Counselling

Psychotherapy now available at PNHC – Welcome Elizabeth!

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We are so excited to welcome Elizabeth Faus registered psychotherapist to our team! When you meet this remarkable lady, she immediately draws you in with her approachable and personable disposition. She is currently available on Thursdays between 12pm and 5pm for all of your psychotherapy needs, with opportunity to expand her hours in the future. To book in for your appointment, call or text 226-232-7665. Still not sure if psychotherapy is right for you? See below for more information or give us a call to learn more.

What is Psychotherapy?

In an environment of empathy and compassion, psychotherapy helps individuals to develop strategies and tools needed for change and healing. While it is always an option for clients to come for short-term therapy (and sometimes that is all that is needed or accessible due to financial limitations), psychotherapy is by definition a deeper dive into individual’s lives—the deep-rooted patterns, childhood stories or traumas that may be limiting their daily lives. It is often when individuals are willing to “go deeper”—to look at the root causes of their suffering—that they see real, lasting change in their lives.

EMDR

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is an evidenced-based psychotherapy method proven to be effective in treating trauma, depression and anxiety. It involves asking the individual to focus on specific trauma memories and images from their past while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (eye movement, tapping, etc.). EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about a distressing event, but instead focuses on the emotions and thoughts associated with traumatic memories. The processes involved in EMDR allow the brain to desensitize, digest, and reprocess negative memories leading to long-term healing and freedom.

Elizabeth Faus RP

Elizabeth completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario in 2014, and then began working in Human Resources. Her love of connecting with people led her to pursue a Masters of Arts in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy which she completed in 2018. Over the last 5 plus years, Elizabeth has been providing individual counselling to children, adolescents, teens and adults. She resides in Ayr Ontario with her husband and two young daughters. 

Elizabeth has knowledge and experience providing support to those struggling with complex trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, self-harm/suicide, loss and those simply wishing to improve their emotional well-being. She is specifically trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy which is an evidenced-based psychotherapy method proven to be effective in treating trauma and depression.

She brings energy and dedication to her work, offering a warm and compassionate environment. She desires to journey alongside clients so that they may feel heard, seen and may experience positive change and long-term healing. 

In her free time, she enjoy lattes, giggling with my girls, and deep conversations.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in trying any of our services, working with any of our amazing practitioners, or are simply wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact the Plattsville Natural Health Clinic by calling 226-232-7665 and book your appointment today! 

What is the difference between a Holistic Nutritionist and a Dietician?

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Written by Christa Bakker RHN

I was recently asked, “What’s the difference between a Holistic Nutritionist and a Dietician?” To help answer, I have gathered some information provided by CSNN (Canadian School of Natural Nutrition), Cahn-Pro (Canadian Association of Holistic Nutrition Professionals), and CANNP (Canadian Association of Natural Nutrition Practitioners). As a Holistic Nutritionist, I can speak from my education, observations, and client experiences. CANNP has published an article highlighting the differences between a Registered Dietician (RD) and a Registered Holistic Nutritionist™ (also called, Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant™ Professionals, Registered Holistic Nutritional Consultants™, Certified Holistic Nutritionist™). They broke topic down into three categories: Education, Recognition and Approach.

Education

A registered dietician has no doubt spent more time in a classroom than a holistic nutritionist. A registered dietician goes through a university-level program and completes a one-year internship at a medical institution. I completed a college-level program, my ‘internship’ or practical experience was gained by real-life clients and case studies. The university courses that a dietician is required to take are much more science-based, emphasizing chemistry and biology. The university program focuses on conducting and interpreting food studies, research, global food-related problems, and the intricacies of micro and macronutrients; their dietary program is based on ‘Canada’s Food Guide’. The school that I attended, the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN), taught nutrition with an importance on the approach and information that a person can easily put into daily use. The holistic approach is that everyone’s body is unique, each with different circumstances and biochemistry. A holistic nutritionist will conduct consultations, use a client’s symptoms to guide and integrate alternative modalities. I build individualized programs using therapeutic dietary approaches. My education was ‘holistic’ in that it explored the connection between emotional, physiological, and environmental aspects of a person’s wellbeing. In short, the dietician’s approach focuses on the theoretical, where the holistic approach is more practical.

Recognition

Dieticians are a recognized and regulated industry in Canada; nutritionists are not. Rules set by the government monitor this regulation; this allows dieticians to work in government sectors, such as hospitals, while nutritionists focus more on the private sector. However, it is essential for a Holistic Nutritionist to belong to a regulatory body, such as CSNNAA, CANNP, or CAHN-Pro.  They provide ongoing training and education and assurance that the nutritionist is working within their scope of practice. Not being regulated by the government means that nutritionists don’t get the same recognition from insurance companies, leaving clients to pay out of pocket for their services. This cost may deter some, but paying for individualized nutritional consulting and education makes the experience more meaningful for most clients. Clients who pay for the services of a nutritionist take the information more seriously, becoming more compliant and therefore successful.

Approach

The mainstream medical approach is to focus on chasing disease and reducing symptoms. The holistic approach concentrates on avoiding poor health and reestablishing good health, educating how to bring the body back into balance, and catching imbalances in the early stages. As a Holistic Nutritionist, I encourage my client to learn so they can be in control of their own wellbeing. A Dietician is often found in a hospital providing food guidelines to their patients once they have been diagnosed with an illness. A dietician is trained to lessen symptoms while a nutritionist is trained to seek out the root cause of a client’s symptoms, bringing their body back onto balance. Symptom control will often fail in the long term unless the root cause is sought out. The holistic approach focuses on the whole person, education on food choices, lifestyle suggestions, and supplement recommendations. Each client is unique and requires unique recommendations. A nutritionist will recommend whole, natural, and as high-quality food as possible. For example, butter, a dietician may recommend that a client use margarine in its place. A nutritionist would not recommend to a client a processed food made in a factory with chemical “ingredients” as better for you than something that comes from nature. If a client is allergic or intolerant of dairy, there are many more options that don’t include a chemically processed product. (for example, coconut oil, avocado oil, or ghee)

Although there are apparent differences between a Dietician and a Nutritionist, I believe there is room for both. The important difference is that the client has the benefit of choice.

If you are interested in booking an appointment with a holistic nutritionist, call or text 226-232-7665, or contact Plattsville Natural Health Clinic to book your appointment today.

Adrenal Support: Diet and Lifestyle Changes to Combat Stress

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Grunge image of a stressed overworked man studyingThe adrenal glands are located on-top of the kidneys, and are responsible for secretion of hormones related to stress (including cortisol). When stress is perceived in a positive way and is short-lasting, it can be beneficial. In fact, recent research has suggested that individuals who are stressed but have a positive association with that stress, are healthier than individuals who have no stress at all. When on the other end of the spectrum, where you may be overly stressed with a negative appraisal of it, your health could greatly suffer as a result. When stress is taken out of the context of moderation and not perceived well, many can run into problems. Stress that is long standing can cause stress hormones circulate for longer, causing destruction and harm to one’s body. This might look like increased blood pressure, increased weight or weight gain, increased blood sugar levels, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, indigestion, and the list goes on. Your diet and lifestyle can play a large role in how your organs manage this stress and how you manage stress on a mental – emotional level. These diet and lifestyle changes may include:

Dietary Changes  

  • Consume lean protein with every meal
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and high – sugar beverages such as Gatorade
  • Avoid processed sugars
  • Follow an anti-inflammatory diet
  • Consume adequate amounts of water
  • Eliminate sources of food sensitivities, or sources of inflammation, from the diet
  • Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet – specifically peppers, dark-green leafy vegetables, oranges, guava and papaya.
  • Consume a breakfast that includes a carbohydrate combined with a protein

Many of these dietary factors are focused on balancing blood sugar levels, decreasing burden on organs for processing and digesting, decreasing stimulating foods which can trigger cortisol spikes and wear you out physically, decreasing sources of inflammation which can contribute to mental-emotional upset (i.e. depression, anxiety, stress).

Lifestyle Changes  

  • Eat regularly timed meals
  • Practice mindful eating by taking time to eat and enjoy the food that is put in front of you, making sure to chew adequately
  • Manage your stress through various methods including:
    • Journalling
    • Meditation
    • Yoga
    • Reading
    • Deep breathing
    • Exercising
  • Adopt regular sleeping habits
  • Partake in regular exercise
  • Adopt a lifestyle of balance (work versus play)
  • Seek a health care provider to help you to combat the effects of stress i.e. Naturopathic Doctor, Counselor, Registered Massage Therapist, Medical Doctor, etc.

Many of these lifestyle factors help one to be able to manage stress effectively and the physical effects of stress. If you are in need of help to manage stress, support your adrenal glands, combat depression, combat anxiety, or to manage the effects of stress; please consider consulting myself or another health care provider. Do not suffer alone.

Have you benefited from reading this blog? Know someone that would benefit as well? Share, Like, Comment, or Tweet this article, and let me know what you think.

Some of the information provided above may not be appropriate for everyone, please consult with your doctor before trying any of the above. If you are interested in Naturopathic Medicine and wanting a different approach to your health care needs, contact Dr. Elisha Cook ND by calling 519-537-7058 and book your appointment today!