Turning Point Therapy

Family Issues.

The Importance of Being Recognized 
by Delyse Ledgard RCC

This article examines the importance of being recognized to how we express ourselves and experiencing ourselves as valid.  We know that when we focus on some aspect of our experience it comes alive with details and nuances we didn’t know were there. Similarly for others to show us recognition communicates we are indeed here, that we exist and allows us to see our experience more fully.

I don’t know where that came from! Dealing with psychological splits
by Delyse Ledgard RCC

A number of clients have experienced themselves acting in ways that don't feel real, or with emotions that 'take over'.  They describe theselves as  crazy, angry and destructive, clinging and needy or insecure; when they don’t feel this way most of the time in their lives.  They can’t understand how their behavior and feel terribly ashamed of themselves and the problems it causes in their relationships. They have come to see these reactions as ‘not them’ and the ‘normal’ calmer in control self as who they really are. They may come into therapy looking for a way of getting rid of this part of them, that somehow there may be tools that they can learn to control themselves. The split between these two parts of a person and how that develops in our family of origin, is the focus of this article.

The consequences of family of origin betrayal. 
By Delyse Ledgard RCC

This article examines the consequences of relationship betrayal that we experience growing up. I will define what we mean by relationship betrayal and then talk about five consequences that can happen.

Moving on from family dysfunction.
By Delyse Ledgard RCC

Moving on from your family dynamics is a lifelong task and the result of family of origin work. The concept of differentiation is central to the ability to live your own life and form healthy adult relationships. In this article I provide a couple of definitions and identify ways you can develop  differentiation.

Emotions

Why do I feel so unsafe when nothing much is happening?
By Delyse Ledgard RCC

How are we suppose to feel safe in a world full of danger and impermanence?  Why is it that some people can breeze through life with confidence and calm, while others are  consumed by thoughts of danger and betrayal?  Believe it or not, our health, and the quality of our lives, are affected by the degree to which we feel safe.  In this article we will explore what is important about feeling safe and how we create that in our lives.

Intimacy and Self-Esteem.
By Chris Bitten, Registered Clinical Counsellor

This article invites reflection and offers ideas on the relationship between self-esteem and achieving closeness, intimacy, with others.  It also presents some ways of maintaining self-esteem as a stable core that is independent of our accomplishments or life circumstances.

Shame and Disconnection
By Delyse ledgard RCC

Shame is an intensely uncomfortable feeling that arises as a result of failure.  If our failure is met by others with comfort and understanding we can transcend our shame and learn from mistakes and limitations.  Otherwise shame gets under our skin and starts to infect our sense of self and our relationship to others.  This article discusses the relationship between shame and disconnection as important to our understanding of how shame develops and how we can heal from it.