When you first read this quote, your mind might immediately rebel. You might think: “Why would I choose this anxiety? Why would I choose to be stuck in traffic? Why would I choose this sadness?” It sounds counter-intuitive, perhaps even impossible. But this concept is one of the profound keys we explore in the Practicing the Power of Now Therapy Group , and it holds the secret to true emotional freedom. The Story vs. The Simplicity of Now To understand this quote, we have to

Have you ever felt completely exhausted by your own mind? Ruminating on past mistakes, endlessly worrying about future scenarios, or just carrying a constant sense of anxiety? It can truly feel like a heavy burden —a constant internal noise that dictates your mood and steals your peace. Eckhart Tolle observes that, “The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts  about it.” This is a profound realization. Your suffering isn't necessarily coming from

Relationships can bring out the best in us — and the most reactive parts of us. Mindfulness helps you recognize when you're slipping into: defensiveness shutting down people pleasing overexplaining anger or reactivity Through mindful awareness, communication becomes clearer, calmer, and more authentic. You learn to listen without bracing. To speak without attacking. To stay grounded even when emotion rises. Presence softens conflict and opens connection. In my mindfulness gro

Have you ever reacted more strongly than a situation seemed to deserve?Have you felt anger, shame, defensiveness, or anxiety hit you like a wave? That’s the “pain-body” — the emotional imprint of past experiences that gets activated in the present. Mindfulness helps you recognize these triggers before they take over. Instead of collapsing into anger or fear, you can learn to: notice early signs of activation pause before reacting regulate your breathing and nervous system res

Most people don’t realize how often they live inside their thoughts. Stressful planning, replaying conversations, worrying about the future — these loops can create anxiety, tension, and emotional exhaustion. Mindfulness helps us interrupt these patterns by teaching us how to step out of overthinking and reconnect with the present moment. When you notice the simple act of breathing…When you sense the aliveness in your body…When you observe a thought as a thought  instead of a

The Fall therapy group went well and it’s time to offer this group again in an in-person format  in January 2026. The content of groups will also be new and fresh even if you have joined a previous group. As a counsellor, I see that all of us are carrying around the heavy burden of thought patterns and emotional pain that often runs our lives and worse of all, feels like who we are.  Learning how to return to a state of presence, also known as “Being” or mindfulness, even b

The Fall therapy group went well and it’s time to offer this group in an online format  to give access to those who were not able to join in person. As a counsellor, I see that all of us are carrying around the heavy burden of thought patterns and emotional pain that often runs our lives and worse of all, feels like who we are.  Learning how to return to a state of presence, also known as “Being” or mindfulness, even briefly throughout our day, is a way of putting the burden

As a counsellor, I’m always looking for gentle, effective ways to help my clients connect with themselves more deeply. One approach I use is Gendlin’s Focusing—a body-centered technique that invites you to listen to your own bodily felt sense as a path to understanding and healing. A Different Approach: The Power of the Body Unlike traditional talk therapy, which often focuses on words, thoughts, and cognitive processes, focusing invites you to turn inward and pay attention t

Wednesday evenings from September 10 - October 15, 2025 Facilitated by Canadian Certified Counsellor, John Woychuk M.A. C.C.C Imagine you...

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