Defensiveness is the stance and the set of behaviours that we tend to engage in when we perceive that we’re being attacked, criticized, or blamed. Of course, it makes sense that we defend ourselves when we’re attacked but it’s important to note that we can perceive attack or criticism even when it’s not intended. As couples therapists, we know that we often see criticism and defensiveness showing up together but that’s not always the case.

Did you ever stop to think about what communication actually is? When you consider what you’re trying to do when you communicate with someone, it becomes really clear why communication is so hard. What you’re trying to do is take something in your brain — like thoughts or feelings — and transform them into words from your vocabulary, string them together into sentences, while hoping that the words you chose mean the same thing to the person on the receiving end of what you’re trying to share, and trying to avoid words that might take away from the meaning of what you’re trying to communicate.

First of all, men have feelings. It’s true. It’s not what we tend to see when we’re talking to other guys or watching men on television. But this is a really important starting point. You don’t need to know much about them or even like them right now. If we’re going to talk about what it’s like for men to be their best selves, it’s going to have to start with acknowledging the emotions you’ve got.

Did you ever stop to think about what communication actually is? When you consider what you’re trying to do when you communicate with someone, it becomes really clear why communication is so hard. What you’re trying to do is take something in your brain — like thoughts or feelings — and transform them into words from your vocabulary, string them together into sentences, while hoping that the words you chose mean the same thing to the person on the receiving end of what you’re trying to share, and trying to avoid words that might take away from the meaning of what you’re trying to communicate.

We wanted to create an opportunity for people to learn new ways to foster a healthy emotional life while also creating a sense of community here in our local area. So, we are creating Landmark Learning Sessions to be a monthly workshop environment where you’ll be able to hear from our therapists and other community members about practices you can put in place keep your emotional fitness high.

Trauma can take many forms. It isn’t always a single, dramatic event—sometimes it’s ongoing experiences, such as bullying, neglect, abuse, or prolonged stress. For people in Newfoundland and Labrador, trauma can also be shaped by the unique aspects of life in our communities: loss of employment, sudden life changes, natural disasters, or the ripple effects of isolation in small towns.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether counselling is really for you, you’re not alone. Many people think about reaching out for support long before they actually do anything about it. In Newfoundland and Labrador especially, people are often used to handling things on their own, pushing through, and not making a fuss.