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Mental Health

Moving Into Retirement After 50 Years of…

Retirement is a definite transition time, especially in the age of COVID-19 and it's impact on social interactions. When you have worked most of your adult life, the work you do often becomes a big determinant of your identity. You're the Truck Driver, Doctor, Financial Advisor, Teacher, Admin. Assistant who…
Beth_Murray
February 10, 2021
Eating Disorders

Healthy Habits and Daily Rituals

Healthy habits and daily rituals are two ways to help overcome emotional/mindless/stress eating. Unfortunately the term 'healthy' has even become an eating disordered term on some occasions. Foods are not inherently good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, etc. Healthy habits however (say that ten times really quickly) are helpful. Here…
Beth_Murray
December 4, 2020
Fresh Hope Counselling Staff
News

Welcome Daisy Lee, Registered Psychologist!

We are excited to bring on another Registered Psychologist to Fresh Hope Counselling's  West End location, Ms. Daisy Lee! Daisy is a transplant from Calgary but don't hold that against her, she's renounced her allegiance to the Flames just as I did when marrying an Edmontonian. Daisy is a graduate…
Beth_Murray
October 20, 2020
being yourself
Mental Health

How to Unmask When Everyone is Putting on Masks

Wearing a mask is highly recommended these days due to this unprecedented pandemic we are experiencing. I thought I'd take advantage of the whole mask thing to talk about the problem with putting on a non-physical mask. The other day I saw a woman whose mask covered her face right…
Beth_Murray
September 14, 2020
New Growth and hope
Mental Health

How to Have New Growth

New Growth is something most of us would like to have. This is our Christmas cactus, Six Fingered Sam. He was left in a vacant office for months with no water or care. Forgotten and neglected. We weren't sure if Sam was going to make it. I decided to water…
Beth_Murray
August 14, 2020
COVID-19

Are You Just “Done!”?

After months of dealing with a global pandemic and navigating these uncertain times, many people are just 'done!' COVID-19 and the economic hit that has followed, is effecting us in ways that most of us never imagined. The clients that we've been seeing are having heightened stress reactions, increased anxiety…
Beth_Murray
June 28, 2020
Heidi Marchand!
News

Featuring Heidi Marchand!

I decided it's time to feature our therapists and give you a little more information about our staff, starting with Heidi Marchand. Heidi is a Registered Psychologist who has been working with us now for several years at our South Edmonton location. Heidi Marchand graduated from Gonzaga College in 2001…
Beth_Murray
June 8, 2020
NEW LOCATION for Fresh Hope Counselling
News

NEW LOCATION for Fresh Hope Counselling!

It was the last day of December that we closed on the purchase of the new and growing home for Fresh Hope Counselling Ltd.!  We are so excited to have a larger, more efficient layout for Fresh Hope Counselling to grow into for our West End Office. Our new location…
Beth_Murray
May 19, 2020
COVID-19

COVID-19 Coping Tips

If you are literally anywhere in the world right now you are probably aware of the COVID-19 pandemic. In speaking with clients, we are seeing an increase in stress, anxiety, suicidal ideology (thinking) and depression. The reasons include: the amount of uncertainty, the health implications/fears of the COVID-19 virus, the…
Beth_Murray
April 16, 2020
COVID-19

We Could All Use Some HOPE Right Now!

In the midst of a global pandemic, we certainly could benefit from having hope! I am not going to focus on COVID-19 as you can find numerous resources online about that. Instead, I want to look at hope -- the very thing that can help us navigate this unprecedented challenge.…
Beth_Murray
March 23, 2020
AnxietyDepressionMental Health

Why We Need Hope

With all that is going on in this world around us, hope is a necessity! The wisdom writer Solomon said "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Hope is a powerful force and being without it damages our entire being. Merriam Webster's dictionary defines hope as "desire accompanied by expectation of…
Beth_Murray
February 21, 2020
AnxietyMental Health

Holiday Survival Toolkit

Some people love the Holiday season and enjoy every aspect of it. Other people dread this time of year, whether it brings up painful memories, heightens loss or causes more struggle with an addiction. Regardless of what the struggles or reasons are, we can prepare a Holiday Survival Toolkit to…
Beth_Murray
December 22, 2019
marriage communication
Relationships

What Are You Trying To Say? How to Improve Communication

Ever felt like what you are trying to say feels like you are speaking a foreign language? Or that you are talking but clearly not being heard or understood? Problems with communication are some of the biggest issues in relationships, workplace stresses and family problems. Most communication courses are related…
Beth_Murray
October 28, 2019
stuck feeling
Mental Health

When You Feel Stuck

Feeling stuck is not a nice place to be, especially if you have been there for a long time. Cambridge dictionary defines stuck as 'being unable to move from a particular position or place or unable to change a situation.' As you can imagine feeling like you are unable to…
Beth_Murray
July 23, 2019
new faces
News

New Spaces and Faces at Fresh Hope Counselling!

As many of you know, we have two offices for Fresh Hope Counselling, one on the West End at 17321 108 Avenue NW and one on the South Side, which is changing from the old location to a beautiful new space! Heidi Marchand, our Registered Psychologist on the South Side…
Beth_Murray
July 3, 2019
Eating DisordersRelationship with Food

But I have to lose weight!

Weight loss. Diets. Bootcamps and fitness. Clean eating. Intermittent fasting. Keto. Paleo. Keto Paleo Clean with intermittent fasting... Oh my goodness, make it stop! Diets are all the buzz, have been for decades now. The sad part is they don't work. Research has proven it, our bodies have proven it,…
Beth_Murray
June 18, 2019
AnxietyDepressionMental Health

Defeat Depression!

On June 1st, Fresh Hope Counsellors and staff will be participating in the 3rd Defeat Depression Walk in Edmonton. I am actually getting quite excited about this campaign. Not just because I will be getting some exercise with friends, because there is more and more movement to rid the stigma…
Beth_Murray
May 15, 2019
DepressionMental Health

The Problem With Hating Yourself

Hating yourself might seem like an inconsequential thing. Who does it really hurt besides you? The problem with hating yourself is that it not only hurts you but those around you. You might argue that you don't actually 'hate' yourself -- after all that's a strong word. Maybe you just…
Beth_Murray
April 24, 2019
counselling resources
DepressionMental Health

How Do I Restore?

In this stressful culture we often reach a place of overwhelm and need to restore. Many people turn to things like video games and Netflix to relax, yet it doesn't seem to be working. So why aren't we getting refreshed and restored? Reported levels of depression, anxiety and stress are…
Beth_Murray
March 20, 2019
Relationships

Investing in Your Relationship

Investing in anything requires time, thought, effort, energy and resources, especially if you hope to profit from the investment. The same is true of relationships with close friends and especially in marriage. Let's look at a five simple steps to help enrich your relationships. Value the Relationship. If we consider…
Beth_Murray
February 11, 2019
Mental Health

How To Make Change That Matters

Entering a new year is always a time to think about resolving to make change in one's life. However, most New Year's Resolutions don't last very long! Recent surveys say that 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February. Why is that? Are we such creatures of habit…
Beth_Murray
January 10, 2019
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