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Inherited Grief: Intergenerational Trauma in Caribbean Families
👣 When Trauma Isn’t Yours But Lives in You In Caribbean households, there are stories that go untold. Stories of migration, of violence,...

Nada Johnson
13 hours ago3 min read
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Why You Froze: Understanding Common Trauma Responses
Freezing during a traumatic experience is a natural response, not a choice. Your body wasn’t weak or passive; it was protecting you in the only way it could. In this blog, Victoria Wilson gently explains why many survivors freeze, what neuroscience says about this instinct, and why it’s never your fault. If this sounds familiar, know you’re not alone and support is here whenever you’re ready. 🫶🌿

Nada Johnson
4 days ago3 min read
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Breaking the Cycle: How Cultural Beliefs Enable Harm Against Women
Violence against women isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it hides in cultural messages that tell women to stay quiet, obey, or accept mistreatment. These beliefs can make harmful relationships seem “normal,” leaving women unsure where to turn. As a counselor, I’ve seen how culture, family, and outside systems can keep women stuck. 🌿 At Nada Johnson Consulting and Counselling Services, I offer compassionate, culturally sensitive support to help women feel safe, heard, and empower

Nada Johnson
5 days ago3 min read
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When Surviving Becomes a Crime: How Women End Up Criminalized After Abuse
This blog post explores how survivors of abuse, especially women, can end up charged, misunderstood, and overlooked by the very systems meant to support them. We hope this post helps bring awareness to these unfortunate circumstances and reminds you that if this has happened to you, you’re not alone.

Nada Johnson
6 days ago5 min read
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How to Handle a Toxic Sibling Relationship Without Cutting Ties Completely
When sisterhood hurts but walking away isn’t the answer, there’s another way. At Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services (NJCCS), we help adult sisters navigate complex dynamics with compassion and clarity. This blog explores how to manage a toxic sibling relationship without cutting ties—through boundaries, understanding, and trauma-informed support. Healing is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone.

Nada Johnson
7 days ago3 min read
9 views
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Prayers and Pressure: When Religion Breaks Instead of Builds
For many Caribbean women, the church has been a space of both sanctuary and suffering. While faith is often central to cultural identity and community, it has also been weaponized to silence, control, and shame.

Nada Johnson
Jun 113 min read
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Why You Might Struggle to Tell Your Story—and That’s Okay
You might worry about not being believed, or feel ashamed even though you didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe you’ve been told to stay quiet, or you just don’t have the words yet. All of that is valid. Wherever you are in your process, you deserve support that honours your experience and your strength.

Nada Johnson
Jun 113 min read
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Sibling Estrangement: Why It Happens and How to Heal (for Adult Sisters)
Sibling estrangement between adult sisters is more common than many realize—yet it's often shrouded in silence and shame. Whether caused by unresolved childhood conflict, poor communication, or painful life events, the emotional toll can be deep. At NJCCS, Nada offers virtual counselling for sisters across Ontario to support healing, reconnection, and mutual understanding. It’s never too late to try a different way.

Nada Johnson
Jun 103 min read
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Caring Too Much: The Emotional Cost of Being the “Family Therapist"
Always On Call, Even Without a Degree
She’s the one everyone calls when there's conflict. When someone’s struggling, she shows up. When silence falls over the family, she’s the one to fix it. Sound familiar?

Nada Johnson
Jun 93 min read
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What Does My Body Need Right Now? A Gentle Guide to Healing
After trauma, it’s common to lose touch with what your body is trying to tell you. Maybe you’ve been pushing through pain or pretending you’re okay — and that’s completely understandable. Healing is about gently coming back to yourself, asking, “What do I need right now?” and giving yourself permission to listen without judgment.
🌿 At Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services, Nada offers a caring space to help you reconnect with your body and your truth.

Nada Johnson
Jun 73 min read
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Toxic Teams Don’t Fix Themselves: Why Your Team Needs Structured Mediation
Is your team quietly falling apart? Tension, miscommunication, and disengagement often signal deeper issues that won’t resolve on their own. In this blog, we explore five key signs your team may need structured mediation—and how NJCCS can help restore trust, safety, and collaboration through a trauma-informed, neutral approach. Don’t wait for things to get worse—learn how mediation can transform your workplace.

Nada Johnson
Jun 53 min read
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5 Signs Your Workplace Conflict Needs a Mediator
Workplace tension doesn’t always explode—it simmers in silence, avoidance, and repeated misunderstandings. Mediation offers a structured, neutral space to resolve conflict before it damages morale or leads to costly complaints. In this blog, we explore five key signs that your workplace conflict needs a mediator—and how NJCCS can help restore trust, improve communication, and build a healthier team dynamic.

Nada Johnson
Jun 33 min read
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Carrying the Family on Our Backs: The Mental Health Toll of Being the Eldest Daughter in Caribbean Families
When Responsibility Begins Before Adulthood In some Caribbean households, the eldest daughter is more than just a child, she is the...

Nada Johnson
Jun 26 min read
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Affirmations to Support You Through Healing
Healing isn't always easy—but you don’t have to do it alone.
Some days, just getting out of bed is a win. Other days, past pain resurfaces without warning. Healing isn’t a straight line, but with compassion, support, and small daily practices like affirmations, it is possible. 💚
At Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services, we offer a trauma-informed, empowering space to help you reconnect with your strength—one step at a time.

Nada Johnson
Jun 13 min read
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Why You Might Still Feel Connected to Someone Who Hurt You: Understanding Trauma Bonds
If you’ve ever felt emotionally tied to someone who hurt you, even after the harm is done, you’re not alone. This experience is known as a trauma bond, and it can leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed.
At Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services, we understand how complicated these feelings can be. In this blog post, we gently explore what trauma bonds are, why they happen, and why they can be hard to break. Healing is possible and you don’t have to do it alone.

Nada Johnson
May 313 min read
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Say My Name: How Caribbean Women Lose Parts of Themselves to Be Accepted
Exploring the pressure to Anglicize ethnic names, the identity wounds it creates, and how culturally affirming therapy helps women reclaim their voice.

Nada Johnson
May 284 min read
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No Place to Call Home: How Housing Discrimination Affects the Mental Health of Caribbean Women in the GTA
Exploring systemic barriers in housing, the psychological toll of instability, and how culturally safe therapy helps Caribbean women...

Nada Johnson
May 264 min read
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Finding Peace Again: Healing from a Harmful Relationship
Many women who’ve been hurt in a relationship carry invisible wounds which are feelings and memories that stay long after the harm has ended. At Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services (NJCCS), Nada offers a gentle, trauma-informed space where women can slowly begin to unpack and understand the impact of domestic violence.

Nada Johnson
May 234 min read
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Understanding Consent: Why It Matters and How to Set Boundaries
Learning about consent is important because it helps us feel respected and secure. It also teaches us how to say no and protect ourselves in ways that honour our feelings and boundaries.If you’re finding it hard to understand or set these boundaries, Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services is here to help.

Nada Johnson
May 223 min read
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Red Flags: Early Clues a Relationship May Be Unhealthy
Sometimes, unhealthy patterns in a relationship are hard to spot. You might notice that something doesn’t feel quite right, but not be sure why. Let’s gently explore some of the signs that might show up at the beginning of a relationship and recognize things that don’t always seem harmful at first, but could be cause for concern.
Crystal Amoah
May 213 min read
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