Expert Advice From Helpmesara

Sara Dimerman in conversation with author Julie Starr. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Julie's personal story with the intention of helping other women feel less alone, to know that what they are feeling is normal and to prepare them for what lies ahead. Practical advice for women who are also parents, how to break the news of a separation to kids and how to manage one's feelings towards an ex when you're around them. How to live your better life after divorce Tools for transitioning from being in a marriage to living without your partner.

Sara Dimerman in conversation with author Ailsa Keppie. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: How Ailsa's journey into another culture and customs helped her to become more aware and sensitive towards cultural differences How her experiences helped her when working with others as a healer What Ailsa believes are the most compelling messages throughout her book Why she chose to leave the culture she adopted and return home

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Dr. Riina Bray. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) means The difference between an allergy and a sensitivity Some of the signs and symptoms of MCS How to go about getting this confirmed and the benefits of knowing that you have MCS Whether most people who are sensitive to one chemical are likely sensitive to more or all Some of the more common chemical sensitivities The impact that having MCS has on one's physical, social, emotional and psychological well being The impact that MCS has on one's relationship with a partner or children Whether there are any known causes or triggers for MCS Where people with MCS may go to get help or treatment Options available to help people with MCS Whether most people with MCS eventually live so called "normal" lives

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Dr. Alex Korb. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The difference between being sad versus depressed The varying degrees of depression Some of the most typical symptoms of depression How to go about figuring out if you are clinically depressed or not What causes one to be depressed The connection between depression and anxiety The connection between depression and sleep Whether or not someone can experience periods of depression even if they are typically not prone to being depressed Best treatment approaches How family members can help someone living with depression Hope after depression

Sara Dimerman in conversation with author, Lynda Faye Schmidt, on healing: from the inside out. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Lyndas' book, The Healing, and how closely her life resembles that of Cate's - the main character who leaves an abusive marriage after 26 years. What Lynda experienced in her first marriage and how she found the strength and courage to leave. The mixture of emotion that Lynda felt when leaving her home and city, especially since her youngest child, then 18, was remaining behind with his father. How Lynda's children were able to show compassion and kindness towards their father, despite being exposed to their parent's dysfunctional relationship. How Lynda's exposure to living with loved ones with mental illness has impacted her personally. How writing, along with other factors such as building close relationships and travel have contributed to her healing.

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Psychologist, Dr. Jemma Helfman, on what we know about selective mutism and how to help children overcome it. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What selective mutism means How it differs from mutism Some of the reasons that children become selectively mute Whether there's a typical age at which selective mutism occurs Whether selective mutism is something that most educators and parents are familiar with and if not, what they might think is happening with their child or student when they don’t talk Whether children with selective mutism typically don't talk both at home and school The best approach to treating selective mutism The availability of therapists who treat selective mutism across Canada What parents can do to help Whether it's advisable for a child to be told about his/her diagnosis Dr. Jemma Helfman recommends: The Feelings Place Confident Kids Camp Toronto Selective Mutism Association Dr. Steven Kurtz in New York is one of the leaders

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Lisa Tabachnick, about the impact that being a Highly Sensitive parent has on you and your kids. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What being a Highly Sensitive Person or parent means Some of the characteristics of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) The difference between being sensitive and highly sensitive How identifying and owning this trait helps you help yourself How it helps you understand how it impacts your kids Whether or not it's a good idea to share being an HSP with your kids Additional resources: Dr. Aron's web site. All her books and other resources are listed on the site. Workbook for highly sensitive people Lisa's private Facebook group for HSP Parents Lisa's Facebook page, KidsAndMentalHealth

Sara Dimerman in conversation with anger management specialist, Nicole Ali, about how to manage your anger rather than letting it manage you. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Whether or not anger is a "bad" emotion. How to distinguish between when we're feeling frustrated and agitated, for example, versus when we're feeling angry. Physiological triggers for feeling angry such as hunger, for example. Whether or not an angry temperament is inborn or learnt. The difference between being aggressive and assertive. Some of the most typical environmental triggers that lead to anger in everyday life. Whether or not other people have the power to make you feel angry. How we can tell that our anger is managing us rather than the other way around. Some steps and strategies for managing anger. More about The Anger Managers and how they can help.

Sara Dimerman in conversation with psychiatrist and author, Dr. Joan Tucker, about finding your way back to work after a mental health break. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Whether there's been a change in the number of people who are taking a mental health leave from work during the pandemic When taking time away from work, what is recommended so that this time off is as productive as possible Taking time away from school due to mental health concerns Whether or not most people return to work or school after taking a mental health leave Exploring options other than a return to what one was doing before Joan's books and how they can help

Sara Dimerman in conversation with video gaming addiction expert and author, Elaine Uskoski, about how to successfully battle video gaming addiction. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Some of the red flags that you or someone you know may be addicted to video gaming The best approach if a parent suspects that their teen or young adult may be addicted to video gaming Factors that may contribute to someone developing a gaming addiction How to successfully battle video gaming addiction and maintain sobriety Support and information around managing technology from the time that children are very young Elaine and her son's personal journey How Elaine's books can help Supports for video gaming addicts and their families Elaine's resources: www.gamequitters.com CAMH for 8 week group: Problem Gambling and Technology Use Treatment Services Intenta

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Janyce Lastman about the impact of stopping and starting school during the pandemic. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The impact that this has had on parents, students and teachers. Some of the most challenging aspects of both having kids at home with their parents 24/7 in addition to online learning. What parents and teachers can do to help support kids when they are asked to stay away from school. whether there will be gaps in learning or whole years worth of learning lost as a result of how going back and forth to school has been managed. How parents can best equip themselves to help their kids prepare to go with the flow. What strategies, plans and resources can be put in place to support the current climate of education - in Ontario, Canada and around the world. Janyce recommends these additional resources: WindowSwap - New name for this now VERY popular site. Anyone can join in and broadcast their own view for free if they wish. Here's the

Sara Dimerman in conversation with sexual health educator and consultant, Carly Basian about how to promote healthy sexual development, from toddlers to teens. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Why it's important that teachers and parents understand how to promote healthy sexual development in children. How young is too young to begin communicating in a way that supports and promotes healthy sexual development in children and ways to do so in everyday life. Stages of development - from toddlers to teens - and how each stage requires something new or different in order to continue to promote positive and healthy sexual development. What a parent should be on the lookout for in their teenager – for reassurance that they are going in the right direction in regards to healthy sexual development. Some warning signs or red flags that there are gaps in children's sexual development and how to fill them. How parents and teachers can work together in fostering what children need to know when

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Lauren Barrett about how to live through loss. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The different kinds of loss that we are likely to experience in our lifetime How unexpected or sudden loss differs from loss that is anticipated Emotions experienced by most human beings after someone close to them dies Whether or not it's typical for people to expect to overcome their loss within a certain time frame The guilt that people may feel for being alive and for continuing to live and potentially feel joy after losing someone very significant in their lives and how they can work towards experiencing some happiness again The discomfort that one might feel when talking to someone who is mourning a loss and some of the best ways to comfort them

Sara Dimerman in conversation with dating coach, Damona Hoffman, on the do's and don'ts of dating. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The role of a dating coach Whether dating is different in your fifties or sixties compared to your twenties or thirties, for example How dating is different now compared to decades ago Whether or not men and women approach dating differently How dating is different now that we are living through a pandemic How people can continue to grow their relationship, despite Covid Whether or not soulmates are a real thing Some do's and don'ts of dating

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Brent Edwards, about helping newcomers understand Canadian business culture. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: How Brent Edwards got to where he's at in his career today and more about how he helps people who have recently immigrated to Canada What most surprises newcomers to about Canadian business culture The value of networking and how it's done Important things for newcomers to note when adapting to Canadian business culture

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Giselle Bloch, about understanding the transgender world, from a parent's perspective. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Understanding words used in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, such as transgender and cisgender, non binary and pronouns they/them. The difference between gender identity and sexuality. Giselle's personal experience as a parent of a transgender son. The stages of transition for transgender folks. Some of the uncomfortable questions people have asked Giselle along the way and advice on a sensitive way to discuss a child transitioning with their parent. How to guide a transgender adult child to advocate for themselves and how to educate family members - grandparents, for example, who might not understand or might be judgemental. Support systems that are in place for transgender youth and their parents/families. How actors such as Jeffrey Tambor who played a transgender role on Transparent, Laverne Cox on Orange is the New Black and r

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Jayni Bloch, about how to tap into your creative and intuitive self. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Jayni, her work and some of her creative endeavours What tapping into one's creative and intuitive self means Whether the creative and intuitive parts of one's self are connected and if so, how Whether everyone has the potential to tap into these parts of oneself and if so, how What a therapist can do to facilitate this and why it's helpful for oneself and interpersonal relationships

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Shir Azari, about how song soothes the soul. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Shir's journey, from a young child to where she is today How song soothes Shir's soul, why she thinks song soothes others' souls and what it is about music that inspires or evokes emotion in us Supports in Shir's life and whether being able to pursue her passion has been impacted by having them in her life Shir's mental health concerns and how this inspired her to write her recently released song, Not Alone Shir's future plans

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Jane Doucet, about finding your recipe for career satisfaction. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Jane's career path Her ingredients for career satisfaction Her books, why she became an author and wrote her books in particular Whether it matters where you're living or who you're living with in regards to career satisfaction Whether someone can be equally as satisfied with their career when they start out as when they're thirty years older, for example What Jane recommends to someone who is not satisfied with their career

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Allison O'Connor, about her journey towards adopting a child internationally. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Allison's life before adopting Cameron Whether an international adoption was what she had always planned on How old Cameron was when she adopted him and some of her experiences before and after he was born Cameron's growing up years and what he's up to now How she shared Cameron's story with him and at what age What it was like for them to meet his birth mother in 2019 What not to say to a parent of a child who may have been adopted Supports in place for parents and children who have been adopted internationally Allison's Dreams Come True Music Studio in London, Ontario