A Chair at the Table Counselling Services

09/05/2026

This weeks blog is up.
It talks about making children feel safe when their world had been turned upside down. Read more about predictability, connection and repair and see how these principles can be translated into our adult world too.

A child can be in a safe home and still not feel safe. That’s because safety lives in the nervous system—not just the environment. When a child has experienced trauma or sudden change, their body may stay in a state of: Hyper-alertness Anxiety Shutdown Your role is not to force calm—but to hel...

09/05/2026

This week on THE BLOG we are talking about "Helping children feel safe when their world has changed".
Safety isn’t just physical, it’s felt.
A child can be in a safe home and still not feel safe.
That’s because safety lives in the nervous system—not just the environment.
When a child has experienced trauma or sudden change, their body may stay in a state of:
Hyper-alertness
Anxiety
Shutdown
Your role is not to force calm, but to help them experience it.
Pull up a chair, let's talk more about it.

09/05/2026

When Taking Care of Yourself Feels Selfish

Sometimes the hardest person to care for… is yourself.

You may be incredibly good at showing up for other people.

You answer the phone.
You help when someone needs you.
You take care of the details.
You make sure everyone else is okay.

But when it comes to your own needs?

You might hear yourself say:

“I’m fine.”
“I can handle it.”
“Someone else needs me more.”
“I’ll rest when things slow down.”

The problem is… things rarely slow down on their own.

And somewhere along the way, caring for everyone else can become so familiar that caring for yourself begins to feel uncomfortable—or even selfish.

But your needs don’t become less important because someone else has needs too.

You are allowed to rest.
You are allowed to have boundaries.
You are allowed to say no.
You are allowed to ask for help.
You are allowed to take up space.

And if guilt shows up when you begin doing those things, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing something wrong.

Sometimes guilt simply means you’re doing something differently.

🌱 You don’t have to completely change your life overnight.

Start by noticing.

Where have you been putting yourself last?

Then ask:

“What would it look like to give myself a little more room?”

You deserve a place at the table, too.

Read the full blog for more on learning to make space for yourself—even when guilt comes along for the ride.

09/02/2026

As backpacks are packed and calendars begin to fill, many people assume back-to-school is an exciting fresh start.

But for many children—and parents—it can also bring anxiety, overwhelm, grief, and uncertainty.

You might notice:

Difficulty sleeping before school starts
Increased worry or clinginess
Irritability or emotional outbursts
Trouble concentrating
Complaints of headaches or stomach aches
Feeling overwhelmed by new routines and expectations
These reactions don’t mean something is “wrong.” They often mean the nervous system is adjusting to change.

As parents and caregivers, one of the most powerful things we can offer isn’t having all the answers—it’s creating a safe place where feelings are welcome.

This season, try asking:
💛 “What’s something you’re looking forward to?”
💛 “What’s something you’re worried about?”
💛 “How can I help you feel ready?”

Listening without rushing to fix can help children feel understood and supported.

If this transition feels especially difficult for your child—or for you—you don’t have to navigate it alone.

At A Chair at the Table Counselling Services, I provide a compassionate space to help build coping skills, manage anxiety, and navigate life’s transitions with confidence.

There is always a chair waiting for you at the table.

08/31/2026

One Small Way to Make Space for Yourself

What do you need right now?

Not what does your partner need.
Not what does your family need.
Not what does your workplace need.

What do YOU need?

For some people, this question can be surprisingly difficult to answer.

When you’ve spent years being available to everyone else, you may become very good at noticing other people’s needs while becoming disconnected from your own.

So today, try something simple.

Pause.

Take a breath.

And ask yourself these three questions:

🪑 1. What am I feeling?

Give yourself permission to name it without judging it.

🪑 2. What do I need?

Maybe it’s rest.
Maybe it’s support.
Maybe it’s quiet.
Maybe it’s a boundary.
Maybe it’s simply five minutes where nobody needs anything from you.

🪑 3. What is one small thing I can do?

You don’t need to fix everything.

Maybe you say no to something you don’t have capacity for.

Maybe you ask someone to help.

Maybe you take a break without apologizing.

Maybe you go for a walk.

Maybe you simply give yourself permission to stop for a moment.

Small acts of self-care can become a way of rebuilding your relationship with yourself.

And yes, you may feel guilty.

That’s okay.

You can feel guilty and still choose yourself.

Because taking care of yourself isn’t about putting yourself above everyone else.

It’s about recognizing that you belong among the people you care for.

There is room for you here.

Pull up your chair. 🪑

08/29/2026

Here is the link to this weeks blog. I’d love for you to follow along. Subscribe to have the posts sent directly to your inbox!

Your needs matter. Not more than others, but not less either. Making room for yourself might look like: Saying no without over-explaining Taking time to rest without apologizing Choosing what aligns with you, even if others don’t understand. This isn’t selfish.

08/29/2026

08/29/2026

This week on THE BLOG we are learning to make room for yourself.
For many people, putting themselves first feels… wrong.
You might think:
“I should be able to handle this.”
“Other people need me more.”
“I don’t want to be selfish.”
So you keep showing up for everyone else,
while quietly putting yourself on the back burner.
If you would like to talk more about learning to put yourself first, I have a chair for you.

08/28/2026

Trust isn’t built through one big conversation.
It’s built in the everyday moments that often seem small:
Showing up when you said you would.
Responding gently after a difficult day.
Reading one more bedtime story.
Sharing breakfast together.
Offering comfort instead of criticism.
Children who have experienced trauma don’t just need to hear that they’re safe—they need to experience safety repeatedly.
Over time, those ordinary moments become extraordinary.
They help reshape a child’s understanding of relationships, one interaction at a time.
Small moments. Lasting impact.