Psychology Month is celebrated every February to inform Canadians about how psychology helps people live happier, healthier lives. The Canadian Psychological Association envisions a society where the understanding of diverse human needs drive policies and programs for individuals and communities. This blog will highlight the role of a clinical psychologist, psychological services, and caring for your health.

Psychologists are professionals with extensive university training in the foundations of human behavior, cognitions, emotions, and relationships. Psychologists in Alberta are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), and must follow the Health Professions Act, a Code of Ethics, and Standards of Practice. The mandate of CAP is to serve the interests of the public and guide the profession of psychology. Clinical psychologists promote wellness primarily by assessing and treating mental health concerns in public and private counselling settings.

Psychology is for everyone. You do not need to be in crisis or have a diagnosis to talk with a professional. Psychological services are effective for relieving anxiety, depression, pain, stress, trauma, and a wide range of other concerns. They are also effective for building better habits and coping skills, improving performance and confidence, and helping people be better partners and parents. The Psychologists’ Association of Alberta seeks to promote the well-being and potential of all Albertans.

Taking care of your health can help you cope better and can also make your family and community stronger. According to the World Health Organization, health is a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. To foster good overall health, we need to consider numerous factors, including:

• nutrition and hydration
• exercise and sleep
• substance use
• mental and physical health care
• social connection and support
• home and work routine

Canadians have all been affected in different ways by Covid and the pandemic response. When stress persists beyond what you can manage, interferes with work/home/social roles, or brings up intense feelings of overwhelm or hopelessness, speaking with a mental health professional can be helpful. As a regulated health profession, services provided privately by a psychologist may be tax deductible or covered by your insurance. Talk with your doctor, check out Access Mental Health, or the Psychologists' Association of Alberta for help choosing the right service or professional to help you reach your goals.

Written by Lisa Shaw, the Owner of Energize Health, from our most recent email newsletter. View the full newsletter (including an exciting baby annoucement!) here.

I had good intentions of having this newsletter in your inbox four weeks ago.

It was a business-related new year’s resolution, in fact: to be more timely and consistent with sending out our email newsletter. The busy holiday season swiftly turned into post-holiday clean up, and before I knew it, the chaotic, back-to-school adjustment had arrived. Drafts of this newsletter sat, untouched, for weeks.

Was my resolution unreasonable? Was I expecting too much of myself? Maybe. Maybe not.

The answers to those questions are important to consider, but it is not what matters most. What matters most is: how do I treat myself in a situation like this, when I didn’t meet my own expectations? What is my inner narrative when a task I deem to be of importance is left out there - hanging - waiting to be finished and I just. can’t. get to it.

Do I beat myself up? Tell myself I should better prioritize, stop procrastinating? Make more time. Rest less. Work more. Produce. Produce. Produce. 

Or, instead… can I extend myself some grace? Take a deep breath. Speak to myself, kindly, as I would a friend: “It’s okay. Life has been really busy. No one except you is worried about this work not being done. The work will always be there. Go. Rest. Hug your babies. Eat some food. Nourish your body with exercise, and your mind with a book. Be kind to yourself. You’ll get to this newsletter when you are able, with a motivated mind and rested heart.” 

This year at Energize, we want to strive to promote kindness and self compassion. By developing a more compassionate attitude towards ourselves, we may also learn to be kinder and more understanding of others. Mistakes and setbacks (real or perceived) can be seen as learning opportunities, allowing us to practice self-compassion and forgiveness rather than berating ourselves for failing. Through this approach, we can foster a deeper connection with ourselves, our communities, and the greater world around us. Be kind to yourself. This is the only resolution you need.

I invite you to join me in this resolution. Set the simple but profound intention to be kinder to yourself in 2023. Your self-compassion and love will bring better health and happiness to you, and will create a ripple effect, positively impacting those around you in ways you likely can’t even imagine. 🦋

Please accept my kindest and warmest new year’s wishes, belated but sincere. Thanks for being here, and I hope to cross paths with you at one of the clinics soon.

Lisa Shaw
Owner, Energize Health
Direct: 403-869-1220
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.