What is Dungeons and Dragons? Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game that has been around since 1974 and enjoyed by many. Essentially, D&D is a storytelling game where one person (the dungeon master) creates a story, and players create characters to navigate the fantasy world together. The beauty of D&D is anything
Who’s Who at ICC? Understanding Our Different Types of Practitioners
When you are looking for mental health support, the letters after a practitioner’s name and terms such as student, intern, coach, or supervisor can feel confusing. At Island Clinical Counselling (ICC), our team includes practitioners with different levels of training, areas of expertise, professional registrations, and roles. This range allows us to offer several kinds
The Healing Journey & the Campfire Analogy
By Qualia Reed Don’t Rush In my journey, I often return to the analogy of caring for a campfire. Having grown up in the 80s and 90s, I remember the Smokey the Bear ad campaign and its message about preventing forest fires. As I got older, it continually surprised me how often people didn’t put
People-Pleasing: Why “No” Can Feel Unsafe
People-pleasing is deceptive. It can look helpful, flexible, easygoing, even selfless. From the outside, people-pleasing can look like the right thing to do. But internally, it can do damage. It can feel like that knot in your stomach after you agreed to something you did not want.It is the resentment that comes from giving up
When the Roles Begin to Shift: The Grief and Stress of Caring for Aging Parents
There is a particular kind of grief that often goes unnamed in adulthood: watching our parents age. For many adults, there comes a moment when the relationship quietly begins to change. The people who once cared for us, guided us, protected us, and helped us navigate life are now slowly beginning to need support themselves.
The Other Side of Resilience
A Blog Post for Island Clinical Counselling I’ve always considered resilience to be one of my defining qualities. The ability to adapt and “handle whatever comes” has long felt like a well-earned badge of honour. The internal narrative that I can overcome whatever is thrown my way has been something I’ve leaned on in both
How to Stop Overthinking at Night: Using CBT-I to Calm Your Mind for Sleep
You’ve finally crawled into bed, the lights are out, and the house is quiet, but your mind isn’t. Thoughts start racing: What if I can’t fall asleep? What if I’m exhausted tomorrow? Why can’t I just switch off like everyone else? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Overthinking at night is one of the
Workplace Wellness in the Autumn: Prioritizing Mental Health at Work
As the air turns crisp and the leaves start to fall, many of us notice a shift, not just in the weather, but in our energy, mood, and work rhythms. Autumn brings a natural invitation to slow down and reflect. But for many professionals, it also brings increasing workplace demands, looming year-end deadlines, and less
The Art of Healthy Escapism: Taking a Break Without Losing Yourself
Have you ever had one of those days, or even weeks, when your brain feels like itwants to curl up under a blanket and hibernate until next spring? You’re not alone. Theurge to “check out” from daily stressors is entirely human. Whether it’s due to workoverload, emotional burnout, or just the noise of modern life,
Summer Slow-Down: How to Embrace a Slower Pace for Better Mental Health
Summer is often portrayed as a time for beach trips, BBQs, and packed calendars, but what if this season could also be your invitation to slow down? In a culture that glorifies hustle and productivity, choosing rest is a radical act of self-care. Slowing down isn’t lazy. It’s healing, restorative, and essential for mental health.