Solera Health Quest

09/03/2026

🌿When Your Child Refuses to Go to School

Mornings shouldn’t feel like a battle but for some families, they do.

Tears.
Stomach aches.
Shutdowns.
Big emotions before the day has even started.

School refusal is rarely about laziness or manipulation.

More often, it’s anxiety, overwhelm, or a child who doesn’t yet have the words to explain what feels too heavy.

Elaine has worked with many children who struggle to attend school and with the parents who feel exhausted trying to help.

In sessions, she uses talk therapy along with creative approaches like art, games, music, and journaling to help children express what they can’t always say out loud.

These tools create space for kids to feel understood, build emotional awareness, and develop coping skills in a way that feels natural to them.

When a child feels seen and supported, school can begin to feel more manageable.

If your family is navigating school refusal, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

You’re welcome to reach out to explore whether counselling may feel supportive for your child.

In-person and virtual sessions are available to support families in the way that works best for them.

Your first 30-minute session is complimentary.

📍 Book at: www.solerahealthquest.com

09/01/2026

08/29/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙤 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣?

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨… 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴?

That’s not you being lazy or avoiding life.
That’s the 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚.

We often hear about 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚, but what does it really mean to freeze?

It’s what happens when your nervous system senses 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 and decides:

“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘚𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦.”

Your heart rate may slow down

Muscles go limp or heavy

Your mind may feel foggy or blank

You feel disconnected from your body or surroundings

You might feel emotionally numb or like you’re watching life from a distance

Freeze is not a conscious choice.
It’s your body trying to protect you the only way it knows how—by powering down.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚?

Days in bed, even though you're not “sick”

Ignoring texts or avoiding conversations

Zoning out with your phone, TV, or silence

Feeling unable to start simple tasks

Saying “I’m fine” but feeling far from it

At 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, Elaine gently supports you in coming out of this state—𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

She combines 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙮 (to help you understand what’s happening) with 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 (to help your body feel safe enough to shift out of freeze).
With the right care, your nervous system can learn that it’s safe to show up again.

You don’t have to stay stuck.

𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 30-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚

Let’s take that first step together.
www.solerahealthquest.com

08/27/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲

“𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.”

It’s like there’s a knot in your throat.
The words are there, but they get stuck.
You overthink them. Rewrite them. Swallow them.

Maybe you were told your needs were “too much.” Or that expressing them made people upset. So now you shrink. You stay small. You try not to ruffle any feathers.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙜𝙜𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.

You might even convince yourself you don’t need anything.

But deep down, you’re tired.
Tired of pretending you’re okay.
Tired of giving so much and asking for so little.

You deserve to take up space.
You deserve to speak without shame.

At Solera Health Quest Counselling, we use 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙮 and 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 to help you reconnect with your voice—not just with your words, but with your body.

Because sometimes your nervous system doesn’t need a script—it just needs to feel safe enough to speak.

𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 30-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.
Book at: www.solerahealthquest.com

08/25/2026

Hello! I’m Elaine Schow, a Mental Health Counsellor in my practice Solera Health Quest.

I use a compassionate strength-based counselling approach using creative arts, reflective arts, reflective journaling, and somatic practices such as breath work, meditation, tapping (EFT) & yoga to really help decrease your anxiety and bring a sense of serenity and healing in your life.

Please see my website to book a time to talk in-person, phone or virtually on zoom.
www.solerahealthquest.com

08/20/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿

"𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨. 𝙄’𝙢 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡."

When you're constantly putting others first, your needs slowly shrink until they feel invisible—even to you.

You tell yourself:

It’s just a busy season.

They need me more than I need me.

I’ll rest when everything calms down.

But the truth is: 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩.
It builds quietly until it feels like anger, sadness, or complete emotional shutdown.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧.
Your exhaustion matters.
Your resentment is a sign your body is asking for care—not shame.

At 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, Elaine gently guides you back to your own needs and worth—without guilt.

Your first 30-minute session is 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀.
Give yourself permission to start.

𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚:
www.solerahealthquest.com

08/19/2026

𝗜 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡—𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜.

Maybe you’re afraid of what will come up.

Maybe you’re afraid you’ll break.
Or that if you start to feel it all… it will be too much.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡—𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙙.

Healing from childhood trauma is a tender process.

One that requires safety, compassion, and deep care.

You don’t have to dig up everything at once.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣.
𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮, 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚.

At 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, we meet you where you are—with somatic counselling practices that soothe the body, calm the nervous system, and allow your truth to emerge with care.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚.

𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 30-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀.
www.solerahealthquest.com

08/15/2026

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼-𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲?

As parents, you do an amazing job navigating your child's emotions and providing support. But the stress and overwhelm of constantly co-regulating can take a toll. It’s difficult to stay calm when your child’s nervous system is in overdrive, and it’s hard to always know how to help them find balance.

𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡. Elaine combines somatic practices with traditional counselling to help both parents and children build emotional resilience. Through play and art, your child can express and process emotions safely, while you can learn techniques to better manage your own stress, find balance, and gain confidence in your role as a supportive parent.

You don’t have to do this alone—help is available for you and your child.

Book a 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 30-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚 session at www.solerahealthquest.com.

08/13/2026

🌿 Problem-solving in families isn’t about finding the perfect answer.

It’s about learning how to pause, listen, and stay connected — even when things feel messy.

In many families, problem-solving turns into: someone feeling blamed, someone shutting down, or someone trying to carry everything alone.

But real progress often happens when the focus shifts from “Who’s right?” to “What’s happening underneath this?” When emotions are acknowledged, families can move from reacting to working together.

Challenges don’t mean your family is broken. They usually mean something needs attention, understanding, or support.

Elaine supports families through talk therapy and gentle, body-based awareness to help slow things down, strengthen communication, and find solutions that feel realistic and respectful for everyone involved.

If your family feels stuck in the same cycles, you’re welcome to reach out to explore whether counselling could help.

Sessions are available in person or virtually, offering flexibility for families during busy seasons of life.

Your first 30-minute session is complimentary.

📍 Book at: www.solerahealthquest.com