The simple beauty of a blue sky

The simple beauty of a blue sky

by | Jun 30, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday's Inspiration

The simple beauty of a blue sky

I’m away from the office this week visiting family in Ontario. This has been a hard summer for many Canadians who are affected by wildfires. Ontario has been no exception. Instead of lovely blue skies, Toronto has been shrouded by a thick, dark haze that blocks out the sun and makes breathing difficult. 

This morning I woke up at my brother’s cottage in Georgian Bay to the glorious sight of a clear blue sky. After two very smoky days, the winds have smiled in our favour. 

PTSD recovery can be like that. At times, you might feel as though you’re surrounded by a dark cloud. It can be hard to remember what it feels like to have a nice day. Know that change is possible. There are things that you can do to bring your blue skies back. Even a light breeze over time can clear away the darkest clouds. 

Plan for the fall now to make sure that you have a hand in creating good days on your horizon. We have a number of groups coming up, keep an eye on our site for more information and program dates!


Whether you’re starting a program for the first time, or maintaining that consistent, steady push, we have a program that’s right for you. 

I’m going to take time to fully appreciate this blue-sky day while it’s here. 

Warm thoughts,

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

Breaking out of isolation

Breaking out of isolation

by | Jun 23, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday's Inspiration

Breaking out of isolation

Our community is expanding. The last six months of our popular Maintaining Health program have brought members of our community out in full strength. Thank you to our Quebec friend who included a day at Landing Strong as part of his vacation plans. Our hats off as well to those of you who travel from rural and remote areas such as Yarmouth and Cape Breton to connect in person for a meaningful day of connection, support, and laughter.

Distance does not keep us apart when the heart string pulls so strongly. We feel grateful for the courage and the effort everyone puts in to build and maintain this community, offering one another support and encouragement on a regular basis.

These groups would not be what they are if people didn’t put in the effort to attend. Even members who we haven’t seen in months or years are a welcome sight, as they are greeted by new and familiar members of our community.

A special thanks to the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia, who recently presented us with an award to recognize the positive impact of the Landing Strong community. We celebrated together on our last community day with a massive chocolate cake!

Our community may gather in Windsor, but we stand strong across the province.

Warm thoughts,

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

Making a difference

Making a difference

by | Apr 21, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Friday's Inspiration, Recovery

Making a difference

This has not been an easy time for those of you who are in law enforcement and emergency response.

You repeatedly bear witness to people on their worst days and still continue to dedicate yourselves to a life of service.

Our society would not function without you.

Please know that this does not go unnoticed. What you do is appreciated.

We often refer to the Landing Strong community. This is not just those of you who have participated in our programs, but all of those military members, veterans, first responders, frontline healthcare workers, correctional staff, and more who collectively have chosen a life that is both challenging and has incredible impact on all the members of the public who benefit from your efforts.
You do make a difference.

Warm thoughts,

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

The beauty in vulnerability

The beauty in vulnerability

by | Apr 14, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Creativity, Friday's Inspiration, Recovery

The beauty in vulnerability

Fifteen years ago, I wrote a book about my experiences working as a psychologist in a federal penitentiary. It’s dark, haunted, and not surprisingly, unpublished. It remains an important part of me, and I can appreciate it from a new perspective now. The work in the prison was powerful but not something I could do long term while maintaining my health.

I’ve always found it helpful to use creative forms of self-expression as a way of processing my emotions. I’m working on a new book now, and it feels very different, almost as though a different author is writing it. Where I am today is very different to how I felt fifteen years ago.

Creative self-expression is a theme that has been prominent in our Landing Strong community members as well. As people recover, they are able to show themselves to the world through their work; be it photography, art, woodworking or writing.

Each piece is very different, but they are similar in that they are accurate reflections of that person’s experience. I’ve come to appreciate that what makes art beautiful is not only the piece itself, but the honesty and vulnerability that went into creating it.

Warm thoughts,

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

Hardwired to Help

Hardwired to Help

by | Mar 31, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Friday's Inspiration, Self-Awareness

Hardwired to Help

When people call 911, it’s an indication that something is wrong, and they require help. We’re trained to look for problems.

The same is true for most military members, health care professionals and first responders.

When things are going well, the phone tends to be silent. People reach out because they need something. Our work trains us to approach each interaction looking to quickly assess the problem, and see how we might assist.

This can be a hard pattern to step out of when we leave the office or our work.

It can be exhausting. At work, there may always be a problem. When we go home, it’s important that we allow ourselves to rest. It makes the challenging moments more rewarding and keeps us healthier in the long run.

Allow yourselves to enjoy the silent moments when they occur. Our best selves emerge after stretches of quality down time. This is only possible when we are able to truly allow ourselves to be off duty.

Warm thoughts,

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

Only you know what your needs are

Only you know what your needs are

by | Mar 24, 2023 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Friday's Inspiration, Self-Awareness

Only you know what your needs are

Everyone responds to trauma differently. Whether it’s directly, or through secondary exposure, it’s normal to need support at some point in time. You and a co-worker might have been exposed to the same traumatic event. They might seem fine while you feel shaken. Their experience does not invalidate yours. If something in you feels off, there’s likely a good reason for it. It’s not what happens that’s important, but rather the meaning within the context of our lives that counts.

A diagnosis isn’t required to join our community. We can help you access the support and care that you need to get things moving. If you feel like something isn’t quite right and would like assistance getting back to who you want to be, we’d love to help.

You are the expert in knowing what you need. Only you know what is truly going on inside.

Group members are non-judgemental and welcoming, regardless of how long or in what capacity you served.

Warm thoughts,

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