Kristen Johnston

The Safety Gap: Why Feeling Emotionally Safe Matters More Than Feeling “Fine”

Anxiety, Depression & Mood, Emotional Regulation & Resilience, Understanding Mental Health

Most people know how to say “I’m fine” even when their nervous system is not.We learn to push through, stay polite, stay productive, stay composed. On the outside, we look functional. On the inside, something feels tight, braced, or unsettled. At Juniper Counselling, we call this the Safety Gap — the space between appearing okay […]

The Safety Gap: Why Feeling Emotionally Safe Matters More Than Feeling “Fine” Read More »

When Coping Skills Stop Working: What Your Nervous System Might Be Asking For

Anxiety, Depression & Mood, Emotional Regulation & Resilience

You’ve tried the breathing exercises.You’ve journaled.You’ve gone for the walk, limited caffeine, and told yourself to “use your tools.” And still… nothing shifts. If coping skills that once helped don’t seem to work anymore, it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Often, it means your nervous system is overwhelmed — not unmotivated. At Juniper Counselling

When Coping Skills Stop Working: What Your Nervous System Might Be Asking For Read More »

Changing Unhelpful Thought Patterns: A CBT Skill You Can Practice

CBT

Our minds are busy places. When stress, grief, or overwhelm show up, it’s common for our thinking to narrow—looping into self-criticism, worst-case scenarios, or harsh conclusions about ourselves and others. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) offers practical tools for working with these patterns—not by forcing positivity, but by helping us relate to our thoughts with more

Changing Unhelpful Thought Patterns: A CBT Skill You Can Practice Read More »

The 7 Types of Rest: Why Holiday Downtime Still Leaves Us Tired (and What to Do About It)

Anxiety, Depression & Mood, Emotional Regulation & Resilience

The holidays are often framed as a time to rest. Time off work. Slower mornings. Fewer meetings. And yet, many people arrive at January feeling depleted, foggy, or oddly unmotivated—wondering why all that “time off” didn’t translate into feeling restored. At Juniper Counselling, we often remind clients: rest isn’t one-size-fits-all. True rest goes far beyond

The 7 Types of Rest: Why Holiday Downtime Still Leaves Us Tired (and What to Do About It) Read More »

Climate Doom to Messy Hope Handbook

Workbooks

This handbook is grounded in a commitment to fostering deeper understandings and connections to how we can support magnifying climate change impacts on individual and community mental health and wellbeing. The goal of this resource is to offer an accessible, easy-to-engage touchpoint for people looking to connect with climate wellbeing information, strategies and pathways to

Climate Doom to Messy Hope Handbook Read More »

What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed but Still High-Functioning

Emotional Regulation & Resilience, Understanding Mental Health

For people who look “fine” on the outside but feel exhausted on the inside. In Port Moody, Coquitlam, and the wider Tri-Cities, so many people are juggling demanding careers, families, caregiving roles, community commitments—and still showing up with a smile. On paper, everything looks “fine.” Inside? Not so much. This experience has a name: high-functioning

What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed but Still High-Functioning Read More »

Finding Glimmers: Small Moments That Help Us Feel Safe, Seen, and Alive

Emotional Regulation & Resilience

You’ve probably heard the word “trigger”—something that sends your nervous system into stress or survival mode. But did you know there’s an opposite? They’re called glimmers—tiny moments that help your body feel calm, connected, or even quietly joyful. What Are Glimmers? The term glimmers was coined by therapist Deb Dana, a leading voice in Polyvagal Theory—the science of how our

Finding Glimmers: Small Moments That Help Us Feel Safe, Seen, and Alive Read More »

How to Manage the Emotional Load of Motherhood (and Avoid Mom Burnout)

Parenthood

Motherhood is one of the most meaningful roles a person can have—but it can also be overwhelming. Many mothers experience “the emotional load of motherhood”: the invisible, constant responsibility of planning, worrying, managing, and caring for the entire family. Add in exhaustion, social expectations, and limited support, and it’s no surprise that so many women

How to Manage the Emotional Load of Motherhood (and Avoid Mom Burnout) Read More »

How to Stop Rumination

Anxiety, Depression & Mood, Emotional Regulation & Resilience, Understanding Mental Health

We all have an inner voice — the steady stream of thoughts that narrates our day, revisits conversations, and worries about what might come next. Sometimes, that voice can be helpful, offering reflection and insight. But when it loops endlessly on the same fear or regret, it becomes rumination — and that’s when our mental health takes

How to Stop Rumination Read More »

What to Expect From CBT Therapy at Juniper Counselling

Uncategorized

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely researched and effective approaches to mental health support. At Juniper Counselling, we use CBT with kindness, curiosity, and evidence-based expertise to help you navigate challenges and build lasting change. A Collaborative Approach CBT isn’t something “done to” you — it’s a collaborative process. In your

What to Expect From CBT Therapy at Juniper Counselling Read More »

Stay Connected, Stay Grounded

Join Our Weekly Wellness Newsletter