Hidden Cedar Stables

I’ve been taking time to reflect this week - "National Mental Health Week"...these types of weeks always cause me to step back. This seems odd given I'm a therapist that treats mental health but hear me out...

I step back because there are moments where I feel frustrated with how society approaches mental health—especially when it’s treated as a campaign rather than an ongoing reality people live with every day.

Mental health isn't a once a year conversation. It's not something we can highlight for a week and then forget about. A week of awareness campaigns, posts and slogans don't actually do much too change the reality of mental health.

What actually helps mental health and makes a difference is access: to affordable, timely mental health care, counselling, crisis supports, and services that don’t come with long waitlists or barriers that push people away when they need help most.

It’s education that goes beyond awareness and into practical understanding—helping people recognize signs of struggle in themselves and others, and knowing what to do next.

It’s workplaces, schools, and communities that create environments where people don’t have to hide how they’re doing, and where taking care of mental health is treated as normal, not exceptional.

And on a human level, it’s simple but powerful things: checking in on people regularly, listening without trying to fix everything, reducing stigma in everyday conversations, and making space for honesty without judgment.

As a therapist this looks like offering a safe, steady space where people can unpack what they’re carrying, make sense of their experiences, and build tools that actually fit their life—not just theory or quick fixes.

May this "National Mental Health" week serve as a reminder that mental health deserves ongoing space in how we work, how we support each other, and how we move through daily life. It deserves consistency and it's not just a few days on a calendar.

Got up to something very exciting last night!! I was invited to Braelie Equestrian to present a talk to the show team about Horse Show anxiety.

We spent the evening talking about what anxiety actually is (what happens in the brain and body), why it shows up at shows, how it impacts both the rider and the horse and importantly - practical tools to manage it.

Horse show anxiety is something almost every rider deals with and is such a common piece of the sport. I had so much fun - I'm now offering it to other barns and rider groups. It is geared toward teens but we can customize and tailor it for what you are needing.

If anyone is interested please text me 613 848 4163 or email me [email protected]. If you are a lone show rider - consider getting some of your friends together and having me. I'm open to all idea's. I could even host one on-site if there was enough interest.

Bookings will be limited but rates will be at an introductory level for 2026.