Shanti Psychotherapy Resources & Articles

The Invisible Burdens Carried By International Students

If you’re an international student in high school, college, or university, you may not realize how courageous your journey is. Many of you left home, perhaps for the first time, to experience the joys and pitfalls of independent living. We learn a great deal from students and young people in India, China and other places who are preparing for this transition. The palpable excitement of what lies ahead often overshadows the reality of the invisible burdens they will carry as international students in Canada, specifically with their mental health.

Break the Good Girl Archetype & Heal Intergenerational Trauma

The Good Girl Archetype is a culturally embedded trauma response and survival strategy of past generations inherited by young South Asian women of today. Blind obedience, emotional suppression, perfectionism and self-sacrifice shape their lives creating chronic anxiety, people-pleasing, shame and guilt. Healing from this type of intergenerational trauma is possible, and it starts with accepting that your worth does not depend on self-sacrifice.

Dealing with Anxiety: Understand The Neuroscience

Psychotherapists often use the analogy of a three-legged stool to help clients dealing with anxiety understand the neuroscience. Each leg represents a separate aspect of anxiety: the thinking mind, the physical body, and the emotional system. Managing anxiety requires addressing all three. Consequently, understanding the interconnectedness of the legs can provide effective and empowering strategies for dealing with anxiety.

Cancer Affects Your Mental Health, Too.

Cancer affects your mental health and seeking support for your mental wellness through this journey is not just a nice-to-have. It can be crucial for the best possible outcome. We have ample evidence indicating how our bodies and minds support each other. A healthy body promotes mental wellness, and robust emotional well-being can boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, and offer resilience to stressors.

What I Learned About Setting Boundaries from Eating Cheese

In families where healthy boundaries don’t exist, introducing your own can feel like cutting off a limb off of your family’s whole. People may protest, accuse you of being difficult, or even downplay the pain you’ve experienced. But here’s the truth: nobody ever wants to set a boundary. It’s never the first choice, and it’s almost always uncomfortable.



🧠 What is Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)?

DBR is a cutting-edge, neuroscience-informed trauma therapy that helps people process unresolved trauma by working with the brainstem, the part of the brain responsible for our most instinctive survival responses.Unlike traditional therapy, DBR doesn’t start with the story of what happened. Instead, it gently tracks the sequence of internal reactions that occurred at the time of the trauma, beginning with the body’s orienting response to a perceived threat, followed by tension and emotional shock.By helping the nervous system complete these original protective responses in a safe and supported way, DBR allows for deep healing at the level where trauma is first held, often without the need to relive or retell painful memories in detail.If you’re feeling stuck in patterns of fear, hypervigilance, emotional shutdown, or reactivity, DBR might be a helpful path forward. Reach out to us at Shanti to learn more or book a consultation.#dbrtherapy #deepbrainreorientingtherapy #deepbrainreorienting #traumatherapy #traumahealing #intergenerationaltrauma

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Being an international student can be incredibly rewarding, but also deeply exhausting.

You’re adapting to a new culture, managing expectations from home, juggling school, finances, maybe even a job, all while trying to find your place.It’s no wonder burnout can creep in quietly.
Here’s your gentle reminder:
✨ Take breaks.
🥗 Nourish your body.
🛌 Get enough rest.
🧘‍♀️ Slow down and breathe.
💬 Talk it out.
🤝 Find your people.You’re allowed to take care of yourself, you’re human first. Read more about the international student experience on our website blog post.#internationalstudents #burnoutsupport #mentalhealthmatters #studentwellbeing #restisproductive #youmatter #mentalhealthawareness

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Pride began as protest. As we celebrate, we remember the Black and Brown queer and trans communities who led the way.At Shanti Psychotherapy, solidarity means unlearning, growing, and showing up, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Because if liberation doesn’t include queer and trans people, it’s not liberation.This Pride Month, and always, we honour the legacy, resilience, and joy of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. 🌈💖#PrideMonth #2SLGBTQIA #QueerJoy #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TherapistsForJustice #ShantiPsychotherapy #MentalHealthMatters #PrideIsPolitical

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Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?Sometimes it’s not just anxiety, it’s a nervous system shaped by childhood and intergenerational trauma. When you grow up reading the room for safety, even small mood shifts can feel like danger. Healing means learning you’re safe now. 💭🧠Reach out to us on our website to access support.#intergenerationaltrauma #traumahealing #nervoussystemsupport #innerchildhealing #mentalhealthawarenes #southasiantherapy #southasianmentalhealth #southasiantherapist #therapistsofinstagram #traumatherapy #grouptherapy

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Feeling drained or unmotivated lately? You might be experiencing burnout. 💭 Here are a few gentle check-in questions to help you tune into what your mind and body might be telling you:✨ Are you holding tension in places like your shoulders or stomach?
✨ Have you stopped prioritizing things that bring you joy?
✨ Are you neglecting parts of yourself that truly matter?
Burnout can creep in quietly—but you don’t have to navigate it alone.Feel free to reach out for support or therapy. You deserve care, too. 💛You can find lots of resources for support on our blog, which you can access on our website using the link in our bio.#BurnoutSupport #TherapyIsForEveryone #SelfCompassion #southasiantherapy #mentalhealthmatters #torontotherapy #southasiantherapist #southasianmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness

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