North Star Counselling Services
Happy New (School) Year!

Happy New (School) Year!

I was looking for a 2022 calendar and came across ‘academic calendars’ that begin in September. It made me think whether or not my year begins in September or January. I came to the conclusion that, maybe, it’s a bit of both.  For much of my life, the beginning of...
All or Nothing, or Somewhere in Between?

All or Nothing, or Somewhere in Between?

Over the summer, we tend to kick off our shoes, wiggle our toes in the sand (or pick up a paddle), and heave a sigh of contentedness. We can open the front and back doors and let the breeze blow our dust bunnies away. Meals are more of the plain-and-simple variety,...
REFLECTIONS – My First Decade

REFLECTIONS – My First Decade

During July, I begin another decade of my life … and this one is a doozie, so I figure I’m going to celebrate it all year!  Occasionally, I ask clients to do an exercise that involves making a timeline of the most significant events of their lives, from birth to the...
Summer is a time to relax, refresh and reboot

Summer is a time to relax, refresh and reboot

As the weather warms up, we begin to think of the end of school and sliding into summer. For some, that’s a blessing; for others, it may feel like a curse. Your perspective may depend on whether or not you have children at home, how you’ve been faring so far, and...
Who and what is a mother?

Who and what is a mother?

Mother’s Day can be difficult for some people – for both those whose mothers have died and for those who wonder what “motherhood” is really all about … including me. In Taoist philosophy, there is the concept of yin and yang, “opposites that are needed in order for...