At Kind Counselling , one of the most painful realisations a client can have is that their parent may never be able to give them the emotional validation they crave. When dealing with a narcissistic parent, "setting a boundary" isn't about changing their behaviour—it’s about changing your accessibility. 1. Shift Your Goal from "Understanding" to "Safety" In a healthy relationship, we set boundaries to improve the connection. With a narcissistic parent, we set boundaries to protect our...

We’ve all been there: You’ve spent weeks in therapy talking through a difficult memory. You understand the "why" behind your anxiety. You’ve mapped out your triggers. And yet, the moment you walk into a stressful meeting or hear a specific tone of voice, your chest tightens, your palms sweat, and your breath becomes shallow. At Kind Counselling , we often hear clients say, "I know I’m safe, so why does my body feel like I’m in danger?" The answer lies in a simple but profound truth: Your mind...

For years, we’ve been told that the antidote to a stressful life is "self-care." We bought the scented candles, took the Sunday bubble baths, and downloaded the meditation apps. But if you’re anything like me, you’ve found yourself sitting in that expensive bath with your heart still racing, your mind cycling through tomorrow’s to-do list, and a lingering feeling that you’re "doing relaxation wrong." The truth? A bubble bath can’t fix a physiological state of "Fight or Flight." I n 2026, the...