Understanding Anxious and Avoidant Attachment

It’s 8:37 PM. You sent a message. It shows “read.” No reply. Your mind starts sprinting: Did I say something wrong? Are they losing interest? Do I fix it now? Or imagine the opposite. Your phone buzzes three times in a row: “Can we talk now?” Your chest tightens. You care, but you need air. If you dive in right this second, you’ll say the wrong thing. You want a little space, but you worry that asking for it will make things worse. Those two moments neatly capture anxious and avoidant attachment. One leans in for closeness to feel safe. The other leans back for space to feel safe. Both are trying to protect the relationship in the only way their nervous system knows.

What “Attachment Style” Really Means

Attachment style is simply the way your body and brain try to keep love and connection safe. It’s not a life sentence, it’s a pattern. With practice, you can become steadier and more secure.

Secure: “We can be close and still be okay when there is space.”
Anxious: “If there’s distance, I feel unsafe. I reach for you.”
Avoidant: “If there’s too much intensity, I feel unsafe. I backed up.”

You can show different sides, with different people. That’s normal.

Spot the Anxious Patterns

When you feel anxious, silence feels loud. Your brain tries to close the gap quickly because distance feels like danger.

You might notice:

You refresh the chat and reread messages.
You imagine worst-case stories when replies are slow.
You try to fix a conflict immediately because waiting hurts.
You people-please to keep the vibe smooth.
You test without meaning to: a sharp tone, a “fine,” an extra text.

What helps most are steady signals, clear words, predictable follow-through, and a few tools to soothe yourself in the meantime.

Take the Free, 5-Minute Attachment Style Quiz on our website!

Spot the Avoidant Patterns

When you lean avoidant, intensity feels like losing your footing. Your brain says, “I’ll calm down first, then I can connect.”

You might notice:

You feel relief when you’re alone after emotional talks.
You keep feelings to yourself so you don’t get pulled into drama.
You downplay emotions to stay in control.
You feel criticized or crowded by repeated check-ins.
You end things when they get serious, then feel lonely later.

What helps most is bite-sized closeness, partners who respect space, and simple ways to express a need without feeling trapped.

How This Shows Up at Work and With Friends

It’s not just about romance.

Work: Anxious-leaning folks may seek frequent feedback and read tone into short emails. Avoidant-leaning folks may prefer deep-focus time and give brief updates.
Friends: Anxious-leaning folks plan and check in often. Avoidant-leaning folks sometimes cancel to recharge and prefer quieter hangouts.

Small agreements help everyone:

“I’ll reply within a day, even if it’s just ‘Got it, more soon.’”
“Please send a calendar invite and a one-line goal for meetings.”
“If I go quiet, it means I’m focused, not upset.”

Move Gently Toward Secure

You don’t need a personality transplant. You just need a few reps of new, safer experiences. Think “good enough,” not perfect.

Name your pattern out loud: “In conflict, I tend to chase,” or “I tend to shut down.”
Slow your body first: three slow breaths, a glass of water, a short walk.
Use clean “I” statements: “I get anxious when I don’t hear back. Can we set a time to talk?”
Make micro-agreements: What does “space” mean? How long? How do we reconnect?
Repair quickly: If it goes sideways, name it, apologize briefly, and reset a time.

If You Lean Anxious

Have a tiny grounding routine: four breaths, a 20-minute pause, a text to a friend, and a short walk.
Ask directly: “Two quick check-ins a day help me feel calm. Is that reasonable?”
Add structure to your life so your partner isn’t your only calming source.
Celebrate “good enough” responses instead of perfect ones.

If You Lean Avoidant

Share your plan before you need it: “If I get quiet, I’m recharging. I’ll message by 7 PM.”
Offer predictability: be on time, follow through, and say when you’ll be back.
Practice small disclosures: one feeling, one need, one story.
Stay five minutes longer than is comfortable during hard talks—then ask for a break.

Simple Scripts You Can Use Today

Anxious-leaning moments:

“When I don’t hear back, I start to spiral. Could you send a quick ‘busy, talk later’ text when you’re swamped?”
“I don’t need long messages. A short check-in helps me settle.”

Avoidant-leaning moments:

“I’m getting overwhelmed. I care about this and need 20 minutes to reset. I’ll text when I’m ready.”
“It helps me when you tell me exactly what you need up front.”

For both, a middle path:

“If I need space, I’ll say how long and when I’ll reconnect.”
“If I need reassurance, I’ll ask directly and accept a simple response.”

If There Is Deeper Hurt or Trauma

Attachment work can stir old pain. Go gently. A good therapist can be like a spotter at the gym.

Approaches that often help include:

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): builds safer bonding cycles.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): helps befriend protective parts.
PACT: works with nervous system cues in real time.
CBT/DBT Skills: calms spirals and helps navigate big feelings.

Needing support doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re brave enough to heal with help.

A Kinder Way to See Yourself

You didn’t choose your early wiring. You’re choosing what you practice now. Every time you say, “I need five minutes and I’ll be back,” or “I’m feeling anxious; can we set a time to talk?” you’re re-teaching your body that closeness can be safe and space can be safe.

That’s what secure feels like in real life, not perfection, just a sturdy bridge back to each other, again and again.

If tonight brings one of those 8:37 PM moments, try this:

Take three slow breaths.
Write the kinder alternative story.
Send one clean message: “Hey, I’m looking forward to talking. Are you free after 9, or should we pick a time tomorrow?”
Then do one small, nourishing thing for yourself while you wait.

That’s how change looks: small, human steps that build trust on both sides.

Ready to Heal the Roots of Your Pattern?

Schedule an Appointment

Oct 29Oct 29

What is the Difference between a Psychotherapist and a Psychologist

psychotherapist vs psychologist key difference

Lately, mental health awareness has empowered many people who need medical attention due to mental health issues to get it. While there has been some clarity among laymen about the difference between mental health issues and neurological health issues, there’s still some air yet to be clarified. For people who are not medical professionals, it’s normal to get fumbled between the terms psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists.

Mental health patients cope and deal with a ton of struggles in their day-to-day lives. Facing symptoms, and identifying their patterns, identifying how the medication is going to impact their life, and with that, they try to have a family life, career, and social life if the time and energy permit. This is a lot to handle. In that case, professionals who help them with their mental healthcare are nothing less than heroes for them. Psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists are a key part of one’s mental well-being journey.

There are very specific differences between these three roles. While all three, psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists have distinct responsibilities, they all contribute heavily to the well-being of everyone around them. The journey of the science of mental well-being has reached far largely because of them, in addition to noted professionals in the psychological and psychiatric fields. In this guide we will talk about the difference between a psychotherapist, vs psychologist, and vs psychiatrist.

Who Is a Psychotherapist?

A psychotherapist can wear multiple hats, including counsellors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and even psychologists who dedicate themselves to talk therapy only.

Their mission is to nurture transformation through conversation, healing not through prescriptions or pills, but through presence, empathy, and the subtle art of understanding human complexity.

To emphasize a dissimilarity further between psychotherapists and psychologists, psychotherapists cannot provide assessments related to IQ, ADHD or autism levels. Their manner of treatment is limited to talk therapies like CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic methods. Also, unlike psychologists, assessments and diagnostics are not psychotherapists’ job.

Psychotherapists can work in tandem with psychiatrists if the patient requires. Psychotherapists help patients open up about their worries, struggles, and emotional and mental wounds. Psychotherapists help you to gain the ability to relax despite the daily chaos. They also empower the patients to navigate their wellbeing journey with clarity and structured therapy plans.

Who Is a Psychologist?

A psychologist deals with multiple aspects of one’s mental health. They can carry out in-depth research and can also provide therapy. Psychologists can provide detailed assessments and diagnoses. Such assessments can include IQ tests and assessments of ADHD as it’s a spectrum. These skills help with autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, BPD, bipolar personality, OCD, and many other pressing mental health issues.

Psychologists can approach their career and drive to help people with their mental health and emotional state more proactively. With their richer and deeper insights and experience, they can conduct diagnostic evaluations and assessments, identifying mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, or more complex personality structures. With that, they can help people navigate through their personal struggles.

Education and Training: The Defining Divide

Here is where their professional roads part ways.

Psychotherapists are expected to hold a master’s degree in counselling, clinical psychology, or social work. It’s a path rich in experiential learning, deep listening, and interpersonal skill-building. Their craft is steeped in the human experience, nurturing insight, developing self-awareness, and enabling change through the therapeutic alliance.

A psychologist, however, cuts a longer and more enriched academic journey. Years of research-based work, data interpretation, reports, and supervised clinical practice refine their skillset and ability to help patients with complex history. This is what sets psychologists apart. Their doctoral training enables them to conduct formal assessments, publish research, and, depending on the region, prescribe limited medication. Psychologists are required to be licensed by authorities, too.

Both stand as guardians of mental health, yet their lenses differ. The psychotherapist walks beside you through your emotional wilderness; the psychologist studies the map from above, decoding the structure and logic that guide your steps.

How Their Roles Intersect

Despite these distinctions, their harmony lies in overlap. Both hold space for healing. Both invite transformation. Both believe in the mind’s ability to repair itself when given safety, understanding, and time.

In many cases, the psychologist is also the psychotherapist. The divergence rests in method, not intention. One may rely on heartfelt dialogue and relational depth, while the other blends that empathy with empirical clarity and structured assessment.

For those seeking help, the titles may blur, and perhaps, that’s the beauty of it. Healing is not found in credentials alone but in connection. What truly mends is not the method, but the meeting, the moment you feel seen, understood, and accompanied on the long road back to yourself.

Therapy should be regarded as an indispensable ally alongside medication, particularly when navigating mental health afflictions such as anxiety or depression.

If you or anyone seems troubled by emotional turbulence or mental exhaustion, reach out to your nearby mental healthcare provider. The first sign that tells you to see a therapist is when you think, “Should I see a psychologist or psychotherapist?” Our ensemble of seasoned, credentialed, and compassionate psychologists is devoted to crafting a judgment-free space.

Take the first step toward clarity and peace of mind.

Schedule Your Confidential First Session Now

FAQs

Can a Psychotherapist help me if I am diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder?

Surely. A psychotherapist helps you to gradually cope and step out of a series of symptoms. You will slowly see an improvement in how you respond to triggers.

How do I know whether a psychologist is a good fit for me?

Once you start the therapy, if, after a couple of sessions, you find them fruitful, it is likely that the said psychologist will be a great help to you. After 6 or 10 sessions, you will see noticeable improvement (depending on complexity).

How do I seek therapy from COHM?

Call us at (647) 779-9644 to know more and book a first consultation. Here, we can discuss your mental well-being goals and plan your treatment further.

Sep 23Sep 22

EMDR Therapy for PTSD: Benefits, Process, and Results

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects thousands of Canadians every year. From veterans and first responders to survivors of accidents, disasters, and abuse, PTSD can deeply disrupt daily life. While traditional talk therapy and medication are widely used, EMDR therapy has gained recognition as a powerful, evidence-based treatment option.

This guide explores EMDR therapy for PTSD, what it is, how it works, the benefits you can expect, and how to access it across the country.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the 1980s, EMDR helps people reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer trigger overwhelming emotional or physical responses.

The therapy uses bilateral stimulation, eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones, while recalling distressing experiences. This process allows the brain to “unstick” traumatic memories and refile them in a more adaptive way.

The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) recognizes EMDR as an effective treatment for PTSD. It’s also endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense.

PTSD in Mississauga: Why Treatment Matters

PTSD isn’t just about flashbacks—it can quietly affect sleep, concentration, relationships, and even physical health. That’s why early, evidence-based treatment is so important. According to Statistics Canada, 1 in 10 Canadians will experience PTSD in their lifetime. Some groups are at higher risk:

- Veterans and active-duty military personnel (Veterans Affairs Canada identifies PTSD as one of the most common service-related conditions).
- First responders, including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics.
- Indigenous communities, due to intergenerational trauma and systemic challenges.
- Survivors of accidents, abuse, or natural disasters.

Without treatment, PTSD can cause flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance behaviours, and emotional numbness, seriously affecting relationships, work, and overall health. In Mississauga, many registered psychotherapists and social workers at clinics such as COHM provide EMDR both in-person and online, making treatment accessible across Ontario.

How EMDR Therapy Works: The 8 Phases

EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which suggests that trauma can interrupt the brain’s natural processing ability. EMDR therapy reopens those pathways so memories can be integrated.

Phase	What Happens	Purpose
1. History & Planning	Therapist reviews trauma history and symptoms.	Identify targets for reprocessing.
2. Preparation	Education, coping skills, grounding exercises.	Ensure readiness and safety.
3. Assessment	Select specific memory, emotions, body sensations, and negative beliefs.	Define focus for treatment.
4. Desensitization	Bilateral stimulation while recalling trauma.	Reduce emotional distress.
5. Installation	Strengthen positive beliefs (e.g., “I am safe”).	Replace negative self-perceptions.
6. Body Scan	Notice lingering physical sensations.	Release trauma stored in the body.
7. Closure	End the session with calm and stability.	Protect clients between sessions.
8. Reevaluation	Review progress at next session.	Adjust plans if needed.

Typical session length: 60–90 minutes. Number of sessions: 3–6 for single-event trauma, 8–12+ for complex trauma.

Benefits of EMDR Therapy for PTSD

Research Evidence

- A 2018 meta-analysis found EMDR equally effective as trauma-focused CBT, with some studies showing faster results.
- The CPA acknowledges EMDR as an evidence-based treatment for trauma.
- Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) covers EMDR under mental health benefits for eligible veterans.
- Research shows 77–100% of single-event PTSD cases resolve after 6–12 EMDR sessions.

Accessing EMDR Therapy in Ontario

Who Can Provide EMDR Therapy?

In Mississauga, ON, Canada, EMDR is typically provided by:

- Registered Psychologists
- Registered Social Workers (RSWs)
- Registered Psychotherapists (RPs) (in provinces like Ontario)

Therapists should be trained and often certified through EMDR Canada, the national affiliate of EMDRIA.

Cost and Coverage

- Public healthcare (OHIP, MSP, RAMQ, etc.) generally does not cover EMDR.
- Extended health benefits often reimburse sessions with psychologists, social workers, or psychotherapists.
- Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) covers EMDR for eligible veterans.
- First responder programs in some provinces include EMDR as part of trauma support.
- Community clinics may offer sliding-scale or reduced rates.

Typical Timeline

Type of Trauma	Sessions Needed	Duration
Single-event trauma	3–6	A few weeks to 2 months
Complex trauma	8–12+	Several months
Recent trauma	Variable	Depends on case

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is EMDR available across Canada?
Yes, EMDR therapists practice in most provinces. EMDR Canada’s directory lists certified providers.

Q: Is EMDR covered by OHIP or MSP?
No, public health insurance does not typically cover psychotherapy. Extended health benefits may apply.

Q: Does EMDR work faster than talk therapy?
For many, yes. Some clients notice significant relief after just a few sessions.

Q: Is EMDR therapy safe?
Yes, when performed by a licensed professional. Some clients experience temporary discomfort as memories are processed.

Q: How do I find a therapist?
Check the EMDR Canada directory, or verify credentials with your provincial college (e.g., College of Psychologists of Ontario).

Final thought

EMDR therapy is a proven treatment for PTSD and trauma-related conditions, offering hope for Canadians struggling with the weight of past experiences. Though not covered by public health insurance, EMDR is accessible through private coverage, Veterans Affairs, first responder programs, and community clinics.

If you or someone you love is struggling with PTSD, COHM’s licensed therapists specialize in trauma-focused care, including EMDR therapy.

Book your consultation with COHM today and take the first step toward healing.

Healing from trauma is possible. If you or a loved one is struggling, our licensed EMDR therapists in Mississauga are here to help. Book your consultation with COHM today.

Sep 22Oct 3

Psychotherapy Coverage in Work Benefits Plans

psychotherapy coverage work benefits plans

Looking for Manulife direct billing psychotherapy? We’ve got you covered! At Centre of Healing Minds we offer direct billing with Major Insurance Providers in Ontario, Canada. Psychotherapy coverage in work benefits plans or health insurance plans often feels confusing or overwhelming. If you’re exploring therapy, you probably wonder:

- What’s covered?
- Do I have to pay up front, or is it a direct bill?
- How many sessions can I get?
- Who’s eligible?

Centre of Healing Minds (CoHM) dedicates itself to helping you obtain necessary care without financial uncertainty. This article will cover typical plan components together with unexpected factors and show you how to check your own coverage.

Understanding Psychotherapy Coverage: The Essentials

Want to know what standard work benefits plans usually cover for psychotherapy services? Here are the key pieces you need to check:

a. Coverage for Whom?

Most health insurance plans cover:

- Registered Psychotherapists
- Registered Social Workers
- Psychologists (PhD or PsyD)

Some plans only cover psychologists or set limits based on specific credentials.

Tip: When checking your insurance plan coverage, request information about therapist credentials by asking: “Does my insurance plan cover sessions with my registered psychologist or registered social worker?”

b. Per-Session Coverage

Plans typically cover:

- A fixed dollar amount per session (e.g., $80, $100, $120), or
- A percentage of the fee (say, 80% of the session cost).

If the session costs $150, and your plan covers 80%, you’d be reimbursed $120, provided you haven’t reached your limit.

c. Annual or Yearly Maximum

Most plans set a maximum amount per benefit year, which could be:

- $500/year
- $1,500/year
- $5,000/year

Some plans group psychotherapy with other mental health or paramedical services (like massage or physiotherapy), meaning that $1,500 may be a combined total.

d. Session Limits

Your plan might limit the number of sessions rather than, or in addition to, dollar amounts. E.g.:

- 10 sessions/year
- 20 sessions/year

It depends. Sometimes it’s both a dollar cap and a session count limit.

e. Reset Date

Check when your plan resets:

- Calendar year: Jan 1 to Dec 31, or
- Benefit anniversary: Your hire date or plan start date

Why it’s important: If you’re close to your reset date, you might split therapy across years or plan for the next cycle.

f. Dependents & Family Coverage

Does your plan include coverage for:

- Spouse?
- Children?
- Other dependents?

Some plans extend psychotherapy coverage to family, which is helpful if your partner or teen also needs support.

g. Reimbursement vs. Direct Billing

- Direct billing = therapist bills insurance directly.
- CoHM requires patients to pay directly before submitting their receipts to insurance providers for reimbursement purposes.

Verify whether your plan requires prepaid claims or upfront payments. Also, check the usual processing time for reimbursements; even top providers differ.

What’s Typically Not Included

It’s important to know what insurance typically excludes.

Common exclusions include:

1. OHIP coverage: Ontario Health Insurance Plans do not provide reimbursement for psychotherapy sessions conducted by social workers, psychologists, or psychotherapists in private practice settings.
2. Missed or late-cancelled sessions: Your insurance carrier refuses to pay benefits for sessions missed or sessions cancelled too late.
3. Non-covered therapists: Your insurance plan will deny reimbursement if your therapist lacks the required qualifications stated in your coverage details (example: unregistered counsellor).
4. Unapproved formats: Certain insurance plans restrict their coverage to face-to-face therapy sessions, although many providers started covering virtual and telephone sessions during COVID.
5. Treatment deemed “not medically necessary”: Some plans exclude treatment considered ‘not medically necessary.’ However, many psychotherapy benefits still maintain fairly broad coverage.

How to Find Out What Your Plan Covers

Here’s your step-by-step, friendly how-to:

Step 1: Log in to Your Insurance Portal

Look under categories like:

- Mental health
- Paramedical services
- Psychological or Psychotherapist coverage

You’ll find:

- Reimbursement amount per session
- Annual limits
- Remaining balance (if applicable)
- What therapists are eligible

Step 2: Call Your Insurance Company

Ask them directly:

- Do I have coverage for psychotherapy?
- Which therapist types are included?
- What is my per-session reimbursement and yearly maximum?
- When does my yearly limit reset?
- Can I submit claims easily online or via app?

Step 3: Ask HR / Benefits Administrator

If your insurance is through work, your HR or benefits team may provide:

- A benefits summary
- A document listing eligible providers
- Contact details for further clarification

What to Do If You Don’t Have Enough Coverage

Even if your plan falls short, you still have options:

1. Sliding Scale: CoHM and other clinics sometimes offer discounted rates based on income; ask us.
2. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Numerous employers include EAPs that let employees access several free counselling sessions each year.
3. Community Resources: Non-profit organizations and community health centres might deliver therapeutic services at reduced prices or without charge.
4. Bundled or Group Therapy: Group therapy sessions generally make individual costs lower for participants.
5. Shorter Session Options: Check with your therapist about the possibility of alternating between brief check-in sessions.

The Must-Checks

Here’s your quick checklist:

Item	What You Should Do
Therapist’s Title	Confirm your plan covers RPs, RSWs, or Psychologists
Per-Session Reimbursement	Find out if it’s a fixed amount or a percentage
Annual Max	Know the dollar cap or session count
Reset Date	Understand if it resets Jan 1 or on your enrolment anniversary
Dependents	See who is covered (you, spouse, kids)
Direct Billing	Remember: CoHM does not direct bill, get receipts for reimbursement
Make Contact	Log in, call the insurer, check with HR, or reach out to us if needed

What CoHM Offers?

Before diving into general coverage, here’s what CoHM does so you know what is on the table for therapy with us:

- Our psychotherapy clinic operates through two locations in Mississauga (1) Sussex Centre, 90 Burnhamthorpe Rd, and (2) 2233 Argentia Rd, which provide both face-to-face and virtual therapy sessions.
- Each member of our therapeutic team maintains their registration with CRPO and has obtained at least a master’s degree or equivalent.
- Services are covered by most insurance plans that include coverage for registered psychotherapists, social workers, and registered psychologists.
- COHM does offer direct billing with Major Insurance Providers. That means you pay at the time of the session (by credit card, debit card, or e-transfer), then submit your itemized receipt for reimbursement.
- Our session fee starts from $155 per individual session, though sliding scale options may be available if you qualify.

Bottom line so far: CoHM is set up for people who will pay upfront and later seek reimbursement from their insurance. We do our part by giving you proper receipts to submit.

Below are some of the Major insurance providers CoHM offers direct billing.

- Manulife direct billing psychotherapy
- Sun Life direct billing psychotherapy
- Canada Life direct billing psychotherapy
- Green Shield direct billing psychotherapy
- Desjardins direct billing psychotherapy
- Blue Cross direct billing psychotherapy
- Empire Life direct billing psychotherapy
- Equitable Life direct billing psychotherapy
- Industrial Alliance (iA Financial) direct billing psychotherapy

Final Thoughts

At CoHM, our mission is to help you heal, not stress over whether you can afford the support you need. We provide receipts for insurance, and we’re transparent about fees. We do our part to make psychotherapy approachable.

But the last bit is up to your insurance plan. So please, take five minutes today to check what’s covered under your work benefits plan:

- Log in to your account.
- Make the call.
- Ask what’s covered, how much per session, the annual cap, and when it resets.

Because ultimately, knowing your psychotherapy coverage can empower you to take care of your mind, sustainably and confidently.

Aug 28Aug 28

How Solution-Focused Therapy Can Help You Thrive

Be it a potential job change, the onset of a new relationship, or a relocation, some of us’ brains are kind of wired to switch on the stress button. This fight or flight mode is likely to take place every time a challenge arises in life. Even when there is no real ‘challenge,’ but a change of mind can make you stay in the spiral of worry. In this situation, it’s natural to feel stuck.

How Solution-Focused Therapy Can Help You Overcome Life’s Challenges Faster

Mental health therapists help you navigate through tough times while maintaining a certain level of inner peace and sense of contentment. This level of comfort with life does not come overnight and takes effort and insight. Therapy done with a consistent and involved approach brings desirable results.

While most therapies never undermine the importance of experiences and the impact of the past, Solution-focused therapy does not dwell upon past events as much. SFT is not much recommended for Chronic issues or deep-rooted patterns, addiction, or PTSD; however, it helps a ton with ongoing or potential challenges of life. Instead of panic, there can be progress.

What is Solution-Focused Therapy?

It’s more of a brief therapy. It is a future-oriented, goal-directed therapy method. This approach shifts the spotlight toward solutions. It’s about identifying what works, setting realistic goals, and helping you regain a sense of control faster.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), often simply called Solution-focused Therapy (SFT) stands on three strong pillars: Your strengths and resources, your desired future, and small, practical steps that you can take.

How Does Solution-Focused Therapy Work?

The therapy focuses on the strengths and goals of the patient. During the entire process, and especially while drawing the therapy plan, the therapist will collaboratively structure the path with you. This will give you clarity and confidence.

1. The Miracle Question

The question therapists often ask during SFBT is, “Suppose tonight, while you sleep, a miracle happens and the problem you’re facing is completely resolved. When you wake up, what would be the first small sign that tells you things have changed?”

This helps you imagine your life, plans, and goals as if no obstacles stood in your way. It allows your mind to approach the present moment with a more positive attitude.

2. Scaling Questions

Here, the therapist asks the patient to rate their current life situation on a scale of 1 to 10, indicating how good or bad it is. The method enables the client/patient to pursue his/her current scenario from a bit objective viewpoint.

Often, we cannot see our own situation from a third-person viewpoint, which is natural, as our emotions and opinions are directly attached to it. Being able to see a circumstance from someone else’s perspective makes you feel less hurt about it.

3. Exception Seeking

The moments when the patient’s issues or problems were negligible or absent are called exceptions. The patients are asked to ponder upon those ‘exception moments.’

From here, the therapist helps you recognize times when you managed to handle the situation better or experienced relief, even if temporary. This approach highlights your existing strengths, resources, and coping mechanisms.

Instead of starting from scratch, the therapist and you collaboratively build on what has already worked well. This not only fosters hope but also empowers you to apply these successful strategies more intentionally in your daily life, promoting progress toward your goals.

4. Small Steps Approach

You achieve any change or accomplishment through multiple layers of baby steps. Gradual progress ushers you to stronger wins and lasting transformations. You step by step develop healthy habits, start working towards addressing the issues, and ultimately reach your goal.

Encourages Hope

By focusing on what’s possible rather than what’s broken, SFBT naturally creates optimism and motivation.

Seeking therapy and reaching out to professionals is rather a strength, especially if you are overcoming a mental or emotional challenge. One doesn’t have to be diagnosed with a disorder to avail therapy. At the Centre of Healing Minds, you will find skilled mental health therapists all set to help you out throughout your journey.

With Solution-Focused therapy for anxiety in Ontario, you can healthy your lifestyle, address any problematic patterns in your social, professional, or personal life while maintaining your sense of calm.

Closing thought

The major benefit of the SFBT therapy method is that it works for anyone seeking to overcome life challenges, including health issues, family conflicts, and career navigation.

Jul 28Jul 28

Active Listening Skills For Better Communication

Ever had those conversations with a friend or colleague where you’re talking, and even in the middle of the topic, your friend starts scrolling through their phone or, even worse, cuts you off to start a new conversation? It’s frustrating because it shows a lack of active listening, and the kind of focused attention that makes you feel heard and respected. Pretty irritating habit, right?

What is Active Listening?

Active listening is an art one must possess, especially if the topic is sensitive, or the friend or colleague is a close one, or if someone needs help or advice.

Listening isn’t always easy; when you yourself are going through any stressful period or have been unwell, mentally or physically, it’s not quite possible to pay full attention to anybody else. An individual who is comfortable and calm can be an active listener in that moment.

Finding a good listener can be revitalizing for someone who is struggling in any aspect of his or her life. To be able to express without a fear of judgement, or to be able to vent in front of a trusted friend, sibling, or colleague, can let the pressure out for the moment.

In which therapeutic modalities is active listening most commonly applied?

Active listening is a core communication skill used across many forms of psychotherapy, but it is most strongly emphasized in Person-Centered Therapy (also known as Rogerian Therapy), developed by Carl Rogers. In this approach, therapists use active listening to demonstrate empathy, create a non-judgmental environment, and help clients feel genuinely heard and understood.

Active listening also plays a key role in:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Therapists use it to accurately identify thought patterns and emotional triggers.
Motivational Interviewing (MI): Reflective listening, a form of active listening, is essential to guide clients toward change.
Couples and Family Therapy: Often used to teach partners and families how to listen without interrupting or reacting defensively.

While not a standalone therapy, active listening is a foundational technique that enhances the effectiveness of almost every therapeutic relationship by fostering trust, emotional safety, and meaningful dialogue.

What are 5 active listening techniques?

Here are a handful of ways you can work on your listening skills.

1. Focusing on the speaker’s intent:

First and foremost, it is advisable to have clarity on the speaker’s intent. There are times when an individual wants to know what you have to say on a particular subject.

The other times, one is going through some problem and would be able to use your help. And then there is this very common instance, where a person, your friend, the speaker, just wants to express what he or she wants to.

Be it frustration, any event, or even something positive. In the last case, you, as a listener, don’t have to share your insight unless very specifically asked.

2. Paying attention:

While the speaker is narrating an experience, an event, or feelings, look towards them and not at anyone else, definitely not at the phone.

Meanwhile, pay attention to what they are saying, noting the details in mind. Listening actively takes empathy and a certain level of interest in one’s life.

3. Showing that you’re listening:

Signs of active listening and communication don’t have to be verbal. In fact, constant verbal inputs can derail the original conversation.

Nodding when appropriate, maintaining eye contact, and responding in a way that enables the speaker to speak freely while ushering the conversation in a progressive manner is an impeccable skill.

Nodding, smiling (when appropriate), and reacting to what’s said make a big difference, but your responses should be real. Pretending to listen or nodding ‘calculatively’ won’t help at all.

Here, the body language of both of you speaks a lot. As a listener, you can choose to keep a body language that is more open. Instead of crossed arms and a leaned-back posture, you might want to keep a bit more softer stance. It is advisable to orient your body towards the speaker (if culturally appropriate).

4. Providing Feedback:

Once you see fit, and while keeping the intent of the speaker in mind, you can give your insight to help him or her out. However, your listening should not revolve around your impulse to respond or react. After listening, reflect on your thoughts and then give your feedback.

5. Avoid Interrupting:

As mentioned above, don’t listen with the intent of reacting. Let the speaker finish the thought. Interrupting and not letting the other person speak is poor manners and poor communication skills, too.

The benefits of active listening are endless. You get to have improved communication, stronger relationships, enhanced problem-solving, and increased learning opportunities.

Active listening skills aren’t just a communication skill; they’re a form of care, empathy, as well as connection. If the conversation is about supporting a loved one through a difficult time, engaging in therapy, or trying to strengthen your personal or professional relationships, the way you listen can transform the way others feel seen and heard.

How to Improve Active Listening

Improving active listening starts with being fully present in the moment. Put away distractions like phones or laptops, maintain eye contact, and focus on what the speaker is saying—both verbally and nonverbally.

Avoid the urge to interrupt or plan your response while the other person is still talking. Instead, show you’re engaged by nodding, using affirming cues like “I see” or “That makes sense,” and responding with empathy.

To take it further, practice reflective listening, summarize or paraphrase what the speaker said to confirm understanding. Ask open-ended questions that invite deeper sharing, and be mindful of your body language.

Improving active listening isn’t just about hearing words, it’s about creating a space where others feel genuinely heard, respected, and understood. Over time, this skill can significantly strengthen your personal and professional relationships.

Closing thought

At CoHM, we believe that listening is often the first step toward healing. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or trying to be there for someone else, remember that meaningful change often begins with a compassionate ear and an open heart. If you’re ready to improve your emotional well-being or need someone to truly listen, our professionals are here for you.

Active listening skills help a wide array of people, including students and professionals, to those who are to have a fulfilling personal life.

Jul 24Jul 28

How ACT Therapy Helps You Move Forward

ACT Therapy - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

If you’ve been battling mood disorders, PTSD, or any agonizing mental health condition, chances are you’ve already explored therapy options beyond medication. In fact, combining therapy with medication is often a much healthier and more sustainable approach than relying solely on tranquilizers. While medication can help manage day-to-day symptoms and regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin, it doesn’t address the root cause. That’s where evidence-based therapies come in, like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT Therapy in short.

Feeling Stuck in Your Thoughts? Learn How ACT Therapy Helps You Move Forward

ACT helps you learn to accept difficult emotions rather than avoid them and commit to actions that align with your values. It’s not about “fixing” you, but helping you live meaningfully with what you’re feeling. This type of therapy, along with others like CBT or EMDR, supports deeper healing over time.

Of course, finding the right therapist near you is a journey in itself. It takes time to connect with someone who feels trustworthy, especially when you’re in a vulnerable state. But that connection is key, because real progress begins when you feel seen, heard, and safe.

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Therapy?

ACT Therapy, which stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is an evidence-backed and gradual way to provide support for people who are struggling with their mental well-being and emotions. The therapy emphasizes mindfulness, behavioral science, and self-compassion. Oftentimes, we expect too much from ourselves and manage to have an empathetic approach for everyone but ourselves. This is where self-compassion steps up.

What Does the ACT Therapy Method Help With?

The ACT therapy method can be very helpful for a specific set of mental conditions. Gradually, the therapy can help you cope with difficult situations and thoughts. Know the benefits of ACT therapy near me, the therapy helps you build resilience against your own challenging thoughts.

ACT helps with

- Anxiety
- Depression
- OCD
- Chronic pain
- PTSD
- Addiction

How does ACT work?

Slow and steady actually wins the race here. With the help of ACT therapy techniques, it works towards providing you with relief and relaxation. The method works on 6 principles, including

1. Acceptance
2. Cognitive Defusion
3. Contact with the Present Moment
4. Self-as-Context
5. Values
6. Committed Action.

Once patients learn and successfully practice relaxation techniques like the 4-7-8 breathing method, therapists guide them to simply let their thoughts be there at first. Accepting the thought while not letting it affect you gravely is the foundational step here.

- As part of Cognitive defusion and present-moment awareness, patients are supposed to observe their thoughts, especially the challenging ones to recognize them just as thoughts or feelings and understand that thoughts and feelings are not always reality.
- Despite the emotional discomfort due to the negative thoughts, one is supposed to acknowledge that their reality is not those difficult thoughts or bad feelings. Find yourself and nurture your sense of identity that is apart from the disorder.
- Reengage with life, for which you need to identify what you want from life; what type of experiences you want to have and chase them, and avoid getting into the loops of intrusive thoughts.

With that, a mental health patient might need to work on some of the self-imposed limitations. One needs to detach from beliefs like “I can’t do anything anymore.”

Reconnect with activities and roles that give life meaning, such as having a career choice that suits your liking and skills; engaging in at least one relaxing art form, and having a fulfilling social/family life.

Research shows that as clients become more psychologically flexible, their symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other disorders often decrease as a natural byproduct of re-engaging with life.

Show ACT as a flexible, modern approach to many mental health issues

ACT’s focus on psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and values-driven action makes it suitable for both acute and chronic issues, as well as for people seeking personal growth or improved resilience.

Basically, ACT therapy for anxiety doesn’t change or control any of the symptoms. It teaches patients to manage those symptoms while navigating their lives as desirably as possible, which is the core strength here.

For mental disorders, talk therapy like ACT for depression supports healing best when combined with primary treatment, usually medication.

Here, ‘accepting’ your symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that you are giving up against the symptoms and the disorder. It means that you can lead a healthy life despite their somewhat existence. At ACT Therapy Services Mississauga, clients explore inner experiences with kindness and curiosity instead of judgment or avoidance.

For example, there is an OCD patient who is struggling with a consistent fear of contamination, frequent handwashing, and an extreme cleaning habit. The patient learns to view thoughts as harmless mental events, not urgent commands requiring immediate or intense action.

If you seek therapy that embraces human struggle and growth, ACT offers acceptance, values-based direction, and meaningful change.

Jun 12Jul 8

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

Experiencing distance in your marriage? Centre of Healing Minds offers expert therapeutic interventions to reignite warmth and foster a deeply connected, emotionally healthy bond with your spouse.

Our team of registered psychotherapists possesses extensive experience in couples therapy Mississauga and specialized training in the Gottman Method. Our empathetic therapists provide a safe and supportive space where you and your partner can effectively communicate, feel understood, and collaboratively resolve conflicts. Access our services conveniently with in-person sessions in Mississauga locations, and secure virtual sessions across Ontario.

What is Gottman Method

The Gottman Method is a proven approach to deepen affection and cultivate mutual respect within your relationship. CoHM couples therapist, specifically trained in this method, skillfully guide you and your partner to uncover and understand each other’s emotional and intellectual landscapes. Through this journey, you’ll gain valuable insights into your partner’s inner world, fostering greater empathy and connection.

A large number of romantic relationships run into rough patches, some of those hard times can cause further disturbance, and it’s advisable to approach early therapeutic intervention. This keeps the relationship healthy. Apart from that, for long-term longevity of the relationship, you will also learn to de-escalate after a conflict, which is very important. Here, find couples therapy near you.

Find Relationship Support Now – Book Your Appointment

What is the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy?

One of the most research-based and widely respected methods in relationship counselling is the Gottman Method Couples Therapy, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. The method, built upon their Sound Relationship House theory, has been proven successful over the last 40 years. This comprehensive approach not only focuses on addressing immediate issues but also on building a stronger foundation for long-term connection and resilience.

The therapy method has a very detailed structure that can address a wide range of issues that couples might face. The aim of this method is to improve communication within the couple while also exploring the fondness they have for each other.

Share Love Maps

This foundational principle, residing at the base of the Sound Relationship House, is about how much you know about your partner, including their likes, dislikes, stressors, joys, and history.

Nurture Your Fondness & Admiration

A great relationship depends on a strong friendship, a key level in the Sound Relationship House. This involves showing that you care about the other person and actively focusing on and acknowledging their positive qualities and actions.

Turn Towards Each Other Instead of Away

Even with small gestures, showing care, connection, and affection to each other is how you turn towards each other, building the ‘Turning Towards’ level. In busy professional life, or after a conflict, it’s tough to find that softness again. However, by small everyday moments where you ask about your partner’s day or offer support, you can seize the day and strengthen your bond.

Solve Your Solvable Problems

There are two types of problems in a relationship: solvable and perpetual. The Gottman Method equips couples to effectively address solvable issues – those that don’t have underlying, deep-seated conflict. The ideal is to identify and work through these problems with understanding and compromise, aligning with the ‘Managing Conflict’ level of the Sound Relationship House.

The Four Horsemen

The 4 elements are significant predictors of relationship distress, called The “Four Horsemen“: 1) criticism, 2) defensiveness, 3) contempt, and 4) stonewalling. Avoiding these negative interaction patterns is crucial for fostering a positive perspective within the Sound Relationship House. A lasting relationship thrives on mutual respect, open communication, and fondness for each other.

Create Shared Meaning

Having a shared purpose and understanding of your life together helps strengthen the family, residing at the top of the Sound Relationship House. It’s crucial to build your day-to-day life around shared values, rituals, and goals that are meaningful for both of you.

Strengthen Your Bond with the Gottman Method: Book Now

What issues can be addressed through the Gottman Method?

Couples who have gone through or are facing these issues can seek help to regain the same strength of relationship that they crave. Our skilled therapists in Gottman therapy can help with:

Communication Gaps or Barriers
Trust Issues
Conflict Resolution
Emotional or Physical Distance
Resentment and Anger
Infidelity

Who can benefit from Gottman Therapy?

Gottman Therapy is suitable for multiple kinds of couples, including:

Married or unmarried couples
LGBTQ+ couples
Couples recovering from infidelity or major trust issues
Partners navigating life transitions (parenthood, relocation, retirement)
Couples who want to enhance a good relationship and make it even better

Take Advantage of Our Introductory Assessment: Book Now

Our Therapist

Gottman Couples Therapy Sessions

Our therapy for couples include in-person (Oakville) and virtual throughout Ontario with experienced therapists. These sessions focus on improving and increasing communication, resolving conflict, and deepening emotional intimacy while de-escalating the negative responses.

Comprehensive Relationship Assessment

We start with a detailed relationship assessment, including joint and individual interviews, along with Gottman’s standardized assessment tools. This helps us draft the therapy experience to your unique dynamics.

Conflict Management Coaching

We guide couples through the process of managing conflict constructively using Gottman’s research-based tools. Learn how to de-escalate arguments, and listen actively without judging.

Building Emotional Connection

Through structured exercises, we help you rejuvenate your emotional bond, rebuild trust, and strengthen your “Love Maps,” a key Gottman concept for understanding your partner on a deeper level.

Trust and Intimacy Repair

Whether you’re healing from betrayal or emotional distance, we offer support to help restore trust, rebuild safety, and revive physical and emotional closeness in your relationship.

Customized Home Practices

We provide personalized take-home tools and exercises designed to reinforce session work and help you practice effective communication and connection in everyday life.

Pre-Marital & Relationship Enrichment Packages

For couples preparing for marriage or looking to enhance an already strong relationship, we offer structured packages that strengthen your foundation and future-proof your bond.

Convenient Couples Therapy: Schedule In-Person or Virtual

How does it work?

We begin with joint and individual assessments to identify relationship challenges and understand your current level of connection. This initial phase also involves a research-backed online questionnaire, providing valuable insights into your unique relationship dynamics.

Throughout our sessions, we prioritize strengthening your emotional connection and intimacy while guiding you to navigate conflict constructively. We regularly assess the impact of therapy on both your relationship and individual well-being.

Our ultimate goal is to foster a deeper bond and equip you with the skills to maintain a positive and healthy relationship long-term, while also supporting your individual mental health.

Call us today 647-779-9644 or book 10 min free consultation. We offer in-person (couples therapy in Mississauga), and online counselling services throughout Ontario.

Jun 11Jun 10

From Tantrums to Triggers: What Your Child Behavior is Saying

There is no particular definition of child tantrums, but you must have witnessed those sudden outbursts of anger with screams from a toddler because you denied him an ice-cream or any other less healthy and sugary treat. This sharp reaction is not entirely because of the lack of ice cream.

There is a more complex understanding of your child tantrums and what triggers them. The best way to address them and witness them becoming less and less frequent is to understand them and to use practical strategies for supportive, responsive parenting.

Tantrums in children’s psychology

In young children in the age group of 2 to 4 years, it’s very common to see tantrums. Tantrums take place when emotions become overwhelming and difficult to express. They may involve crying, screaming, and even kicking.

In children who are highly sensitive or neurodivergent, you might also notice a different set of behavioral traits that may seem more like meltdowns. Meltdowns take place due to overstimulation or sensory overload. Being able to analyse and understand child behavior will help in such a case. Even as adults, sensory overload can feel frustrating. In contrast, kids often struggle to recognize that they feel frustrated and need to slow down and rest, which can result in a meltdown or exhaustion.

Possible triggers for a tantrum

Changes in Routine
Moving homes
Traveling
Chaos
Presence of a new person/entity
Feeling frustrated and a Lack of Control after not getting what they want
Physical discomfort, such as being very tired or hungry
Overstimulation

How to Respond to Child Tantrums and Triggers

Make sure you provide a safe space, as a parent for your child to express himself. Additionally, observe what happened around the child exactly before the tantrum began. Replay the whole day in your mind on which day the big meltdown or tantrums occurred. Usually, a chaotic home or a day filled with uncertainty can trigger such an outburst.

Try to never ‘react’ to a tantrum; don’t shout back, or even shut down the tantrum with any strong sense of authority or anger.

Stay Calm and Present

Maintain your calm and steady temperament throughout the emotional outbursts in kids. The tantrum may seem far away from logical behavior to you; however, it is best to wait till the storm passes.

If you give in to the tantrum, that would be rather an encouragement to future tantrums, the kid will understand that a tantrum is a way to get things done or communicate. Actually, our goal is to let the kid ‘unlearn’ the tantrum behavior to find a solution or an outlet.

Validate Feelings – but Set Boundaries

Let your child know their feelings of frustration are valid and provide reassurance too. However, at the same time, let the child know what behavior is acceptable and what is not in a firm way, yet without any traces of anger.

You can communicate that hitting someone or threatening them is harmful and unsafe, and is not okay. Let the child know that there are always consequences to such actions in a gentle manner.

Teach Self-Soothing Skills

Teaching kids self-soothing tricks such as breathing exercises, counting to ten slowly, or using a favorite comfort toy can really help. Try giving them a stress ball to squeeze when things get tough.

The key is to practice these skills when they’re calm, so they’re ready to use them when emotions run high. If you think your child is having a higher amount of anger than normal, address the issue by getting your child anger management therapy.

It is crucial to watch your or your partner’s behavior in front of the kids. Kids are good at picking up on others’ habits or behavioral patterns. Learn to regulate your emotions and maintain a healthy and calm home for your child. Here, open communication and broadening perspective will help. While parenting, take care of your mental well-being and get proper sleep to be able to function well.

Get help from professional

In case of more frequent or intense emotional outbursts in kids, therapy can come across as a perfect solution for the child and parents. An experienced child psychologist near you can help you navigate the delicate situation without escalation; with that, you will be able to maintain a healthy household for your child. We are a team of child behavior therapists in Mississauga.

Parenting a child who experiences frequent tantrums or emotional outbursts can be exhausting, and sometimes, it can leave you questioning your own parenting capacity. Ensure you and the rest of the support system recognise that a tantrum by your child doesn’t show that you are practicing wrong parenting or that the child is being difficult.

Understanding your child’s ‘inner world’ will help you help them regulate their emotions. Therapy is helpful for children who struggle with intense emotions, as well as for parents who need support and better insight. A child therapist provides children with tools to express themselves, cope with stress, and build resilience. For families, therapy offers strategies to create a more harmonious home environment and strengthen the parent-child bond.

Resources

Children’s Anger and Tantrums – 10.248

https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/lancasterextension/18749/101287

Jun 10Jun 10

Understanding Highly Sensitive Children in Therapy

High sensitivity in children can appear as frequent meltdowns or tantrums. As parents, you can’t, and shouldn’t, alter the level of sensitivity of the child, however, you can support them and enable them to deal with their emotions, learn coping techniques, and grounding techniques. In this guide we will discuss about highly sensitive children and its therapy.

Is Your Child Overwhelmed Easily? Understanding the Signs of High Sensitive Childrens

Some children may show quick and more intense reactions to situations, and can get easily stimulated by loud noises and strong lights too. They may find transitions in life steeper than other kids.

These are not necessarily drawbacks; highly sensitive kids feel emotions more deeply, express deeply, and can show a higher amount of empathy. Children with a high level of sensitivity have their own set of challenges and gifts. The high sensitivity in them is due to a more sensitive, more activated nervous system.

Help Your Child Thrive — Not Just Cope

Children’s mental health is a sensitive subject; however, with licensed therapists, proper support, and awareness, one can treat the child with care. At Centre of Healing Minds, we provide specially crafted psychological help for kids in Mississauga. Our efficient team includes experienced child therapists in Mississauga.

Why Empathy and Understanding Are the First Steps to Healing

As these children feel every sensation and social interaction more intensely, they get burnout or brain fatigue easily, too. In order to help the highly sensitive children, the parents, their therapist, and teachers should understand how their mind works and how their inner world works. Children with high sensitivity can sense even the subtle change in one’s behavior, overall environment, and ethos.

Common Challenges for Highly Sensitive Children

Overstimulation and Emotional Overload: HSCs can quickly become overwhelmed by busy classrooms, loud gatherings, or too much sensory input. This can lead to meltdowns, withdrawal, or anxiety.

Difficulty with Transitions: Changes in routine or unexpected events can be especially challenging, causing distress or resistance.
Social Struggles: Sensitive children may be more prone to feeling misunderstood or left out, and they may be more susceptible to bullying or peer pressure.
Internalized Stress: Because they process deeply, HSCs may internalize stress, leading to physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches, or emotional symptoms such as worry or sadness.

Tips and Solutions for Supporting Highly Sensitive Children

Validate Feelings and Experiences: Allowing them to discern any of their sharp reactions will actually make them hide their feelings and eventually flatten their authenticity. Allowing a safe space where your child can express him or herself is essential in this case. Encouraging them to share their experience and opinions will give them an outlet, and thus, they won’t bottle up their emotions.
Teaching Emotional Regulation: Slow and deep breathing techniques, grounding techniques, and learning to slow down a bit will pace their nervous system and relax them. These solutions can be utilized through and with therapy. Breath-work includes the 4-7-8 method, where the sensitive child is supposed to inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and exhale slowly for 8 seconds. This calms the mind and improves sleep quality, too.

Apart from that, the grounding technique also helps where the child needs to identify 5 things one can see, 4 things one can touch, 3 things one can hear, 2 things one can smell, and 1 thing one can taste. This helps them regulate stress, too.

Art Therapies

Creative art therapies like engaging with forms of music, painting, and sketching are a great form of expression. It allows kids to widen their talent span while it lets them process complex emotions.

Schedule Downtime

A busy day filled with socialization followed by a thorough screen time is something completely avoidable, in the case of highly sensitive kids. To maintain their health and sleep cycle, make sure the child has regular opportunities to rest and recharge in a quiet, calming environment with ample amount of sleep and natural tranquility.

Here, overstimulation is absolutely harmful. Minimize exposure to loud, chaotic, or highly stimulating environments when possible.

Open Communication

As parents, make sure your kids get a wholesome, welcoming, and safe environment at home and school as well. Let the child feel that their emotions and expression of the same are heard well and are never judged.

Consider Therapy

Therapy provides a safe space for sensitive children to explore their feelings, develop coping skills, and build resilience. From breathing exercises to developing healthy coping methods, therapy can help build confidence and manage day-to-day life.

Getting help from a therapist who understands HSP children will ease the lives of the child and parents. Contact CoHM to get the best help for child mental health support in Mississauga.

Highly sensitive children are likely to be gifted with empathy, creativity, and a keen awareness of the world around them. With understanding, validation, and targeted therapeutic support, these children can learn to navigate their sensitivities.

Resources:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324417
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/zero-to-six/202202/10-traits-of-highly-sensitive-children