Gaslighting

Gaslighting What Is It? You might have heard of gaslighting, but what does it mean? Gaslighting is a form of manipulation. It is a stealthy way of abusing a person. Gaslighting is where the a person denies or misleads the other person’s experience. This can cause the person to question their own reality. Gaslighting often […]

Emotions

Emotions Whether emotions are comfortable or uncomfortable, they are a part of life. No matter what emotion a person is feeling, their feelings are valid. It is about learning how to express them in healthy ways. Talking about Emotions With Children/Youth Having open conversations about emotions will let children/youth know that it is okay to […]

Loneliness

Loneliness What Is It? Loneliness or feeling left out is being alone when we do not want to be alone. This can happen even in a group of people. Loneliness can feel like we are alone and have no one to talk to or hang out with. Sometimes, we want to be alone. Loneliness is […]

Grief

Grief What Is It? Grief is a strong emotion that is a natural reaction to loss. Loss is not just from someone passing away. There are many different types of losses a person will cope with in their life, such as loss of relationship (breakup from an intimate partner or friend or family), loss of […]

Feelings of Inadequacy

Feelings of Inadequacy What Is It? Feelings of inadequacy (feeling not good enough) are emotions which can show up as a child not feeling good enough, not believing in themselves, or not having confidence. It can feel like being unworthy. Feeling not good enough can happen to any of us. Like any emotion, feelings of […]

Fear

Fear What Is It? Feeling scared is a natural reaction to something that seems dangerous or unsafe. We typically are scared of things which make us feel unsafe or unsure. Fear can be a good thing. It can operate as a warning sign to help us avoid danger. Fear, like any emotion, can be intense […]

Disappointment

Disappointment What Is It? Disappointment is an emotion that can happen when something does not turn out how expected or expectations are not met. Feeling disappointed is a part of coping with the challenges of life. We cannot always be first, win, or get what we want, and children/youth need to build skills to deal […]

Anger

Anger What Is It? Anger is a natural emotion that is commonly misunderstood. It is sometimes thought of as a negative emotion. Anger, like any emotion, is valid and worth feeling. It can actually be beneficial at times. It can propel you to think of solutions to your problems or make changes. Anger is problematic […]

Sadness

Sadness What Is It? Sadness is a normal feeling we all have. It is emotional pain. It is a natural reaction to difficult situations. It can be from many things. It could be from losing something/someone, hurt feelings, or being left out. Sadness can also be from something going wrong. It could also be when […]

Trauma Bond

Trauma Bonds Trauma Bonding A type of unhealthy relationship you might notice is a trauma bond. This is a type of relationship which develops between a person being abused and the person abusing them.   What Is It? Trauma bonding is when a person is being abused and they form a connection with the person […]