I named my practice Sandham Psychological Services after my last name—my family name—because I believe family plays a powerful role in shaping who we become. Family can give us love, belonging, values, culture, humour, strength, and resilience. Family can also leave us with pain, confusion, unmet needs, and patterns we
When people begin therapy, they often wonder what kind of therapy will work best for them. They may come across different therapeutic approaches and try to determine which one is the “right” one. At Sandham Psychological Services, therapy is grounded in approaches such as Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Eye
Deciding to start therapy can be a significant step. Yet for many people, making that first appointment is often the hardest part of the entire process. It’s common to spend weeks, months, or even years thinking about therapy before reaching out for support. Some people know they would benefit from
Moving Beyond the Myths Many people think they know what therapy is, but much of what we see in movies, social media, and popular culture doesn’t accurately reflect what therapy actually looks like. Some people expect therapy to provide immediate answers. Others assume it’s simply venting to a professional who
Childhood experiences shape how people understand emotions, relationships, and themselves. When emotional needs were unmet or difficult experiences occurred early in life, those experiences can leave lasting emotional wounds. These wounds do not always appear as obvious trauma. Instead, they often show up as patterns such as difficulty trusting others,
When Feelings From the Past Show Up — and Why Ethics Matter Therapy is built on trust and connection. Over time, it is natural for strong emotions to arise within the therapeutic relationship. Sometimes, those feelings are connected to past experiences rather than the present moment. In therapy, these experiences
Two Different Ways the Brain Holds Experience Memory is not just a mental filing cabinet of facts and events. The brain actually stores experience in multiple systems that work differently. Two of the most important are explicit memory and implicit memory. Understanding the difference between them can help explain why
You Are Not the Only One If you are a therapist reading this and quietly wondering whether you “should” need therapy, pause for a moment. You are not alone. Many therapists sit across from their clients each week holding grief, trauma, anxiety, relationship strain, and uncertainty while privately managing their
Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive As psychologists, we often hear clients describe feeling unheard, misunderstood, or emotionally exhausted in their relationships. While these concerns may present as anxiety, stress, burnout, or relationship strain, communication patterns are frequently at the centre of the experience. Communication is not just about what we say.
The start of a new year often brings a familiar mix of hope and pressure. Many people feel motivated to set goals, make changes, or “do things differently this time.” But as the weeks go on, those intentions can feel harder to sustain than expected. In therapy, a common question