Marriage Enhancement Weekend

administrator — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:19:00 +0000

Have you ever wished you could feel more connected to your spouse ? Ever struggled to find the words to say how you feel without things ending up in an argument ? What non-verbal things can you do to bring the two of you closer together ? Does it always have to be about talking ?

I will be offering Marriage Enhancement weekends in the Spring and Fall of 2014. The weekend is structured, purposeful and you will leave with new skills to apply in your relationship.

Feel free to contact me regarding the details. Available to couples regardless of participation in relationship counselling. Register now, these weekends fill up fast !

Barbara Browne BSW RSW

Stress and the effects on your mind

administrator — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 09:37:00 +0000

Stress has many negative effects on the brain. Whether it is a new life challenge or a past stress or trauma, therapy can help you.

The effects of stress on your brain may be;

*Cortical steroids are released during stressful times which cause your adrenals to be stressed

*Sleep disturbance which negatively impacts your ability to learn

* Ongoing, untreated stress causes irritability and may result in depression in the long term

*Stress actually shrinks the pathways in your brain causing less ability to focus

*Stress interferes with the ability to manage relationships and conflict in your life

Calming the mind can be learned in therapy, I am happy to help you with this. Managing stress is of high importance in enjoying a happy life, increasing your ability to concentrate on what matters most to you. The results are more satisfying relationships, better work performance, and overall life satisfaction. I am here to help !

Psychotherapy & The Brain

administrator — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:30:48 +0000

Neuroscience is an exciting new field which helps those of us in the field of Psychotherapy to understand the brain better. This is something that I have been studying for many years and is a source of gratifying new learning for me. IN FACT, new learning is good for all of us on an ongoing basis ! It is the primary message from experts in this field… learning new things out of our normal daily routine enhances opening up new pathways in our brains which help to keep our brain functioning in the best possible way. Being a lifelong learner allows us to increase the power of the brain to focus more clearly and learn new habits. Therapy can help to diminish stress which interferes with the ability to learn AND to improve your ability to strengthen relationships. Therapy helps to calm the mind and to reinforce new habits as well as to get rid of old patterns leading to a much happier life.

grief and loss

administrator — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:33:00 +0000

Many people have lingering effects from the loss of a loved one. The grief that is experienced varies greatly depending on the type of relationship that one has with the person who has passed away. For example there may be relief if a loved one has been ill for some time, or great difficulty in acceptance of death if the loved one is very young.

Grief can be very isolating as many people feel unable to reach out to those closest to them during a painful time. Grief takes it’s own time and the pace is different for each individual. Often family and friends encourage the mourner to “look on the bright side”, or to “get over the pain” by distracting themselves in other activities. In fact, the key to emotional resilience is to give ourselves permission to feel the very real emotions associated with our loss. Emotionally Focused Therapy is an effective tool used by myself and other Therapists to address the emotional impact of loss. Traumatic loss can be catastrophic as it is sudden and so shocking. This spring I will be leading a series of workshops at various Funeral Homes to assist counsellors, Clergy and Palliative Care professionals to better serve their clients.

Barbara

Introducing our Team

administrator — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:41:09 +0000

I am pleased to announce that we now have a Registered Massage Therapist joining us at our offices at 20 Victoria St. in Aurora. Gail Sherrington has been in practice 25 years. I have known her as a recipient of her massage therapy services, and as a friend and co-worker for the past 9 years. Gail is extremely skilled as a massage therapist. She is a kindred spirit and her expertise in body, mind, and spirit is what I appreciate most about her work.

Gail will join us on Monday afternoons and other afternoons by special appointment. You may reach her by phone at 905-884-0282 or by email at gsherrington@hotmail.com

As always, Pam Margetson MSW RSW and I continue to offer exceptional counselling services for Individuals, Families, and Couples. We offer long lasting solutions for many of life’s challenges. Please see my website for further information www.bbrowne.ca and Pam’s phone number is 1-855-788-1110

Pamela Maple Inskill continues to offer healing Reflexology foot treatment for relaxation and to remedy various ailments. Pamela’s phone number is 905-954-5512

Gift Certificates are available for services.

Optimism !!

administrator — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:53:24 +0000

Winter is a time for many people to feel “blue” or “down”. Optimism is the key to managing stress. It is the best strategy for decreasing symptoms of depression. Looking at what is going well, and focusing on what you have in your life VS what is lacking in your life changes the chemistry in your mind and in your body. In turn, this boosts your immune system and decreases your blood pressure making you feel better. An added bonus is that you will be much less vulnerable to the flu and stress related illness.

Public Information Sessions

administrator — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:37:43 +0000

The York Collaborative Practice Group is putting on Public Information Sessions in York Region this fall of 2011. I will be organizing and presenting along with other professionals including Family Lawyers, and Financial Divorce Specialists. You will learn about respectful divorce settlement out of the court system.

November 24, 2011 Vaughan Library 7 – 8:30 pm 900 Clarke Ave, Thornhill just west of Bathurst St

November 30, 2011 Richmond Hill Library 7 – 8:30 pm corner of Yonge St and Major Mackenzie Dr.

December 14, 2011 Unionville Library 7 – 8:30 pm 15 Library Lane corner of Carlton and Stanford

These information sessions are free and everyone is welcome !

DivorceHappens.ca

administrator — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:50:37 +0000

For some couples, Marriage Therapy is not successful and “ Divorce Happens” ….. there are many daunting decisions to make.

This is an opportunity for couples to choose the most positive option available today. Collaborative Divorce is a respectful way for separating couples to create a negotiated Separation Agreement that is best for everyone in the family. With the help of independent legal advice from Lawyers, Financial Divorce Specialist, and Counsellor the clients take charge of decisions for their own future. No court costs, no custody battle to destroy children and parents, no financial ruin.

You can learn more about Collaborative Divorce at these organizations which I am proud to be a part of;

www.divorcehappens.ca see my profile here and www.yorkcollaborativepractice.com where I am a board member

Couple Therapy

administrator — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:23:57 +0000

I am very grateful to do the work that I love. I have been a Social Worker and Therapist for over 30 years now !

I see so many couples benefit from the serious work of mending a damaged relationship. I use an optimistic, caring approach called “Emotionally Focused Therapy” in my marriage therapy work. Successful couple therapy usually involves several sessions, usually 8 – 15 in total. It feels awesome to me when I say goodbye to a couple who have improved their relationship and feel ready to move forward on their own.

As always, I am a life long learner. In September 2011 I am taking an advanced training course by Sue Johnson. She is a renowned couple therapist, author and trainer in Ottawa. She has written much on the topic of “Emotionally Focused” marriage and couple therapy. The book and DVD titled “Hold Me Tight” are an inspiration to many people. Both publications are available at her website and local bookstores. I look forward to sharing my experience of this advanced internship training with you on this blog.

Seminars coming soon

administrator — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:16:49 +0000

Collaborative divorce seminars will be offered free at local libraries in York Region during the fall of 2011. Presentations will be done at local libraries in Georgina, Newmarket, Aurora, Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan. Presenters will include myself, Family Lawyers and Financial Divorce Specialists. for more information visit my website at www.bbrowne.ca and York Collaborative Practice at www.yorkcollaborativepractice.com