What Is Relationship Trauma? Relationship trauma refers to painful experiences with important people in your life—where you felt hurt, betrayed, abandoned, neglected, or unsafe. These relationships are often with key figures such as parents, partners, close friends, or caregivers—people you relied on for connection, safety, and emotional support. When these bonds are disrupted or harmful, the impact can shape how you see yourself, others, and relationships moving forward. Thi

If you’re feeling exhausted before your workday even begins, dreading emails, or finding it hard to “turn off” your mind at night, you’re not alone. Many Albertans are quietly struggling with workplace burnout, often pushing through without fully understanding why it’s happening or how to recover in a lasting way. Burnout is not simply about being tired or needing a vacation. It is a complex emotional, psychological and physiological experience that develops over time when ou

Written by Shezlina Haji , Registered Psychologist in Calgary, AB As a couples therapist in Calgary, I’ve noticed a significant shift in the kinds of challenges young couples are bringing into therapy. While relationship stress has always existed, the  context  in which it shows up is changing, largely shaped by the rising cost of living, financial stress, high inflation and broader economic uncertainty. More and more, couples aren’t coming in because of a lack of love or com

Three-Part Series: Part 3: Coping Strategies for Anxiety - Practical Ways to Calm Your Mind Anxiety can feel overwhelming, especially when it begins to affect your daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. Many people experience anxiety as racing thoughts, physical symptoms such as a pounding heart or shortness of breath, or a persistent sense of worry that is difficult to turn off. In the first article in this series, What Is Anxiety and Why Do We Feel It , we explo

Three-Part Series: Part 2: How Therapy Helps With Anxiety Anxiety can feel overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting. Many people who experience anxiety find themselves caught in cycles of persistent worry, intense physical symptoms, or fear about situations that once felt manageable. If you live with symptoms of anxiety, you may already know how much it can affect your daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. In the first article in this series, What Is Anxiety and W

Three-Part Series: Part 1: What Is Anxiety? Understanding the Symptoms, Causes, and Why We Feel Anxious Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns people experience. Many individuals struggle with racing thoughts, persistent worry, or uncomfortable physical sensations that seem to appear suddenly. If you have ever wondered why do I feel anxious , you are not alone. Experiencing anxiety is a very human response that affects people across cultures, ages, and life

Written by Shezlina Haji , Registered Psychologist in Calgary, AB If you’re experiencing challenges in your relationship, such as ongoing arguments, emotional distance , or difficulty rebuilding trust —you’re not alone. Many couples seek support from a couples therapist or try marriage counselling to address these relationship issues and restore connection.   Couples therapy and relationship therapy provide a structured, evidence-based approach to improving communicatio

When people think about therapy, they imagine someone going through a major crisis, trauma, or mental health emergency. This is a common misconception . While therapy absolutely supports people through difficult life events, this is only one reason people seek therapy .   In reality, therapy is for anyone who wants to better understand themselves, improve relationships, manage stress, and navigate daily life challenges with greater clarity and confidence.   At Embrace Life

When one or both partners in a relationship carry a history of attachment trauma, everyday interactions can sometimes feel like emotional minefields. Past wounds—whether from neglect, loss, abuse, or inconsistent caregiving—can resurface in the form of heightened sensitivity, withdrawal, or conflict. What begins as a small disagreement can quickly escalate, not because of the present moment alone, but because it touches on deep, unhealed hurts.   In my work with couples, I he

It’s that time of the year again. The city is covered in hues of red and pink and wall to wall chocolates as we prepare for Valentine’s Day, or Love Day, as I like to call it.  Yes – I am cheesy. Valentine’s Day evokes mixed feelings, though. Some see it as an opportunity to give their loved-ones swanky gifts or have an excuse to splurge on an expensive meal. Others despise the capitalistic, consumeristic nature of the holiday and choose to boycott it. I think we can find so

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Therapist’s Guide to Abolishing New Year’s Resolutions. Happy 2024! Another year behind us. One of the most commonly asked questions at this time of the year is “What is your New Year’s resolution?” A New Years’ resolution is meant to signify a fresh start with a new drive to achieve a certain goal or make meaningful change. Resolutions can help to set the intention for the year ahead and encourage reflection of one’s purpose in life. However, it c

It is my belief that the greatest gift of humankind is being able to creates bonds. There is no greater joy than the joy you feel when you are deeply connected to another person. And, in the same vein, there is no greater pain than the pain of feeling disconnected from an important figure in your life. As I have supported people in their pain I have found that the wounds that cut the deepest and take the longest to heal are those formed by attachment injuries, or injuries by

What is trauma? I define trauma as anything that has had a significantly negative impact on your life. When something is too big, or it happens too fast for your brain and body to make sense of, it can have a traumatic impact on you. The meaning you give to the traumatic event also determines how significantly it will impact you, which is why two people could experience the same event but have two completely different reactions to it. Let’s consider a car accident, for instan

What is relationship counselling? Relationship counselling is the therapeutic process of gaining a deeper understanding of your relationship and resolving conflicts within it. You explore what makes it work, what hurts it, and how to improve it. Couples typically choose to start counselling when there is something that isn’t working in their relationship and counselling is seen as the last resort before calling quits. Although this is common, you don’t have to be at the brink

Anger’s got a bad rep. It’s an emotion not a lot of people like to admit they feel. I mean, it makes sense. Anger often brings out the worst parts of us and pushes people away. It can come out as irritability, annoyance or even rage. Very few people can say that they had a pleasant experience with someone that was expressing their anger at them. Yet, it is an essential emotion like all the rest. It is valid like all other emotions are valid, and it has a purpose like all othe