Kitchen Table Conversations with Angela Geddes

Angela was honoured to have participated in a Conference over the past weekend. Listen in to this episode about the focus on making connections, the need for helpers, and where we discussed the importance of accurate diagnosis and how it provided clarity and freedom, after so often being misunderstood and misdiagnosed.  For more training opportunities and tips for friends and family to help suppor...

In this episode, a special guest with FASD walks us through what impulse control issues looks like from her perspective and Angela offers some additional tips and strategies that can lead to decision making that is less impulsive and more in line with our values. Please visit the website to access the additional resources referenced in this episode.

This episode focuses on the benefit of learning new information, from the new drinking guidelines to developmental screens. How learning and change can often be met with resistance, and how we can keep conversations going that will lead to prevention, earlier intervention, and improved outcomes for individuals and families. Visit the website to access the additional resources referenced in this ep...

As a follow up to last week's Bell Let’s Talk focus, we thought we would discuss some tips that can help all of us address pressure and stressors in a healthy and helpful way. Listen in for a discussion around sitting with our emotions and challenging our self talk and our thoughts if they are no longer serving us well. To access the additional resources referenced in this article, please vis...

Let’s talk about mental health conditions of all kinds; some of the contributing factors; why the problems are becoming worse and opportunity for some rather straightforward prevention opportunities. There is a correlation between increased alcohol use, increased incidents of alcohol exposed pregnancies, and mental health conditions. Please check out the resources referenced in this episode to lea...

This episode was a special request, and one that I feel is so important. I appreciate the requests for kitchen table conversation starters, and this one impacts so many.  I really do believe that as with any transition, doing your homework, consulting with others with lived and professional experience can be so helpful. As can establishing mutual understanding, goals and clear communication in ter...

Following up from last week's episode where we spoke of personal growth and New Year's resolutions, we thought we would focus on how much easier these things can be accomplished when we connect with our values and really understand our purpose. Finding purpose and meaning in our lives can be so beneficial in terms of our overall health and wellness, but it's not easy for all of us t...

This episode will focus on the importance of learning new things, challenging ourselves to live our healthiest of lives, and things we can do to make it most likely that we will stick to our goals and resolutions.  In our efforts to support individuals and families to live their best lives free of stigma and with more understanding and clarity, we are pleased to be offering training for social wor...

Today's episode will centre around the holiday season as we explore all the 'feels' and consider the needs of people who may find the season particularly stressful. These tips and considerations will be helpful to all of us, but in particular for people with complicated mental health, learning and sensory needs. Let's do our best to challenge the 'rules' we have in ou...

Today, we are talking about parenting kids, youth and adults with complicated and beautiful brains. We’ll focus on our need for safety planning in order to prevent critical issues and to protect people from making dangerous or poor decisions. Have a listen as we firmly believe that it takes a community to raise a child. Visit www.angelageddes.ca to download a free copy of the Safety Plan for Famil...

Everyday I am reminded of how important my work is, and how we need to keep prevention conversations going. This week, we offered some training to Crisis Mental Health workers and police officers who were very curious about how best to support people with complicated and beautiful brains in a crisis. The training always includes stats for context and the conversation around alcohol use and pregnan...

In today's episode, let's keep the conversation going around wellness and what we can do personally to keep us (specifically our brains) as healthy as possible. This means all across the lifespan beginning with pregnancy and well into our later years. In this Kitchen Table Conversation, I'll share some tips and ideas to inspire you. It’s about doing whatever you can to live your bes...

Keeping it simple as we work towards living our best life. This episode is a follow up to our last conversation which focused on the positive attributes of people who are experiencing anxiety or would consider themselves to be anxious people.  We will discuss ways to keep us grounded in nature and many mental health and wellness benefits that we can find from spending time outdoors. We will be rem...

People with anxiety often really struggle with many things, and often with their view of themselves. They often find themselves frustrated with their perceived shortcomings and often with inability to deal more effectively with their intense worry and anxiousness. In this episode, we’ll take a look at some of the really positive qualities and characteristics for anxious people in the spirit of a s...

In this episode, we will take some time to acknowledge the contributions of our Military Veteran’s and their role in all conflicts, as well as those who have made sacrifices on the home-front. We encourage people to learn more about the role of our Indigenous and Black Veterans and the extra obstacles they faced as they proudly and bravely served our country.   We also would like to take some time...

Happiness or contentment, can in many cases be a choice. Today's episode is focussing on ways to keep things a little 'lighter'. We're talking about how so much of our time is spent in the past, wishing that things were different, or in the future worrying about what might be coming rather than focussing on being 'right here, right now'. In many cases, we can do bette...

Inspired by a poem written by Joy Harjo, The World Begins at the Kitchen Table, which was recently shared with me, I reflect personally with gratitude at the many days spent at my kitchen table. I'm also aware that many people have not had the same experiences. For those of us who are called upon for support or assistance, whether that be with family members and friends and/or for those of us...

In this episode, we'll explore what it means and who qualifies as neurodiverse, and the need, ironically, to be more inclusive of FASD when discussing neurodivergent conditions. We are also discussing the need for assessment for everyone who is struggling with day to day interactions and activities and we are highlighting the importance of Occupational Therapists as an integral part of assess...

Global Mental Health Awareness Day was on October 10, 2022, so was Canadian Thanksgiving Day. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that sometimes it’s healthy to take a pause and reflect, and ask ourselves if the rules we have created still make sense for us. To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca .

In this episode, we are discussing The Social Determinants of Health and the impact of alcohol in marginalized communities - the much higher rates of PAE/FASD, as well as Canada's 2nd Annual Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30, 2022. To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca .

As we near the end of the month of September, which is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness month, we've dedicated this episode to providing listeners with upcoming opportunities to learn more about what many of us are recognizing to be a hidden epidemic. Angela will be speaking at two upcoming conferences and we'd love for you to participate. For complete detail on th...

Even with all of the information out there, there continues to be a gap in service providers understanding that would enable more of us to offer support in relevant and helpful ways.  As well, there is plenty of outdated and inaccurate information out there in ‘google land’, so we need to be creative in the ways that our clear, concise and accurate messages get sent and received.

What does the effects of PAE look like across the lifespan? It’s complicated and everyone is different.  Although there are some commonalities, the presentations are unique to the individual because there are different protective factors, and the amount and timing of the alcohol consumption is different for each… meaning that what gets impacted is different and to different degrees as well. To acc...

The cost of misdiagnosis. FASD affects 4% of the general population which is more than Autism, Tourette’s Syndrome, Down’s Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy combined, yet it is still so misunderstood... Let’s change this, and keep the conversations going. To access resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca .

An introduction to Kitchen Table Conversations with the goal being to share important facts and stats to inspire further learning and conversations among family and friends to make impact where it matters most. To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca .