Counselling teens can be tricky business. The call is invariably from an exasperated parent who no longer can tolerate the behaviour of their son or daughter. The teen is presented as out of control. There may be concerns of drugs or alcohol; school performance; and/or the influence of the peer group. The teen may be described as depressed, anxious, angry or even suicidal. The parent wants the counselor to meet with their son or daughter. The subtext... > Full Story

My parents had a bad divorce when I was seven, and since then, my dad has not been there as a father should. Over the past month or two, I have really been struggling to keep going,...

Continue reading "I’m unhappy with everything in my life"

This is supposed to be a season of joy and happiness, but I don’t feel it. Is it common to get depressed over the holidays? What can I do about it? Many people suffer from...

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I’ve been dating my girlfriend for almost 10 months now.  We are thinking about getting married. What issues are important to discuss before marriage? I know we all tend to...

Continue reading "7 Discussions to Have Before You Get Married"

I am having trouble potty training my daughter. She was doing well until we moved back in March. I have tried stickers on a chart and toys when she goes but nothing seems to work...

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Where do I start? My husband drinks too much, becomes angry, verbally abusive, sometimes slightly physically abusive. He has been this way for the last year. The occurrences have...

Continue reading "When is enough enough?"

I am struggling with forgiveness. I know that forgiving someone who hurt me is part of my recovery process, but does forgiving someone mean that I need to be willing to treat that...

Continue reading "Does Forgiveness = No Consequences?"

As we look at relationships today we have to ask: what has gone wrong? From Columbine to child abuse to divorce, we watch as rage, betrayal, seduction and selfishness destroy lives...

Continue reading "Strategies for Successful Relationships: Overcoming an Enemy"

I am a 16 year old girl who just left a relationship with my boyfriend. I was in love with him and had been dating him for four months until we broke up. The break-up was caused...

Continue reading "My boyfriend cheated on me with my friend"

My boyfriend and I have been together for a year. We are 6 1/2 months pregnant and very much in love. Before we moved in together we had so much fun. We used to go out and do things,...

Continue reading "My boyfriend has lost interest in sex"