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When Your Inner Critic Won't Shut Up: Learning to Soften the Voice Inside
Not fixing what's broken, but discovering what becomes possible when you meet yourself with understanding instead of force.
Stefan Jurgens
Jan 134 min read
Managing Stress, Anxiety, and Holiday Burnout
The holidays do not need to be perfect. They only need to feel like yours | Inner Counsel Psychotherapy
Stefan Jurgens
Dec 5, 20253 min read
Beyond Work: Why Personal Growth Comes First
I worked late, checked emails over dinner, and took pride in always being available. From the outside it looked like commitment. In reality, I was drained. | Inner Counsel Psychotherapy
Stefan Jurgens
Oct 14, 20253 min read
Thriving Through Thanksgiving: Presence Over Perfection
No table is perfect. Real connection begins when we stop expecting it to be | Inner Counsel Therapy
Stefan Jurgens
Oct 9, 20254 min read
Five More Gentle Truths for When Life Feels Heavy — Part 2/2
These five reflections pick up where the first five left off. They focus on how to work with feelings, honour daily variability, move beyond avoidance, claim your belonging, and speak to yourself with the care you would give a friend.
Stefan Jurgens
Sep 8, 20253 min read
Five Gentle Truths for When Life Feels Heavy — Part 1/2
Five gentle truths about rest, worth, and boundaries. Learn to distinguish exhaustion from laziness, see rest as an investment, claim inherent worth, set healthy boundaries, and protect your energy. | Inner Counsel Therapy
Stefan Jurgens
Sep 2, 20253 min read
Your Brain Believes What You Tell It: How Self-Talk Shapes Your Mental Health
Learn how intentional self-talk rewires your brain through neuroplasticity. Practical reframing and emotional awareness reduce stress, build resilience, and improve lasting well-being ... one kinder thought at a time.
Stefan Jurgens
Aug 25, 20252 min read
Understanding Your Inner Critic with Compassion
Part 2/4 of "The Permission to Pause" Series - Discover how your inner critic forms, why it intensifies under pressure, and how to shift your relationship with it. Learn to replace judgment with curiosity and self-compassion.
Stefan Jurgens
Jul 21, 20253 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
Feeling The Heat: When Summer Feels Hard (It’s Not Just You)
Summer's pressure to be endlessly joyful often clashes with reality (heat, stress, obligations), creating strain. Understand why it happens & how to honour your needs for a truly restorative season. We talk about 'summertime' like it's all lemonade and lazy afternoons. But honestly, I'm just feeling burned out. The heat seems to amplify every little stress. Which makes me wonder: why does the season meant to recharge us often leave us feeling drained, overwhelmed, or just .
Stefan Jurgens
Jun 27, 20253 min read
When the Load's Too Heavy: Building Male Resilience Without Burnout
Men often avoid mental health support due to cultural stigma equating vulnerability with weakness. This post explores how reframing help-seeking as strength, through practical strategies and self-compassion, builds lasting resilience. I burned out. It wasn’t a dramatic crash, just deep exhaustion built up over time. I loved my work. Clients praised me, projects succeeded.... But the relentless pace and the ‘suck it up’ culture hollowed me out. Staring at my screen that day, i
Stefan Jurgens
Jun 23, 20253 min read
You’re Not Alone in Feeling Lonely: Here’s What Helps
A photo looking down at two people's feet standing on sand.
Stefan Jurgens
Jun 19, 20252 min read
On Making Mistakes: Why Falling Forward is Part of Being Human
Mistakes aren’t failures, they’re feedback. Embracing them fosters growth, authenticity, and resilience. Celebrate the stumbles; they’re proof you’re moving forward. Growing up, adults fretted, ‘Stefan makes so many mistakes.’ But those ‘mistakes’ were just me learning: climbing bridges, wearing questionable outfits, jamming badly on musical instruments. Those messy moments became my compass, nudging me toward trusting myself over others’ checklists for ‘doing life right.’
Stefan Jurgens
May 19, 20252 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
Understanding Burnout: Causes, Impact, and Effective Solutions for Recovery
What is Burnout and How Does it Affect You? Burnout is a growing issue affecting professionals across various industries. It goes beyond personal stress and fatigue, often signalling deeper systemic problems within work environments and society. In this post, let's explore what burnout is, who it impacts, the causes behind it, and how individuals and organizations can take steps to address it. Whether you're experiencing burnout or seeking ways to prevent it, understanding it
Stefan Jurgens
Dec 23, 20244 min read
Managing Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is typically viewed as a period of joy, connection, and celebration. However, it's important to acknowledge that this time of year can also be overwhelming. With end-of-year work deadlines, financial pressures, family responsibilities, and the burden of unmet expectations, it's understandable that many of us experience stress, anxiety, or even burnout. Let's explore why this occurs, how to identify burnout, and ways to manage the holidays with a bit more ea
Stefan Jurgens
Dec 16, 20244 min read
Finding Balance in a Busy World: Managing Overwhelm and Stress
When life feels like a constant race against time, practicing mindfulness might seem unattainable. But what if, instead of finding time to practice mindfulness, we learned to be mindful with our time? This shift in perspective invites us to pause and reflect: Are we over-committing? Sometimes, the rush to complete everything leaves no room to evaluate whether we’ve taken on too much. Questions like “Can I delegate some responsibilities?” or “Is my perfectionism driving excess
Stefan Jurgens
Nov 25, 20241 min read
Mastering Stress: How Psychotherapy Can Boost Focus, Confidence, and Resilience
Pushing ourselves too hard is a familiar experience for many, often leading to stress that disrupts concentration, sleep, emotions, and productivity. While some stress can enhance performance, prolonged or unmanaged stress usually has the opposite effect. It causes difficulty in focusing, remembering, and managing emotions. Over time, this can lead to burnout, leaving us exhausted and stuck in a cycle that hinders both professional and academic success. Psychotherapy provides
Stefan Jurgens
Nov 1, 20241 min read
Thanksgiving Can Be a Turkey: Managing Stress and Finding Balance
Thanksgiving is a cherished holiday that celebrates gratitude and togetherness, but for many, it can also bring its fair share of stress and discomfort. In Canada, Thanksgiving arrives earlier than in the U.S., adding a unique twist to the season. Whether it’s the pressure of hosting, cooking, or navigating family dynamics, this holiday can feel overwhelming. Financial concerns, challenging relationships, or loneliness for those without nearby support can amplify the strain.
Stefan Jurgens
Oct 12, 20241 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
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