Health professionals share their information, wisdom, and perspectives as the people who treat, teach, and advocate for our physical, mental, and spiritual health.
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 […]
You’re a fake; You’re just asking for attention; You will amount to nothing; Don’t talk to her, just ignore her; Your daughter has….; Your husband has…; Mom, my friends weren’t nice to me; Just wanted you to know, he/she passed away by suicide; Parul will not pass high school… I grew up thinking I would […]
Every teen will experience anxiety at times: it’s part of the human experience and a natural response to fear or stress. Some kids will react to that stress more acutely than others. In some cases, anxiety may begin to negatively impact your teen’s day to day life. If your teen: Worries excessively, Is especially reluctant […]
All of my life there were moments. I remember the classmate in Grade One who went to the principal’s office for “bad behavior” almost every day. The teenager, known as “the loner”, who often crouched on the ground holding onto his knees, rocking back and forth while the rest of the kids played at the […]
