#online therapy canada

[sumiz]

 Family Therapy

Fostering understanding, settling disputes, and creating enduring connections all depend on effective communication in the family. Active listening is essential for this, in which each participant pays close attention, doesn't interrupt, and validates the thoughts and feelings of others. Everyone feels appreciated and understood in a supportive workplace when empathy and respect are shown.

Establishing a specific time slot for family conversations helps avoid misunderstandings and promotes candid communication. It's critical to speak openly and honestly throughout these exchanges, expressing sentiments with "I" statements rather than assigning blame. This method lessens defensiveness and promotes a cooperative attitude towards problem-solving.

It can be very helpful to apply family therapy concepts. Communication may be improved by using strategies like reflective listening, in which each participant paraphrases what they have heard to make sure they have understood. Setting limits and guidelines for communication also aids in the constructive resolution of disputes.

Last but not least, having frequent family check-ins or meetings gives everyone the chance to talk about issues, acknowledge accomplishments, and reaffirm family values. Families may create a nurturing environment where everyone feels heard and valued by regularly putting these methods into practice. This will enhance family ties and foster emotional well-being.Therapy offers a safe space for self-exploration, healing, and personal growth through professional guidance and support.

[canadiancounsellingcenter]

Online therapy canada

The Canadian Center for Counselling and Psychotherapy offers a convenient, confidential, and effective way to access mental health support through their online therapy services. With licensed professionals, flexible scheduling, and a holistic approach, ensures that individuals across Canada can receive the care they need from the comfort of their own homes. Whether addressing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or other mental health concerns, Canadian Center for Counselling and Psychotherapy is dedicated to promoting long-term well-being and personal growth. Choose Canadian Center for Counselling and Psychotherapy online therapy services to take a proactive step towards a healthier, more balanced life.

[sidneycounselling]

Sidney Counselling & Psychotherapy

Website: https://www.sidneycounselling.com/

Address: Sidney, British Columbia

Sidney Counselling & Psychotherapy, led by Phil Enns RCC, offers adult individual counselling and therapy services with a specialization in treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, and loss issues, among others. With over 35 years of experience in both public mental health clinics and private practice, Phil employs various treatment methods including EMDR, Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Notably, services are currently provided exclusively online, ensuring accessibility for individuals seeking supportive and certified therapeutic services without geographical constraints.

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[pratanumindpowerdevelopment]

Role of Music Therapy for Physically and

Music therapy is a professional and evidence-based health care discipline that uses the transformative power of music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. It involves the use of music and musical activities by a qualified music therapist to achieve therapeutic goals and promote overall well-being.

Key Elements of Music Therapy:

Clinical Practice:

Music therapy is a clinical and therapeutic practice conducted by certified and trained music therapists. These professionals have a strong foundation in music and are equipped with the knowledge of psychological, physiological, and therapeutic principles.

Individualized Approach:

Music therapists tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of each client. The individualized nature of music therapy allows for personalized strategies based on the client's goals, preferences, and therapeutic requirements.

Wide Range of Techniques:

Music therapy incorporates a diverse range of musical techniques, including listening to music, singing, playing instruments, songwriting, and improvisation. The specific techniques used depend on the therapeutic objectives and the client's preferences.

Multidimensional Impact:

Music therapy addresses a broad spectrum of human experiences. It can impact physical health by improving motor skills, aiding in rehabilitation, and promoting relaxation. Emotionally, it provides an outlet for expression and helps manage stress, anxiety, and depression. It also has cognitive benefits, such as enhancing memory, attention, and problem-solving.

Clinical Settings:

Music therapy is practiced in various clinical settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric facilities, schools, nursing homes, and community organizations. Music therapists collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to complement and enhance the overall care provided to clients.

Evidence-Based Practice:

The field of music therapy is grounded in research and evidence-based practices. Ongoing studies contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the effectiveness of music therapy across a range of conditions and populations.

Goals of Music Therapy:

Emotional Expression:

Provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to express and process emotions through music.

Physical Rehabilitation:

Enhance motor skills, coordination, and physical functioning through rhythmic and movement-based interventions.

Cognitive Stimulation:

Improve cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and problem-solving, through engaging musical activities.

Communication and Social Skills:

Foster communication and social interactions by encouraging verbal and non-verbal expression within a musical context.

Stress Reduction:

Utilize music as a tool for relaxation and stress reduction, promoting overall mental well-being.

Quality of Life Enhancement:

Improve the overall quality of life by addressing holistic aspects of health, including emotional, physical, and social dimensions.

Benefits of Music Therapy:

Emotional Expression:

Music provides an outlet for emotional expression, allowing individuals to convey feelings that may be challenging to express verbally. Cognitive Stimulation:

Engaging with music can stimulate cognitive functions, aiding in memory recall, attention, and problem-solving. Physical Rehabilitation:

Rhythmic elements in music can be incorporated into physical rehabilitation programs to improve coordination and motor skills. Stress Reduction:

Music has the potential to reduce stress and anxiety levels, promoting relaxation and overall well-being. Enhanced Communication:

For non-verbal individuals or those with communication challenges, music can serve as a powerful means of communication. Music Therapy in Different Countries:

Music Therapy in the USA: Organizations: The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) oversees music therapy practices in the USA. Settings: Music therapists work in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, and mental health facilities. Training: Board-certified music therapists undergo rigorous training to ensure competence.

Music Therapy in the UK: Organizations: The British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) is the professional body overseeing music therapy in the UK. Settings: Music therapists work in healthcare, education, and community settings. Training: Music therapists typically hold a master's degree and are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Music Therapy in Canada: Organizations: The Canadian Association for Music Therapy (CAMT) is the national body for music therapy in Canada. Settings: Music therapists work in healthcare, mental health, and special education settings. Training: To become a certified music therapist in Canada, individuals typically complete a bachelor's or master's degree in music therapy.

Music Therapy in Australia: Organizations: The Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) oversees music therapy practices in Australia. Settings: Music therapists work in hospitals, aged care facilities, schools, and mental health settings. Training: Music therapists in Australia usually complete a bachelor's or master's degree in music therapy. Cities in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia: USA: New York City Los Angeles Chicago Houston San Francisco Washington, D.C. Boston Atlanta Miami Seattle UK: London Manchester Birmingham Glasgow Liverpool Bristol Edinburgh Leeds Newcastle Cardiff Canada: Toronto Vancouver Montreal Calgary Ottawa Edmonton Winnipeg Quebec City Halifax Victoria Australia: Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Adelaide Canberra Gold Coast Newcastle Hobart Darwin Different Types of Mental Diseases: Depression:

Characterized by persistent sadness, lack of interest or pleasure in activities. Anxiety Disorders:

Conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Schizophrenia:

A severe mental disorder characterized by distorted thinking, hallucinations, and delusions. Bipolar Disorder:

Involves mood swings, alternating between depressive and manic episodes. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

Involves recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Eating Disorders:

Conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Role of Music for Body and Mind:

Emotional Regulation:

Music can evoke and regulate emotions, promoting emotional well-being and stability. Stress Reduction:

Listening to calming music or engaging in music-making activities can reduce stress levels. Cognitive Benefits:

Music has cognitive benefits, including improved memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Physical Rehabilitation:

Rhythmic auditory stimulation in music can aid in physical rehabilitation and motor skills development. Social Connection:

Music brings people together, fostering social connections and a sense of community. Mood Enhancement:

Upbeat and joyful music can enhance mood and provide a sense of positivity. Expressive Outlet:

Playing or creating music allows individuals to express themselves creatively and artistically. Therapeutic Tool:

Music is used as a therapeutic tool in various clinical settings to address mental health challenges. Music therapy harnesses the therapeutic properties of music to address physical, emotional, and cognitive needs, making it a valuable intervention for individuals facing mental and physical challenges.

**About Pratanu Banerjee - Pratanu Banerjee is a teacher of keyboard, harmonica, flute, Spanish guitar, music therapy, reiki, money reiki, angel reiki, kundalini reiki, angel reiki, reiki grandmaster, holy fire reiki, unicorn reiki, emotional empowerment technique, self hypnosis, french, English, anthropology, hospital administration etc. These are certificate courses by Pratanu Banerjee at Institute of performing art and mind power development affiliated under world art organization. Cal 91–8017517171 **

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Hey, there's this petition to restrict access for minors on the internet. It's called the kosa law and it's rlly bad BC alot of vital resources and services are like present and possible ON the internet (i.e suicide prevention, online therapy, research stuff, LGBTQ infos,etc) and like it's your choice but here's the link for the petition, if you feel comfortable to sign, but I would just like to spread the word https://chng.it/bQwzXqDcLG since this also relates to Canada

KOSA is an American law, but the Internet is very US-centralized, so anything that happens to major US internet sites will likely have a ripple effect worldwide.

It doesn't directly effect Canada, as we are not governed by the US Government, and are not subject to their laws. The Canadian Senate recently put a bill with similar aims, and imo that's where there should be greater focus for Canadians, as it will directly effect Canadians.

Awareness is important, so hoping this can at least help Americans in some way by sharing this.

Sign here if you wish:

[cosmereplay]

Kaladin Didn’t Invent Therapy (And Why That’s Actually Great)

“...You need someone to talk to, Noril, when the darkness is strong. Someone to remind you the world hasn’t always been this way; that it won’t always be this way.” “How do you … know this?” Noril asked. “I’ve felt it,” Kaladin said. “Feel it most days.” - Rhythm of War, Ch. 25 Devotary of Mercy

I’m writing as someone with a background in psychotherapy and peer support, and I'm bursting with excitement about one of my favourite topics. You can imagine why I love Kaladin’s arc in Rhythm of War so much! I actually yelled out loud when I read some of these parts the first time.

I’ve seen people online saying and making jokes that Kaladin invents therapy, and while that could eventually be true, what Kaladin actually invented in RoW is mental health peer support. Psychotherapy as most people would understand it simply doesn’t exist yet on Roshar. However, peer support is a legitimate modality for healing on its own merits. Even more importantly for the story, peer support is something Kaladin would personally really benefit from, and it fits his narrative arc way better than therapy would.

1. Therapy as we know it won’t exist for a while yet.

“We need to study their responses, use an empirical approach to treatment instead of just assuming someone who has suffered mental trauma is permanently broken.” - Rhythm of War, Ch. 25 Devotary of Mercy “Someone needs to talk to them, try different treatments, see what they think works. What actually helps.” - Rhythm of War, Ch. 25 Devotary of Mercy

Obviously, Kaladin has not been educated in battle shock or melancholia or any other diagnosis. In Alethkar there's hardly any knowledge to be had on the subject. Even now in real life, research into effective interventions for various diagnoses is still ongoing, over 100 years after modern therapy was founded.

Building an empirical knowledge base* will take time, not to mention the years it will take to train new therapists across Roshar in how to provide interventions specific to various issues. Therapy as we know it today generally includes time in mentorship with another therapist, so in a way, the first therapist isn't a therapist. 😅 In the meantime, there are people who need help today, including Kaladin.

Peer support can fill that gap because its knowledge base is different. Peers bring their expertise, which is their years of trial and error, successes and failures - their lived experience. Peer facilitators need to know the basics of managing a group, and they have to be willing to share their own experiences and learn from the group. Thus, training peer leaders is relatively quick, and incredibly scalable and adaptable across cultures and many issues/diagnoses.

2. Peer Support is a distinct path to recovery that doesn’t require an expert in therapy.

Kaladin located six men in the sanitarium with similar symptoms. He released them and got them working to support each other. He developed a plan, and showed them how to share in ways that would help...Today they sat in seats on the balcony outside his clinic. Warmed by mugs of tea, they talked. About their lives. The people they’d lost. The darkness. - Rhythm of War, Ch. 33 Understanding “While you can’t force it, having someone to talk to usually helps. You should be letting him meet with others who feel like he does.” - Rhythm of War, Ch. 25, Devotary of Mercy

Kaladin is already positioning himself to align with the values of peer support. Some of these values overlap with therapy, such as dignity, respect, inclusion, hope, and trust. What makes peer support different is a particular emphasis on equal relationships, self-determination, and personal growth (Peer Support Canada, 2022).

In peer support, the group facilitator is not considered an authority like a therapist would be. A peer leader may be further on the road to recovery, but they may not be. They are expected to listen and grow just like any other group member.

Because the leader of the group is also a learner, peer support groups tend to be more collaborative and open-ended. Everyone in the group has something they can take out of it and something to give. Everyone in the group is responsible for managing their own self care, and everyone in the group is responsible for the direction of their own growth. This is different from most therapy groups, which often have a specific focus or goal that the therapist is responsible for implementing. And speaking of responsibility...

3. Peer Support Fits Kaladin’s Narrative Arc Better than Therapy

At his father’s recommendation—then insistence—Kaladin took it slowly, confining his initial efforts to men who shared similar symptoms. Battle fatigue, nightmares, persistent melancholy, suicidal tendencies. -Rhythm of War, Ch. 33 Understanding …he’d learned—these last few months—that his battle shock could take many forms. He was getting to where he could confront it. -Rhythm of War, Ch. 39 Invasion

I think everyone can agree that Kaladin needs to participate in therapy just as much as the other battle-shocked men he finds in the Devotary of Mercy.

However, in therapy, the focus is solely on the needs of the clients. A therapist should not be distracted by their own issues (when this happens, it’s called countertransference). Further, therapy is generally framed such that the therapist is the only expert in the room, which means therapists have a higher level of responsibility for how the clients are doing (which varies depending on the issue, the therapy modality, and the circumstances).

In his own recovery, Kaladin is working on trying to take less responsibility for others, so setting him up as a therapeutic authority could be harmful for him. In a position of authority, he might be tempted to replicate the hierarchical structure he was in before (which would impede his own growth), or try to save everyone (which could impede everyone's growth). He simply doesn’t have the mentorship or knowledge base he'd need to work through those issues before leading as an expert.

In contrast, the point of peer support is the mutual sharing of lived experience. The group facilitator is expected to share their own struggles (as a model of recovery), and allow others to support them. In the context of a more balanced power dynamic, Kaladin can give the other group members the space they need to grow, and he can pursue his own recovery without feeling like he’s letting others down. Also, he will be able to leave the group during KOWT without worrying that the group won't be able to run without him. Everyone in the group carries some responsibility for each other, so group members can come and go with less stress than a change in therapist would cause in group therapy.

This is the beauty of peer support. It can happen anywhere people with similar experiences get together. No formal education is required. What is required is a willingness to know yourself as well as you can; to share your experiences; to listen to others tell their stories; to question your own assumptions as you learn how others handle things differently; to look out for each other's safety; to care.

Peer support creates a place of belonging and a community repository of shared wisdom. Kaladin almost had it on Bridge Four, but his position of authority wouldn’t allow him to grow the way he needed. Peer support is what Kaladin needs - he needs a place where he can take off his armour among people who get it because they're struggling with similar issues, and without having a position of responsibility over them. When he (eventually**) attends the groups, they help him grow!

Anyway, that's why Kaladin didn’t invent therapy, and why I think that's great.

For the men chatting together softly, the change was in being shown sunlight again. In being reminded that the darkness did pass. But perhaps most important, the change was in not merely knowing that you weren’t alone—but in feeling it. Realizing that no matter how isolated you thought you were, no matter how often your brain told you terrible things, there were others who understood. - Rhythm of War, Ch. 33 Understanding

---

*Funny enough, empirical research could lead Rosharan researchers right back to peer support. Empirical research on Earth has shown that modern therapy and peer support have similar levels of effectiveness (for example, for depression and PTSD).

**Look who’s resisting attending the groups he founded…KALADIN!! (shakes fist in the general direction of the sky) (This is the most relatable passage for me in this whole book, by the way, helper types unite lmao):

Kaladin looked down at the table. Had it? Had talking to Noril helped? “He’s been avoiding joining in,” Teft said. “I haven’t,” Kaladin snapped. “I’ve been busy.” Teft gave him a flat stare. Storming sergeants. They always heard the things you weren’t saying. - Rhythm of War, Ch. 38 Rhythm of the Terrors

Peer Support Canada. (2022). Peer Support Core Values. Accessed from https://peersupportcanada.ca/ Jun 27, 2022.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for being paranoid about US Border Security?

🪤 <- for searching later

Background info: I live in Canada, (relatively) close to the US border. Because of this, when shopping online it can be cheaper to have orders shipped to the nearest American town and then drive down yourself to pick them up. I hadn't done this myself but it's pretty normal to do around here.

This happened at the end of this summer, so the situation is fully over but my (white) friends immediately adjacent to this situation have said that I was basically the only asshole here and I feel that I am, at least, only one of the assholes. I want people's genuine opinions however. I have since stopped talking to this entire group of people, who I'd previously been friends with for 4-5 years, over this issue and a couple others.

My friend (20s, white) had ordered a package to [nearest American town], and because they don't have a car, they were looking for someone who could do a day trip to the states so they could pick it up. I (20s, white-passing, but from a mixed South Asian Muslim family, & I have very recognizably Muslim family names) offered to drive them down with my car, they agreed. We were going to split gas money, the date was set, everything was ready to go.

A few days prior to when we were going to go, my south asian parent reminded me that because I have muslim names, I need to be very careful when crossing the border, because the US Customs is well known for profiling muslims/arabs and pulling them aside for intensive screening. My parent also pointed out that, because my friend smokes weed basically every single day (legal in Canada), I would need to make sure that they were not carrying any weed with them when we went.

I was freaked out by this, and was not thinking super clearly in the moment because it was close to midnight and things my parent had mentioned about previous experiences going through Customs had scared me a lot.

I immediately texted my friend, saying that Customs would find weed on them if they swabbed them, and that it would be "a big problem." They replied that Customs doesn't swab for weed, and that they "failed to see any problem." I replied that Customs is allowed to go through your phone (people have been turned away at the border for admitting to having used cannabis before, but if you tell Customs that you've never smoked weed and they find evidence to the contrary they can ban you from entering the country for lying to border personnel.)

I linked them to an unofficial site that went into detail about what US Customs agents can do if you have weed on you or admit to having smoked previously. My vague intent at this point was for us to get everything in order so that none of the bags/jackets/etc we were taking could possibly have had any weed crumbs/dead old vapes/edible packaging in them , but I didn't get a chance to say this because they immediately replied that even if Customs tested them and found weed in their system, that they wouldn't care because it's legal in Canada. I said that Customs very much would care, and they said that I was insulting them and accusing them of having a criminal record. At this point they sent a further ~10 upset/angry texts in a row, which I didn't open or reply to because I was really upset at this point and needed a minute.

At this point (around midnight), they phoned me, I picked it up and they immediately(!) started yelling at me and saying I was a piece of shit etc etc. I told them they sounded dysregulated and should take a minute to compose themself (I phrased what I said in an aggravating therapy-speak way, bc I had been watching vids about cptsd immediately before they phoned me, but I was extremely freaked out, as I think most people would be when their friend is suddenly yelling at them, and it was the first thing that came to mind). This just made them yell louder, so I told them I refused to let people speak to me that way, said goodnight, they said goodnight, we hung up, and I blocked their calls and texts so they couldn't continue berating me.

After this, I realized that I'd completely neglected to mention that the reason I was particularly scared was because of US Customs' Islamophobic profiling, but I had gone into the interaction assuming (incorrectly) that they already knew implicitly that that was going to be an issue, because we'd known each other for 5 years and I've definitely talked (not recently) about how going thru US Customs is always a pain in the ass because my whole family gets profiled and taken for extra questioning, so right before I went to sleep I briefly unblocked them and sent a text saying that the reason I was so paranoid was because of the extra questioning I was already expecting to encounter at the border, but that it was now irrelevant anyway because I refused to be in a car with someone who was totally fine treating me this way.

I've since stopped talking to this person and, by association, my (white) friendgroup because they sided with them completely. It was a long time coming for other additional reasons I can't get into though.

TL;DR

Planning trip from Canada to US in my car with stoner friend, realized a few days before trip that US Customs can arbitrarily fuck your shit up if they find evidence of weed on you. Got scared and tried to tell stoner friend that it would be a big problem if they had weed on them, they flipped their shit and yelled at me over the phone about it, I blocked them (functionally cancelling the trip).

I believe I was accusatory in a bad way, and that I should have communicated better, but ultimately that my fear had a 100% legitimate basis and should not have been completely and totally dismissed by everyone around me, even though I was too extreme in my paranoia

(They were able to get another ride and pick the package up later)

What are these acronyms?

[kirain]

Saw your comment on a post about Sound of Freedom and I came here to say.....shame on you. Shame. On. You. Since when is child trafficking a political issue? Since when is calling pedophilia bad a political issue? If you have a problem with this movie then maybe YOU'RE the problem. No better than the big Disney fat cats who tried to suppress this movie and keep it shelved. Or theaters messing with the ac and saying seats are sold out when they're empty. Shame on you! God's children are not for sale!

I wish people would do a little more research on this topic. If Hollywood and the "powers that be" didn't want this movie being seen, it wouldn't have been released in over 3000 theatres countrywide. It's being shown in major and minor locations all across America and Canada, and the vast majority of those locations aren't having any problems.

Case and point, my own mother and her friend went to see it last week and everything was fine. No issues whatsoever and the seats were packed. The movie isn't being "suppressed". This is all a marketing gimmick from the production company Angel Studios, a Christian streaming service. The movie is jam-packed with lies and only serves to glorify Tim Ballard, the man the movie is based on, and Christianity as a whole. I truly wish this wasn't political, but it is. They made it political.

Tim Ballard has provably exaggerated or fabricated many, if not most of his "rescues", and his organisation, Operation Underground Railroad, has been widely criticised by professional anti-sex trafficking organizations (including other Christian-based ones) for years. He has accumulated millions of dollars for his so-called "non-profit" organisation, and he runs several for profit organisations on the side. Most of this money is presumably pocketed by Ballard and his cohorts, as millions is unaccounted for and only a sliver goes to OUR. It's not about "saving children", it's about money and spreading Ballard's religious ideology.

This is compounded by the fact that Ballard, before he left the CIA, was almost always the last officer to arrive on any scene where child sex trafficking was involved, yet he somehow has hundreds of stories where he's singlehandedly rescued children. In fact, the "true story" the film is based on, where Ballard apparently saved a five year old boy—who, by Ballard's own account, ran up to him, hugged him, and begged to be taken away—didn't even happen. According to court receipts from the arrest and trial of Earl Venton Buchanan (the pedophile in possession of the little boy), Ballard arrived at the scene long after the boy was rescued and taken into custody, and he was barely involved. The documents can easily be found online under the San Diego incident reports.

Ballard was also caught lying about saving one particular girl named Liliana, the literal poster child for OUR. As it turns out, Liliana rescued herself by escaping her captors when she was seventeen and being trafficked in New York. Even more egregious, every time Ballard told her story, he would lower her age to garner more sympathy ... as if her being seventeen wasn't sad enough. In one instance, he claimed she was 14. In another, he claimed she was 11. Ballard also exploited Liliana's story as a reason for needing stricter border patrols and a better wall, despite the fact that she was being abused in America. There is no evidence to suggest OUR had anything to do with her rescue.

Ballard and his "organisation" have even ruined entire legitimate rescue operations in other countries and put children at risk, like in the Dominican Republic, where he endangered the lives of 26 girls by playing vigilante, being followed around by a camera crew, and causing a shootout that effectively traumatised the children he used as a prop to lure in buyers. His response to the mishap and rightful criticism by the Dominican police was basically, "Well ... you win some, you lose some."

The children were released without receiving any therapy or rehabilitative care, and Anne Gallagher, the leading global expert on the international law on human trafficking, said that OUR has an "alarming lack of understanding about how sophisticated criminal trafficking networks must be approached and dismantled" and went on to call the work of OUR "arrogant, unethical, and illegal". Those children easily could've been shot and killed. This occurred in 2014, but Ballard still insists that his "rescues" be filmed, and he even pitched it as a reality TV show. His reasoning for this, he says, is to "spread awareness", but we all know it's because he loves the spotlight.

Entire law enforcement agencies have actually cut ties with or even condemned OUR, such as Washington State Law Enforcement, as a result of Ballard's proclivity to conflate child sex trafficking with consensual adult sex work. Ballard and OUR regularly set up sting operations and lambasted the men who showed up for kink play, publicly branding them as pedophiles, even though the men in question were under the impression that they were meeting for sex with consenting, adult women. This led to several lawsuits against OUR, all of which they rightfully lost.

Ballard's means of gathering intelligence is also questionable, as he, by his own admission, sometimes consults psychic mediums for information on missing children and asks where they're being held captive. I genuinely wish I was joking about that.

The main actor in Sound of Freedom, Jim Caviezel, also has ties to the Qanon movement, and Caviezel himself is a hardcore conspiracy theorist. He believes that Donald Trump is "the new Moses" and that "liberals [literally] drink the blood of children". This is ironic, considering Caviezel and Ballard both met Trump several times, yet never pressed him for information regarding Epstein's client list. Moreover, Caviezel and Ballard both donate to the Catholic Church, which funds the largest child sex trafficking ring on the southern border and has a history of rampant sexual abuse of children. Even more insane, Caviezel admitted to watching child porn, to apparently "get in character" for the movie. He claimed that if Ballard had to watch it, it only "made sense" that he'd have to watch it, too. To "motivate" him to fight child trafficking.

...Alright, bud.

Surprise, surprise, both men are also outspokenly anti-LGBTQ+, despite the fact that children/teens in that community are statistically more likely to be trafficked. The majority of child trafficking is not the result of random kidnappings, as the movie would have you believe. The majority of children are actually recruited into sexual exploitation by a family member or friend/boss. The majority of those children are also not generally passed around in Mexico, like this racist, white savior-oriented movie would have you believe, but they actually either stay in or end up in America. America is, in fact, the largest consumer of child porn and child sex slaves this side of the globe (and nearly the largest producer), yet the movie depicts almost every pedophile as Mexican or some other non-white race.

At the end of the movie, Ballard comes on screen and asks people to donate/buy tickets for others, so that the movie can spread awareness. This is why so many seats in certain theatres are empty, despite websites saying the seats are sold out. Whether or not Angel Studios is also shadow purchasing tickets to boost sales can't be proven, obviously, but I wouldn't put it past them. These "conspiracies" have all served to market the movie and boost ticket sales.

As for Disney trying to keep the movie shelved, that's also a lie. Yes, Disney did technically shelve the movie when they bought Fox, since it didn't exactly correspond with its family-friendly brand, but they had no problem with the movie being released under a different studio. The actual reason Sound of Freedom was in "production hell" for five years was because Tim Ballard kept trying to milk donations. Despite the fact that filming wrapped up in 2018, he kept asking for more and more and more. He used people's faith and understandably emotional response to something as wicked as pedophilia to rake in millions. That's what Ballard is really about, money and stardom. In the movie, there's even a post-credit message where Jim Caviezel says the movie was held back to "maximize its distribution and raise awareness about child sex trafficking".

Translation: Ballard greedy.

Ballard himself admitted the accuracy of this movie "isn't important", and that he just wanted to get the movie out to "spread the word". By that, he of course means the Christian word—but why should fighting child sex trafficking be tied to religion? At the end of the day, Sound of Freedom is a vanity project, and it spreads incredibly dangerous misinformation. Stranger still, Ballard left the OUR just prior to the debut of Sound of Freedom, a fact he's neglected to mention in every interview regarding the movie. It's not clear why he left, but it seems that he fled after an internal investigation into the organisation began. That's not too suspicious or anything. My guess is authorities are trying to find out were all that missing money went, and Ballard doesn't want to be there when they figure it out.

By the way, that final line you hit me with; "God's children are not for sale", the line from the movie that Ballard claims a fellow agent whispered to him while on a case, as well as the title of the movie, which another agent supposedly said to Ballard after a giant rescue operation—those were lies, too. No agents ever said that to him. The police reports for those cases, as well as the agents Ballard supposedly quoted, all said he was the last to arrive on the scene and those conversations never happened.

Ballard cannot be trusted and Sound of Freedom is based on a lie. It's a scam. Everything he does is a scam. All he cares about is spreading his ideology, making money, and looking like a superhero. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Look into his other companies, and into the ex-military soldiers and police officers who left OUR because of how poorly trained their people are when it comes to rescue operations.

Every sane person knows pedophilia and human trafficking is wrong, but giving your money to Qanon-adjacent, right-wing leaning, LGBTQ+-hating, Catholic Church-sympathising, fame-chasing, money-hungry, perpetual liar Tim Ballard isn't going to help.

The best way to help out is learning about the signs of child trafficking. Keep an eye out for any children that might be getting abused. If you suspect something, report it, don't be a silent bystander. Volunteer within your community to make sure the children in your area have food and resources, support LGBTQ+ youth, and watch the other adults around you to ensure they're not acting inappropriately. You can also donate to social programs that create safe spaces for children and even apply for jobs that specialise in these fields. Don't go to see a movie just because it aligns with your religious beliefs, feel sad for a little while, then sit on your ass and let Tim Ballard handle everything.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Evan Urquhart at Assigned Media:

The highly contentious issue of detransition has become, in recent years, a spur for increased restrictions on trans people’s healthcare. Among the most contentious questions is how frequently young people who once identified as trans decide to detransition, with activists promoting high estimates and the mainstream endorsing the view that detransition is relatively infrequent. The rapacious appetite of anti-trans activists and the journalists who love them for any sort of numbers that can be used to exaggerate the rate of detransition had resulted in studies on discontinuation of treatments such as hormone therapy having been increasingly used as stand-ins for detransition rates, including in some mainstream news outlets. Although this conflation of discontinuation with detransition has never been never scientifically justified, a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health casts further doubt on efforts to conflate discontinuation with detransition. It found 16 percent of trans people discontinued treatment (typically hormone therapy), but that 80 percent of those who did continued to identify as transgender. 

The study’s first author is Kinnon McKinnon, who has become one of the leading researchers on detransition. “This is one of the first community studies to offer preliminary insights into the diversity of TGD young people in Canada and the US, including the wide variety of reasons that a minority of youth and young adults may discontinue gender-affirming medical treatments,” McKinnon told Assigned Media via email.

Reached using a combination of online outreach measures, the study surveyed 9,674 LGBTQ+ young people in Canada (75.5 percent) and the US (24.5 percent) on their experiences, with a focus on experiences of family and community support for their identities. Of the larger group of respondents, 731 young people reported ever having started gender-affirming medical treatments, with 16 percent of them reporting stopping or reversing treatment. (Sixteen percent is higher than most estimates of detransition rates, but lower than the high estimate for discontinuation, 30 percent, based on a study of prescriptions for those accessing gender-affirming care through the US military.)

Unlike earlier studies of discontinuation, this study asked participants about their reasons for discontinuing treatment and found that detransition was far from the most common. In fact, over one third (37 percent) of those who reported discontinuing treatment told researchers they wished they hadn’t stopped. Meanwhile, 32 percent described a shift in gender identity as having been a motivating factor. The most commonly given reason for discontinuing treatment was health issues, named as a factor by 37 percent of those who discontinued treatment. If a significant percentage of those who discontinue gender-affirming treatments wish they hadn’t, why are they discontinuing? Hints to possible answers to that question can be found in the study, which found that espousing a Christian identity and growing up Christian was significantly associated with discontinuing treatment, while having a supportive family and household income above $100,000 were both inversely correlated. This suggests that trans people with social support and financial security are less likely to discontinue treatment.

Several other factors that were correlated or inversely correlated with discontinuing treatment, including nonbinary identity.

A new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health reveals that discontinuing medical transition treatments is not the same as detransitioning. It revealed that 16% of trans people discontinued treatment, but in that same sample, 80% of them continued to identify as trans.

[benja-min]

Online Therapy Canada for OCD: Finding the Right Therapist

 If you're seeking support, consider exploring online therapy options and connecting with a qualified therapist specializing in OCD treatment, particularly for therapist OCD and online therapy Canada

[theoldlesbianwithcats]

nanshe fest anon here, haha let me invent a callsign .... how about Rio :)

i totally relate to what you mean when you said you are not able to distinguish between the "lesbian" and bisexual experience shared in that interview. things like this hindered my ability to understand what my sexuality even was, since i cant relate to either of them. then i read "lesbian books" and dont understand how they can have sex with men without a mental breakdown. i had a mental breakdown about my sexuality when i was pressured to marry, tried DIY conversion therapy on myself but when i faced with the option of even touching a man sexually, death seemed better because how could i live like that? theres no way. of course this made my mental health worse but not to trauma dump - i am ok now, so dont worry.

the anon who talked about strap ons was also very insightful. the focus on strap-on contributed to me developing a severe sense of dysphoria around my genitalia with this depression that i would never be able to have a "real" sex life.

this is why it is so important for lesbian experiences to be heard, i think the queer spaces are making things worse for us, particularly when we are young and vulnerable. also i am from a non-english speaking country, where homosexuality is still criminal so i could only turn to these spaces for support. i think even in countries such as the US, its the same for a lot of lesbian girls in rural towns... they turn to these spaces for help online since its so scary to be a child in a violent homophobic family. maybe they get helped because its worse than nothing. but also it can screw with ur mind a lot. my dream lesbian event would be to hear from more lesbians of color who grew up outside west europe/us/canada... i had to leave my birth country to be able to have a future. but i feel so awkward to be the only lesbian of color in the room 99% of the time. its not that the white women are cruel, dont misunderstand me, they can be lovely and supportive. but it adds an extra level of alienation, because so many times in my country people would call homosexuality as a white persons invention. of course i know that lesbians exist elsewhere but it would be nice to see that in person at these events!

-rio

Hi again, Rio! :D

Yeah it's messed up that even in the "lesbian community" we think we're freaks so we don't even dare talking about our experience! I grew up in a small town and I remember discreetly reading sex ed books for teens at the bookshop for any info or positivity about lesbians, instead I would only find a paragraph telling me it's a phase. So tumblr was my lesbian safe space back in 2010, for example the "it gets better" campaign really helped me when I was bullied in high-school (unfortunately now that charity pretends they have no idea what a lesbian is...) Now the lesbian content is awful and lesbophobic everywhere, offline and online.

And I feel you about lesbian books, I finally got around to reading one I bought years ago because it was recommended to me and it was about two "lesbians" leaving their husbands for each other... We need book lists with actual lesbian rep!

All the strap-on stuff invading lesbian spaces is so weird yeah... A few minutes ago I clicked on a blog because she was talking about wanting to finger a woman while having acrylic nails, which made me go 🤨 and while she called herself a lesbian, it was obvious she wasn't, it was all talk about c*ckwarming and deepthr*ating ("but it's only for strap and girlc*ck, if you're a man do not interact!!!!" 🤪) I don't know if you had sex already but let me tell you that you are not lacking anything and no real lesbian will think you need a sex toy to be a complete partner and have real sex, she will only want you as you are. I mean, my ex-gf and I never even considered trying a strap-on and we definitely thought the sex we were having was real and amazing haha

About meeting lesbians of color, maybe you can find events on Instagram? I wondered why I never saw many women of color at lesbian events in Paris until I learned that black women preferred creating their own events and advertising them on Insta! Maybe you can also find an organization for LGBT refugees? Hopefully you can meet lesbians there :)

[trubbishrubbish]

Happy Last Day of 2023. Here's a long overdue update over how I have been.

As you recall, Jabberwock Genocide Part 2 was uploaded 3 weeks ago. And the only thing I did this whole month of December after Part 2 was uploaded was that I went to Canada to climb a huge mountain and confront my other self because it’s cheaper than going to therapy.

Just kidding, I just worked on more Jabberwock Genocide, nothing else.

This is a positive as I have made so much forward progress in the animation and the upcoming part 3 that you guys won’t have to wait 9 months for more Genocide Jack fun time. However, there is a cost to just working on Jabberwock Genocide, one that I’m currently struggling to find a way to deal with.

Basically, all my free time, focus and thinking has been dedicated to Jabberwock Genocide, but other stuff I do and create I have left to the dust.

My output in making Genocide Jack posts has just stopped.

I keep neglecting to share updates to my Sho Shrine. I am still getting new stuff for it but I have not yet organized it and taken picture of it.

I have barely played any new games. The last game I have beaten that is new was Super Mario Bros Wonder. I loved that game, but I had a hard time sitting down to play it for long sessions as I wanted to work on Jabberwock Genocide.

And tragically, I have really neglected interacting with my online friends. This I feel the most guilty of as I have no excuse for it. I know there are friends I used to talk to a lot before that I have now stopped engaging with for a really long time. If you are one of those people I just to say that I am sorry for ghosting you. I still consider you a friend I don't want our friendship to slowly die out due to lack of communication on my end.

This is my struggle. I love making Jabberwock Genocide. It’s honestly the most enriching thing I am currently doing in my life. I’m creating a story with my favorite character, Genocide Jack. I’m developing my skill as a sprite animator. I’m constantly thinking about how to create a particular scene with the limited resources I have. I get a real kick of joy when I am creating a scene and suddenly an idea comes to mind that I love and I put it in the animation.

I feel so satisfied when the ideas I have for a scene that I see in my head are transmitted into actual animation on my editor. More often then not, what I make in the final product is better than what I imagine in my head. Every single line, every single detail, every single joke, it all feels so amazing to craft them into a video.

It’s crazy to think that just a few months ago, I was at a low point in the animation where all of my motivation was drained and I struggled to make progress for weeks. But now, I feel so freaking happy and elated just thinking about the animation. Heck, even doing really tedious tasks like making every single sprite jump a little is still enjoyable to me. I’ve been working on this project since August 2022. I never expected this to be what is now when I first started writing down ideas. But I am happy the project did turn into this, because I really, truly enjoy working on this.

But… That’s the problem. I enjoy working on Jabberwock Genocide so much that any other hobbies, I find less fun. I rewrote my brain to dedicate huge parts of it to think about Jabberwock Genocide. I’m fully being this attached to a project like this isn’t healthy. I should be consuming different media and doing other activities and talking to my friends. I know this but I find it difficult to summon the energy to do it.

I’m still trying to find a good balance between working on the project and doing other leisure activities that I enjoy doing. I’m going to make this a goal for 2024, it might take me a while to find that balance but I will try to. Hopefully when I do, I can slowly rekindle friendships that I have abandoned.

That’s what I wanted to say. Thank you for taking the time to read this. See you in 2024.

[teaziecups]

TRIGGER WARNING: All forms of abuse, grooming, mental illness, stalking, paranoia/delusions/etc., self harm, eating disorders and overall saddening topics.

Read this with an open mind.

Summary of Elliot's and (somewhat) Rett's history/lore:

• Early life:

Elliot and Rett was born to an anomaly father and human mother further corrupting both of them and the rest of their siblings(6 including Elliot & Rett). Sadly both have faced all forms of abuse mainly from their father and reactive abuse from their mother. Pushing Elliot to develop amnesia as a way of coping(Elliot doesn't remember this unless therapy intervenes). Rett, however, suprising remembers a great deal of this.

Furthermore, at the age of 13 the family moved to America. It was quickly changed when CPS(or some other form of this) split the family up and deported the parents back to Greece. (Kept the children because they were "Exotic")

● Tween/Early teenage years:

Elliot starts to struggle even more with mental health issues. Falling into self harm/slight drug abuse. At around 14 years old Elliot starts to heavily pick up on the behavior. Elliot's abusive foster parents/group house doesn't help with this and in return Elliot tends to run away and stay outside more often to cope with this issue. Elliot aswell got moved around a lot and sent to multiple mental hospitals. School became a huge issue and Elliot suffered greatly with anxiety. Elliot was heavily troubled and his bizarre behavior made him a massive target for bullying. At a young age Elliot starts to develop more suicidal thinking and attempting it. (Staying with him up until 16-17)

Elliot sadly developed a heavy addiction to the internet and found many flings that ended up taking advantage of him. Once they discarded him, Elliot would find something else to fill in a void within himself. By late 14 going into 15, Elliot meets someone that goes by "Lu-Lu" online and develops a fascination with them. Later turning obsessive and protective of Lu. Lu ended returning the favor. They later on started dating and Lu shows more mentally ill characteristics. Then started to take advantage of Elliot, Lu revealed his real age, putting a worse dent into Elliot's mental health. Lu had ended up being a groomer towards Elliot. After a year of this Elliot broke things off and Lu caused an outrage. During all of this, Elliot develops anorexia as a way to cope/have control in life.

Rett struggled mentally with severe social anxiety and anxiety in general. School was a huge burden and he wanted out of it. Later on he developed severe panic attacks and would get sent to the nurse often until he got meds to help him. Rett sadly self harmed but quickly cut the issue out because of shame and regret. Rett's foster parents never helped with his issues until the school nurses got involved. After this he got helped and got put into different classes to help with this issue. Along with all of this, Rett let's on bizarre behavior and struggles with no filter on his mouth. Saying random and paranoia inducing things.

● Later teen years/Recent times:

Heads up: Both twins end up moving to Canada at different times. Rett ends up going first and sooner later Elliot. Due to the service they both went through to get adoptive parents, they were aware of the twins history. Contacted the adoptive parents and brought the twins together.

Elliot goes through intense therapy to cope with everything. Discovers Ms. Hamilton (therapist) a trusting adult in their life. (Elliot later on gets diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder Bi polar type 2) Adoptive parents are extremely kind, overly kind. Elliot's paranoia gets increasingly worse by the minute due to this. He develops a paranoid delusion that they want something out of him. While this is the total opposite of what's going on, Elliot develops a more stiffer/stubborn personality by late 15 leading to 16. Elliot gets increasingly angry and hostile. Building up a terrible reputation for himself. Elliot cuts off most of his online internet usage as he sees the online word useless, until school stars up again with him. Even then it's still incredibly limited. During this (a more happier time in his life) Elliot starts to eat a normal amount, then overeating out of pure boredom. Elliot is overweight now.

Elliots reputation carried into school with him, luckily not many or at all many people knew of him. As he is a new student, in a new country, in a place with less than 400 in population. He saw school as a breeze now, he passed most things with ease. Then, he met one of his peers named "Draw", Draw showed an interest in Elliot, but Elliot didn't return the favor. Until Draws behavior shined onto Elliot more and more as the days grew. Elliot decided to take it upon himself to develop a new friendship, it ended up going extremely well. Draw showed such interaction with Elliots interests and was engaged with him. Later on tensions grew within the friendship.

Elliots new aquaried friend turned bitter sweet when Draws enthusiasm towards Elliot started to die out. He finds out that Draw has been engaging in high school gossip/rumors about Elliot, that he didn't like. Draw only wanted to engage with Elliot through an online app called "Frizzbee", this upsets Elliot. As Elliot sees this as a way to talk to him without talking to him at school. As his new girlfriend "Ava" puts it out that she doesn't like Elliot. Ava believes in the rumors. However, through all of this Elliot only stores the inner turmoil and releases it when Draw sends Elliot spiteful messages. Messages that show the deranged and ill side of Draw. Draws facade breaks through messages but Elliot cuts him out of his life when faced with this. Angering Draw and causing a stalker for life, Lu ends up stalking Elliot aswell when he finds his newer accounts.

Rett gets an amazing adoptive family and starts his healing journey once in Canada. Happily living life and aquaring new special interests. Later on attending school, Rett is faced with little to no challenges. People seem to be a lot nicer to him, seeing him as the "quiet kid" and someone to overlook in a not so harmful way.

Both the twins face each other and reunite after many years of seperation. Elliots intense paranoia flares up because he doesn't remember Rett. Amnesia consumes Elliot. Despite this Elliot makes an effort into helping and bonding with his newly gained best friend.

● Future/Later events:

- Elliot gains Blair as a stalker when Elliot doesn't return any of the favors Blair gives

- Peppermint/Basil become his partners. Basil being first than Peppermint

- Draw ends up stalker Elliot up into adulthood

- Lu stalks Elliot more heavily. Sicko.

- Elliot and Rett move in together for College

[choiceswithmika]

Hi! 👋 Can you believe we’ve made it halfway through the year? Take a moment to celebrate all the progress you’ve made and everything you’ve overcome. Whether 2024 has brought you good times, trying ones, or a mix of both, you've made it this far and that is something to be proud of. I hope July brings you joy, success, and many wonderful moments. Keep going, you’re doing great! 💛 (PS—drink some water)

<333 Gladly I'll share it <3 I am going to put this in full details. I'll say for short that it is a mixed but mostly positive.

January 2024: This is when I realized that I made it in a year with community college :) Im so excited to finish next year for 2025! I grew closer in the choices fandom alongside with it. I was so excited to take more Psychology classes in that semester. I also made couple of edits for instagram page alongside with including edits gifts that I got from couple of people :).

February 2024: I received my first art commission and art sketch that I won from instagram, I was having mental crisis in short amount of time with the amount of work in studying I had and my health issues got bad. Many of my friends made my edit requests and receive. This was when I joined the choices tumblr side when I first did the fanfic for an artist and post it around.

March 2024: I had to keep going to doctors repeatedly for health reasons with 2-3 blood tests and materials got harder for me to grow. Alongside that editing was the only way to cope in this situation. I was also just pushing myself so hard to my limits. This was when I started to use romance club more which was interesting also I was kind of into it so I started to post Romance club on my instagram account and Tumblr too.

April 2024: I got my second art commission and another art sketch and things slowly calmed down for a little. I was slowly coming back feeling better and I started going to therapy for my mental health and a way to be fully comfortable with myself in communicating. I always like to think that I am positive person but what people dont see yet is that in real life I struggle to cope in social situations and being involve to things. I can be myself online with online/irl friends but being around me irl is a different story. I only talk so long around certain people and stuff. Therapy was a hard progress for then first 2-3 times until it made me feel comfortable and adjusting into it.

May 2024: Finals were somewhat easy for me but that paper final was a lot more harder than such. But I had a great group in one of my classes. Overall I at least passed all my classes so it made me happy. During the finals month I had to get my wisdom teeth removed which was the first hard week of May. But the love non stop from everyone on instagram meant so much <3.

June 2024: I was on vacation :) I was on a cruise going to Alaska and Canada, it was fun. Couple of weeks after I started my summer course alongside celebrating my birthday! I'll tell you all but.. I never receive so much love ever in any fandom I was on or in general before besides my family. The love meant everything to me and I cant be any more grateful for the love from everyone I met and got close to in the choices and romance club community <3.

All how the 6 months is :)