I sometimes introduce myself as YodaNinja. "Yoda on the outside, Ninja on the inside." Outside, I seem calm and composed. When I speak (or write), what I say can be profound, perplexing... or both. But my inner world is another story. Deep inside of me is a Ninja battleground where thoughts, emotions, ideas, and utter randomness all fight for my attention. Every once in a while, they actually cooperate and I have to say, I'm deadly. But then they go at it again... and "Everybody is Kung Fu fighting." I'm a dad, a husband and a guy whose mind has a mind of it's own. My recovery from my addiction to numbing myself (with pretty much anything I can get my hands on) is a lifelong journey. I live with depression, anxiety and adhd... and sometimes they don't get along very well with my family, or with the rest of my life. Professionaly, I make my living as a Counselling Therapist in Edmonton, Canada. I teach on addiction and psychopathology at City University, and I have a small counselling practice where I use superheroes and other geeky stuff to help people make peace with their own personal YodaNinja. This blog is part of my healing and writing keeps me grounded. I hope that something I have written may add a little bit to your journey. Keep it Real
For article, “Are You at War with Your Pain or with the People in Your Life?” click on the photo. I write articles that talk about the kind of changes I am trying to make in my own life. I hope that my writing also helps you. My topics include addiction and mental health recovery, … More Your Pain Can be a Tool or a Pathway
For article, “Do You Know How to Change Your Relationship with the Past?” click on the photo. I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the … More Learning to Make Room for the Past
In life, healing is optional. Not everyone signs up to do the work. ___ Is your pain something to be experienced, worked through or overcome? Or is your pain a tool? Not everyone wants to heal. For some people, their pain can become a tool to use (against or upon others) rather than an … More Are You at War with Your Pain or with the People in Your Life?
For article, “A New Definition of Emotional Healing: Acceptance” click on photo. I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the latest and best of my writing. … More Healing is Not the Absence of Pain, but the Freedom to Live
What is a worthwhile life? Whatever it is for you, you are worth it. ___ Some days liking myself can be difficult. I think this is why I was addicted to Facebook. “Likes” can feel like a puff of a social media sized cigarette, a shot of nicotine that goes straight for the self-esteem. Someone … More I Was Addicted to Facebook “Likes” But I Actually Hated Myself
For article, “Recovery and How to Build a Bridge to Healing” click on photo above. I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the latest and … More Healing is NOT about being pain free!
For article, “Yes, I Pray. And yes, I am crazy.” Click on the photo above. I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the latest and … More Your Shadow is Only as Powerful as You Let it be
For article, “What Gets You Through the Hard Times,” click on the photo. I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the latest and best of … More What is it that Gets You Through the Hard Times?
For article, “Do You Know How to Change Your Relationship with the Past?” click on the photo. I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive the … More How to Change Your Relationship With Your Past
For article, “Why Expecting Yourself to Always be Better is Ruining Your Life,” click on the photo. I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to receive … More Expectations Will Wreak Havoc on Your Health
Getting High on Recovery 