Kristen Johnston

At Juniper Counselling, we often meet clients who feel stuck swinging between two extremes: feeling “less than” (shame) and feeling “more than” (grandiosity). While they may seem like opposites, both are fuelled by the same energy—an inner spotlight that keeps us focused on how we measure up in the eyes of others. This constant self-evaluation

Many people turn to cannabis to help with sleep. While it can seem like a quick fix, the effects are more complex than they appear. Cannabis may help you fall asleep faster, but it can also disrupt the deeper stages of rest your body truly needs. At Juniper Counselling, we often hear clients wondering if

When many people think about counselling, they imagine someone in crisis—struggling with depression, trauma, or a major mental health breakdown. At Juniper Counselling in Port Moody, we see counselling differently. While therapy can absolutely support people during those hard times, it’s also a powerful resource for everyday life. Counselling isn’t only for people with a

In a world that often tells us comfort is the goal, it can be jarring to face hardship. Whether it’s anxiety, grief, burnout, or loss, we’re left wondering: Why is this so hard? Why am I not handling this better? But the truth is, you are handling it. You’re here, reading this, breathing through it.

As summer winds down and schedules become full again, many of us in Port Moody and the Tri-Cities feel the shift into September as both exciting and overwhelming. Returning to school, work routines, and community activities often comes with a burst of energy—followed quickly by stress and fatigue. One powerful way to navigate this transition

Middle school can be a mix of excitement, independence, and—let’s be honest—big emotions. As summer winds down, many kids feel a swirl of anticipation and worry. A new grade means new teachers, new classmates, and sometimes new expectations. For kids prone to anxiety, this change can feel overwhelming. Here’s how you can help your middle

Is Social Media Making Us More Anxious? How Counselling in Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam Can Help.   Over the past decade, researchers, parents, and mental health professionals have been watching an unsettling trend: young people are reporting higher rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and self-doubt. Some experts, like psychologist Jonathan Haidt (author of

In a world filled with small talk, smiling emojis, and “Have a nice day!” platitudes, we’ve come to prize niceness. We’re taught to be agreeable, to smooth over discomfort, and to avoid conflict at all costs. But what if being “nice” isn’t always what the world needs? What if what we really need is more

Have you ever felt like you’re the only one who doesn’t have weekend plans? Or like everyone else seems to be doing just fine—while you’re quietly feeling disconnected? If so, you’re definitely not alone. In fact, loneliness is becoming such a big issue in Canada (especially here in BC) that people are calling it a

At Juniper Counselling, we often speak about compassion as one of our core values — creating spaces where clients feel seen, supported, and safe. But not all compassion is created equal. In fact, there’s a term coined by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa that captures this beautifully: idiot compassion. While it may sound harsh at