Mother’s Day can bring a mix of emotions in separated and divorced families. For some moms, it’s a day filled with joy and connection. For others, it may also carry grief, loneliness, disappointment, or the pain of not spending the day the way they had hoped.

To the mothers navigating separation, co-parenting, blended families, strained relationships, or emotional exhaustion, your presence matters more than perfection ever could.

A few reminders for moms struggling on Mother’s Day:
💛It’s okay if this day feels complicated. Two things can be true at once, gratitude and grief.
💛Your relationship with your child is built in the everyday moments, not one single day.
💛Try not to measure your worth by gifts, plans, or social media posts.
💛Create traditions and supports that don’t rely entirely on your co-parent showing up the way you hoped.
💛Some co-parents may not acknowledge the day, encourage the children, or make things easier. While that can feel deeply hurtful, it does not define your value as a mother.
💛Protect your peace where you can. Lean into the people, routines, and relationships that consistently support you.
💛Reach for support if the day feels heavy. You do not have to carry it alone.

And for the co-parents, how you show up today matters too:
💛Encourage your child to acknowledge their mom in a meaningful way.
💛Avoid conflict, tension, or putting children in the middle on a day already loaded with emotion.
💛Support your child in making a card, sending a text, or making contact if appropriate and safe.
💛Remember: helping your child maintain caring relationships is a gift to them, not a loss to you.
💛Children benefit when they feel permission to love both parents freely.

The quiet moments matter. The consistency matters. The repair after hard moments matters. And the love children continue to feel from the adults who care for them matters deeply.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, stepmoms, bonus moms, grandmothers, and caregivers supporting children with strength, care, and resilience. 

#MothersDay #CoParenting #DivorceSupport #ChildFocused #SeparatedParents ...

When a child begins to pull away from a parent, it’s often seen as a choice.
But for many children, it doesn’t feel like one.

What we often see in practice is a child trying to navigate pressure, confusion, and a sense of being caught in the middle, without the words or capacity to fully explain it.

What can look like rejection…is often a form of protection.
What can sound certain…may not fully come from them.

Children adapt to their environment in ways that help them cope, even when those adaptations come at a cost to their relationships.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about understanding what a child may be experiencing beneath the surface. Because when we shift from reacting to what we see to getting curious about what’s driving it, we respond in a way that actually supports the child.

#parentchildcontact #coparenting #highconflictdivorce #riseupcounselling #therapyhelps ...

5 years ago, we started Rise Up Counselling with a clear purpose, to support families navigating separation, reduce conflict, and keep children at the centre of the work.

Since then, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside families, children, and professionals across Ontario, and now Alberta, during some of the most difficult transitions of their lives.

As we mark our 5-year anniversary, we’re also introducing our new logo.
This change isn’t about reinventing who we are.

It’s about better reflecting what we’ve grown into.

💙Child-focused.
💙Trauma-informed.
💙Grounded in the belief that divorce itself isn’t what harms children, conflict is.

We’re also excited to share that our website is currently being redesigned and will be launching soon, with updated information, new resources, and a clearer reflection of our work and services.

Thank you to the families and professionals who have trusted us, referred to us, and grown alongside us over the past five years.

We’re proud of where we started. And we’re excited about where we’re going.

#riseupcounselling #divorcesupport #highconflictcoparenting #coparentingtips #socialworkersofinstagram ...

Much of our work at Rise Up Counselling involves collaborating with professionals supporting families through separation and divorce.

We often work alongside lawyers, mediators, parenting coordinators, child welfare professionals, and other mental health providers.

Collaboration is important in these situations. Families navigating separation and high-conflict dynamics often interact with multiple professionals. When there is collaboration, it helps reduce mixed messages, keep the focus on children, and support more thoughtful and consistent decision-making.

When professionals work together, families often experience greater clarity, reduced conflict, and more meaningful progress.

We’re pleased to now extend this collaborative support to professionals and families in Alberta, in addition to our work in Ontario.

#albertadivorcesupport #riseupcounselling #divorcesupport ...

The Parenting Shift No One Talks About After Divorce!

Divorce doesn’t just change your relationship. It changes your parenting.

For some parents, separation means making decisions alone for the first time. You may question yourself more, overthink choices, or feel pressure to “get it right” in ways you didn’t before. Some parents try to make up for lost time, while others become more protective, wanting to shield their child from additional stress.

But for others, divorce doesn’t create this shift, it confirms what was already happening. Many parents were already making decisions alone, managing routines independently, and carrying the emotional load long before the separation.

Whether divorce creates the shift or simply makes it more visible, many parents find themselves becoming more intentional. They think more carefully about routines, emotional support, and how they show up for their child.

This is the quiet work of parenting after divorce. Learning to regulate your emotions before responding.
Creating consistency across transitions. Focusing on your child’s needs, even when things feel difficult.

Divorce is hard. There’s no question about that. But many parents also grow in this process. They become more thoughtful, more present, and more aware of how their actions impact their children. And sometimes, this shift, while born out of a difficult transition, becomes a strength. Because children don’t need perfect parents. They need parents who are intentional, steady, and emotionally available, especially during times of change.

#parentingafterdivorce #lifeafterdivorce #riseupcounselling #divorcesupport #coparentingtips ...

Co-parenting isn’t hard because you disagree. It’s hard because of how those disagreements show up.

When every message carries frustration, when small issues turn into bigger battles, or when children begin to feel caught in the middle, co-parenting naturally becomes more stressful. This is especially true when old relationship patterns continue into the co-parenting relationship or when communication becomes about proving a point instead of solving a problem.

Over time, children often feel this tension, even when parents try to protect them from it.

Co-parenting tends to get easier when communication becomes more business-like and less emotionally driven. When parents pause before responding, focus on consistency, and shift their attention toward their child’s needs instead of the past, the tone of the relationship often begins to change.

Co-parenting isn’t about liking each other. It’s about creating emotional safety for your child, even when things feel difficult. Because at the end of the day, divorce isn’t what harms children most. Conflict is.

#coparenting #divorce #riseupcounselling #separation #coparentingtips ...

What Kids Wish Parents Knew (But Rarely Say)

When parents separate, children often have big feelings, but not always the words to express them.
And sometimes, what they don’t say is just as important as what they do.

Here are a few things children often wish parents knew, but rarely say out loud:
💬I don’t want to choose between you. Even subtle comments or questions can make children feel like they have to pick sides.
💬I don’t want to hurt either of you. Children often hold back their feelings because they worry about upsetting one parent.
💬I just want things to feel normal. They may not expect everything to go back to the way it was, but they hope for calm, predictable routines.
💬I notice more than you think. Children pick up on tension, tone, and body language, even when nothing is being said.
💬I don’t want to be in the middle. Being asked to carry messages, share information, or take sides can feel overwhelming.
💬I still love both of you. Even when relationships change, children don’t stop loving either parent.

Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling. But their behaviour, emotions, and reactions often tell the story.

When parents focus on reducing conflict and creating emotional safety, children don’t have to carry those unspoken worries alone.

And sometimes, the most powerful thing a parent can do…is understand what their child may not know how to say.

#coparenting #divorceandchildren #childfocused #coparentingtips #riseupcounselling ...

We love AI.

We use it. We see the value in it. And we know how powerful it can be. AI can give you answers in seconds. It can help you find words for what you’re feeling. It can offer perspective when your mind feels stuck.

And sometimes… that’s exactly what you need in the moment.
But therapy is something very different.

Therapy isn’t just about getting answers. It’s about being seen, understood, and supported in real time. It’s about:
❤️Someone noticing the hesitation in your voice
❤️Sitting with you in the uncomfortable moments
❤️Helping you recognize patterns you can’t see on your own
❤️Challenging you in a way that still feels safe
❤️Holding space for emotions that don’t fit into a neat response

AI can simulate conversation.
But it cannot build a relationship.
And healing, especially after separation, conflict, or trauma, 
happens in relationship. You don’t need to choose one or the other.
But it’s important to understand what each can (and cannot) offer.

Because insight is powerful.
But connection is what creates change.

#therapyvsai #mentalhealthsupport #coparenting #divorcehealing #riseupcounselling ...

After 25+ years working with families, one thing has become very clear: the work is always evolving. Not just for the families we support, but for us as professionals too.

There are things we were once confident about that we now see differently. Not because they were “wrong,” but because experience, research, and sitting with families in real moments have deepened our understanding.

What we’ve learned is this:

💡Insight doesn’t always create change; regulation does
💡Agreement between parents is helpful, but not required for progress
💡Schedules matter, but emotional safety matters more
💡Children don’t need more information; they need less exposure to conflict
💡And most importantly, parents don’t need to be perfect; they need to be able to repair

This work has taught us to look beyond what’s being said… and pay closer attention to what’s being felt and experienced, especially by children.

And that continues to shape how we support families every day at Rise Up Counselling.

#coparenting #divorcehealing #childfocused #riseupcounselling #highconflict ...

We are excited to share that Rise Up Counselling is now registered to provide virtual services in Alberta.

For many years, our work has focused on supporting individuals, parents, and families as they navigate the emotional challenges of separation and divorce.

This work often involves helping people:
✔️navigate co-parenting conflict
✔️support children through family transitions
✔️manage communication after separation
✔️rebuild life and identity after divorce

While the legal process focuses on decisions and agreements, the emotional work often happens long after the paperwork is signed.

Through secure virtual counselling, we are now able to support individuals and families across Alberta, as well as in Ontario.

Our approach remains the same: practical, compassionate, and focused on helping families move forward in healthier ways.

If you or someone you know is navigating separation or divorce and looking for specialized support, we are here to help.

📍 Virtual services available in Ontario and Alberta
📍 In-person counselling available in Ontario (Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Oshawa and Windsor)

#divorcecounselling #coparenting #familytransition #riseupcounselling #albertacounselling ...