Resource Library

ADHD, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW ADHD, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

The ADHD Brain and Emotions: Why We Overreact and How to Cope

Learn how ADHD affects emotional regulation and why overreactions often happen. This article explains the connection between the ADHD brain and emotions, highlighting coping strategies to manage emotional dysregulation. Improve your emotional well-being and gain practical tools to navigate life with ADHD more effectively.

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Mental Health, ADHD Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Mental Health, ADHD Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

What’s in a Name? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 

ADHD is often misunderstood and reduced to its most visible traits like hyperactivity and distractibility. But ADHD is far more complex than that. It’s a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting everything from emotional regulation to time management. In this series, I aim to explore the nuanced realities of living with ADHD.

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Counselling, Women's Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Counselling, Women's Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

Boundaries

In my work with adult clients, a frequent theme that arises during sessions is that of boundaries.

They are the limits we place to protect our needs, our hearts, our bodies, amongst others. Few of us have learned healthy boundaries during our childhoods, and the effects can be felt throughout our adulthood. There are many challenges in establishing and maintaining boundaries, but the most common complaint is what I would like to challenge.

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Counselling Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Counselling Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

Perils of Working from Home

COVID-19 has transformed many aspects of our lives- some for better, others for worse. One such transformation has been the seismic shift in the workplace.

Working-from-home (sometimes shortened to WFH) started as a distancing necessity, requiring us all to become proficient in video conference calls and virtual meetings. Employers and employees have both capitalized on this expanded flexibility, geographic freedom, and commute-eliminating savings. 

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Counselling, Mental Health, Men's Health, Women's Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Counselling, Mental Health, Men's Health, Women's Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

Surprising Things You Will Learn In Couples Counselling

Couples counselling is always a learning experience for all parties. I wanted to offer a glimpse behind-the-scenes of couples counselling, but that is a tall order! Each session, each couple, is so unique; that processes vary tremendously. 

So, here are a few surprising lessons that I’ve seen couples learn during relationship counselling. 

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Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

Psychologist? Psychotherapist? Psychiatrist? What's the difference?

All these ‘psychs’ are confusing!

When you’re looking for help for yourself, or a loved one, it may feel like mental health services have their own language. All the different terms for therapies, professional designations and various agencies/centres can be frustrating and discouraging. 

I am here to set the record straight. I am going to provide you with some insight into each of these professions, with a combination of facts as well as my experience working with each of these healthcare practitioners.

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Counselling, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Counselling, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

Why is Therapy So Damn Expensive!?!

Deciding to go to therapy is a huge decision that requires courage. So, when you see the fees associated with therapy, it’s hard not to feel dismay and dread.

You start to think….“You charge how much?”, “ An hour is actually 50 minutes?”, and “ You suggest I see you every week?” After some quick mental math, you may think to yourself, “I am in the wrong line of work. I should have been a therapist, and I would be rolling in dough!”. 

Believe me -you are not alone in having this line of thinking. In fact, that hourly rate creates tension for all parties involved (we know the financial realities of Canadians). 

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Counselling, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Counselling, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

How Counselling can Help with Winter Blues

As Canadians, our mental health can dive during the winter months.“About 15% of people in Canada experience the winter blues, while only about 2-3% of people in Canada experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)” (Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2000).

If that doesn’t sound like a lot, that’s about 5,737,500 Canadians experiencing the winter blues yearly! So, how can counselling or therapy help with that?

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Mental Health, Counselling Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Mental Health, Counselling Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

“I want to be happy” isn’t an achievable goal

Throughout my career, I have asked clients about their goals: hundreds of clients, hundreds of goals. There is one answer that wins the majority, by landslide. The answer I typically get is “ I just want to be happy”. I hear this reply so often, it’s hard to remember if I’ve heard anything else in response.

If this is a goal you have set for yourself, the biggest obstacle in reaching this goal is your brain. This magnificent, complex, poorly understood organ. It is evolution's greatest marvel. It is the reason we have survived and evolved over millennia.

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Counselling Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Counselling Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

Practitioner Spotlight: Meet Alicia

It’s amazing to meet with a therapist who puts you at ease and makes you feel comfortable.

Having the opportunity to talk with someone who’s open, a straight shooter and a great listener helps you to get to the heart of what’s really bothering you.

Working with someone who creates a space where you feel safe to spill your guts, without you even realizing it is incredibly supportive.

Being able to be in a kind, empathetic environment is conducive to healing and reflection, which in turn makes you look forward to positive changes. All of these things should be present when working with any therapist, but Alicia delivers all of this in spades at Dancing Willow Wellness.

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Counselling, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Counselling, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

‘No’ as Self-Care

As I tell my clients, “if self-care feels like just another thing you have to do, you're doing it wrong”.

There are many ways of taking care of yourself; getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, etc. But I think many of us are missing a really important part of self-care.

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Counselling, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW Counselling, Mental Health Alicia Niewiatowska, RSW

I had COVID, Here’s What I Learned

It’s coming up to the 2-year anniversary of this pandemic. Despite working with COVID positive clients, providing direct health care, throughout 2021, I didn’t contract COVID until New Year’s Eve of 2022.

I didn’t know I had it until they tested me at work on Monday, January 3rd.

That’s right. You read that correctly. I had COVID for 3 days before a test told me I had it.

But I will get to that…

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