Inspiring Connections

Welcome to the website for the professional practice of Tracy Riley, M.A., Registered Psychologist in Ontario.

Tracy Riley offers individual therapy and group therapy to those ages 18 and older. She provides services in-person near Sydenham, Ontario, as well as by video to those who are located in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or the Yukon. Tracy has particular interests in the cultivation of mindfulness and compassion, including self-compassion; in nature, the expressive arts, and wilderness therapy to support well-being; and in neurobiologically informed approaches to understanding and supporting people who have experienced chronic stress and/or trauma and who are working to live with and beyond those experiences.

Practicing Noticing Goodness is Simply Practicing Noticing Goodness

Practicing noticing goodness does not mean the invalidation or denial of all that is in contrast (and stark contrast) to goodness (to kindness, beauty, generosity, hope, wonder, awe….). Practicing noticing goodness is simply practicing noticing goodness. It is the cultivation and allowing of noticing, breathing in, savouring, appreciating, even celebrating, of goodness in any given moment—without minimizing or dismissing it and without inserting any other add-ons, at least/even if just for a brief while.

Are you looking for services offered by registered psychologists and psychological associates in Ontario? Try askforhelptoday.ca.

AskForHelpToday.ca is a free, referral service offered by the Ontario Psychological Association that helps people looking for services provided by registered psychologists and psychological associates working in the private sector in Ontario to find them. Primary care providers such as physicians can also refer patients to this psychologist-and-psychological associate-matching-service using their electronic medical record platform (see news release here).

February 8th 2023

Thank you, Jann Arden

I had the pleasure and good fortune to experience Jann Arden and accompanying musicians in concert this week. It was wonderful. For this post, I offer four lines of lyrics from her song, Good Mother—lyrics that stayed with me after the show (among others). Reflecting, I thought of life; of the journeying humans do; of various people I have met; and of you, too, readers.

I will also post below a video Jann has shared of a live-streamed performance of this song, which you can find on her youtube channel.

If you have the opportunity to see her on tour, I whole-heartedly recommend doing so.

December 21st 2022

Winter Solstice Symphony and Poem by John Welwood

Today during the winter solstice, I had the pleasure of witnessing a symphony of trumpeter swans and geese creating music together. Their music echoed into the stillness of the surrounding landscape while the sun lowered and set beyond the horizon. It was magical.

Also today, a poem by John Welwood came to mind. Some lines from the poem include