Expert Advice From Helpmesara

Sara Dimerman in conversation with actor and writer, Noam Tomaschoff, about family secrets and how his life changed when his family's secret was revealed to him. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Noam's family's secret - how and why he chose to share it with others How other family members felt about him sharing the secret Noam's advice to parents in regards to keeping secrets from their children, especially when it directly impacts them How learning about the secret changed his life

Sara Dimerman in conversation with psychotherapist, Natalie Haynes, about how to help people become more comfortable when talking about race. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Natalie, why and how she developed a program to get people talking about race with one another The comfortable race conversation process program How the program helps people learn to develop a common language when talking about race, diversity and inclusion Ways to reflect on our personal biases and feelings How to increase people's sensitivities and create foundations for safety To learn more about Natalie's program and when the next one begins, go to The Comfortable Race Conversation Process.

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Allan Gonzales. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Allans' life experience as an autistic child, and now adult Whether it has affected the way he learns How it affects his interaction and socialization with others Whether it impacts his relationship with family members What he'd like you to know for when you're interacting with people who are autistic

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Farhana Adatia. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Trauma and betrayal, especially in regards to couples relationships Some physical and emotional symptoms of trauma following betrayal The most common forms of betrayal in couples relationships Some of the ways that one can be helped by a professional following betrayal How to respond to a friend who has been betrayed Whether or not an individual, or couple, can ever reclaim their relationship as it once was, or make it even better Books/resources that can help

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Phyllis Taylor. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Phyllis Taylor and what led to writing her book How well equipped Ontario's prison system is to rehabilitate offenders Issues that prisons seem either well or poorly equipped to handle Whether prisons are best suited for certain offenders and not the right place for others With crime on the rise, what Phyllis recommends in regards to keeping our streets safe

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Lesley Rosenthal about saying goodbye to a beloved pet. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: How saying goodbye to a beloved pet is different to or the same as saying goodbye to a beloved human family member or friend What to keep in mind when making the decision to euthanize Whether to include children in the decision to euthanize your pet Knowing when the time is "right" to say goodbye Some options when euthanizing one's pet Whether or not children should be present for the euthanasia Some options in regards to burial or cremation of one's pet, for example What's "normal" in regards to your feelings in the days, weeks and months following the passing of your pet Some ways of memorializing or honouring one's pet If there are other pets at home, what changes might you see in them following the loss of their companion Resources: University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College guide for coping with the loss of a pet Midtown Mobile Veterinary Hospice

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Alexandra Jai about about drumming out our feelings. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Alexandra's personal journey and how drumming allowed her to express her feelings and heal when she needed it most Mindful breath, mindful movement and mindful hand drumming and how, by integrating breath, body and beat we may experience rhythm bliss Finding one's rhythm zone and how to clear the unhelpful chatter in our heads

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Kimberly Gawne about homeschooling. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What homeschooling means Whether there's an age or grade at which it's best to begin homeschooling Whether homeschooling is the right choice for every child and family The benefits of homeschooling Whether there are any drawbacks to homeschooling, including the possibility of less socialization Whether or not one needs to have a background in education or working with children in order to homeschool them Whether or not children who are homeschooled typically continue with homeschooling into high school How older teens, entering college or university programs after being homeschooled, fare, socially and academically, for example

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Stephanie Gutnik about how recent grads can prepare themselves for the working world. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Whether it's normal or not to feel fearful about what lies ahead? Whether or not most people find that "right" job and one that they love right away Whether the work culture as we now know it - often hybrid or completely remote - is a detriment to young people going into the working world or of benefit to them Whether or not there's a difference between a "job" and a "career" How much should monetary compensation be taken into consideration when accepting a job What Stephanie wishes others would have told her when she first began working

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Carol Mott about the power of perseverance in one's healing process. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What took place on April 21st, 2022 when Carol suffered a spontaneous hemorrhage in her spine which caused paralysis from the waist down What happened in the days and weeks following that very sudden and shocking experience What impact her state of mind had on her recovery Some of the most notable factors that contributed towards her persevering each day Support systems that helped her most The power of perseverance in her healing process

Sara Dimerman in conversation with medical student Tera Armel about her personal journey on retraining her brain to manage chronic pain. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Neuroplastic pain What happened to Tera during her final year of undergrad at university and how her life changed after that Interventions to manage pain and how they helped or didn't How mental health is impacted by chronic pain Additional resources: The Way Out, by Alan Gordon with Alon Ziv Curable Mayim Bialik and Alan Gordon

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Rich Padulo. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Treat Accessibly, when and how it got started and its future goals How Treat Accessibly has grown over the years and the support it is receiving from communities and organizations How you can learn more about Treat Accessibly and what you can can do to get involved

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Larissa Mills. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Why cell phones should be banned at school Whether, other than school, they should be banned elsewhere The impact of putting cell phones in the hands of toddlers or pre-schoolers The impact of cell phones on children's physical, psychological and social growth Whether it's ever too late to turn things around ie how parents can work towards breaking their child's dependence on cell phones or technology, in general How parents and schools can work together for the betterment of children's health

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Dr. Laura Loli-Dano. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The five universal WHO (World Health Organization) QualityRights Standards and why they matter in the context of self or a loved one receiving care How being fully aware of people's human rights, in the context of health care systems, no matter how burdened the health care systems are, helps make informed and people-centred decisions The importance of increased awareness of quality rights - on the part of people receiving care, their loved ones', and health care personnel, especially in settings such as the mental health sector where people's exercising of their rights is often limited or infringed upon What we can do to make sure that human rights are at the heart of care in an overburdened health care system

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Sandee Sharpe. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What the word "retire" conjures up for most people Whether retirement is different now to what it was like decades ago What most people typically look forward to Some of the more typical concerns that people have as they move closer to retirement How we can begin to navigate changes successfully The impact on others such as when a couple retires together or one retires while the other continues doing what they’ve been doing for years Some dos and don'ts to consider in one's retirement phase of life

Sara Dimerman in conversation with psychologist Sarah Chana Radcliffe. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What a tic disorder means The connection between a tic disorder and Tourette Syndrome Whether there is a typical age at which tics present themselves Whether or not gender is a factor Why tics occur Typical treatment approaches for tics and by whom Sarah Chana's latest book, No More Tics and how to use it Some dos and don'ts when you're around someone with a tic disorder

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Registered Social Worker Clarissa Kennedy. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What a food addiction means Whether or not it differs from other addictions, such as to alcohol or gambling, for example Whether or not it is recognized as an addiction in diagnostic manuals that mental health professionals refer to If food addiction falls under the same category as an eating disorder and how it differs from other eating disorders such as binge eating Whether or not some people might be more vulnerable when it comes to developing an addiction to food and why Some signs that one might be grappling with a food addiction How to manage a food addiction Some of the ways in which food addiction is treated What special training someone with an eating addiction should look for in a therapist when they are seeking help Resources: The Hunger-Satiety Scale Food Addiction Institute Sugar-Free For Life Support: I'm Sweet Enough Sugarbomb in your Brain Sugar and Carbs

Sara Dimerman in conversation with author Julie Starr. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Julie's personal story with the intention of helping other women feel less alone, to know that what they are feeling is normal and to prepare them for what lies ahead. Practical advice for women who are also parents, how to break the news of a separation to kids and how to manage one's feelings towards an ex when you're around them. How to live your better life after divorce Tools for transitioning from being in a marriage to living without your partner.

Sara Dimerman in conversation with author Ailsa Keppie. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: How Ailsa's journey into another culture and customs helped her to become more aware and sensitive towards cultural differences How her experiences helped her when working with others as a healer What Ailsa believes are the most compelling messages throughout her book Why she chose to leave the culture she adopted and return home

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Dr. Riina Bray. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) means The difference between an allergy and a sensitivity Some of the signs and symptoms of MCS How to go about getting this confirmed and the benefits of knowing that you have MCS Whether most people who are sensitive to one chemical are likely sensitive to more or all Some of the more common chemical sensitivities The impact that having MCS has on one's physical, social, emotional and psychological well being The impact that MCS has on one's relationship with a partner or children Whether there are any known causes or triggers for MCS Where people with MCS may go to get help or treatment Options available to help people with MCS Whether most people with MCS eventually live so called "normal" lives