Blog

  • The story of Naaman

    Many years ago there was a man named Naaman, who was the army commander of the king of Syria. He was a great man in the eyes of the king and highly regarded, because Syria had experienced many great victories. Naaman was a mighty and valiant man, however, he suffered from leprosy. On one of […]

  • Reasons for a Child to see an Educational and Developmental Psychologist

    Educational and Developmental Psychologists work with children & their parents regarding a range of concerns: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) Developmental delay Depression Anxiety School refusal Suicidal ideation Self-esteem Parenting Relationships Trauma Grief & loss Emotional regulation skills Behavioral problems  

  • Meet your Unrelenting Standards Schema

    Hello, I am your unrelenting standards schema. You can’t see me, but I have a strong influence on how you live your life. I am the part of you that is preoccupied with perfectionism, busyness, achievements, accomplishments and being time efficient. I like to think that I am very helpful for you and create motivation, […]

  • 30 Traits of Narcissism

    We have all faced relationship difficulties at different points throughout our lives. Whether it be with a friend, partner, spouse, colleague, sibling, cousin, parent, child or manager/boss, these relational difficulties can range from mild to extremely toxic, dysfunctional and abusive. Many times the reason for the extreme relationship difficulties is the presence of narcissism. Being […]

  • Do you think a relationship will make you happy? A movie to watch.

    “I know that she is the only person in the entire universe that will make me happy” “I love how she makes me feel. Like anything’s possible. Like, I don’t know…like life is worth it” “I can’t get her out of my head, you know? I see her everywhere. She’s all I think about”   […]

  • What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

    The criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder, as paraphrased by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR, 2022) includes: A. Fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others. Examples include social interactions (e.g., having a conversation, meeting unfamiliar people), being observed (e.g., […]

  • Do you have an anxious attachment style?

    If you agree with most of the following statements, it is likely that you have an anxious attachment style when it comes to relationships. I often worry that my partner will stop loving me. I fear that once someone gets to know the real me, he/she won’t like who I am. When I’m not involved […]

  • What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

    The diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 (2013), published by the American Psychiatric Association, are paraphrased as follows: A. At least five of the following occur during the same 2-week period and represent a change from normal functioning: Note: At least one […]

  • A thought on addiction

    When it comes to addictive behaviours such as alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, pornography, binge eating, video gaming, exercise and so on, there is often a thought, or should I say lie, that is easy for many people to fall prey to. This lie can function at a conscious level or a sub-conscious level. This lie […]

  • What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

    The diagnostic criteria for GAD as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 (2013), published by the American Psychiatric Association, are paraphrased as follows: A. Excessive anxiety and worry, occurring most days for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance). B. […]

  • Sport Psychology – Concentration

    Have you ever noticed your mind wandering during a sports performance? Have you ever wanted to be in more control of your mind while competing? Have you ever wanted to experience less worry or doubt and be more confident while competing? I think we can all remember times in our lives when a teacher, a […]

  • Relationship Check In

    Communication is an essential part of a relationship. When there is a lack of communication or disrespectful communication within a relationship, it can negatively impact the relationship and the mental health of the two individuals. In contrast, practicing healthy and respectful communication can significantly improve the health of a relationship and the mental health of […]

  • Are you a workaholic? A movie to watch.

    If you are a workaholic, you spend most of your energy and time devoted to work. You work long hours. Work is the most important aspect of your life. You place an excessive value on achieving and accomplishing at a high level at the expense of your other needs being met. You constantly strive to […]

  • Sport Psychology – Mindset

    While training as part of a sports team, there will regularly be times of hard work and intense effort which can be demanding for the players both physically and mentally. During a tough and demanding training session it would be normal to have internalised thoughts such as “This is so hard”, “How long do we have […]

  • Gratitude

    Gratitude is to reflect on the good in our lives and to be thankful. Often in life there are situations or events that cause negative emotions such as frustration, anger, disappointment, loneliness, sadness or regret. Gratitude is helpful in these moments because it opens the door to the experience of positive emotions. Gratitude is not […]

  • Assertive Communication

    Assertive communication is so helpful when you either WANT something or DON’T WANT something. Here are some easy-to-remember steps when communicating assertively with another person. And remember, this is something you can use when communicating with ANYONE. These steps will form the acronym DEAR: D – Describe the current situation. Tell the person exactly what […]

  • Relationships: 4 Communication Traps

    Is communication a problem in your relationship? Do you often argue or fight? Do you never argue or fight? Do you struggle to connect with your partner? Do you feel like you aren’t on the same page? Do you struggle to understand your partner’s perspective? Communication issues are common across every relationship. However, there are […]

  • Exercise Motivation

    Struggling for motivation to exercise can be something we all experience from time to time. There are those days where we just don’t want to do anything, let alone exercise. A discussion about exercise motivation should start with a clear and simple definition of what motivation is. Motivation can be simply defined as “the reason […]

  • Psychological Benefits of Exercise

    I think we would all agree that exercise is good for us. We have been told by many people in our lives such as doctors, teachers and parents that exercising is good for us. We know that exercise has many physical benefits. These benefits include weight management, increased strength and fitness, increased energy, improved bone […]

  • Myths About Seeing a Psychologist

    It can be a big step to see a psychologist. In contemplating whether to see a psychologist, it can sometimes be difficult to know what to expect when you attend a counselling session, especially if you have never attended a session before. For this reason, I thought it would be helpful to address some myths about […]

  • Luke McDonald – Who am I?

    I thought I would share some information about myself to provide an understanding of my work as a psychologist as well as who I am as a person. I currently work as a psychologist at Leading Psychology, a private practice I launched a few months ago. Leading Psychology is a business I started to ultimately […]