If you are looking to discuss your mental health and diabetes management goals with a therapist or psychologist, here are a few resources to get you started!

Mental Health + Diabetes Directory: this directory from JDRF includes a list of mental health providers with interest and training in supporting those living with diabetes. 

Kayla Chorley: is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) working out of Edmonton AB and she is passionate about supporting adolescents and adults (including parents!) living with diabetes. 

Group Therapy: Contact Dr. De Boer on her webpage for more information about group services for

• Parents of kids with T1D
• Young Adults living with T1D
• Diabetes Burnout 
• Other Group Services you would be interested in!

The Psychologists Association of Alberta has a Find a Psychologist Tool that can help you search for registered psychologists with expertise across a range of topics (i.e., Health Psychology, Disordered Eating, Anxiety), locations, in-person/virtual, and age ranges (i.e., child, adult, older adult).

Here are some resources that have been interesting and psychologically informed for those living with Diabetes. 

• Dr. Mark Heyman has authored the book, “Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle it” and has a podcast called Live Free with T1D .
• Dr. Dayna Lee-Bagley is a Canadian psychologist out of Halifax NS and has written the book “Healthy Habits Suck: How to get off the couch and live a healthy life…even if you don’t want to”. 
• Ginger Viera is a person living with T1D who has written about her steps to deal with Diabetes Burnout. 

While these resources are not specifically about diabetes, there is research to suggest that these approaches can be really helpful for those living a life with diabetes!

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of therapy that can be helpful for those living with diabetes to clarify their values and life goals and get unstuck from thoughts and feelings that keep them stuck. This workbook by Steven Hayes and book/course by Russ Harris are great for learning more about how ACT can help. 
•  Psychologist Susan David has written about the concept of “Emotional Agility” and can be introduced through her TED-talk on the subject of emotions. You can also find her on instagram for helpful mental health content. 
• Struggling with perfectionism in diabetes management? Brene Brown’s book “The Gifts of Imperfection” may be worth a read for another perspective. 

This is a list of some social media accounts that have been interesting and inspiring for me lately. Of course, this list may not include what inspires you but I hope you feel encouraged to find media content that keeps you curious, engaged, and hopeful for what is possible in life with Diabetes!

• @Typeoneoutdoors   takes me on climbing and hiking adventures that help me see what sort of outdoor challenges are possible for those of us with T1D.
• @typeonevibes  takes me on a her daily life activities with T1D in the sunny down ‘under. Active in her local T1D community, she also shares her diabetes influenced digital art creations. 
• @diabetessportproject I get the chance to see people living with T1D push their athletic limits 
• Sometimes I just needed some hope that it was possible for real people to live real and meaningful lives with T1D. This page of “Patient Success Stories”  was neat to stumble across.