Burnout is something a lot of us go through, but it often sneaks up on us until it feels overwhelming. Simply put, burnout is that feeling of being completely drained—physically, emotionally, and mentally. In this blog we break down what burnout actually is, how it happens, how to identify it, and steps you can take!
Change is an inevitable part of life, but not all change is sustainable. Many of us have experienced the frustration of setting goals—whether it's to improve our health, enhance our relationships, or advance our careers—only to find that our efforts fade away after a few weeks or months. The challenge lies in making changes that stick, and this is where psychotherapy can play a transformative role. By helping clients identify and incorporate sustainable elements of change, therapy empowers individuals to create lasting improvements in their lives.
Life is full of surprises. Some of them bring joy and excitement, while others can shake us to our core, leaving us feeling lost, anxious, or overwhelmed. Whether it's the sudden loss of a loved one, an unexpected job change, or an unforeseen health challenge, these moments can disrupt our sense of stability and control. In such times, psychotherapy can offer invaluable support, helping us navigate the emotional terrain of the unexpected and find our footing once again.
For many women, the experience of breast cancer extends far beyond the physical battle, deeply impacting their emotional and psychological realms and profoundly altering their sense of womanhood. This journey can affect how women perceive their bodies, identity, and connection to femininity in a manner that is both unexpected and painful. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the ways psychotherapy can help breast cancer survivors redefine their sense of self and fully embrace the women they are becoming on their own terms.
A breast cancer diagnosis is life-changing, bringing challenges that affect every part of a patient’s life. From managing physical symptoms to addressing emotional concerns, the journey can feel overwhelming. However, alternative therapies like mistletoe therapy are offering hope to patients. This blog will explore the benefits of mistletoe therapy for breast cancer patients at any stage of their cancer journey, providing insight into its use, effectiveness, and integration with conventional treatments.
Living with PCOS often feels like a balancing act, as you navigate a complex mix of symptoms that affect everything from your metabolism to your mood. With so many supplements on the market promising to balance hormones, regulate periods, and help with weight management, it’s easy to think that a pill might be the answer to your struggles. But when it comes to managing PCOS, lifestyle is key.
PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting approximately 10% of people with ovaries of reproductive age. Yet, despite these numbers, many feel isolated in their experience. A significant percentage (about 71%) report feelings of loneliness, struggling to find others who truly understand what they’re going through. This sense of isolation isn’t just emotionally taxing; it can also exacerbate the psychological impacts of PCOS. Studies have shown that people with PCOS are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, partly due to the feelings of loneliness and lack of support.
For many women, living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can feel profoundly unfair. The physical symptoms alone—whether it’s unexplained weight gain, painful and unpredictable periods, fertility struggles, or persistent skin issues—can be overwhelming. But the emotional toll often cuts even deeper. The impact of PCOS can distort how you see yourself, leading to a complicated relationship with your body and food.
In today's fast-paced world, mental health struggles are increasingly common, and finding the right support can feel daunting. Whether you’re experiencing anxiety, depression, irritability, anger or high stress levels, it can be challenging to reach out for help, and conventional approaches often focus narrowly on symptoms, missing the broader context of your life and experiences. This is where a holistic approach to mental health is so valuable.
GDM is a condition in which a person without diabetes develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Women with PCOS are at an increased risk of developing GDM because many have pre-existing insulin resistance. Let’s talk about 4 strategies we recommend for reducing the risk of GDM in patients who have PCOS.
As summer fades and fall begins to settle in, many of us find ourselves shifting away from sun-filled patio brunches and barbecues. While the change in seasons brings cozy sweaters and warm drinks, it also presents an opportunity to rethink our health habits—particularly when it comes to gut health. Our digestive system plays a crucial role in our overall well-being, and a happy gut can improve everything from energy levels to mental clarity, so as we transition to autumn, let's explore how to take care of this vital system.
In today’s fast-paced world, burnout has become an all-too-common experience for many individuals. The relentless demands of work, coupled with personal responsibilities and societal pressures, can leave one feeling emotionally drained and physically exhausted. Burnout not only impacts one's professional life but also seeps into your personal relationships and overall well-being. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution to combat burnout, psychotherapy can be a supportive tool for those seeking relief and restoration. In this blog post, we'll explore how psychotherapy can help individuals experiencing burnout, offering them the techniques and guidance needed to navigate through this challenging period.
As summer draws to a close, the excitement of a new school year often mixes with feelings of apprehension and stress. For students, the prospect of new teachers, classmates, and academic challenges can stir up a whirlwind of emotions. Similarly, parents often grapple with the logistics of schedules, preparations, and concerns for their children's well-being.Here are five ways psychotherapy can offer invaluable support and help ease the transition this back-to-school season:
As the school year approaches, many of us find ourselves juggling a myriad of responsibilities—whether it's attending classes, managing extracurricular activities, or keeping up with work and family obligations. This busy season can be overwhelming and taxing on our bodies, especially on our adrenal glands and immune systems. One effective way to support your overall health and well-being during this hectic time is through IV therapy. In this blog, we'll explore how IV therapy can help support adrenal health, bolster the immune system, and combat burnout.
The idea of a new type of PCOS called post-pill PCOS has become increasingly popular in recent years. The question is whether this is truly a type of PCOS or not.
For many women, life is marked by countless transitions – from aging, career shifts and relationship changes to parenthood, empty nesting, and more. Each transition brings its own joys, challenges, and uncertainties, often shaping our lives in profound ways. Amidst a myriad of roles and responsibilities, it can feel challenging for women to remain connected to their sense of self. In this article, we explore some of the ways psychotherapy can offer a nurturing space for women to explore their evolving identities while navigating life’s many ebbs and flows.
Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, typically occurring in women between their late 30s and early 50s. During this period, many women experience a variety of symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations which can be challenging, but adopting a naturopathic approach to hormonal health offers a holistic and natural way to manage these symptoms. Naturopathy emphasizes the body's innate ability to heal itself, utilizing natural therapies and lifestyle modifications to support overall well-being during perimenopause.
One of the most confusing phenomena as we approach menopause is that the premenstrual symptoms we've dealt with for many years can actually worsen. Perimenopause is the phase leading up to menopause when women’s hormones begin to change. Menopause marks the cessation of menstruation. While the idea of no longer having periods might seem appealing, menopause entails numerous physiological changes. It involves adapting to functioning without hormones we've relied on throughout our lives.
Acne isn’t just for teenagers. For many people, acne can resurface during perimenopause and menopause, a stage typically occurring in the late 30s and 40s. This is a time of significant hormonal fluctuations that can trigger acne flare-ups. Let's delve into the reasons behind this resurgence and discuss effective ways to manage it.
Have you ever wondered what keeps your body run smoothly, ensuring that you have enough energy to tackle your day? The thyroid gland is responsible for that! It helps regulate your hormones, metabolism and energy production. But what happens when this falls out of sync? Enter Hashimoto's thyroiditis, one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism in North America. In this article, we will be exploring how some major thyroid health problems and a great holistic guide in approaching this.
Embarking on the journey toward parenthood is a deeply personal and often complex process. For many, this pursuit can be accompanied by a myriad of emotions, ranging from hope, joy, and excitement to frustration, disappointment, and even grief. This rollercoaster of emotions can be overwhelming and at times even lonely. In this article, we explore some of the ways psychotherapy can offer a supportive and compassionate space for individuals to navigate the emotional nuances of their fertility journey.
In recent years, IV vitamin therapy has gained traction in naturopathic medicine, offering a promising avenue for those seeking holistic fertility solutions. As patients of our clinic who are trying to conceive or are undergoing fertility treatment support, you may find this approach particularly intriguing. Let's explore how nutrition and reproductive health are intertwined and how IV vitamin therapy can potentially enhance fertility, egg quality, and sperm quality.
We understand that trying to get pregnant with a PCOS diagnosis can be a very challenging, emotional, and stress-driven time. Our goal is to help dispel your concerns around conceiving with PCOS, as individuals with PCOS actually tend to respond quite positively to fertility interventions. Today, I’m taking you through ALL of the steps to go through if you’ve started on your PCOS fertility journey (this includes if you just started thinking about trying too!), so you can feel confident that you’re on the right track.
If you are following our blogs this month then you would know that nutrition actually plays a big role in both mental and skin health. Along with treatments recommended by your health practitioner, getting the right nutrients will also aid you in managing mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and skin issues like acne. A fantastic way to achieve this is through IV vitamin therapy. This is a wellness treatment where vitamins and minerals are infused directly into your bloodstream.
June is International Infertility Month and a reminder of the challenges many face on their journey to conception. As infertility rates continue to rise, I find myself increasingly immersed in the world of IVF, guiding patients through its complexities. Many patients are seeking support to optimize their IVF treatment and naturopathic medicine has many tools that can be used alongside IVF in pursuit of this goal. I support my patients going through IVF across 3 main phases of treatment.
Mental health conditions are spectrum conditions which means that they are pathologic manifestations of normal human experience. For example it is normal for humans to feel low in certain situations - this is not a mental health condition. However when that lowness starts to impact our functioning and quality of life long term and pathologically this is when it becomes a diagnosable mental health condition. When we are treating spectrum disorders this means that we can’t take away our normal emotions. We can’t take away the sensation of lowness forever but we do want to make it manageable and appropriate given a situation. In this way we aren’t necessarily “curing” our mental health but we are treating it through different means so that we can support each person in living the life that they want to. One of the most important things that we can do to support and treat our mental health is to decrease factors that exacerbate obstacles and factors that worsen our mental health.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) does not just affect the reproductive system; it's a condition that can profoundly affect various aspects of a person's health, including their skin. Among the various symptoms that PCOS presents with, acne stands out as a particularly frustrating and often distressing manifestation. According to recent statistics, up to 40% of people with PCOS experience acne, highlighting the significant impact this condition can have on skin health and self-esteem. In this area, we can see acne showing up as cystic or inflammatory, and often around the jawline and cheeks.
Acne is more than just a skin issue—it can impact self-esteem, social interactions, and overall quality of life. Conventional treatments often focus on symptom management, but they may not address underlying issues, leading to reoccurrence once treatment stops. A naturopathic approach to acne takes a broader perspective, focusing on factors that are often overlooked in the mainstream approach. By examining areas like hormone levels, gut health, diet, and stress, we can better understand the underlying causes and create a targeted treatment plan.
Embarking on a journey of self-discovery and healing through psychotherapy is a courageous step towards better mental health. Whether you're seeking therapy for the first time or exploring new therapeutic avenues, the initial consultation serves as a pivotal moment in your therapeutic journey. Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your psychotherapy consultation.
Let’s be honest, change is hard, and building new habits can be tough! We encounter countless obstacles, moments of doubt, and plenty of unknowns daily, so it's natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure where to start. If you’re experiencing resistance to necessary lifestyle changes related to your mental health and well-being, rest assured you’re not alone. Here are several ways psychotherapy can help empower you to implement lifestyle changes that nurture mental wellness: