Talking to Trauma from Rising Tides Counselling

Nick Blagden was only 16 years old when he left his home and family in Saint John NB to relocate and play hockey in the province of Quebec. An exciting time in his life and hockey career became the backdrop for his own struggle with mental illness. Although he had noted some signs of emotional difficulties in the preceding years, he could no longer ignore the symptoms he was experiencing as his me...

At Rising Tides, we have been fortunate to work along side many therapists who have not only have education and experience in a counselling field, but also have their own story of trauma and healing that has shaped their career. In this episode, we are talking with Jason, a former Rising Tides therapist with over 15 years of experience in the counselling field. Jason understands the importance of...

In this episode, we are talking to Krista Sutton. Krista's passion for helping others is inspired by her own journey of healing from trauma and other health issues that impacted her family. In this episode, Krista shares her own story of domestic violence and the healing process that followed. Krista continues to be a strong advocate in helping women who have been victims of trauma, and in pa...

In this episode of the podcast, we are learning all about ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with psychologist, Heidi Fitzgerald.  Heidi has 21 years of experience working with adults, children and families and recently discovered a new passion working in ketamine-assisted therapy at Field Trip Health.  There is a growing body of research and evidence supporting the use of ketamine in the treatment o...

I am so glad that Nancy said yes when I asked her to be on the podcast!  As one of our treasured therapists on the Rising Tides team, Nancy brings her spunky personality and infectious energy to our office environment which is appreciated by team members and clients alike. Like many therapists, Nancy brings parts of her lived experience to her clinical work.  As a child and continuing to adulthood...

Dustin is forging a new path.  He is creating opportunities for hope and healing to people recovering from addiction and trauma. As a Certified Recovery Coach (CRC) through Optimal Recovery (OR) as well as being  Certified in Trauma Recovery Coaching (CTRC), through the International Trauma Recovery Coaching Association (IAOTRC), Dustin is using his knowledge and experience to change lives. Dustin...

Meet Jacie.  Jacie is just one of the amazing therapists on our Rising Tides Counselling team.  In addition to being a thoughtful and caring professional, Jacie also has her own story of living with chronic pain and healing.  Jacie has been able to integrate her own experiences as someone living with chronic pain into her therapeutic work, offering hope and healing to those that she meets. Jacie p...

A childhood immigrant from his native Scotland, David has spent a lifetime working alongside some of the most talented leaders across the Canadian landscape.  David has served as a street involved Pastor in Toronto and London. His major focuses of ministry were related to social outreach, restorative justice, and learning to wrestle with life and faith in the rapidly evolving social media age. As...

In 2013, Reid, a lifelong athlete, had just arrived at university, ready for his first year of studying and triathlon training at McMaster University when an accidental fall off a bicycle changed everything. An injury to his shoulder not only put a halt to his training but also resulted in a decline in his mental health. Reid painfully recalls the difficulty of this time in his life, when he no lo...

Jeff's story begins with the pivotal moment in his life when everything came crashing down around him and he recognized that he could not carry on with the way he was living.  Left with no other choices, he began unpacking years of unresolved trauma after receiving a PTSD diagnosis.  Jeff engaged with a number of mental health professionals but particularly recalls the day when reiki came int...

Welcome to the podcast, Bekah! Bekah is a registered massage therapist and has been working in the field since 2020.  Bekah's had long dreamed of becoming a massage therapist but she had to overcome a couple of significant challenges in her life to make this dream a reality.  After a period of declining mental health caused her to leave school initially, she took the time to tend to her needs...

Melinda is a full-time artist and operates a seasonal Airbnb and gift shop in Creignish, Nova Scotia.   In 2012, Melinda was busy raising her young family when she was confronted with a startling reality: at 42 years of age, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.   As she navigated the stressful process of dealing with a serious illness and all this would entail, she was also discovering what she n...

In this episode, we are talking to Tracy!  Tracy is both a clinical social worker and a nutritional consultant.  At the tender age of 12 years old, Tracy was put on her first diet.  This began the binge-restrict cycle that followed her throughout her lifespan.   She describes never feeling like her body was good enough and spent many years on a mission to lose weight.   Even as she successfully lo...

Today we are welcoming Steph to the podcast! After picking up powerlifting in their spare time, Steph noticed some muscle stiffness that limited their range of motion. A friend suggested they take a yoga class to help stretch out their muscles but after their first class, Steph discovered so much more! In this episode, you'll learn more about Steph and how their love for yoga grew into so muc...

Many women stay in an abusive relationship out of fear, financial security, lack of choice, the abuser threatening suicide, or even a hope for change. Many survivors feel ashamed of their situation. In today's episode I am talking with Kelly from Saint John Domestic Violence Outreach. Kelly shares her experiences of helping women who have been impacted by the trauma of domestic violence and a...

Pam is a bereaved mother of Michael, who provides the passion and purpose for her work.  In this episode, Pam shares her own story of healing after the unexpected loss of her son.   Pam has combined her  30 years of nursing with her desire to help others in healing from grief and loss.   Pam provides leadership as President at NB Copes,  a charitable organization with a mission of ensuring that &q...

Trapper has served as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and is co-founder of the Canadian Army Veterans (CAV) motorcycle club.  Trapper proudly served his country until a devastating parachute collapse in the course of duty left him severely injured.  An unshakeable spirit combined with a love of motorcycles, lead to the creation of the Canadian Army Veterans motorcycle club (https://www.theca...

Barb believes that to be at your best you must be resilient. As a HeartMath Certified Trainer & Coach, Barb helps people develop effective, simple strategies to regulate their emotions, reduce distress and draw from their own intuition to make more effective choices. In this episode, Barb shares with us her experience in using HeartMath approaches to help people unlock their full potential. Ba...

Trauma has no borders and in this episode, we are talking with Aisling who joins us (virtually!) all the way from Ireland.  Aisling's reflections on her experiences brings to light the understanding that trauma isn't always obvious; sometimes it can slip into our lives in more subtle ways.  Aisling describes the process she went through in coming to terms with the trauma she had experien...

What delight it is to spend time with Jacquie! Like many others, Jacquie's first experience with trauma began in childhood and after a series of other events, she found herself unpacking the trauma she experienced in her adult life as well.    Jacquie's healing path lead her on a spiritual journey and today Jacquie is the owner of  Earthwhims ( https://www.earthwhims.com ), which she des...

Brooxxie knows trauma all too  well.  Diagnosed with Complex PTSD and a major depressive disorder,  Brooxxie experienced life threatening trauma in both her personal relationships and during her years of military service.  In this episode, Brooxxie will share her story of healing, from intimate partner and workplace violence to finding her way to recovery through therapy and creating her own netwo...

One moment in time can change the whole trajectory of where your life will take you.  This is Kathryn's story.  Kathryn was busy working in the hustle and bustle of a corporate job when a health scare stopped her completely in her tracks.  From that moment on, she decided to take her life into her own hands and set on a path of helping others to take control of their health too.  Kathryn is t...

Rodney's story will take you on a coast-to-coast trip from his roots in small town Newfoundland to British Columbia and a few stops in between!  Rodney takes us through his journey of self-discovery as he transitioned from military service overseas to coming back home and integrating back into his family and civilian living again.   While there were many painful points  and a PTSD diagnosis a...

Every once in awhile you meet some who has such a passion for the work that they are doing that you can't help but feel inspired by their presence.  Jamie is one of those people!  And like most people who carry a passion, Jamie has a personal story that sparked her desire to create a service for those who have shared a similar pain.  After a pregnancy loss, Jamie made it her mission to create...

Tiffany is the kindest, sweetest soul that has been through the most unimaginable pain.  After the death of her son Braedon in 2018, Tiffany knew that she had to be brave and keep going when all she really wanted to do was fall apart.  Tiffany has generously continued sharing her son's spirit through her work as a Grief Coach at Tiffany Agnew Inspires and as the founder of The Braedon Foundat...