top of page
Navigating Digital Brain Fog with Compassion and Mindfulness
Digital brain fog can leave us distracted, anxious, and drained. Mindfulness, self-compassion, and simple tech boundaries help restore focus, emotional balance, and meaningful connection in daily life. | Inner Counsel Psychotherapy
Stefan Jurgens
Oct 6, 20254 min read
Feeling Unjustly Treated? How to Cope and Stay Grounded
This post explores how to cope with unfair treatment by naming emotions, pausing before reacting, and protecting your peace, helping you stay grounded and move forward with clarity and self-respect. | Inner Counsel Psychotherapy
Stefan Jurgens
Sep 25, 20254 min read
5 More Reflections to Calm Your Mind & Enrich Your Life — Part 2/2
Discover 5 gentle mental health practices to reduce anxiety and nurture happiness. Learn how action, habits, and presence create calm in daily life. | Inner Counsel Psychotherapy Toronto
Stefan Jurgens
Sep 15, 20252 min read
Reflections To Calm Your Mind & Enrich Your Life — Part 1/2
Here are five gentle reminders to help you step out of that loop and move through life with more ease.
Stefan Jurgens
Sep 11, 20253 min read
Small Acts, Big Impact: Daily Tools for Sustainable Rest
This final post in the Permission to Pause series offers practical, science-backed micro-practices to make rest and self-compassion a sustainable, guilt-free part of daily life.
Stefan Jurgens
Aug 4, 20253 min read
Meeting Your Tiredness with Kindness: The RAIN of Self-Compassion
Discover RAIN, Tara Brach’s self-compassion practice to meet exhaustion and self-criticism with kindness. Recognise, Allow, Investigate, and Nurture your way to inner refuge. | Inner Counsel Therapy
Stefan Jurgens
Jul 28, 20253 min read
It’s OK To Feel Tired: Your Exhaustion is Valid
Part 1/4 of "The Permission to Pause" Series - Your exhaustion isn't laziness. It's your body/mind signaling need. Validate physical fatigue, emotional drain & longing. Silence the inner critic. Rest is valid.
Stefan Jurgens
Jul 14, 20253 min read
A Fifth Pillar of Well‑Being: What My Checklist Was Missing
Balance isn’t found in perfect systems, but in honest moments—the pause between tasks, the ‘no’ that protects your energy, the quiet noticing of what actually helps.
Stefan Jurgens
Jul 7, 20254 min read
Adult Play Isn't Childish: It's Essential for Stress Relief, Creativity & Connection
Adult play isn't childish—it's essential for wellbeing. Discover how playful moments reduce stress, spark creativity, deepen connections, and build resilience. Reclaim joy through simple, present-minded engagement with life.
Stefan Jurgens
Jul 4, 20254 min read
Your Secret Compass: Why Personal Values Shape Everything
Feeling lost in your own life? Your hidden values may hold the key. Discover the 5-minute exercise that helped me leave an unfulfilling career and reflect on what truly matters. The Unsettling Question That Changes Us I remember a teacher asking, "What do you value?" "Money!" someone shouted. "Sleep!" said another. We were kids, unaware of the weight of that question. Years later, it resurfaced as I stood at a career crossroads, wondering: What truly matters to me? That q
Stefan Jurgens
Jun 16, 20252 min read
Anxiety Doesn’t Have to Run Your Life: A Therapist’s Reset Plan
When My Anxiety Finally Got My Attention Another day in my office, staring at my computer screen with a racing heart and a loud to-do list. Huge stress and anxiety as I wondered, “What if I can’t finish this project? What if I let everyone down?” What if they think I’m faking it? Anxiety isn’t weakness. It’s a well-intentioned alarm system stuck on high alert. The good news is that our brains can learn new settings. Understanding Your Anxiety Our brains are wired to protect
Stefan Jurgens
May 29, 20252 min read
Your Inner Voice, Your Choice
Understand how your inner voices shape mental health. Learn to reframe negative self-talk, embrace self-compassion, and reclaim control. Practical tips for transforming inner dialogue into a source of strength. A friend once told me, “It’s great to have someone listen. I spend all day listening to myself.” Their comment stuck with me because it nails the constant inner chatter we all experience: bursts of optimism, nagging doubts, and that critical voice which bleats, “You’r
Stefan Jurgens
May 26, 20254 min read
The Quiet Rebellion of Being Here: A Guide to Unstructured Aliveness
What if your next ‘to-do’ is to let the sky decide? Unsuscripted hours outdoors, whether tracking ants, savouring street noise, or sitting still, can dismantle the cult of busyness. We’ve all been there: rushing to finish a to-do list, scrolling mindlessly, or planning tomorrow’s worries while today’s sunlight fades. But what if the most radical thing you could do today is … nothing? Not “self-care” as another chore, but aliveness as an act of quiet rebellion. Let me tell y
Stefan Jurgens
May 22, 20253 min read
Calm Is the Presence of Choice, Not the Absence of Chaos
Life loves curve-balls. Like yesterday, when workers ruptured a pipe in my yard while upgrading water lines. " Oh no, I don’t know what to do!" Panic surged: heart racing, mind spiralling. " What now?" But within hours, the crew had it fixed. Those chaotic minutes reminded me that stressors are inevitable, but how we respond is always a choice. I paused. I took a slow breath and acknowledged: " I’m okay. This isn’t an emergency. Help is here. " That shift from fear to clari
Stefan Jurgens
May 7, 20253 min read
When the Universe Gazes Back: How The Stars Help Us Find Ourselves
Starlight Becomes Inner Light I’ve been amazed by the idea of ‘outer space’ since the Apollo days. As a kid, I’d lie in our backyard, squinting at the moon, convinced I could see the astronauts’ footprints. Fast-forward to today: I’m still that wide-eyed kid, now exploring the Webb Space Telescope website for new images. Those swirling galaxies, neon gas clouds, and glittering star nurseries? They’re stunning . But here’s the thing: the more I marvel at the universe’s vastn
Stefan Jurgens
May 5, 20253 min read
A Simple Secret to Feeling More Alive
A walk in the city reminded me that tiny acts of noticing, like buds on trees, a stranger’s smile, or warm coffee, can reignite joy. No grand plans needed. Just curiosity. I’ve been knee-deep in the ‘wake up, work, zone out, repeat’ cycle. You’ve probably felt it too, haven’t you? That autopilot state where days blur and you’re doing life instead of living it. I wasn’t drowning, exactly… just numb. Going through motions, ticking boxes, showing up for everyone except m
Stefan Jurgens
Apr 28, 20252 min read
Declutter Your Mind: How Therapy Can Spark a Mental Reset This Spring
Feeling mentally cluttered after a long winter? Just like cleaning out your home, therapy helps clear emotional buildup, release old patterns, and refresh your mind. The Garage Epiphany This past weekend, I tackled my garage after months of winter buildup: clutter, broken things, stuff I swore I might need someday. As I sorted, it hit me: our minds do the same. We hold onto emotional "junk," including outdated beliefs, unresolved pain, and patterns we don't even notice anymor
Stefan Jurgens
Apr 14, 20252 min read
Hope: Our Hidden Superpower for Professionals Facing Burnout and Uncertainty
Ever felt like you're running on empty, despite doing everything "right" in your career? I've been there. Hope is more than wishful thinking: it's a mindset that fuels resilience and success. This post explores how psychotherapy helps us harness hope to navigate challenges and thrive. A few years ago, I found myself feeling stuck. I had a successful career, but something was missing. Despite the security and expertise I had built, I felt unfulfilled, questioning my purpose, a
Stefan Jurgens
Mar 20, 20254 min read
Embracing Empathy, Self-Care, and Professional Confidence
Success isn't about pushing harder. It's about aligning with your values, setting boundaries, and prioritizing well-being. True confidence comes from self-awareness, self-care, and redefining success on your own terms. The Stories We Tell Ourselves Have you ever looked successful on the outside but felt uncertain inside? I've been there, chasing external validation, believing it defined my worth. Then, I changed the narrative. Instead of measuring success by others' standards
Stefan Jurgens
Mar 17, 20253 min read
Managing Anxiety in Uncertain Times: Lessons from a Psychotherapist
Do you feel overwhelmed by the news cycle? You're not alone. Anxiety spreads fast, but so does calm. Lately, I’ve been feeling it. There's a persistent anxiety, a sense of unease about the world. Maybe you have, too? Economic uncertainty, political instability, and an endless stream of alarming headlines make it difficult to stay grounded. Even as a psychotherapist, trained to help others navigate emotions, I have to remind myself to apply the very strategies I teach. The tru
Stefan Jurgens
Mar 13, 20254 min read
Looking for insight, guidance, or practical strategies to navigate life’s challenges?
This blog offers tools from therapy to help you manage burnout, heal from past wounds, and explore personal growth. You’ll find posts designed to foster emotional wellness, resilience, and a deeper connection with yourself and others.
Welcome to your journey toward self-discovery and meaningful change.
A Reminder: The content on this site is for general informational purposes only and is not medical or therapeutic advice. It does not create a therapeutic relationship. For diagnosis or treatment, consult a licensed mental health professional.
Inner Counsel Psychotherapy Blog
bottom of page