Julie-Anne Richards -Clinical Counsellor and Motivational Speaker

For each and every one of us today ...

"Today was a Difficult Day," said Pooh.
There was a pause.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Piglet.
"No," said Pooh after a bit. "No, I don't think I do."
"That's okay," said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.
"What are you doing?" asked Pooh.
"Nothing, really," said Piglet. "Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don't feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.
"But goodness," continued Piglet, "Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you've got someone there for you. And I'll always be here for you, Pooh."
And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs...he thought that his best friend had never been more right."
A.A. Milne

Sending thoughts to everyone having a Difficult Day today. I hope you have your own Piglet to sit beside you 🧡

Why students should have mental health days School can be rife with stress, anxiety, panic attacks and even burnout -- but there's often no formal policy for students who need to prioritize their well-being. Hailey Hardcastle explains why schools should offer mental health days and allow students time to practice emotional hygiene without sti...

A short, powerful and spot-on video - sip some tea, have your dog at your feet, and listen, and feel.

Opinion | We’re All Grieving. This Is How We Get Through It. As the coronavirus robs us of the life we cherish, a renowned therapist has some advice.

A warm welcome to you! Although I will occasionally peek at my business FB site, please do not FB Messenger me, but rather contact me with your questions and requests for services via email at [email protected]. I am "walking the walk", so to speak, and am *unplugging* from social media this fall to enjoy those deeper moments face-to-face or at least voice-to-voice! Looking forward to receiving your messages via email! All the best - Julie-Anne

A humbling and extremely useful read. As a therapist, you'd think I would never do this - and I don't with my clients! (geez, I sure hope I don't!) - but, as I read this, I realized that yes, indeed, I do this all the time for all manner of conversations with my friends and family and, at some level, I think I even knew I did it. Well, friends and family - I pledge to stop "shifting" ! Although the initial example in this article is around grief, it is actually much, much broader in meaning and worth - read, ponder, and see if you relate ....

The Mistake I Made With My Grieving Friend The author of We Need to Talk reveals how she learned to help -- and not help -- a friend with loss.

"Childhood Anxiety - Empowering Strategies & Effective Support" - Presentation for Parents, Educators, Caregivers and Childcare Workers

Supporting a child or teen with anxiety?

Receive essential information and direct, step-by-step strategy instruction in an engaging and uplifting evening presentation. Tailored to help parents, caregivers and educators provide children and teens with powerful tools to significantly reduce and manage their anxiety.

Come out to support your child or student while supporting other kids in our community as well - as this is a fundraiser event! 100% of the proceeds from this event will go towards helping the young dancers of the Rhythm Dance Performance Team achieve their dreams of dancing in the Disneyland Parade in July, 2019! (Now *that's* managing anxiety!)

April 3, 7-9pm, Ladysmith (all surrounding areas welcome!)

Early Bird special $35 per person (if purchased by March 18th - $40 per ticket after March 18th)

Registration Required - Learn More/Register -

http://www.julieannerichards.com/workshop-calendar/childhood-anxiety-presentation-april-3-2019

Awesome addition to a holistic approach to first responder resiliency and wellness!

How a Yoga Teacher is Saving First Responders Across America From Depression – With Downward Dog Yoga is not just good for stretching – it is saving police officers and firefighters from depression and anxiety in cities across America.