A Thanksgiving Message from Landing Strong

A Thanksgiving Message from Landing Strong

by | Oct 12, 2025 | Belinda's Thoughts

A Thanksgiving Message from Landing Strong

As the leaves turn brilliant shades of red and gold, we’re reminded of the beauty that surrounds us here in Nova Scotia: the rugged coastlines, abundant forests, and quiet fields touched by autumn light. This year’s colours seem especially vibrant, a reminder of the richness that exists even in times of challenge.

As we gather in gratitude, our hearts are also with those who are struggling — families displaced by wildfires, and neighbours looking skyward, hoping for the rain that will refill their wells and ease their worries.

We are especially thankful for our firefighters and first responders, working tirelessly to keep people safe and fires at bay.

May this season bring a sense of connection, compassion, and renewed hope. From all of us at Landing Strong, we wish you a peaceful and restorative Thanksgiving.

 

Warmly,

 

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

The Healing Power of Music and Connection

The Healing Power of Music and Connection

by | Oct 10, 2025 | Belinda's Thoughts

Pictured: Nevin Coulstring, Landing Strong friend and community member

The Healing Power of Music and Connection

There are moments when words aren’t enough to capture the depth of human experience. In those moments, music often steps in, bridging the gap between what we feel and what we can express. It has a way of reaching into the hidden places of the heart, offering both comfort and connection.

This is something our friend and community member, Nevin Coulstring, understands deeply. Nevin recently composed an original piece of music, playing every instrument himself.

“The music tells the story of the soldier, police, paramedic, firefighter and the trauma they’ve experienced,” he explained. Nevin wanted his music to carry not just the weight of struggle, but also the strength of resilience. As he put it: “The ending is finding the help, to stand strong on your own once more.”

What makes this gift even more powerful is the context. Nevin is currently facing a terminal illness. Yet, rather than turning inward, he chose to reach outward, to share something meaningful with others who may be walking their own difficult journeys. It is a testament to his courage, generosity, and the profound belief that healing happens not in isolation, but through connection.

At Landing Strong, we often talk about the importance of community. Nevin’s music is a beautiful example of how connection can take many forms. Sometimes it’s a conversation, sometimes it’s a shared silence, and sometimes it’s a song that reminds us that we’re not alone. In offering his music, Nevin has created more than just a composition; he’s created a lasting honour, a message of hope, and a bridge of empathy for those who may be struggling.

Thank you, Nevin, for your service, for your kindness, and for reminding us of the power of music to bring people together. Your legacy of connection and resilience will continue to inspire.

We welcome you to listen to Nevin’s piece by visiting our YouTube page here

For community members and friends of Nevin, he is welcoming visitors.  To arrange a visit with Nevin, kindly contact his wife Donna: nevin117@msn.com

 

Warmly,

 

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

Which Mountain Do You Want to Climb?

Which Mountain Do You Want to Climb?

by | Oct 3, 2025 | Anxiety, Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Community, Courage, Friday Inspiration, Recovery, Virtual Community

Which Mountain Do You Want to Climb?

Those of you who know me know that I have a passion for adventure…and climbing mountains. I’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro three times, and this year, I’m preparing to climb it for the fourth. But this time, it won’t just be my journey; I want to take four Landing Strong community members with me.

The mountain has taught me many lessons, but perhaps the most important one is this: the summit isn’t the point. The real transformation happens long before you reach the peak. It happens in the training.

Climbing a mountain is not simply about fitness. It’s about shifting how we see ourselves; learning to let go of the limiting beliefs that whisper we’re not strong enough, not resilient enough, not ready.

The first time I prepared for Kilimanjaro, I didn’t actually climb it. My role was to lead the community service portion of the trip. Yet the months of preparation changed me. My husband and daughter summited that year. I remember watching my 12 year old daughter’s strength and determination. After they completed the climb, she told me I was capable, even when I didn’t fully believe it myself. And she was right. Sometimes we need someone else to hold the vision of who we might become until we are ready to see it ourselves.

So I offer you this question: which mountain do you want to climb this year?
Maybe it’s Kilimanjaro. Maybe it’s something closer to home. The climb might be a literal peak or a personal one. What matters is that you choose to begin, and that you’re willing to train; not just your body, but your heart, mind, and spirit.

This March, we will travel to Tanzania. Together we’ll spend a week on safari, a week doing community service, and a week on Mount Kilimanjaro. Our community service project this year is close to my heart: building a girls’ dormitory so that young women can safely pursue their high school education. The training begins soon, and it will require commitment, consistency, and courage.

This journey is led by my husband Joe Seagram, in partnership with King’s Edgehill School and Summits Africa.  It is alcohol-free, smoke-free and cannabis-free (cannabis is not legal in Tanzania). Because we will be traveling with King’s-Edgehill School, we’ll be in the company of incredible high school students.

Here’s how you can join us:

  • If you’re interested in being one of the four Landing Strong community members making the climb, please reach out to us directly at info@landingstrong.com
  • If you’d like to be part of the virtual training program and train alongside us from home, keep an eye on your inbox—we’ll be sending details very soon.

The summit may be a breathtaking moment—but it is not the goal. The goal is to discover what we are capable of along the way.

So I ask you again: which mountain do you want to climb?

Warmly,

 

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

The trouble with simple solutions

The trouble with simple solutions

by | Sep 26, 2025 | Balance, Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Courage, Growth, Recovery

The trouble with simple solutions

Working in the federal penitentiary, I was often faced with situations so complex they felt impossible to solve.

Sitting across from men whose lives had been shaped by violence, trauma, and loss, I sometimes felt overwhelmed by the enormity of their struggles. The stories were messy, and the pathways forward were anything but clear.

Ironically, it was in this environment that I learned one of my greatest lessons: the more difficult a problem, the more fundamental the solution. Not fundamental in the sense of easy, but rather, in terms of the things required. At the core, what people needed was not more rules or restrictions. They needed something many had never experienced before: love, trust, safety, compassion, and connection. Without those, no real healing could take place.

This truth extends far beyond prison walls. In today’s world, we are bombarded with overly simplistic answers to deeply complex problems: violence solves conflict; global warming doesn’t exist; autism can be explained simply by women having taken over-the-counter medication.  These reductionistic black-and-white explanations may feel tidy, but they leave no room space for the depth and nuance that real understanding and solutions require.

There is a danger in simplicity. If we cling to false simplifications, we diminish what makes us human: our ability to reason at a higher level, guided not by fear or blame, but by compassion, values, and respect.

The real solutions, the ones that heal, are never quick fixes. They require courage to sit with discomfort, patience to build trust, and openness to connect. They ask us to embrace complexity rather than run from it. And though it isn’t easy, this is where true change begins….

If you feel you or a loved one may be struggling, please feel free to reach out and contact us or visit the programs section of this website to see what we offer.  

 

Warmly,

 

 

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

Hard work to do, harder not to do it

Hard work to do, harder not to do it

by | Sep 19, 2025 | Balance, Belinda's Thoughts, Challenge, Change, Courage, Recovery

Hard work to do, harder not to do it

Processing trauma is hard not processing trauma is harder.  In an effort to protect ourselves we can shy away from things that are scary or difficult.  But ironically, it’s these very efforts to shield ourselves that keep us injured.  

Some people progress quickly once they begin treatment while others might feel frustrated that they’re not progressing as they would like.  It’s at such moments that we must ask ourselves ‘what am I shying away from that I should be leaning in to?’

It’s behind the doors we least want to open that ultimately lie the greatest treasures.  If we can just find the courage to explore, chances are good, that we’ll be rewarded with a shift in perspective. Therein lies the healing.

Is there something you’re ready to lean into?  Perhaps our Landing Strong door is a good place to start.  

We’re currently loading up a few great group programs.  It’s not too early to get on the list.

Maintaining Health is Thursday September 18th
Identity & Transition is on Fridays: September 26th, October 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th
Advanced Skills in Trauma Recovery is on Tuesdays: November 18, 25, December 2, 9, and 16

Warmly,

 

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong