Your Content Goes Here We’ve all heard the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. And it does. But, what I’ve come to discover is it that it takes small collection of handpicked "special forces" to raise a special needs child. And it’s not just anybody…it’s not quantity, it’s quality. So often our kiddos don’t get the inherited pleasure of being delighted in. As a parent you have to have a keen sense of who truly honors them, enjoys them and sees them beyond their challenges. It’s a mix of intuition and mystery. You have to trust and hold out for the good ones.  There is no negotiating on this. Volunteers are few. It requires us as parents to take stock and create a vision for our child and our family.  You mustn’t adopt the one handed to you with the diagnosis. As this vision gets clearer you can slowly bring it all into fruition. The players will appear. And it’s not static, it will require care:  nurturing, letting it all breathe every so often, pruning out parts and recalibrating.  You will have to expel some and pull in others. You’ll find over time, some people become less effective than others and some you have yet to meet. It’s a living thing. You have to be prudent. It comes down to love…who holds love in their heart for your child,  who wants them to live in their highest expression of self… who sees both the possibility and dares to be surprised along the way. That’s the kind of village that our children thrive in....and it takes us to make it happen. So, envision and share with your trusted ones… listen, keep an eye out, stay true to the courses and your village will come. Karin Francis is a Registered Psychotherapist who just joined our team at Pathways To Hope. As the parent of a special needs child, Karin is able to provide support to other families and caregivers by combining her education and professional experience with her personal and lived experience. For more information about Karin, or to book a free consultation, call us at 519.751.0728 or email pathwaystohopebrant@gmail.com

Your Content Goes Here Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition, hallmarked by widespread pain for greater than six months, combined with possible combination of cognitive dysfunction, IBS or other gastrointestinal involvement, and fatigue or sleep disturbances. It is no surprise after hearing that list of symptoms that many patients dealing with this condition are also dealing with feelings of stress, deterioration of mental and physical health, and feelings of social isolation. The cause of fibromyalgia is not fully understood, but the main aspect is nervous system sensitization(5). Simply put, this means that a history of injury, physical trauma, or a fear of these events have put the body into high alert for these to occur again. Since pain is the body’s way of telling the brain about danger, this phenomenon is presumably the body’s way of saying: “Hey, you don’t seem to be getting the message that we’re in danger here, so let me scream louder.” An attempt to be helpful that does not end up being very helpful. There is a high degree of stress and frustration for fibromyalgia patients, due in part to the difficulty in getting a diagnosis and the lack of evidence on treatment paths. Because fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion, with no diagnostic tests available, it can take a long time to receive a diagnosis. In addition, there are no standards of practice to guide practitioners and patients often react differently to treatments, which makes implementing standards of practice difficult. Personally, I believe that with more research and understanding, we will find that fibromyalgia is a category of conditions, rather than a single diagnosis, however it will likely be a long time before this theory is proven, or disproven, by science. What we currently know about fibromyalgia is that there is a strong correlation with mental health conditions. This is likely due to events prior to developing fibromyalgia symptoms, since there is often a history of traumatizing injury and/or abuse in people with fibromyalgia, as well as events after developing fibromyalgia symptoms, since fibromyalgia is one of the most debilitating chronic pain conditions(2) and fibromyalgia patients are often type A go-getters(1), the combination of which is very difficult to deal with. Goal setting for treatment is, of course, done by the patients, but from a practitioner perspective, the two main goals are to improve pain symptoms and improve sleep quality, and doing so by soothing the dysregulated nervous system. My personal favourite way of doing this is through mindfulness-based training(4), however cognitive behavioural therapy(3) and certain antidepressant medications(3) are both well researched in this area. As with most chronic conditions, a multidisciplinary approach is best to help deal with fibromyalgia. As a Naturopath, my treatment plans for fibromyalgia often include mindfulness, exercise, correcting nutritional deficiencies and eliminating food triggers, working on sleep hygiene, and adaptogenic herbs that are known to improve the body’s ability to tolerate stress. This blog was written by Dr. Crysana Copland, Naturopathic Doctor at Brant Mental Health Solutions. [...]

Your Content Goes Here As wonderful as the holiday season can be, it can create additional challenges for those raising a child/children with autism. In this blog, Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, Alisa Gagne explains 5 ways to help manage potential overwhelm over the holiday season. Let your child know what is happening ahead of time: This can help alleviate a lot of anxiety if you talk to your child before an event will happen (talk about: who will be there, what you’ll be doing, what coping strategies can be used) Plan for sensory overload/meltdowns: Consider practicing with your child what they can do when they feel overwhelmed (e.g. asking for a break). Redirect to a different, calmer activity when they feel overwhelmed (e.g. reading a book). Pre-arrange a space where your child can go when they need a break. Try to keep routines consistent when you can: A lot of children with autism thrive on routines. While this can be thrown off over the holidays, try to keep routines like mealtimes and bedtimes the same. Bring familiar toys/items to help your child feel comfortable. Practice opening gifts and taking turns: Practice responses like “thank you”, even if they get a gift they don’t like. Allow your child (and yourself) the ability to create boundaries and to say no: Allow and encourage your child to take breaks and ask for what they need. Communicate to family and friends how long you can stay and communicate what you and your child might need to have a successful visit (e.g. what your child can eat, what sensory needs they have, etc.). We hope you have found these tips helpful and that you can enjoy the holiday season and find time to rest and recharge!

Your Content Goes Here Mental health awareness is growing in our community, however there remains a need for advocates to maintain this momentum. Advocacy (literally: to add a voice) can be grouped into three broad categories: self, individual, and system. Self advocacy Self advocacy is essentially the ability to speak for yourself, to understand your strengths and weaknesses, and to communicate your needs and desires. Individual advocacy Individual advocacy is supporting and standing by someone to help when their rights and needs are not being recognized or addressed. System advocacy System advocacy targets information and policy change at the local, provincial, and federal levels. You do not need to be a professional to advocate for the needs of your child, yourself, or anyone for whom you can be a voice. You simply need to care. There are a lot of roles and ways to advocate and they can be looked at in three areas: 1. Support, 2. Education, 3. Values. Support can broadly be seen as having someone’s back, being a member of a team. You are helping them be heard, clarifying their rights and needs/wants surrounding decision making. This may involve communication with the other professionals involved. Often this a is a large welcome relief to the individual. Staying educated on current practice, research, and programs, and being able to evaluate the appropriateness is helpful in empowering individuals with the right information. Standing for what you believe and helping others who need it, championing a cause, brings inspiration to individuals and can help effect change. How can I be an affective advocate? 1. As an advocate for your child, you will need to learn, ask for, and organize the information in a way that will help you prepare for interactions with the professionals and family/community members involved. 2. You will need the information to collaborate with the education and medical communities. 3. You will need to stay calm when faced with frustrations. 4. You also will need to recognize when you need to reach out for assistance, and get help. 5. Throughout it all you need to be brave! Research indicates the overall positive long term effects of early advocacy, both in education and health. It is challenging and frustrating at times, but it is also rewarding and empowering for your child. To set up a free consultation with our education advocate/consultant, Mike DeBruyn, reach out to us at 519.751.0728 or email pathwaystohopebrant@gmail.com. For more information about Mike click here https://www.pathwaystohope.ca/team/mike-debruyn

Your Content Goes Here Those who are in a helping profession often forget about self care. Especially when it comes to the health of their spine. But the spine is vitally important, and should be maintained so that a career in a helping profession can last a lifetime. This article will give practical advice about caring for the health of your spine if you are in a helping profession. The tips provided here will help those who are nurses, doctors, dentists, counsellors and any other profession that involves caring for patients on a daily basis. The tips are also useful for those who support these professionals such as admin assistants and receptionists. 1. Stretch Stretching the spine is something that can be achieved in as little as 20 minutes per day and can help relieve tight sore muscles. Stretching requires no equipment and can be done almost anywhere. Those in a helping profession often experience stress which can cause chronic muscle tension in the neck area and upper back. Stretching is so simple yet so effective for maintaining flexibility and helping to prevent injuries at the workplace. There are plenty of good stretching routines that can be found online, and taking the time to search for one that suits your particular needs is a worthwhile investment of time. If you are mostly sitting at work, then incorporating postural stretches is key to a good routine. Those who sit also want to focus on stretching their neck or cervical spine, because this will often become tight while sitting all day at work. It is also the area where many people hold their stress, so it should be part of everyone's routine. If your job requires a lot of lifting and assisting patients then be sure to work on stretching your low back or lumbar spine. This is the part of the spine that gets injured the most when lifting, so be sure to stay limber and stretch before every shift to reduce the chance of injury. If you don't know where to begin, consider a beginner yoga class or video. These routines usually incorporate the necessary stretches for your spine and will help you uncover areas you need to focus on more. 2. Wear Good Shoes Supportive footwear should be considered in any profession that involves the person being on their feet. It is especially important for those who are on hard concrete or tile floors, like in a hospital. Make sure your shoes have a good amount of cushion in the heel to prevent heel pain. This is a common problem people can develop known as plantar fasciitis. Good footwear helps preserve our spine health too because if our feet are not supported properly, then this can put pressure on the knees, hips and low back, which can all become problematic if the feet are not supported. 3. Desk Ergonomics Those who work at a desk for long hours need to consider proper desk ergonomics. [...]

Your Content Goes Here 1. Not all Physiotherapists are the same. Just like other health care providers, Physiotherapists may differ in their approach to caring for patients. The biggest difference you will notice when attending a physiotherapy clinic, is whether or not the treatments are performed by a registered physiotherapist or by their assistant. Although there is nothing wrong with either approach, some people prefer to work with the same person each time they visit the office, in a private setting. If you are thinking about visiting a physiotherapist and you want a one-on-one approach, then it is important to ask if they perform their treatments in this manner. The other main difference amongst physiotherapists is in their technique. Every Physiotherapist is required to hold a certificate of registration that proves they have passed the necessary exams and are legally able to practice in Ontario, however, they are able to learn various techniques outside of school and many choose to do so. Some Physiotherapists perform acupuncture, cupping, taping, manual therapy, etc. These techniques are all useful in certain situations and it is the physiotherapists job to determine the best approach for their patients based on a thorough assessment. 2. You do not need a doctor referral or diagnosis to be seen by a physiotherapist. In Ontario, you do not need a doctors referral to seek the help of a physiotherapist, if you feel you could benefit from their services, then you can call and see one at any time. Often times, your doctor will refer you to see a physiotherapist, if he or she feels it is necessary, but if you want to skip that step and find a physiotherapist, you can call one today. Although you do not need an diagnosis to visit a physiotherapist, if you have had an Ultrasound or x-ray recently, they might want to see the results of those tests, as this can impact their treatment approach. A physiotherapist will make their own diagnoses based on the testing and exam procedures they perform in the office. This should include, but is not limited to testing: range of motion, performing various orthopedic and neurological tests, as well as palpating (feeling) the affected area. Some physiotherapists might also use different gadgets or devices to assess their patients, which can provide valuable data that is used to diagnose. During the treatment plan, a physiotherapist will also reassess, and compare that to their original findings. This is the evidence needed to see whether or not their approach is working, and is used to change treatment strategies and approaches if necessary. 3. They can help with a wide variety of ailments. People will often wonder whether or not they need a physiotherapist. The short answer is, if it hurts or feels stiff, a physiotherapist can most likely help. People will also seek the help of a physiotherapist if they are tired of popping pain pills or if their doctor hasn't given them the answers they [...]

Your Content Goes Here Muscle atrophy refers to a condition where there is a decrease in the size of a muscular tissue due to a shrinkage at a cellular level. This shrinkage is generally driven by the loss of cellular components, such as the cytoplasm and its associated proteins. With the decrease in muscle size, this creates a problem scenario where an individual may lose function and performance related to activities of daily living. It can happen at any age but is most common in the elderly. In order to regain and prevent a decrease in the size of a muscular tissue, it really comes down to an individual-tailored exercise regimen to build strength so that the needs of each cellular component are addressed. It may work as a strengthening-based exercise, stretch-based exercise, a combination or a cardiovascular based workout that is reflected upon each individual’s capacity. The key message is that we do not want muscle atrophy to continue to progress. This can lead to muscle wasting, meaning a loss of an actual muscular tissue. There are numerous causes that may lead to muscle atrophy, such as genetics, cancer and chronic inflammatory conditions. The most common ones that are known to cause muscle atrophy include ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and SMA (Spinal muscular atrophy). Depending on the underlying root cause of the disease, treatments may vary amongst individuals but the common theme that they share is that encouraged movement is essential for managing the atrophy process. If you or someone you know is concerned about muscle atrophy it would be worthwhile to visit your local Chiropractor or Physiotherapist. Although treatments from a trained professional do not necessarily reverse the course of these conditions, they can help manage and correct dysfunction that muscle atrophy causes. Catered to each individual’s goals and needs, the treatment can be designed in many different ways, including supervised exercise sessions, mobilization-based manual traction, spinal adjustments or muscle release work. It is of utmost importance that the treatment plan includes exercises and other advice that will help build muscle back up. If you are concerned about muscle atrophy or have already been diagnosed and are looking for guidance from a trained professional or perhaps struggling related to pain from this condition, call our office to book a free 15 minute consultation. One of our doctors will discuss your case with you and make sure that we are able to help. Call 519-751-0728 to book today.

Your Content Goes Here Many of us parents have been there. We are rushing to get our child(ren) off to school, we get to the school and our child has a big, emotional outburst and refuses to go into their classroom. This is more common in younger children whilst they are still adapting to being away from the safety and comfort of their home and their primary caregiver, and many children will grow out of this as they settle into the school routine and become more familiar with their new surroundings and teacher/classmates. But for some children, school refusal is something that is more of an ongoing issue and can be a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder. School refusal can affect children of all ages, from kindergarten right through to highschool. Obviously the signs and symptoms will differ depending on the age. Your teenager is less likely to have a big emotional outburst, but may show some of the following signs: Complete refusal to attend, Attending, but leaving early, Starting late, Having a tantrum when they arrive at school, Attending, but experiencing a high degree of distress. What causes school refusal? There are many things that can contribute to school refusal, some of those reasons can include: An underlying anxiety/depressive disorder, The child might be experiencing bullying at school, They may be involved in conflict at school with teachers, or other students, They may be experiencing issues at home that make them feel worried to leave, They could have acute stress/PTSD as a result of something that happened at school, They may struggle at school and have academic issues or issues with their teacher. It is important to note that children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) have a higher rate of experiencing school refusal. What are some symptoms of school refusal? This will vary from child to child and will, again, vary with different age groups. Some symptoms include: Stomach distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach aches etc.) Headaches Fatigue Crying Tantrums It is good to also have your child checked out by their family doctor if they are experiencing any of these physical symptoms, to rule out any potential health concerns. How to help with school refusal: Many parents are unsure whether or not they should be “punishing” or “disciplining” their child when they experience school refusal, this will not work. School refusal is not something that can be disciplined out of a child, it is a form of anxiety that requires treatment. One of the most effective forms of “treatment” is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT should be provided by a registered mental health professional who has received training in this modality. CBT teaches the client to confront and change negative thoughts/behaviours. Something that has worked in our family is normalizing anxiety. We all have open conversations about anxiety as a human experience. When anxiety is appropriately managed it can alert us to danger, or help us perform in a situation. We discuss [...]

Your Content Goes Here There are many different moving joints and muscles in our feet but when the bottom of our foot or heel becomes painful this is usually a sign of plantar fasciitis. When this kind of foot pain strikes, we usually notice it right away and hope that it goes away quickly because with each step we feel it. We don't want foot pain interfering with our ability to walk or enjoy other activities. Plantar fasciitis can either be short lived (acute) or can become chronic if not addressed early on. It is caused by inflammation that sets into the plantar fascia (a big ligament) in the bottom of our foot. This can be due to immobility or sometimes an old foot injury such as a sprain or strain that doesn't heal properly. The plantar fascia attaches to our heel bone (calcaneus) and wraps around it to form the Achilles tendon on the back of our ankle. Pain from plantar fasciitis can even be related to problems with these structures. Sometimes the calf muscle and Achilles tendon are the source of the problem. They can become tight which can pull on the plantar fascia and throw off foot mechanics causing the pain on the bottom of the foot. What Causes It? At its root, plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia. This is typically caused by poor foot mechanics. Poor foot mechanics can be a result of immobility (i.e. wearing boots all day at work and standing on concrete floors) or muscles and joints that are not moving the way they should. When muscles and joints are not moving properly in any part of the body it can lead to pain and problems that creep up without warning. Usually this is from some sort of overuse or old injury to the area that never healed properly. Once inflammation sets in the bottom of the foot, it can be very difficult to get rid of it because we are always using our feet. How Do You Treat It? The good news is that if you have plantar fasciitis there are many treatment options for this painful condition. The other good news is that many of the recommendations for plantar fasciitis can be performed at home with simple items you have around your house. The first step is to reduce inflammation, so using ice will be most helpful. It is best to freeze a water bottle and then take it out, place it on the floor and roll the bottom of your foot over it for 10 - 15 minutes. Stretching is also something that will need to be implemented if you wish to solve plantar fasciitis. Calf stretching should be performed regularly as well as stretching the bottom of your foot. This can be accomplished by grabbing your toes, bending them backward while also bending your ankle upward. Think toes to nose, while using your hand to bend your foot and hold the [...]

Your Content Goes Here Many people in therapy express that they feel disconnected from their own emotions or have difficulty processing the emotions that they are feeling. The breadth and depth of our human emotions add so much to our life stories and can also bring great suffering and pain. It is not uncommon for people to struggle with their emotions, particularly those that are powerful, such as joy, anger, and sadness. One of the things we have in common as human beings is our emotions, our feelings- are energy within ourselves that tell us what we need from ourselves and from others. They are our warning signs and our life enhancers. Emotions drive us to get what we need. When we ignore our emotions, we can become stuck, and even worse, we can become unwell. We may have learned during our lives to minimize, hide, change, or ignore our feelings. We may have learned to put other’s feelings before our own, or we may have learned how to manage our feelings in healthy ways. How we understand and respond to emotions comes from many different sources, including our parents, family, culture, religion, school, work, relationships, media, and our life experiences, which is why we respond to emotions in unique and different ways. What should we do when working through emotions? 1. Acknowledge emotions. If you are wanting to do a better job of processing your emotions, the first step is to learn some of the language of emotions. Did you know there are approximately 150 words to describe emotions? The six primary emotions are anger, fear, joy, love, sadness, and surprise. Having the words to describe how we are feeling can help us and others to better understand our experiences and improve our relationships. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the “feelings wheel”, which is a nice visual depiction of many shades of the primary human emotions, as well as the meanings of the words, to help you better attune to your own feelings. Notice where you feel your different emotions in your body- is it your gut, your head, your shoulders? Emotions create energy that can be held in the body, especially if not released. 2. Notice negative self-talk when it happens, and the emotion behind it. What is the need beneath the behaviour that you are condemning? Is there an unmet need that you are ignoring? Feelings, thoughts, and our behaviour are inextricably connected. Take some time to notice how your thoughts and feelings fuel your behaviour, and vice versa. Consider that your body and brain may be signalling to you that there is a situation that requires your attention. At times, it may be a “false alarm” such as in the case of recurring anxiety. Sometimes there is a physical need that is being signalled, that takes an emotional form, such as the need for rest, movement, and nutrition. Sometimes it may be an unmet emotional need, a part of [...]