Author Archives: Gina Miranada

Episode 1: Who are we?

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In this episode Gina and Charlotte sitting down to share who they are, their clinical backgrounds and credentials that they bring to the mic. Most importantly, why they decided to build this space for you. We know how overwhelming it can be to navigate mental health information online. Their mission with this podcast, is to deliver grounded, reliable psychoeducation that you can actually trust. 

Disclaimer:

“The information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, therapist, or other qualified health provider, for any questions or concerns you may have regarding your personal medical or mental health conditions. This podcast is not a substitute for individualized therapeutic care. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this show. Rather we encourage you to seek out support from your doctor and/or therapist/counsellor if you need it. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call emergency services, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact your local crisis hotline immediately. In Canada you can call or text Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline at *9-8-8, or 9-1-1 or head to your nearest emergency room.”

Safe and Sound Protocol

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The SSP isn’t just music — it’s a comprehensive approach to healing. This unique listening therapy is a journey that brings together the client, therapist and the SSP to create a safe space for brain and body integration and healing to achieve impactful, long-lasting results.

Many clients who experience the SSP report fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression and trauma-related symptoms.

Caregivers of children who experience the SSP report fewer psychosocial challenges.

The SSP is suitable across the lifespan, and has been designed to complement a variety of therapeutic approaches and modalities.

SSP providers are psychologists, therapists, social workers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, school counselors, and more.

The SSP supports many client populations and may be helpful in reducing symptoms and supporting overall health and resiliency for people seeking support for:

  1. Depression and anxiety
  2. Neurodevelopmental differences, such as autism, hyperactivity and attention
  3. Learning difficulties
  4. Auditory and other sensory processing differences
  5. Trauma history
  6. Sleep
  7. Neurological changes
  8. Other challenges related to autonomic dysfunction, such as eating difficulties, gut health, and more

The SSP can be combined with and is supportive of other therapies, including:

  1. Neurodevelopmental treatment, such as occupational therapy, play therapy and sensory integration therapy
  2. Other forms of mental health and trauma therapies, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  3. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of talk therapy (e.g. DBT, MBCT, etc.

For more information visit: https://integratedlistening.com/

All information provided here is copyright and remains with https://integratedlistening.com/

Your Conscious Colourings

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It’s always beautiful when someone sends me a completed drawing with a comment or thought about their experience with the book. The variety in expression and colour palette are as beautiful and unique as the individuals sending them in.

Here are some of the drawings and testimonials that have been sent to me, being shared with consent. Feel free to email me yours and I will add them to this lovely collection.

Get your copy here: Conscious Colouring Volume 1

Unwritten

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Unwritten - Gina Miranda 2018

I follow a script I didn't create.
A life of fear, that I hate.
Expectations that aren't mine.
But it's fine...
I got them from a trusted source,
Reinforced with familial force.
It keeps me safe and loved, right?
So why fight?
It causes fright!
Because they get mean,
When I want to be seen.
So I give in,
And become driven,
To be the best!
Which means no rest!
And I am tired!
But I'm wired,
To comply.
So I pass myself by.
I locked myself up.
And I empty my cup,
I pour into others,
The perpetual mother.
But I am tired,
I need to be rewired.
So I break apart,
Looking for a fresh start,
I begin to shake
Feeling the armor break,
And I collapse,
Emotional relapse,
And I am paralyzed with fear,
And I'm screaming to hear,
To hear my own voice,
Amidst all the noise.
So I become still,
Finding my will,
Hearing my voice,
Above all the noise.
It's fighting to speak,
It's frightening to seek,
Knowing I have a need,
Desires to feed,
Daring to take up space,
To create my own place.
I begin to scream,
As I reclaim my dream.
I clear the slate,
And reset the date,
Return to the start, 
Reconnect with my heart, 
A new beginning this time,
One that is mine,
Let go of fear and rage,
I am now a blank page,
And I will design,
A life that is all mine,
To me I will give,
Permission to live,
Permission to be,
Unconditionally me...
To be love... And be loved.


I am unwritten. 


New Year 2019

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Farewell 2018. Welcome 2019.
It’s crazy to think it’s been a whole year in private practise. Last year, at this time I had received some very unsettling news. I was told that Helix Healthcare group, where I worked as a full time employe, was closing asof the end of the year. The team and I had 10 days to notify our clients and find a new place to work. We were graciously allowed to stay in the old offices till the end of January while we sorted ourselves out. As you can imagine it wasn’t a very happy holiday for most of us. I can personally say it was one of the most stressful and overwhelming times of my life.

We were all in various states of shock and disbelief, and we were definitely feeling the stress of it all. But rather than falling apart under the weight of that stress, we banded together and created the Healing Therapy Alliance. 

2018 has been a year of challenges and trials for me, professionally and
personally, as I adjusted to being self-employed and starting a new business. And what I have learned is that those challenges are emotionally overwhelming and exhausting. But that exhaustion creates the opportunity for rest and self care. It allowed me to reach out for support. And that rest allowed me to rebuild myself and restore my strength. And that strength will allow me to face my challenges.

And so, as this year comes to a close, I are grateful for my challenges for they have made me stronger and more resilient. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that 2019 will bring me as I continue to grow. I am truly honoured and humbled to work with you and look forward to continuing to supporting you on your healing journey.

May we all be blessed with the support and strength we need to face any challenges and opportunities that may come our way in 2019.

Crisis Centres

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If you need help in an emergency or are in crisis:

  •   Visit your local emergency department or call 911
  •   Call or text 988
  •   Contact a distress centre in Ontario near you (phone numbers provided below)

Support is available. You are valued and you matter. Please reach out.

Distress lines

Operated by various agencies.  When in need of someone to talk to. Open 24 hours a day (unless otherwise indicated).

Toronto Distress Centres (416) 408-4357 or 408-HELP

Gerstein Centre 416-929-5200

Telecare (Mandarin & Cantonese), 416-920-0497

Contact Centre Telecare Peel 905-459-7777, Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Spanish, Portuguese

Assaulted Women’s Helpline 416-863-0511, Toll-free: 1-866-863-0511 TTY 1-866-863-7868

Warm Line, Progress Place 416-960-9276 or 416-960-WARM, every day from 8pm to 12 midnight

Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868

Distress Centre Peel 905-278-7208

Mobile Crisis of Peel 905-278-9036

Durham Crisis Line 905-666-0483

Oakville Distress Centre – 905-849-4541

Burlington Distress Centre – 905-681-1488

Milton/Halton Hills Distress Centre – 905-877-1121

Trans Life Line: 877-330-6366

LGBTQ+ Youthline: 1-800- 268-9688

Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse:1-866-887-0015

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre / Multicultural Women Against Rape: 416-597-8808

Connex Addiction / Mental Health / Gambling:1-866-531-2600

Good2Talk Post-Secondary Line: 1-866-925-5454

Talk 4 Healing for Indigenous women: 1-855-554-HEAL 

Anishnawbe Health 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Management Service: 1-855-242-3310

Black Youth Helpline: 416-285-9944

Youthdale Crisis Support Team: 416-363-9990

 

Crisis addiction services

Toronto Withdrawal Management System

1-866-366-9513 Hours: 24/7, 365 days a year. Central Access is a primary point of entry into the Toronto Withdrawal Management Services system referral system (operated by St. Michael’s Hospital)

 

Mobile crisis response teams (24hrs/7days)

Toronto:

North York/ Etobicoke:

Scarborough/East York:

York Region:

Peel Region:

Hamilton:

Durham:

Halton:

Peterborough:

Scarborough:

Dual Diagnosis crisis services

Peel Crisis Capacity Network 905 273-4900 https://peel.cioc.ca/record/CMH0190
Provides crisis response services within 24 hours to individuals with a developmental disability (including dual diagnosis) who are 11 years of age or older.

 

Crisis teams that will come out to meet you

  • St. Joe’s Mobile Crisis Intervention Team – Phone: 416-530-6486, ext. 4423 *voicemail only
  • Youthdale Psychiatric Crisis Services – (416) 363-9990
  • Gerstein Centre Mobile Crisis unit – 416-929-5200
  • Etobicoke Mobile Crisis team – 416-498-0043

 

Online supports:

Specialized Resources

  • Multilingual Distress Line: Provides emotional support, crisis intervention and suicide prevention, intervention & postvention in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm EST.  For at risk and vulnerable individuals in Peel Region.

    Phone: 905-459-7777

  • Trans Lifeline: Provides peer support by trans people for trans and questioning callers. Crisis and other supports and resources are provided in both English and Spanish from 10:00 am to 4:00 am EST.

    Phone: 1-877-330-6366

  • LGBT YouthLine: Provides peer support by and for 2SLGBTQ+ people 29 and under across Ontario.  Trained peer support volunteers with a diversity of 2SLGBTQ+ identities provide a range of supports, including: questioning gender identity/sexual orientation; coming out; mental health; relationships; social isolation; and referrals to further supports. Phone, text and chat is available from Sunday to Friday, 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm EST. This is not a crisis line. Those in immediate crisis will be referred to their local distress centre, Kids Help Phone or Trans Lifeline. Please note that the phone line is currently unavailable, but text and chat support remain available. Check youthline.ca for updates.

    Text: 647-694-4275, Chat: youthline.ca, Phone: 1-800-268-9688

  • Naseeha: An international hotline that provides youth and particularly Muslim youth with the tools needed to address a range of issues including mental health, drugs and alcohol, bullying, religion, marriage and divorce, domestic issues, pornography, and career or work related issues.  Peer-counsellors provide immediate, anonymous, and confidential support over the phone from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, 7 days a week and text support from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

    Phone: 1-866-627-3342 (NASEEHA), Text: 1 (866) 627-3342 (NASEEHA)

  • Black Youth Helpline: This multicultural youth helpline and service serves all youth and specifically responds to the needs of Black youth.  Contact with the helpline results in a professional, culturally relevant assessment aimed at identifying root causes of problems and informs next steps.  The helpline can be accessed by youth, families, schools and other stakeholders. Service is provided in English. French and other languages available upon request. Other languages are available upon request. This is not a crisis line.  The helpline is open from 9am to 10pm, 7 days a week. Clients can also submit service requests 24 hours a day using the ‘contact us form’ on the website blackyouth.ca.

    Toronto phone: 416-285-9944, National phone: 1-833-294-8650, Email: info@blackyouth.ca

  • Toronto Seniors Helpline/ Woodgreen Crisis Outreach Services for Seniors: The helpline provides information about home care and community care, and offers over-the-phone supportive counselling, de-escalation, and safety planning to seniors in emotional distress or crisis from 9:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Friday and 10:00am to 6:00pm on weekends. The helpline can connect callers to Woodgreen’s mobile crisis intervention and outreach service for adults 65+ with dementia, addictions or mental illness who need temporary, short-term support. The mobile service is staffed by crisis workers who can provide in-person assessment, crisis counselling, short-term intensive case management, harm reduction and concurrent disorder services, mental health and addictions support and referrals to other services. The mobile crisis team is available 365 days a year from 9:00am-5:00pm.

    Phone: 416-217-2077

  • Talk 4 Healing: Provides support and resources for Indigenous women, by Indigenous women, across Ontario, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Services are grounded in Indigenous culture, wisdom and tradition and are available in Oji-Cree, Ojibway, Cree, Algonquin, Inuktitut, Mohawk, Oneida, Odawa, Potawatomi, Micmac, Black Foot, Anishinaabe, Moose Cree, Swampy Cree and English and French

    Phone: 1-855-554-HEAL (4325), Text: 1-855-554-HEAL (4325), Chat: talk4healing.com, Visit Talk4Healing on Facebook & Twitter

  • National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: This national service provides support to former Residential School students in crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Support is provided by trained crisis counsellors, many of whom are Indigenous.

    Phone: 1-866-925-4419

  • Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape: Provides private and confidential crisis intervention and support services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to: anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or experienced physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, ritual or financial abuse; anyone who has had unwanted sexual touching; incest survivors; survivors of childhood and adult sexual assault and family and/or friends. Referrals can be made to other services.

    Phone: 416-597-8808

  • Assaulted Women’s Helpline: Provides anonymous and confidential crisis counselling, safety planning, emotional support, information and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all women in Ontario who have experienced any form of abuse. Services are also available at all times for women who are deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing.

    Phone: 1-866-863-0511, TTY: 1-866-863-7868

  • Victim Services Toronto: The Victim Crisis Response Program provides immediate on-scene crisis response, intervention, and prevention services to victims, survivors, family members and witnesses of crime and sudden tragedies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also provides follow-up referrals to a wide range of programs, services and counselling. The Crisis Response team pairs a Crisis Counsellor with expertise in trauma management and crisis intervention with a trained volunteer. The Crisis Response Program is reflective of the diverse communities in Toronto and provides services in over 35 languages. Please note that some of these services have been modified during COVID-19.

    Phone: 416-808-7066

  • Warden Woods Community Centre COVID-19 All-in-One Support line: Provides complete support in one place for anyone in need, Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Services include crisis support, mental health support, harm reduction, homelessness prevention, eviction prevention, LGBTQ+ support, seniors support, conflict resolution, homework help, food safety and access to government support.

    Phone: 647-327-0206, Email: Supportline@wardenwoods.com

 

New Year 2018

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2017 ended with what felt like gale force winds and stormy skies. It was an interesting year for sure. It showered me with a few blessings, a new place, a new full-time job in a career I thoroughly enjoy, a teenager…
 
And it was wrought with pain and hurt, filled with challenge after challenge that tested my strength on every level. The challenges got worse as the year progressed. Physical and mental health challenges, relationship challenges, that teenager… oh what a challenge that one!! Ending…literally days before Christmas… with the closure of my workplace that had felt like home and the loss of that full-time job that had allowed me the shifts that I had made in my life this year.
 
And the weight of the last few months was almost unbearable. I felt myself suffocating, drowning, barely clinging on… almost ready to quit it all.
 
And so I did what I do when the world starts to spin out of control. I withdrew from the chaos and found the eye in the storm, that quiet place within, from which I watch my life and anchor down the things that are spinning out of control.
 
I took stock of my strengths and reminded myself of who I am.
I replayed the mistakes I made and took notes so I can learn from them and not repeat them.
I flexed my emotional and mental muscles so I don’t get crushed by the weight of those painful emotions and negative thoughts.
 
I am not the storm.
I am not the chaos.
I am not the pain.
 
I am stronger and bigger than all of it. And I am more than capable of overcoming these challenges. Because I never give up. And I will never surrender. I will be the change I want to see.
 
Nothing worth having comes easy, and I have always fought to create the things I want in life. I have learned that the things that I want are worth the effort. And so I begin 2018… a little banged up, a little bruised… but stronger, wiser and more self-aware than I was last year. More determined to chase away the demons that plague me and more solid in my resolve to strengthen myself so that I can weather any storm heading my way.
 
For they will come.
 
And I will be ready.
 
Happy new year.
May we all find the courage to face our demons and the strength to weather the storms that are coming.

What is God?

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My 14yo was asking me about God the other day. I was born and raised as a Catholic as was her father, but neither of us practise. I lost faith in the religion, or rather, I never gained faith in it because the priests in Sunday school couldn’t answer my questions.

We had just been taught the part of Bible where they say, “We are all made in the graven image of God,” and my 6yo self at 6:00am on Sunday perked up and asked, “So then God must be a girl and a boy.” It made sense to me, half the people on Earth were females, the other half males (I was too young to know and had not been taught about transgender people as yet) so it made sense that God would be both. The priest however was appalled at my gall and yelled at me and made me leave the class and stand outside in the hallway. I’ve asked similar questions over the years and gotten in just as much trouble.

If God made the universe who made God?
If Jesus was a Jew, why are we Catholic?
If I’ve never even met Adam and Eve, why am I being blamed for their sins? I haven’t even done anything bad yet?

And so on and so on… And I was always sent outside the classroom.

My young mind reasoned, “My math teacher answers my math questions and they make sense, the God teacher is not making sense, I can’t trust him.” And so ended my brief interlude with Catholicism when I was 6 years old and hence began a life long quest for Divine Connection.

I studied religion in university. I found that at their core all religions wanted us to be our best. But the dogma and the ritual and the misinterpretation of the scriptures by man turned me away from all organized religion. The teachings are beautiful, the people who control how it’s interpreted are not always so. They use it to control and manipulte the masses And blame their respective Gods. And in the end it didn’t align with who I was. Every major religion on Earth had used it’s teachings as the justification for war, hate, subjugation of women, persecution and prejudice. I wanted no part of it.

God just couldn’t be like that. It didn’t feel right to me. None of it.

I spent a lot of time pondering my connecting to the Divine. I had one. It was tangible to me. I knew there was a higher power that I was connected to. But I couldn’t define it.

I have always been introspective. Meditation was something that gave me peace from a very young age. It wasn’t meditation in its traditional sense. That didn’t come till later. I find peace and pause in nature. I would sit by the water And just ponder life.

That’s when I gained clarity on what I can comfortably call God.

What if God was not this omnipotent patriarchal figure in the so called heavens judging over us all, waiting to strike us down for bad behaviour?

What if God was just energy that was aware of itself? And its purpose was to understand the extent of itself? And so it fractured into an infinite number of realities and we are just one of those realities? And because we are creative, and aware of ourselves, are we not then also Divine?

What if God was all of us? And our purpose was to recognize our true nature? Our authentic self? That soul that everyone talks about… What if that was God manifested? What if we are all God manifested, living this life to understand the extent of not only our human selves, but reconnect with our Divine selves in the process?

What is Self-care?

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What is self care?

I ask my clients this and I get a range of responses.

I go to the spa. I got my nails done. I went to the gym. I meditate. I eat healthy.

Most of us have some idea of what we do for ourselves that would constitute self- care, but to truly understand it we have to know what the self is first.

I believe the self is multi-faceted and we have to look after all the layers of ourselves in order for us to be at peace.

The 5 layers as I know them:

The Energetic Self: that you that walks into the room before your physical body does. That part of you that picks up on the “tension” in the room or picks up on the “vibe” that someone is giving off.

The Physical Self: your entire physical being. The muscles, bones, plasma… Every cell that comes together to create you.

The Mental Self: the computer or the thought machine. The conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind. All of your thoughts positive and negative.

The Emotional Self: the executor of your emotional responses. Active, passive or shut down responses. The entire spectrum of emotional responses from love to fear.

The Spiritual self: the witness or the soul. The you that looks for connection to that higher power that we believe we come from. That you that questions your very existence.

Now that you know you have this multifaceted self… What are you doing to look after all the layers of you?