Q&A with Dr. Keara Taylor Dr. Keara is joining the Innate Wellness Team in High Park. She is a High Park local and a new mom with a general family practice. She will be taking over Dr. Regan’s maternity leave and staying on to build her practice at Innate. Learn more about her style of practice! […]
Q&A with Melody Leung, Psychotherapist Q1. What comes to mind when you think of mental wellness for children’? Just like physical wellness, everyone needs to work towards mental wellness too. Unfortunately, mental wellness isn’t always discussed openly so children haven’t had as much opportunity to learn how to take care of their mental health. Mental wellness represents how we are feeling mentally. Children who are feeling mentally well are often those that feel confident, are resilient, and satisfied with their lives. […]
Self-Care for Mental Health in Today’s SocietyThe phrase “self-care” was one of 2017’s mental health buzz terms and for good reasons. As a society, we are working more hours, hooked into our technical devices longer, creating endless piles of to-do lists. This lifestyle impacts self-care and mental health, leading to burnout and emotional exhaustion. The pressure to meet societal expectations through social media further compounds stress as people compare themselves in the race for acceptance and validation.To combat these challenges, engaging in a meaningful self-care routine has become an important strategy. Self-care for mental health involves intentional practices that support well-being by helping individuals recharge, reduce stress, and develop healthier habits. Taking time for self-care activities—whether it's regular exercise, journaling, or relaxation—helps restore emotional balance and maintain better health and well-being.Strategies to Improve Mental Well-Being NaturallyBetween friends or colleagues, casual discussions of wine and Netflix binges are the beginner’s version of self-help. Perhaps the goal for 2018 is to take the concept of self-care to a new level.Let’s be clear, there is no right or wrong way to engage in self-care. But what if the new challenge is to engage in self-care that isn’t just for immediate release but a step towards meeting a larger need? For example, instead of always choosing a Netflix binge, pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. Instead of always choosing a glass of wine or a pour of bourbon, go to bed early so you can wake up in time for a morning run.Emotional Wellness Strategies for Lasting ImpactThe idea is that self-care is to move beyond quick fixes and embrace practices that create sustainable mental wellness. Emotional self-care encourages us to engage in behaviours that offer [...]
By Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND This is the time of year that many of my patients ask about cold & flu prevention. With the holidays on the horizon the pace of life, pressure and late nights are increasing, which can increase your chances of getting sick. There is a lot that you can do to help defend yourself from getting sick and if you do get sick, help to lessen the duration and severity of the symptoms. There are two categories to address when it comes to cold’s & flu’s: 1) Prevention is the stage that we keep the immune system strong in order to prevent getting sick. 2) Acute Care is the stage that you have the opportunity to nip it in the bud and avoid a long, drawn-out illness! We begin treatment at the first sign of getting sick. […]
By: Taya Griffin, IBCLC – Taya Griffin is a Toronto Based International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She prepares mothers for their breastfeeding journey in the prenatal period and provides in- home and hospital postpartum breastfeeding support. She can be reached at www.tayagriffin.com. The breastfeeding breast is amazing! Indications of the first changes it will go through begin as early as weeks into pregnancy. Breasts can feel tender and sore, the areola may darken and the Montgomery tubercles around the areola may become more raised. Many mothers also begin to see a crust-like formation on the nipples. This crusting is a minute amount of colostrum which is seeping out ever so slowly and drying on the tip of the nipple. Milk production doesn’t truly begin until the placenta is delivered. The progesterone and estrogen levels drop and milk production begins. After the milk has transitioned from colostrum to more mature milk, in and around the seventy two hour mark, one of the most common issues with breastfeeding breasts that I see as a Lactation Consultant (after sore nipples and low milk supply of course!) is blocked ducts. […]
By: Dr. Angelina Riopel, ND Self-breast examinations are a very important part of self-care, as women need to know what normal is so they can detect changes in the quality of their breast tissue. “Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.” John Hopkins medical center WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? “Normal” breast tissue will vary between women and change throughout the month due to the menstrual cycle. Note what your breast tissue feels like during the different stages of your cycle, as breast tissue is sensitive to hormonal fluctuations and can lead to breast tissue changes. Important changes to note and if any of the following are observed please seek medical evaluation: New lumps. Most breast lumps are not cancerous but should be examined by a medical professional for evaluation. Changes, irritation or redness in the breast tissue, skin and nipple Dimpling or thickening of the breast skin Discharge from the nipple […]
By Lindsey Danisch, RSW and provider of psychotherapy Myth: Only crazy people or people with severe issues receive psychotherapy. Everyday, people seek therapy for a range of reasons. Some pursue psychotherapy for treatment of anxiety or depression. But others want help coping with life stressors or transitions like martial strain or separation, parenting challenges, the loss of a job, stress management or conflict at work. Others may need help managing and balancing work and family responsibilities, coping with an aging parent, or improving relationship skills. By learning problem solving skills and coping strategies, anyone (young and old) can benefit from psychotherapy. I work with both adults, teens and children. […]
By Lindsey Danisch, Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist A “successful relationship”: We need to redefine this concept. For some, this term “successful” is saved only for those partnerships that end in life-long marriage-‘til death do they part. But who is to say that’s the only qualifier for success? A 3-month relationship, where partners learn about they sexual desires and preferences, is a success. A 5-year relationship, where you now more clearly understand of the qualities you need in a long-term partner, is a success. A 20-year marriage that has ended, where you’ve learned to love and let go, leading to more self-discovery and resilience, is a success. I have clients who tell me they’ve had “no successful relationships” and after a little more conversation, I can see that they’ve had many successful relationships. While those relationships have now ended, the amount of information they’ve learned about them is amazing. The ability for my clients to reframe their relationships experiences is empowering. Let’s take back this phrase and redefine what success looks like in relationships of all kinds. Every relationship, no matter how short or long, teaches us something about ourselves and desires. They help us prepare for future relationships-and that’s what success looks like! Lindsey Danisch MSW, RSW Provider of Psychotherapy
By Dr. Kathleen Regan, ND Going back to school can be a stressful time for kids. Sometimes kids are open about expressing their worries and sometimes their anxieties come out in physical ways like itchy skin, tummy aches, headaches, bad dreams and restlessness. Calming herbs can go a long way to alleviate anxieties. Tea is a great way to provide this ‘herbal chill’. Your little tea enthusiast can drink it hot or for those kids not so fond of tea – it can be added to juice or smoothies. This herbal recipe can be compounded on special request at Innate Wellness or by your local naturopath/herbalist. Ingredients 1 Part Chamomile 1 Part Catnip 1 Part Lemon Balm […]
By Dr. Kathleen Regan ND Cupping therapy is an ancient treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been practiced for thousands of years. This involves using glass cups and heat to create suction on the skin or by using modern plastic or glass cups with a pump to create suction on the skin. This technique creates read, circular markings that can last hours to days. Cupping has recently gained media attention due to the number of cupping marks seen on athletes in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Which is great because cupping is AMAZING for athletes. […]
