The Golden Child and the Problem Child work together in a family system to “correct” dysfunction… at a price price. For the Golden Child, it can mean delayed adolescence as they suppress healthy development in order to preserve the family status quo, only to have changes emerge in strange and even childish ways later on in adulthood. Dr Simcha Samuel examines the how’s and why’s of this phenomenon, and explores how it can be moved through in a healthy way.
The shift into Autumn can bring a mix of emotions, and amid busy changes we may move through the transition without fully noticing. Connecte clinical psychologist Dr Isabel Sadowski shares tips on how mindfulness helps us to slow down and notice, and make space for the changes within us as we adapt to the changes around us.
Connecte Montreal Psychology Group offers sliding-scale couples and family therapy for couples and families with children or adolescents. Sessions are provided by student therapists completing their training in couple and family therapy, under the supervision of experienced couple and family therapists.
Therapy can be helpful when relationships feel strained, communication has become difficult, or couples and families are navigating conflict, change, or major life transitions.
Sessions available in English or French
When does thinking about something become over-thinking? What is the difference between healthy reflection and falling into negative mental looping, or rumination? Dr K. Danielle Penney explores the what, why and how of falling into the rethinking trap, and offers tips on how we can change our relationship to thoughts and break free of the rumination loop.
Some of the natural tendency to a negative bias that helps us identify threats and keep us safe is no longer helpful in the our current evolutionary context. Fortunately, the brain can be trained to look for positive information too. Connecte clinical psychologist Dr Lisa Astrologo explores how the power of gratitude can help (re)train our brains, and contribute to creating a more balanced view of our world.
How do parenting couples stay connected? Is it reserved for the lucky ones with the easiest babies, or the most babysitters? Although those things can help (!), it is most often couples who keep returning to a few key basics – fondness, shared enjoyment, and feeling seen – that stay connected even as family life gets hectic. Read on as Dr Tobey Mandel shares realistic ways to build that connection, without pretending we have endless time, money, childcare, or energy.
Connecte Clinical Psychologist Leanne D. Rondeau talks about helping people find their therapeutic sweet spot, allowing them to access a place where they can tap into their own inner wisdom in the therapy process.
Connecte Montreal Psychology clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Linardatos offers pointers on building trust between clinician and client, and shows what a therapist can do to develop and strengthen the therapeutic alliance with care, compassion, curiosity and courage.
When it comes to lending a supportive ear, whether to a close friend, loved one, acquaintance or someone we just met, what we do to help that may come most naturally to us may not always be the most helpful, and might even be counter-productive. In this insightful blog Connecte therapist Camille Zolopa explains why that may be, and shows us how a motivational interviewing approach might hold the key to lending support that works.
It feels so natural for us to show compassion to a loved one in need, so why do we struggle with showing ourselves the same kindness? In this insightful blog from Connecte clinical psychologist Dr Ege Bicaker, Ege identifies key reasons why self-compassion can be so hard to practice, and her thoughtful observations help us re-frame in a way that will lead to a better, more compassionate understanding of our own emotional needs.
