Dr. Andrea Dinardo, Psychology Professor
https://youtu.be/MXd_bZn1lqo 50 Calming Exercises Light a candle. Notice the flicker of the flame. Open a window. Watch the trees sway in the breeze. Breathe in fresh air. Record last night’s dreams in a journal. Smile while reading this sentence. Dance to a song from your teenage years. Belt out show tunes in the shower. Burn... Continue Reading →
“Your heart is the light of this world. Don’t cover it with your mind.” Lighten Up in 2022 The solution to a problem is rarely found in the source of the problem. This is why it’s important to lighten up before tackling difficulty. Problem Solving from a Higher Place Positive emotions heighten our awareness and open our minds to... Continue Reading →
I am a strong believer in keeping things simple. The less complicated things are, the more likely we are to repeat the behaviour. Especially when it comes to health and happiness habits. https://youtu.be/0i0tuqAmdaw Twelve Days of Self Care Day 1: Mindful Mornings Add five to ten minutes of relaxation to each of your morning routines.... Continue Reading →
What helps you adapt to rapid, unpredictable, unexpected change? I asked this question of student leaders at a province wide conference. See student answers on the chalkboard below: My answer on the chalkboard was: GO SMALLER One day at a time. One hour at a time. One class at a time. Microseconds sometimes.. https://youtu.be/rUWGr_GwzhM Your... Continue Reading →
Lockdowns have us spending a lot of extra time with the ones we love. Especially during the holidays. And if you’re anything like our household, it requires a whole new level of relationship skills. A deeper level of empathy and compassion for the pressures of the people we are living with. Helpful Tips: Psychology Today... Continue Reading →
I used to think of life purpose as some great big grand scheme for life, something we spend our whole life chasing after. Daunting for sure. At times overwhelming. Then one day I realized that life purpose was a series of small, fleeting events, rather than one great big span of life. Bite size in... Continue Reading →
FEAR is an illusion 5 Why's Technique The 5 Why's is a simple and effective technique for understanding the source of our fears and cognitive distortions (irrational beliefs) one why at a time. Exploring the Unconscious Mind An analytic (below the surface) strategy originating in the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. What's... Continue Reading →
What we give energy to impacts everything. Thoughts Emotions Actions People Some drain. Others invigorate. Awareness is the first step to enhancing vitality. The goal is to identify the source of energy leaks and peaks. Where to start? My interview on FM 105.9 The Region was designed to help people become more conscious of what... Continue Reading →
Individuals are often looking for healthier ways to express their emotions. For Example: Anger That said, it's not as simple as becoming "more calm" or "less explosive". The first step in transformation and lasting change is looking below the surface. The Kübler-Ross Model provides insight: The goal is to discover if angry thoughts, actions, or... Continue Reading →
Even as a psychologist, I often don’t know what to say. Especially now with so many people experiencing pain and trauma in escalating ways. So rather than assume what someone needs, I have learned over the years to ask one simple question: How Can I Support You? In doing so, I create a safe space... Continue Reading →
Let's not wait until Mother's Day to celebrate moms everywhere. Let’s celebrate moms today. Including my own. Moms of every age. Moms of every country. Moms of every kind. Cat moms. Dog moms. Aunt moms. Friend moms. Professor moms. Neighbour moms. The only thing that matters is love. Sharing Mom Memories And since Mother's Day... Continue Reading →
H old O n P ain E nds During difficult times, I often tell myself: “What a difference a day makes.” This one simple sentence helps me to remember that tomorrow is a brand new day. Illuminating the possibility that what looks like the end in that dark moment, could in fact be preparing me... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/0ccXnA3GCME Boundaries, Personality, and Saying No Do you have a difficult time saying no? While others in your life say no without a second thought. Is this confusing and at times upsetting for you? Are you hard on yourself because of this discrepancy between yourself and others? You may be interested to discover that Saying... Continue Reading →
This post is for anyone experiencing FOMO. Particularly on a long weekend holiday! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I2P5VhC-Ih8 Psychology Insight: Holidays heighten social anxiety of every kind. FOMO especially. Consider these questions as you explore what’s going on below the surface. 1. Do you remember the first time you experienced FOMO? 2. How did you cope with the anxiety... Continue Reading →
In today's psychology class, we discussed how important it is to empower friends, family, and clients going through difficult times. HONOUR THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU And how even if we are an expert in psychology, nursing, or business - it does not make us the master of someone else's life. Together we explored... Continue Reading →
The Psychology of Wellness I had the opportunity to be interviewed on the Lemon Soul Podcast by an engaging and bright young woman named Sierra Parr. It was one of the most rewarding projects I have worked on and I hope you find the same value in listening to the podcast as I had co-creating it... Continue Reading →
Thriving Under Pressure 