Therapy for farmers and people in agriculture across canada.
working in canadian ag is like nothing else.
It’s beautiful one day and truly tragic the next.
Whether you have livestock, crops or both, you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders everyday.
And it’s getting heavier every single minute.
But you can’t stop and rest like everyone says you should. There’s a never-ending To Do list, and you’ve gotta get to it. Because if you don’t do it, no one else will.
Except you’re not quite sure how much longer you can keep this up.
You’re exhausted, but you haven’t slept well in decades.
You’re drinking more than you ever have.
Your relationships are hanging on by a thread, which is fantastic (another word for terrible) because you work with the people you live with, grew up with, and were raised by.
Speaking of the people who raised you, they still control the majority shares of your business. You don’t want them to die, but it would be nice if you had a say in what happens to the thing you love—and that determines how you take care of your family.
But you can’t say anything because if you do?
All hell breaks loose.
And you just don’t have time to add that to your list.
going to therapy doesn’t mean you’re weak.
It means you need help and you want to feel better.
Imagine if:
You actually looked forward to going to the barn or getting in the tractor everyday.
Working with your parents, siblings, or other family members wasn’t filled with anxiety, tension and passive-aggressive remarks.
You actually had hours you worked and hours you spent with your loved ones.
You slept well and actually felt rested the next morning!
This (and SO much more) is what life could feel like as a result of coming to therapy.
how therapy for farmers works
I spent almost 20 years as a dairy and crop farmer, so believe me when I say I UNDERSTAND. Farming is an incredible lifestyle, but it is very difficult to truly understand what it’s like without having lived experienced.
When you start therapy with me, I will not suggest…
You take a vacation (even though you probably actually do need one)
You need to take time off (again, even though you probably do)
You’re doing a bit when you tell me you’re mad at the weather
You leave work at work (hello? You live where you work!)
You should be ashamed for how you feel about working with your family everyday
Working in agriculture is a way of life that is quite unlike most others. To feel better and to heal, it’s important the therapist you work with truly understands that.
It’s time for you to learn new ways to manage the ever-increasing stress that comes with the monumental task of feeding the world while providing for your family.
as a farmer, therapy can help you:
Identify what’s working for you, what isn’t and what needs to change
Improve the way you communicate
Prioritize your own self-care so you feel more prepared
Reduce anxiety, anger and negative self-talk
Trust yourself and your feelings
Feel better
feel better, farm better.
You’re not alone anymore. Let’s do this.
frequently asked questions
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The short answer is, I was a farmer, too; I absolutely understand where you’re coming from. Think of finding the right therapist as if you’re shopping for a tractor. You will test drive a few before you find the one that works for you. The most important thing for you when it comes to therapy is that you connect with your therapist. If we connect, we can build trust which means you can tell me whatever you need to tell me to instigate your own healing.
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I would love to be able to give you a specific timeframe, but the honest answer is, it depends. Every client is different and they each come to therapy with their own emotional baggage. For farmers and people in agriculture, that baggage is often pretty heavy because it often involves several generations of family stuff. That doesn’t mean you won’t feel better soon after you start therapy, but it doesn’t mean you will, either. The goal here is that you decide to come to therapy in the first place. Starting is half the battle, I promise.
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I don’t conduct family therapy sessions and I’m only able to see one member of a family unit. Seeing more than one would create a bias that isn’t fair for any of you or for me. It would also increase the potential for breach of confidentiality, and that’s morally and ethically uncool for everybody. Lucky for you, I have an extensive network of agriculturally informed therapists who I’m happy to provide referrals to. All you need to do is ask for my list!