Welcome Back, Sydney! A Familiar Face Joins Us as Our Newest Associate

We’re thrilled to officially welcome Sydney Walker, M.A., to the Crossroads team in her new role as an Associate and Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate (RCT-C)!

Many of you may already recognize Sydney—she first joined Crossroads as our Administrative Assistant, later stepped into the role of Practicum Student, and now returns as a fully qualified clinician after completing her Master’s in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. We’re incredibly proud to see her growth and honoured to have her continue her professional journey with us.

Sydney is already making waves in the field of mental health. She recently co-authored a published academic paper titled Factors related to post-traumatic stress disorder in parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Her dedication to both clinical practice and research speaks to the passion and depth she brings to her work.

In her therapeutic practice, Sydney draws on a variety of evidence-based approaches, including:

• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Attachment-Based Therapies
• Mindfulness-Based Practices
• The Gottman Method

This integrative approach allows her to tailor sessions to meet the unique needs of each client, supporting them with care, insight, and professionalism.

Whether you’re looking to improve your emotional well-being, navigate a life transition, or work through relationship challenges, Sydney offers a compassionate, skilled presence to walk alongside you.

Ready to book a session with Sydney?
We’d love to connect you— contact us today to get started.

Welcome Back, Sydney! A Familiar Face Joins Us as Our Newest Associate

One year ago, Crossroads Counselling & Psychological Services proudly moved into our newly renovated building in Hammonds Plains. Today, we’re taking a moment to reflect on this incredible journey and celebrate the growth we’ve experienced along the way. It’s our 1-Year Building Anniversary, and we couldn’t be more grateful!

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Back in April 2024, our team included Amy, two associates, and a practicum student—all working from offices in a local business centre. In November 2023, we purchased a new building and began renovations in January 2024, completing them just in time for our grand opening in May 2024.

Since then, we’ve grown in so many ways. Our team has expanded, our building has come to life with energy and purpose, and—most importantly—we’ve had the privilege of supporting more clients on their mental health journeys.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout this process. To our team members—past, present, and new—thank you for your dedication. And to our clients: you are the reason we continue striving to make a positive impact on mental health in our community.

Here’s to one amazing year—and to all that’s still to come!

Crossroads’ 1-Year Building Anniversary

How to Stay Grounded in Uncertain Times

Let’s be honest — life feels heavy lately. Maybe you’ve found yourself deep in the daily doomscroll, searching for a sense of control. Whether it’s global conflict, political change, economic instability, climate anxiety, or personal upheaval, it can feel like the world is unraveling. In times like these, it’s important to find grounding perspectives to help you navigate the fear and uncertainty you may be experiencing.

This Isn’t New

Here’s a powerful truth: none of this is new.

Human history is filled with challenge, uncertainty, and change. And yet, throughout time, people have adapted, survived — and even thrived. While we don’t want to minimize what we’re collectively facing today, it’s worth remembering that hardship is not new to humanity.

We’ve endured pandemics like the 1918 Spanish Flu, which infected a third of the global population, and more recently, COVID-19, which shook our already strained healthcare systems and became one of the most significant global health crises of the 21st century. Economically, we’ve weathered the Great Depression in 1929 and the Great Recession in 2008 — both periods of widespread financial instability and struggle.

While the specifics differ, these events tell a familiar story: humans are remarkably resilient. That doesn’t mean we’re immune to fear or stress — but it does mean we come from a legacy of perseverance, resourcefulness, and adaptation.

Feel What You Feel

When the world feels unpredictable, our emotional landscapes shift. You may feel anger, grief, anxiety, helplessness — or perhaps numbness. Rather than judging or suppressing these emotions, try approaching them with curiosity and compassion.

Ask yourself: What’s really coming up for me right now?
Is it fear for your future? Heartbreak for others? A sense of powerlessness? Whatever it is — your emotions are valid.

Acknowledging your feelings is the first step toward deciding how to respond. For some, that might mean joining a cause, donating, talking with someone who can hold space for your experience, or volunteering in a way that restores purpose and agency. Remember, meaningful action doesn’t have to be grand — small steps matter.

Emotions can also point us toward new boundaries we need to set. This might mean limiting difficult conversations with others, changing the subject when topics become overwhelming, or giving yourself permission to disengage. Setting boundaries with yourself is just as important — like taking breaks from the news, recognizing what’s in your control, or intentionally focusing on something that brings you peace or joy.

Your Brain Is Wired for Threat Detection

If you’ve been doomscrolling more than you’d like to admit, know this: you’re not alone — and you’re not broken.

Our brains are wired to scan for danger. It’s a leftover survival mechanism that once helped us avoid predators. Today, it can trap us in a loop of consuming distressing media, reinforcing the belief that the world is constantly unsafe.

News platforms are often designed to keep us engaged — not necessarily to inform, but to capture attention for profit. Social media algorithms work similarly, feeding us more of what we engage with — including negativity and fear-inducing content.

The more we consume this kind of content, the more our brain believes danger is imminent. It gets a hit of validation every time something bad confirms our worries, reinforcing the cycle and keeping our nervous system in a constant state of alert.

Try limiting your news intake to once a day from a few trusted sources. Balance this with stories of hope, kindness, and progress — reminders that good still exists in the world. Your nervous system needs that balance.

You can also use this moment as a learning opportunity. Instead of spiralling into fear, educate yourself more deeply on the issues that matter to you. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) teaches us to evaluate the evidence for and against our thoughts, helping reduce anxiety and cultivate more balanced thinking.

Remember, the more we engage with certain types of media, the more we shape our digital environment — often unknowingly narrowing our perspectives. Broaden your lens by reading books, listening to podcasts, exploring scholarly articles, or having conversations with people who hold different viewpoints. It’s one of the most powerful ways to stay informed and grounded.

Do You Trust Yourself?

Sometimes the scariest part of uncertain times isn’t what’s happening “out there” — it’s what we believe about ourselves.

If you don’t trust your ability to handle hard things, the future will feel terrifying. But what if you could start to rebuild that trust?

Reflect on the story you’re telling yourself. Is it one of fragility or one of quiet strength? Does your inner critic tell you you’ll fall apart when things get tough? That voice might mean well — it wants to prepare you — but in doing so, it can feed your anxiety and erode your sense of inner safety.

Take a moment to remember everything you’ve already survived. The challenges you’ve met. The lessons you’ve learned. The ways you’ve grown. You don’t need to predict every twist and turn to be okay — you just need to believe that you’ll rise to meet them when they come.

This is your invitation to challenge the inner critic and replace it with a quieter, steadier voice that says: I’ve got me.

Final Thoughts

The way we see the world depends on where we choose to look.

Uncertainty doesn’t always mean chaos.
It can also mean possibility, renewal, and hidden strength.

So take a break. Take a breath. Feel what’s real. And turn down the noise.
And above all — return to that deep, inner trust that reminds you:

You are steady.
You are capable.
You are not alone.
You’ve got this.

Carey Best is a Registered Psychologist who is passionate about helping people discover how to help themselves. To book a session with Carey, contact us.

Parents – Connect through reading

Parents – Reading is wonderful opportunity to not only teach your child in many different ways, but to also support a positive relationship and have fun!

The next time you are reading together, try the following:

• Sit face to face so you can easily interact with each other. You can have your child towards you while on your lap, or sitting in front of you facing you.
• Make sure you’re at the same, or very similar, height level. This allows for a lot of eye contact and connection through the story!
• Use animated faces and voices throughout the story to capture their attention and make them smile.
• You can even act out the story and make it highly interactive for the both of you.

Kirsten Spasyouti is a Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate with experience in supporting parents and children in emotional development and regulation. Kirsten supports children, adolescents and adults with a particular focus in neuro-affirming care. She can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kirstenspasyouti_rct_c/ where she shares information for individuals across the lifespan. To book a session with Kirsten, contact us.

Connect through reading

The team at Crossroads wishes a warm welcome to our new Admin Assistant, Ana Lorenzon. Ana joins us with a strong background in marketing and program management. As well, she is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree from Yorkville University. We are pleased to have her on the team! Please join us in welcoming her as you see her. 🙂

Emotion Talk: Why teaching children how to speak about their emotions is important for their overall growth and development.

Talking about emotions with your child from a young age is crucial for their emotional development and overall well-being. As a parent, you have the unique and wonderful opportunity to start integrating this type of language into your day-to-day interactions with your child.

Here are five reasons why teaching kids to express their emotions is important:

1. Helps your child to both understand and label their emotions. This helps them to express themselves better and can reduce frustrations or behavioural outbursts. For example, your child may say, “I feel sad because you said ‘no’ to TV,” rather than reacting with anger. Tip: Use a variety of emotion words to continue to expand their, and your, language (E.g., frustrated, overwhelmed, embarrassed).
2. Promotes Emotional Intelligence. This includes skills like empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person), self-awareness (understanding the things that make you who you are), and self-regulation (being aware of your thoughts, emotions and behaviors and being able to manage your responses to those). These skills support your child in building healthy relationships and coping with different challenges that they face.
3. Helps your child to build healthy coping mechanisms. When we can recognize and name what we are feeling, we are better able to cope during that experience. For example, if a child can recognize the anxiety they feel before a test, they can make a conscious choice as to how to support themselves through it (E.g., deep breathing). Tip: Model healthy coping mechanisms for your child to normalize the use of different tools.
4. Strengthens relationships: Open communication about emotions can foster a secure and trusting relationship between your child and you. This secure attachment helps children manage their feelings better and develop a sense of security. Fact: The attachment and security they feel with you will show up later in life in different relationships.
5. Supports your child’s academic and social success: Children who manage their emotions well are more likely to do well in school and get along with others. This is because they can focus better, handle stress, and interact positively with their peers. Additionally, the more they feel safe to talk about their emotions, the more likely they are to seek help from others (E.g., teachers) when needed.
   

Kirsten Spasyouti is a Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate with experience in supporting parents and children in emotional development and regulation. Kirsten supports children, adolescents and adults with a particular focus in neuro-affirming care. She can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kirstenspasyouti_rct_c/ where she shares information for individuals across the lifespan. To book a session with Kirsten, contact us.

Teaching kids to express their emotions

We are pleased to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Julia Slaunwhite, a valued member of the Crossroads team. Having initially joined us as a practicum student in 2024, Julia has reached an impressive milestone by completing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University.

With her recent qualification, Julia has now become a Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate. This accomplishment not only marks a significant progression in her career but also underscores our commitment to providing high-quality mental health services to our community. Julia’s passion for helping others is evident in her collaborative, warm approach to counseling, ensuring that clients feel supported as they navigate their personal journeys.

Throughout her time at Crossroads, Julia has proven to be an effective counsellor, bringing empathy, understanding, and a wealth of knowledge to her approach. Her training and experience allow her to connect with individuals on a meaningful level, tailoring her therapeutic techniques to meet the unique needs of those she serves.

As Julia embarks on this exciting new chapter, we invite you to book a session with her. Whether you are struggling with life’s challenges or seeking personal growth, Julia is here to support you on your path to wellness.

To schedule a session with Julia, please contact us at Crossroads. Join us in celebrating Julia’s achievements and welcoming her into this new role.

Crossroads has started, this year, offering child therapy and children’s ADHD and psychoeducational assessments. The introduction of services to this new client group has brought with it a special demand – beverages for kids! (Apparently kids are not impressed by our selection of coffee, who knew?)

The Crossroads team is thrilled to welcome Joanna Lockhart! Joanna is a Registered Counselling Therapist – Candidate with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University. With nearly 20 years of experience as a paramedic in Nova Scotia, Joanna brings a compassionate and unique perspective to her therapeutic work. Her time on the front lines has given her a deep appreciation for the challenges faced by first responders and healthcare professionals, allowing her to connect with clients on a meaningful level.

We’re happy to share that Joanna is now accepting new clients and will begin her practice with us on February 3.

To learn more about Joanna and her approach, please view her profile page.

We invite you to contact us today to book a counselling appointment with Joanna Lockhart. 

Welcome Joanna Lockhart!