What Is Intuitive Eating?

IMG_4951Have you heard of the term “intuitive eating” or “eating mindfully”, and wondered what it really means? It’s a non-dieting eating approach to living healthfully, which promotes:

• listening to your body
• eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re full
• eating mindfully without distractions such as television and smartphones
• moving daily for enjoyment rather than punishment
• accepting the body’s natural size and shape
• removing food guilt
• ending food preoccupation by removing any form of food restriction.

Abundant research now shows that dieting doesn’t work in the long run, and can, in fact, lead to disordered eating behaviours. So get off the hurtful “no fat,” “low cal,” “no sugar,” and “clean eating” yo-yo cycle of self-abuse and go back to basics instead – which is to simply listen to your body’s natural cues, eat mindfully, and find an exercise activity that you actually enjoy!

Now Offering Walk & Talk Therapy!

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It’s flip-flop season, the weather is GORGEOUS, the sun is out, and the birds are singing. Why have your counselling session indoors when we can head out for some mindful movement?

Numerous scientific studies have shown the positive effects of exercise on the brain, especially for people with depression. Walk & Talk therapy can help you turn a corner if you’re experiencing feelings of stress, depression, anxiety or grief. Being outdoors while getting your step counts in and working through your feelings can help you improve your sense wellbeing.

Ask me whether a Walk & Talk Therapy session might be right for you.

Book your Walk & Talk session today! Two locations are now being offered. Click on the links below to check out my availability:

 

How To Help Someone Who Is Suicidal

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My first vlog post on YouTube is a follow up to the written piece I wrote a few days ago called “How Are You… Really?“, and it’s all about how to help someone who is suicidal.

Here it is:

New Office Location

Mindful Solutions Clinic has moved to a new location at the Carrot Common!

Beginning Tuesday, May 29, 2018, we will be seeing clients at 320 Danforth Avenue, Suite 206.

There is plenty of affordable street parking available on Danforth as well as a few Green Ps. The Big Carrot has a paid parking lot immediately behind the building. If you take the TTC, the closest subway stop is Chester. Please see below for more detailed directions.

I’m looking forward to welcoming my clients to this new space!
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Directions:

From the West:
  • Take the 401 Eastbound to DVP South
  • Exit Bayview/Bloor
  • Take Bloor/Danforth exit (bear left)
  • Turn left onto Danforth Avenue (you will be crossing over a large bridge)
  • Turn left on 4th street (Jackman Ave) – you will see a large church on one corner and a large orange building complex on the other corner.
  • Green P Parking available in the back of Carrot Common parking lot
From the East:
  • Take the 401 Westbound to DVP South
  • Exit Bayview/Bloor
  • Take Bloor/Danforth exit (bear left)
  • Turn left onto Danforth Avenue (you will be crossing over a large bridge)
  • Turn left on 4th street (Jackman Ave) – you will see a large church on one corner and a large orange building complex on the other corner.
  • Green P Parking available in the back of Carrot Common parking lot
From Downtown Toronto:
  • Take DVP North
  • Exit Bayview/Bloor
  • Take Bloor/Danforth exit (bear left)
  • Turn left onto Danforth Avenue (you will be crossing over a large bridge)
  • Turn left on 4th street (Jackman Ave) – you will see a large church on one corner and a large orange building complex on the other corner.
  • Green P Parking available in the back of Carrot Common parking lot
From the North:
  • Take the 404 Southbound which will turn into DVP South
  • Exit Bayview/Bloor
  • Take Bloor/Danforth exit (bear left)
  • Turn left onto Danforth Avenue (you will be crossing over a large bridge)
  • Turn left on 4th street (Jackman Ave) – you will see a large church on one corner and a large orange building complex on the other corner.
  • Green P Parking available in the back of Carrot Common parking lot
By TTC:
  • Exit Chester Station (between Broadview and Pape Stations)
  • After you exit Chester Station, walk south on Chester Ave. and turn right on Danforth Ave.
  • Walk 1 block and you will find us in the Carrot Common boulevard area

 

EQ Over IQ, Says Scorpion Genius Walter O’Brien

My latest Huffington Post blog is live and weighs in the EQ vs. IQ debate.

Click here to read my interview with the real-life genius behind the CBS TV show Scorpion, Walter O’Brien.

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Let me know what you think!

Pet Bereavement Is Just As Real As Grieving For Humans Loved Ones

Happy & SandyGrieving the loss of a beloved pet can be just as real as losing a human loved one. I had to say goodbye to my soul puppy on June 27, 2016, and it broke me wide open. I wrote about it in the Huffington Post, which you can read here.

 

I was also invited to be interviewed on the radio to talk about pet loss, which you can watch here:

My Story: In Support of #WorldEatingDisordersDay

My latest Huffington Post blog is live today, in support of #WorldEatingDisordersDay. It’s certainly one of the most personal and raw blogs that I’ve written publicly. But I share my story today for all the world to see because treatment saves lives. It saved mine.

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If you think you may have an eating disorder, seek help.
Tell your family doctor. Get a referral to an eating disorders clinic near you.
Start counselling.
DO THE WORK.
Please.

Read my story on Huffington Post.