Posts by Cheryl Vanderveen
Faith and Life’s Next Chapter: Finding Purpose Through Transition
Retirement. An adult child leaving home. A diagnosis that changes how the next few years will look. A role you have held for decades coming to an end. Life transitions unsettle our footing, and for those who hold a deep faith, they often bring an added question underneath all the practical ones: what is the…
Read MoreFaith, Identity, and Self-Worth: Made in God’s Image
It is possible to believe, that you are made in God’s image, and still not feel it most days. These two things, what we believe and what we feel, do not always move at the same pace, and the gap between them can be a quiet, confusing place to live. “If I really believed I…
Read MoreExercise and Mental Health: Moving Toward Well-Being
Most of us already know that being active is good for the body. What we talk about less often is the close link between exercise and mental health, and how much movement can do for the mind. When you are carrying stress, low mood, or worry, though, getting up and moving can feel like the…
Read MoreThe Strength in Vulnerability: Why Powering Through Grief Isn’t as Effective as Processing It
When someone we love dies, when a relationship ends, when health changes, when a chapter of life closes, the world can feel like it has shifted in ways we never asked for. Grief is painful. Sometimes the word pain doesn’t even come close to describing what we feel. It can settle into our bodies, interrupt…
Read MoreThe Compassion Gap: Self-Esteem Therapy and Self-Kindness
Most of us would never speak to a friend the way we speak to ourselves. When someone we love is struggling, we soften our voice. We remind them they are doing their best. We hold space for the messy, in-progress, very human parts of who they are. But when we turn inward, the tone often…
Read MoreChristian Counselling: Finding Meaning in the Struggle
We will all face pain in this life. Some pain is uncomfortable. Other pain feels absolutely unbearable. No matter how deep the ache or where it comes from, most of us share one quiet hope: that we could somehow avoid it. If you are reading this, something heavy may already be sitting on your shoulders.…
Read MoreThe First 50 Minutes: Your First Counselling Session
Sometimes the hardest part of counselling is not the work itself. It is the step before the work, the moment of choosing to reach out at all. If you have been thinking about counselling, opening and closing a contact form more than once, you are not alone in that experience. Many people describe the same…
Read MoreTools for the Mental Loop: How CBT Helps You Respond to Anxious Thoughts
Anxious thoughts can feel intrusive, relentless, and exhausting. They can show up when you are trying to fall asleep, in the middle of a workday, while driving, or even during moments that are supposed to feel calm. For many people, one of the most common questions in therapy is: How do I stop thinking this…
Read MoreWhy Credentials and Training Matter in Counselling
When people begin looking for therapy, it is not always easy to know what different titles mean. Terms like counsellor, therapist, and psychotherapist are often used broadly, and many people understandably assume they all reflect the same training and qualifications. At Kardia4Life Counselling, we believe it is important to offer some clarity, because when you…
Read MoreThe Comfort of Home: Why Virtual Therapy Is Becoming a Standard in Ontario
Over the past few years, virtual therapy in Ontario has become much more than a temporary alternative. For many people, it is now a preferred and very effective way to receive counselling. At Kardia4Life Counselling, we have seen how meaningful online therapy can be for adults who want support that is easier to access, more…
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