Brenda Leifso Psychotherapy

04/22/2026

Very sad my practicum time at Queens is done and my lovely little office is bland once more. So grateful for my time there

04/20/2026

Forces that protects you from harm, but also contains you so you don't harm others. To practice, visualize your safest, most secure place on earth every morning. Mine is being inside a circle of wise trees. Know that you can see others' actions and words outside your safe place, but that you get to choose what comes in your safe space or not. If someone's words, for example, might have merit but feel challenging, you can bring the words in to see if they are true, and send them back out if they are not. If you believe you cannot stop hurtful words from escaping your mouth if you open it, take a time-out, go back into your safe place until you feel grounded in your wise adult, then return to the conversation. This is something I am learning to practice every day.

04/13/2026

That's the phrase that hooked me the first time I heard Terry Real, the founder of RLT, on a podcast. It was the most refreshingly honest and practical statement I'd heard from the couples therapy realm. Then Terry went on to describe how external, world forces and power dynamics can and do reenact themselves in relationships. And, most importantly, what we can do to live relationally within these contexts. This, I thought, was exactly how I wanted to operate as a therapist.

It also spoke to me as a person. I have had my fair share of relationships outside of the romantic sphere go bust. And being married for 25 years is no small potatoes in terms of opportunities for relationality failure. I have not, in many instances, been skillful and have been caught in old patterns. I am, every day, learning and growing in the skills and awareness RLT teaches. This is what RLT calls "relational recovery," which starts in healthy self-esteem (kind regard for yourself and others).

If this kind of therapy addresses gaps inside your relationships -- romantic or otherwise -- please reach out.

04/10/2026

Because the brain and body are not separate, I'm offering an in-person psychotherapy service that draws from my 25+ years as a yoga teacher with training in chronic pain, up- and down-regulation, deep rest, somatic strength, and restorative yoga alongside talk therapy. DM or comment if you live in the Kingston, ON area and this might be of interest to you.

04/08/2026

Hi everyone, while I am not teaching yoga classes right now, I am offering somatic + talk therapy in my new iteration as a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), integrating all I've learned as a yoga teacher. This would work very well for people with chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, and for those navigating life transitions. You can visit my therapy website at http://www.brendaleifso.com to learn more about my therapeutic approaches or send me a message here. Also, I'm working on some group therapy that incorporates somatic experiencing via yoga tools as well. Stay tuned!

For all individuals and couples looking for relationally-minded, practical, and life-affirming therapy so they can grow a heartfelt sense of belonging to themselves and to each other.

04/01/2026

I'm excited to expand my in-person therapy hours to more evenings and weekend slots! New and existing clients can find out more about and book with me at https://brendaleifso.com/

01/31/2026

I have a fairly mild version of this autoimmune disease, and yet for the past five years, I’ve struggled with injuries in enthesis points especially in my back and shoulder. January/February is a typically difficult time, with this year being no different. However, it’s nice when one finds some science that backs lived experience. Learning about other people’s experience helps, too. What do you find helpful?

In the last years, new researches focused on the role of biomechanical stress and microdamage in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis and, in particular, in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Animal models showed how entheseal stress and ...

01/28/2026

After not enough outside time this week, I took the personal CBT track today (I know, I know, but it often really works in these situations) and got outside for a ski even though I felt tired and irritated even packing my must haves and getting out the door. But within 30 minutes, my thoughts slowed down, and by the end of the ski , my mind was very quiet, my body tired and ready for a hot bath and hopefully a good sleep. Also, the woods are lovely and the grooming fantastic with this much snow. ❄️

01/23/2026

I really loved humaning in my new space today, with bright January sun on snow flooding in. Also, view of river.