Dr. Tracy Dalgleish is an Ottawa-based clinical psychologist and couples therapist. She has spent her entire career trying to get at the root of toxic trends in our partners. Drawing on 30 years of experience, she helps individuals and couples reimagine their relational lives. Dr. Dalgleish is the owner of the Integrated Wellness clinic. There, she works with clients to flag these red-flag phrases, which can be warning signs of a toxic dynamic.
As part of her own practice, Dr. Dalgleish trains clinicians to be alert to the kinds of declarations that act like red flags. People who have a long history of victim blaming their former partners may find it more difficult to own up to their behavior. For instance, phrases like “It was their fault that the relationship ended” reveal a pattern of externalizing blame.
Dr. Dalgleish points out that other phrases, such as “That’s not how my ex would do it,” indicate an unhealthy fixation on past relationships. This intense obsession can prevent someone from being able to completely invest in their new relationship. Similarly, when someone says, “I want to check with my ex first and see what they think,” it raises concerns about emotional dependency on past partners.
She too adds that an absence of personal development stemming from past relationships can be a red flag. Statements like “I didn’t learn anything from them” suggest that the individual may not have reflected on previous experiences, which is crucial for personal development.
Dr. Dalgleish quintessence the importance of thinking about what’s going on right now — not what happened before. “The past is the past. It doesn’t matter,” she asserts, emphasizing that this mindset is essential for building healthier relationships.
As a relationship expert, Dr. Dalgleish uses her therapeutic insights and relationships and intimacy literally to entrepreneurial business strategies. Her work doesn’t just stop at counseling. Her passion and focus continue to developing and creating more businesses within the mental health industry. She walks future doulas through the process with in-depth advice for anyone hoping to create their own practice.
Beyond her practice, Dr. Dalgleish is working on her second book, set to be published in Fall 2025. Our next publication will dive deeper into positive relationship dynamics and give readers accessible tools to build healthy relationships.
As a married mother of two home-schooled children, Dr. Dalgleish juggles a busy career with her family life. Her dynamic family life serves to enhance her idealistic yet realistic perceptions of the relationships around her, enabling her to connect with clients intimately and wholeheartedly.
Her dedication to mental health advocacy and relationship wellness is apparent when you see her active presence on social media. To read more about her work, visit her website at drtracyd.com. There, she curates no-nonsense resources and inspiration to start creating stronger, more connected relationships today.