Caitlin Plant

Episode 155: Tips for remote learning

January 10th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  13 mins 43 secs

covid-19, tips for remote learning

With the news that schools in Ontario have once again moved to remote learning, hopefully for the short-term, we thought it would be helpful to share some tips for parents and caregivers who are supporting children in the process of learning from home. This includes some tips for parents to prioritize their own needs and self-care. Please remember that our Member centres and ONTX are also available to offer support and resources to anyone who reaches out. You can find your closest centre or access ONTX by visiting our website at www.dcontario.org. Thank you for listening, we hope you’ll join us again next week.

Episode 154: The Post Holiday Blues

January 3rd, 2022  |  Season 2  |  9 mins 45 secs

the post holiday blues

This week on the podcast we’ll be exploring a feeling that many of us may be struggling with right now – something often summed up as the post-holiday blues. When the holidays pass, you might feel a wave of sadness taking over, but it can be reassuring to know that you are not alone in feeling this way and that there are ways to cope. Please remember that ONTX and our Member centres are always happy to support you with any struggles you may be facing. Visit our website at www.dcontario.org to find your nearest centre or to access ONTX which is available daily from 2:00PM – 2:00 EST. You can also access ONTX by texting SUPPORT to 258258. Thank you for listening!

Caitlin Plant (she/her)

Episode 153: The Importance of asking for help

December 27th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  13 mins 51 secs

the importance of asking for help

This week on the podcast we are exploring the importance of asking for, and offering, help. There are many reasons to ask for help, many benefits to doing so, and many ways that we can compassionately check-in with those who are important to us. We have also included some tips on how to ask for help as we know it can be challenging task sometimes. Please remember that our Member centres and ONTX are always happy to hear from you and offer support when you are struggling. No matter how big or how small, if there’s something you want to talk about, please reach out. You can visit our website at www.dcontario.org to find your closest centre, access ONTX, or explore other resources.

Episode 152: Gender Based Violence and Signal for Help

December 19th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  26 mins 34 secs

gender based violence, signal for help

Warning this episode contains themes of Gender based Violence.

Episode 151: COVID 19 from a Grade 6 perspective

December 13th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  11 mins 16 secs

covid-19, grade 6

On today’s episode of the podcast, Caitlin is joined by her 6th grade daughter to discuss COVID and the impact the pandemic has had on her experiences with school, friendships, and life in general. If you are struggling with the ongoing effects of the pandemic and would like to speak to someone, please visit our website at www.dcontario.org/locations to find your closest centre or to access ONTX. ONTX is available daily from 2PM - 2AM EST and can also be accessed by texting SUPPORT to 258258.

Episode 150: Combatting Loneliness

December 6th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  12 mins 18 secs

loneliness

Loneliness can be especially challenging during the holiday season, so we’ve put together some information on how to recognize why you may be feeling lonely, and how to prevent it. If you are in need of support, or would just like someone to talk to, please reach out. You can find your closest Member centre at www.dcontario.org/locations, or you can access ONTX between the hours of 2PM - 2AM daily by texting SUPPORT to 258258 or from any page of our website. Thank you for listening, we hope you join us again next week.

Episode 149: Traumatic Brain Injury and Intimate Partner Violence

November 29th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  21 mins 2 secs

christina hennelly, intimate partner violence, support, traumatic brain injury

On the podcast this week, Caitlin is joined by Christina Hennelly, the Intimate Partner Violence Specialist and Peer Support Coordinator at the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington. During the conversation, Christina shares some information on what the Brain Injury Association does, why it is so important to discuss brain injury in relation to intimate partner violence, and she provides suggestions for ways in which we might support someone in our lives who may be going through or has gone through the trauma of intimate partner violence.

Episode 148: Balancing Life Roles

November 22nd, 2021  |  Season 2  |  11 mins 38 secs

balancing life roles

As adults, many of us hold multiple roles in our lives: parent, child, sibling, friend, employee/er, student, activist, athlete, crafter, gamer, etc., etc., the list can go on. This week, Caitlin sits down with Rhys to discuss how he personally balances (or doesn’t always balance) his life as a husband, father to 5 children, pastor, CrossFit coach, and more. If you are struggling to find your own mechanisms for balancing the chaos, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help and explore the resources available to you. You can find your closest centre at www.dcontario.org/locations or you can access ONTX during the hours of 2PM - 2AM daily also by visiting our website or by texting “SUPPORT” to 258258. Thank you for listening, we hope you join us next week as we learn about intimate partner violence and brain injuries from Christina at the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo Wellington.

Episode 147: Preparing for the Holidays

November 15th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  16 mins 55 secs

preparing for the holidays

As we continue to approach the winter holidays it is important to take the time to plan ahead, manage expectations, and prepare mentally for what is often a stressful time. This week, Caitlin shares some additional tips for how to manage our own thoughts and emotions, how to manage stress that may come with having children around, and how to cope with holiday grief related to loss of a loved one. Additionally, Caitlin shares some mindfulness and grounding techniques that may be helpful alongside everything else. As always, if you need support, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can find your closest distress centre at www.dcontario.org/locations or access ONTX any day of the week between the hours of 2PM – 2 AM. You can join the online chat service by clicking “looking for support” from any page of our website or text “SUPPORT” to 258258 to talk VIA text (standard messaging rates may apply). Thank you for listening!

Episode 146: Holiday Budgeting

November 8th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  21 mins 39 secs

holiday budgeting

Joining Caitlin on the podcast this week is John Dinner, a Master of Arts - Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy candidate, father, grandfather, and jack-of-many-trades, to discuss budgeting and the importance of maintaining financial health through the holidays. The conversation includes some tips on how to navigate conversations around money and how to set yourself up for success in a society that seems to deem holiday debt as the norm. Please remember that our Member Centre distress and/or crisis lines and ONTX volunteers are happy to listen and support you through any stresses you may be feeling as we come into the holiday season. Visit our website at www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest centre, or you can access ONTX daily between 2PM – 2AM by texting “support” to 258258, or by clicking “looking for support?” on any page of our website. Thank you for listening, we hope you’ll join us again next week.

Episode 145: Slow Sustainable Living

November 1st, 2021  |  Season 2  |  14 mins 42 secs

slow sustainable living

On this week’s episode, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, interviews Lauren on the topic of slow, sustainable living and how choosing to live a sustainable, mindful lifestyle can lead to wellness in more areas than one. Please remember, if you are in need of support, for any reason at all, you are welcome to reach out. Visit www.dcontario.org to find a list of our Member centres or for additional resources. You can also use the website to access ONTX between the hours of 2PM to 2AM daily, or by texting SUPPORT to 258258.

Episode 143: Mental Health Supports

October 25th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  12 mins 28 secs

mental health supports

As the number of Ontarians seeking mental health supports continues to rise, we have decided to use this week as a chance to share a reminder of the services DCO, our Members, and ONTX have to offer. If you are in need of support, please do not hesitate to reach out. Visit www.dcontario.org to find a list of our Member centres, additional resources, and to access ONTX between the hours of 2PM to 2AM daily.

Episode 142: Seasonal Affective Disorder

October 18th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  19 mins 11 secs

seasonal affective disorder

This week we are exploring the topic of Seasonal Affective Disorder and how to maintain your mental health during the fall and winter months with Sabrina, a mental health advocate and Counselling Psychology Masters student. Please remember that if you are in distress, crisis, or otherwise need support, you can reach out to your closest distress centre for support. To find your closest centre, visit www.dcontario.org/locations or you can access ONTX between the hours of 2PM - 2AM daily by texting SUPPORT to 258258 or by clicking “looking for support” from any page of our website.

Episode 141: Happy thanksgiving: Taking a different perspective

October 10th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  6 mins 16 secs

aboriginal issues, indigenous perspective of thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Distress and Crisis Ontario! This week the podcast explores the Indigenous perspective of Thanksgiving by sharing an article written by a member of the Wasauksing First Nation. If you would like to explore further resources for reconciliation, reconciliatiocanada.ca is a good place to start. If you are in distress, crisis, or otherwise need support, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations or access ONTX between the hours of 2PM - 2AM daily by texting SUPPORT to 258258 or by clicking “looking for support” from any page of our website.

110B - Part 2 with Dr. Rick Csiernik - How to Support Someone Struggling With Addiction

October 9th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  17 mins 9 secs

dr rick csieknik, how to assist someone with an addiction

Caitlin continues the conversation on addictions in her interview with Dr. Rick Csieknik, Professor at King’s University College. In this episode Dr. Rick shares how to assist someone with an addiction, how to take care of yourself while supporting someone else with an addiction, steps to minimize substance abuse, community support for people supporting someone with an addiction and other insights.

Episode 140: Relationship Stress and Boundaries

October 4th, 2021  |  Season 1  |  19 mins 31 secs

relationship stress and boundaries, stress

This week we welcome returning guest Brad Wilton to the podcast to discuss relationship stress, boundaries, and the holidays. Brad is a registered psychotherapist who focuses on growth through relationship and he provides some excellent advice on how to navigate those tricky conversations that sometimes occur when the whole family gets together and how to set and maintain boundaries. If you are in need of support, or would just like to talk to someone about your own relationship worries, please don’t hesita