Health professionals share their information, wisdom, and perspectives as the people who treat, teach, and advocate for our physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Choosing a therapist who’s right for you can be a daunting task. It’s often a decision people make when things are at their most difficult or they are feeling desperate. How will you know who will you feel most comfortable sharing your struggles, emotions and past events with? How do you ‘shop’ for a therapist […]
Back in 2015, I launched my blog and shared, for the first time, the truth of my life. I received countless messages from people letting me know that by me sharing my story, they felt less alone, and in some cases, they were able to share their own as well. How beautiful when we can […]
Across Canada, short and long-term mental health treatments and supports have been chronically underfunded and need to become a nation-wide health system priority. Two recent articles in The Globe And Mail by Norman Doidge (April 6, 2019) and Ari Zaretsky (April 22, 2019) have addressed the issue from different perspectives. Here is my view ‘from […]
I’m a dietitian. And my favourite food is chicken wings. Yes, chicken wings. But not just any chicken wings – my Dad’s homemade, succulent, soy-sauce infused, finger-licking, roll-up-your-sleeves and get-ready-to-dig-in chicken wings. Let me explain. My Dad is a Chinese chef and thrives on cooking for others. Though a man of very few words, Dad […]
After working on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver in methadone pharmacies, I noticed a common source of pain for just about every homeless individual I met receiving methadone maintenance therapy for addiction – loneliness. I found it so heartbreaking to watch that I quickly burnt out and had to take a hiatus from working in […]
There’s a framed sign in my kitchen that says, eat good food. It’s a simple concept and one I like to think sets the tone for my family and how we approach our meals. Eating well is important at all stages of life because nutrition goes beyond your physical body. It’s about nourishing your […]
When people find out I’m a personal trainer who’s done adventure races, countless half marathons, triathlons and even an Ironman, the assumption they make is that I grew up an athlete. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I spent the majority of my life hating my body and feeling uncomfortable in my skin. For […]
I was the wearer of masks, masks that defined many roles in my life: daughter, sister, aunt, wife, caregiver, career woman, but none of these masks exemplified the person I was on the inside. Sound familiar? How did you respond the last time you got asked the age-old question, “So what do you do?” Most […]
I have been coaching Canadians as a personal trainer for over 20 years, helping people get into better physical shape and giving them the tools to lead healthier, happier lives. I have found that much of this work is mental: you must maintain a positive outlook about yourself and your situation if either of these […]
Everything I do, I do for love, support, connection, acceptance, admiration, friendship, affection, respect and appreciation. Love is my motivation, it’s what I value most in life. It fills me with joy to feel as though I belong, that I’m accepted, cherished and appreciated. The motivation to feel this way has been my biggest strength […]
What does it mean to have a healthy body image? As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, I’ve learned from my interactions with clients, friends and family members that achieving a healthy body image isn’t always easy—and it means something different to everyone. So, in the spirit of what Silken Laumann is trying to achieve with this […]
As a registered psychotherapist, I work with many wonderful individuals who have experienced bumps in this road called life. They come to me searching for strength, resilience, and sometimes a lifeline. Though there are often similarities between their stories and Courtney’s, they are also all unique. Many have believed things would never change, or that […]
