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Photo by Benson Low on Unsplash By Sara Clark | www.saraclark.ca In today's fast-paced world, emotional overwhelm can happen to anyone. Whether it's stress, anxiety, grief, frustration, or burnout, we often assume we need to manage difficult emotions on our own. The truth is, humans are wired for connection. Our nervous systems naturally influence one another, and one of the most powerful ways we can support emotional wellbeing is through co-regulation. Co-regulation occurs

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash Sara Clark (MSW/RSW) www.saraclark.ca When people reach out for support, they often use the terms counselling and therapy interchangeably. While there is significant overlap between the two, there can be some important differences in focus, depth, and approach. As a trauma-informed therapist, I often help clients understand which type of support may best meet their needs at a particular point in their healing journey. The Simple Answer Coun

Photo by Ante Hamersmit on Unsplash By Sara Clark, Certified TRE™ Trainer www.saraclark.ca In today's fast-paced world, many people carry more stress than they realize. Deadlines, family responsibilities, financial pressures, world events, and the ongoing demands of daily life can leave the nervous system stuck in a state of tension. While many people understand the importance of exercise for physical health, fewer recognize the value of regularly supporting the health of th

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash By Sara Clark, MSW, RSW Dandelion Family Counselling www.saraclark.ca Many teenagers feel stressed, overwhelmed, or exhausted from time to time. Between school, extracurricular activities, friendships, family expectations, and planning for the future, adolescence can be demanding for anyone. For neurodivergent teens, however, the experience of overwhelm can sometimes develop into something more significant: burnout. Burnout is often misundersto

Photo by Aedrian Salazar on Unsplash By Sara Clark, MSW, RSW www.saraclark.ca Every year on September 30, Canadians recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is a time to learn about, remember, and honour the experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, especially the survivors of residential schools and the children who never returned home. Many people wear orange shirts on this day. The orange shirt comes from the story of Phyllis Webstad, w

Photo by Richard Stachmann on Unsplash By Sara Clark, MSW, RSW Dandelion Family Counselling www.saraclark.ca Every parent has witnessed it: your teen comes home from school, heads straight to their room, barely responds to your questions, and seems irritated by everything. As parents, we often wonder: "Is this just a bad day?" Sometimes it is. Adolescence is filled with emotional highs and lows, friendship challenges, academic pressures, and hormonal changes. Bad days are a

Tips for parents of neurodivergent preteens and teens for school.

Quick tips on how to build a stronger relationship with your teen through co-regulation

By Sara Clark @ Dandelion Family Counselling www.saraclark.ca Photo by Alice Dietrich on Unsplash The transition from adolescence into young adulthood is full of change — new responsibilities, shifting identities, academic pressure, social expectations, and the emotional weight that comes with growing up. For many young people, these changes feel overwhelming. For parents, it can be hard to know how to support a young adult who is struggling but doesn’t always have the words

By Sara Clark @ Dandelion Family Counselling www.saraclark.ca Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash This guide is designed to help young adults — and the parents who support them — understand the emotional landscape of first year university and build the skills needed to navigate it with confidence. Why the Transition to University Feels So Big The shift from high school to university is more than an academic change. It’s a developmental milestone that touches nearly every part

By Sara Clark www.saraclark.ca Who you are and your nervous system is doing a lot of work behind the scenes. TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) is a gentle, body‑based method that helps teens release stress and reconnect with a sense of calm. It’s simple, empowering, and designed to support the body’s natural ability to regulate itself. What Is TRE®? TRE® is a series of easy exercises that activate your body’s natural shaking or “tremoring” response — a built‑in way

By Sara Clark @ Dandelion Family Counselling www.saraclark.ca Some stories stay with us long after childhood ends. They become part of our inner landscape — shaping how we understand courage, friendship, loss, imagination, and the deep bonds that carry us through life. As a therapist working with youth and young adults, I often see how the stories we grow up with influence the way we make sense of the world. As an avid, life long reader these are four books I read as a child

By Sara Clark, MSW, RSW — Dandelion Family Counselling, Calgary www.saraclark.ca Understanding the Overlap For many women, the years leading into perimenopause and menopause bring a sudden shift in focus, memory, emotional regulation, and daily functioning. What often feels like “I’m falling apart” or “I can’t keep up anymore” is sometimes something deeper: ADHD that went undiagnosed for decades, now amplified by hormonal changes. This experience is far more common than mos

By Sara Clark, MSW, RSW — Dandelion Family Counselling, Calgary www.saraclark.ca Photo by mohamad azaam on Unsplash Teens today are growing up in a world that is faster, louder, and more demanding than ever before. While every generation has faced challenges, the pressures on today’s youth are uniquely complex. As a therapist working with teens and young adults in Calgary, I see firsthand how these pressures shape their emotional wellbeing — and how deeply they want to feel

In the world of mental health and therapy, coping skills get a lot of attention — breathing exercises, grounding techniques, journaling, mindfulness, distraction strategies. They’re practical, accessible, and often the first thing people search for or are taught by a therapist when they’re struggling. And while these tools can be incredibly helpful, they are not the whole story. In fact, relying on coping skills alone can leave people wondering why they still feel stuck, over

For www.saraclark.ca (Photo by Valerie Titova on Unsplash) Teen mental health stigma is one of the biggest barriers preventing young people from getting the support they need. Even when a teen is struggling, stigma can make them feel ashamed, misunderstood, or afraid to speak up. For parents, this can create confusion — you can see your child hurting, yet they may insist they’re “fine.” This blog will help parents understand what stigma looks like, why it affects teens so str

Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®) is a accessible body‑led method designed to help release deep patterns of stress, tension, and trauma stored in the nervous system. Developed by Dr. David Berceli, TRE® uses a simple series of exercises to activate the body’s natural reflexive tremor mechanism—an innate process shared by all humans that helps the body return to balance. TRE® is now used worldwide by mental‑health clinicians, body‑based practitioners, first responder

By Sara Clark, MSW, RSW — Dandelion Family Counselling www.saraclark.ca Choosing a therapist for your teen is one of the most meaningful decisions you can make as a parent. The right therapeutic relationship can help your teen feel understood, supported, and empowered — while the wrong fit can leave them discouraged or reluctant to try again. Parents often know their teen needs support, but feel unsure where to start. This guide outlines the most important factors to consid

(image from Kindel Media) Parenting a teenager can feel like navigating shifting ground. One moment they’re independent and thriving; the next, they’re overwhelmed, withdrawn, or struggling in ways that are hard to understand. It’s normal for young adults to experience emotional ups and downs — but sometimes those changes signal that they need more support than family alone can provide. Therapy can offer teens a safe, confidential space to talk openly, build coping skills, an