Acute Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex-PTSD are slightly different from each other. Acute PTSD occurs when we experience a one time, unexpected rupture to our sense of physical, emotional, financial, spiritual safety. Examples of Acute PTSD are: a natural disaster, an unexpected physical attack/assault, a house fire, one-time infidelity in a relationship, or a sudden termination at work.

Complex PTSD is more of an ongoing violation to our sense of self and safety, and it usually involves a betrayal of trust between people. It often occurs over years. Examples of Complex PTSD are: childhood physical, sexual, emotional abuse; physical or emotional neglect; physical, verbal, financial abuse in our adult relationships; chronic infidelity in a romantic relationship; a chronically toxic work environment, bullying, etc.

Attachment-based therapy and Family Systems therapy are types of psychotherapy that complement each other. Bluebird Therapy uses these forms of therapy frequently in their work with folks.

Attachment-based therapy helps us understand our early attachment styles. These styles often include avoidant attachment, anxious-ambivalent attachment, disorganized attachment, or secure attachment. Attachment-based therapy helps us form healthier, more secure attachments in our current relationships by exploring past connection wounds to ourselves and others, and fosters self trust and trust in others.

Attachment-based therapy can be combined with Family Systems therapy to help re-parent the inner child, heal current relationship wounds, and develop healthier self-esteem.

Family Systems Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that considers the family as a dynamic and interconnected unit. The health of the family unit is a product of, and impacts, the health and dynamics of the individuals who make up the family unit. The family unit is a like a web and the individuals in the family are nodes or links in the web of the family. This type of therapy can be used in individual and couples therapy. It also considers intergenerational patterns, as well as cultural and social influences on the individual/couple.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that, over time, can cause a unique form of burnout and distress for the individual living with diabetes, as well as for their closest loved ones. Diabetes burnout can look like depression but it is its own type of distress (Fischer, 2010). Of course, an individual living with diabetes can be coping with depression and diabetes distress at the same time or separately at different times in their lives.

Diabetes burnout areas include: challenges to collaborate with diabetes healthcare team, emotional burnout, daily blood sugar management fatigue, relationship struggles with loved ones helping you with diabetes care, fear of low blood sugars, fear of high blood sugars, fear of DKA and/or future complications.

Bethany successfully completed the Mental Health and Diabetes Training Program through Breakthrough T1D in May, 2023. She has a passion for working with adults living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Bethany worked for over 2 years with a diabetes education clinic who served children living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and their family. Bethany also has a love of supporting caregivers of children/youth who are living with diabetes.

Depression is a common but serious mental health condition. Symptoms of depression include: irritability, emptiness, hopelessness; loss of interest in things you previously enjoyed; social isolation; changes in sleep and eating patterns; apathy; excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness; restlessness and/or slower physical movements.

Anxiety is also a common mental health condition that can have serious impacts to our quality of life. There are different types of anxiety, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Some common anxiety symptoms include: feeling nervous, restless, or tense; impending sense of doom or panic; breathing rapidly; sweating and trembling; feeling tired or weak; trouble concentrating; digestive issues, and avoiding things that cue anxiety.

Bethany has extensive experience working with individuals coping with anxiety, depression, or both.

Cognitive Behavioural therapy is an evidence-based approach to recovering from anxiety and/or depression. Bethany successfully completed the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Chronic Illness and Diabetes training program through Wilfrid Laurier University’s continuing education program and Qualia Counselling Services in 2024. Bethany is skilled at using CBT and mindfulness-based approaches to healing from anxiety and/or depression symptoms.

Living with suicidal thoughts, especially chronic suicidal thoughts, can be incredibly isolating. Our culture continues to have a lot of stigma surrounding suicide, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. This stigma can make it difficult to talk about these thoughts and even harder to reach out for help.

Suicidal thoughts can be a symptom of other mental health conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or PTSD. Chronic pain and chronic physical health conditions may also increase thoughts of suicide.

Ultimately, our sense of self-worth and our drive to live are severely depleted. Although Bluebird Therapy does not provide crisis support, Bethany is experienced and skilled in working with these shadow places.

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call 9-8-8 which is the Suicide Crisis Line in Cananda.

Burnout and chronic stress are broad terms that describe a constellation of other unpleasant symptoms.

These symptoms can include: physical exhaustion, headaches, self-doubt, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, sleep problems, changes in appetite, cynicism and negativity, numbness and isolation, frustration, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

There are different types of burnout too. For instances, caregiver burnout involves the stress an individual feels when taking care of an elderly parent or chronically ill loved one. Other types of burnout stem from high-pressure work environments or living with a chronic physical health condition, such as Type 1 diabetes.

Psychotherapy is a great way to carve out a few moments for yourself to breathe and reflect when you’re experiencing a lot of “go! go! go!” Psychotherapy also provides a caring connection with someone who wants to listen and wants to support you in what you need as your helping others or diligently working on your life goals.