressed after the conversations.)

What does this all mean to kids, parents, and couples?  Texting is fine for everyday conversations such as “ supper at 6 pm or Do you anything from the grocery store?”  But maybe a personal phone call is in order for “ How was your test today?” or other potential emotional conversations.

What did we learn? 
Researchers believe we miss emotional cues when texting.   And not all conversations are best handled over texting. Person to person verbal conversation is the best to transmit and receive verbal emotional cues from each other and to emotionally connect with our loved ones. 


Enjoy the clip. Let me know what you think?

Family-Therapy will be at the Kanata Health and Wellness Fair this January 7th from 10 – 4pm.  The Kanata Health and Wellness Fair will be held at the Scotiabank Place.  Admission is free and the first 200 guests will receive a tote bag. We will be giving a 25 minute talk about Stress, Mindfulness and Your Well-Being at 1pm. Drop by our booth and say hi. Other exhibitors will be local spas, dental hygienist, chiropractor, and fitness trainers. Give us a call at 613- 287-3799 for more details or visit the Kanata Chambers of Commerce for more information. 

We look forward to seeing you this January 7th,

The Therapy Team at Family-Therapy

"Today I do mental housecleaning, making room for new positive thoughts"

As we start this New Year, 2012, we may be full of hope and optimism for the upcoming year. Many people see this time of the year as a chance for a new beginning or a renewal. I came across the above quote and thought it could be relevant to people looking to start anew. As the saying goes “In with the New Year and out with the old year”.

I thought while we transition into the New Year, why don’t we making room for new positive thoughts.  Out with negative self defeating thoughts and in with kinder, self loving thoughts. As you start this New Year, do some mental housecleaning; make room for new positive loving thoughts to carry you through the year. 

Enjoy this lovely video I saw on wimp.com called Happy New Year

Happy New Year from the Team at Family-Therapy

What do we do, that makes the significant people in our lives feel we value them? One way is to make them feel we value what they have to say.  Feeling heard helps people to feel that their emotions are valid. Learning to listen is a vital part of our relationships with others. Can you listen to your partner or children in a way that makes them feel heard and validated? 

Learning is a skill and it’s not an easy skill to learn.  Sometimes we carry on a conversation in our head or out loud while someone else is talking.  Our relationships, whether at home or at work depend upon us being good listeners.  And I’m not talking about just mindlessly nodding your head and saying hmmm ever so often.

Good listening involves focusing solely on the speaker. This means to put away all other distractions, your mobile or PDA, stop trying to cook dinner or shuffle your papers, or what other distraction there may be. Turn and look at the speaker –make eye contact. Become actively involved in listening.  Focus solely on listening.

By looking at the speaker maybe you can learn more about what they are saying.  What is the person not saying to you that you can pick up by their subtle body language? How are they holding themselves, what is the look on their face?

Next time you’re having a conversation with someone listen intently.  Don’t let your email or your cell phone interrupt the conversation. Look at them and see if you can make a better connection with hem as you give them all of your attention.  While you may not see the results immediately you may just be surprised on how this simple change can improve your relationships.

I am thrilled to report that Family-Therapy has been nominated as Kanata's 2011 People’s Choice for the Health & Wellness Business of the Year. How exciting! Here at Family-Therapy we work hard to provide quality counselling services to our clients.

As a therapist, I am passionate about providing compassionate counselling services to the residents of Kanata. I truly believe there is a need for all inclusive therapy and counselling services here in Kanata. Whether you are a child, teenager, young or mature adult single, couple or a family, there are times when we need a place to be heard, listened to, and understood. I believe that Family-Therapy can provide you with a safe environment to explore your inner world and achieve your dreams. I believe you can create the positive loving relationship you want with your partner, your family, your children, and with yourself.

What is more strengthening and healing than being understood and emotionally attached to my love? To pull away from each other can send the wrong message-- that your partner is unacceptable as he or she is or even I'm unacceptable the way I am.  When we withdraw for each other we only cause our partners and ourselves more pain. The distance from each other makes it more difficult to get the reassurance and comfort we need at this time.
It is understandable that we withdraw though. What did we learn in previous love relationships and from our childhood? What messages did you receive as a child about needing to be comforted? Were you told to “grow up” or that “only sissies cry”?
It takes courage and brave heart to be able to turn to our partners or those who have hurt us and express our pain and hurt. After all at this moment of vulnerability we don’t know if they will respond with words of kindness, compassion or understanding.

Compassion and attachment do not lead to going off “to get fixed”. Emotionally Focused Therapy is a way to guide couples and families to connect with their humanity. We all have deep longings, and needs. When we learn the dialogue and how to hear our partners talk about their pain we can listen to their pain without becoming defensive. We can learn to listen and learn something new about our partners and see them differently. Not as someone trying to hurt us but as someone who has their own pain and is trying to protect themselves from hurt by withdrawing.

Emotionally Focused Therapy can teach you how to “reach” for each other when you are in pain. You can heal your pain and connect deeper with others.