Barbara Balshaw-Dow is a clinical social worker/therapist who received her Master of Social Work in 2007 and has been practicing since 2015. She has a passion for highlighting mental wellness and works with clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, as well as other life challenges. She helps her clients develop strategies to do things differently and move forward by using tools such as: solution-focused questions, strategies from cognitive behavioural therapy, and basic eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. Barbara is also a registered yoga teacher and is working towards certification in equine-assisted counselling.
Community News
Enriching the Life of Your Pet
Keeping your pet in good physical shape is an important part of their wellness, but it’s crucial to provide mental stimulation and enrichment for them as well. Depending on the breed and personality of your dog, a walk doesn’t always provide enough stimulation. Drop-in visits from a pet sitter give your dog the opportunity for an extra play session during the day. For high energy dogs, or those needing more socialization, daycare is a great option. Even if it’s not every day, it gives your dog something to look forward to during the week. There are also many cognitive enrichment toys and puzzles you can purchase for your dogs, cats and birds to keep their minds sharp.
Needing Orthopedic Surgery?
Are you at your wits end? Are you in pain and tired of waiting for knee, hip, or spine surgery? ONZ Spine specializes in more than 10 years of assisting thousands of individuals in traveling to Germany for orthopedic surgery. Have you been told you are too young for knee or hip replacement? Dr Wolfram Steens at ONZ Spine in Germany can do up to 4 knee and hip replacements in a person’s lifetime, staring at a young age, if necessary, thanks to their state-of-the-art technology. Newly available to Canadian patients is knee cartilage replacement – with use of technology not yet available in Canada.
Acupuncture for PTSD
PTSD is a physiological disorder that results from being exposed to a traumatic event. It can affect anyone at any point in their life. The disorder can result in several symptoms including, but not limited to anxiety, irritability, insomnia, nightmares, and flashbacks. Acupuncture for PTSD is administered by stimulating specific auricular points as well as others in the body. These points are responsible for signaling areas of the brain to help control nervous functioning as well as mitigate stress levels. Acupuncture treatments also have benefits such as a decrease in depression and physical pain. Soldiers, police officers, fire fighters and countless others who have been diagnosed with PTSD are using acupuncture to experience relief.
Dementia and Alzheimer Help
You are not alone in your dementia journey. Whether you’ve noticed signs of dementia, recently received a diagnosis or need help navigating the next stages of the disease, the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba can help. The Society provides information, education and support for families. We have a variety of virtual and in-person programming, including education sessions, support groups and Minds in Motion®, so you can join wherever works best for you. Contact the Alzheimer Society today to reach a reassuring ear by phone or get a quick response by email. Visit our website at Alzheimer.mb.ca for more information.
Suffering from Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth. Some warning signs that can signal a problem include gums that bleed easily; red, swollen, and tender gums; receding gumline; and persistent bad breath. See your dentist if you suspect you have gum disease because the sooner you treat it the better.
Treat the Cause of your Digestive Problems
More than 20 million Canadians suffer from digestive disorders every year. Whether it’s heartburn, reflux, indigestion, abdominal pain, bloating, irritable bowel, or colitis, those suffering seldom find long-term
solutions. Conventional medicines offer temporary relief but rarely address the cause. If you do not find the cause, the symptoms will continue to worsen. One of the best ways to determine the cause of your condition is with nutritional testing. This non-invasive testing will let you know if you are lacking specific nutrients essential for proper digestion. If deficiencies are found, specific nutritional formulations can be given to address the cause and heal the area.
Need a Lift?
Have you ever found yourself unable to get out of your chair? Although it looks like a regular recliner, a lift chair is designed with mechanisms that help it to act as a mobility aid. With the touch of a button, a lift chair can help comfortably maneuver you to a standing position with little to no help from others, providing you with increased independence. You can choose from a two position, three position, or infinite position chair, depending on whether you want to recline fully. There are lift chairs available to suit a variety of budgets and mobility needs!
Trusting Myself Fully
I invite you to take out a pen and paper and complete this sentence with your dominant hand: “If I trusted myself completely, I would do/say or make happen” ……? Then with your non-dominant hand respond: “What holds me back from fully trusting” ….? When we struggle to create or share what we truly want, it’s often because there is a missing part of ourselves lost, frozen or trapped in time. When we seek validation from those outside ourselves over the wisdom that resides within us, this leads towards 2 big compromises: 1) Seeking and chasing the need for constant approval (anxious attachment) or 2) avoiding and rejecting what we desire, so we don’t feel the disappointment and rejection (avoidant attachment). Relationships are a shared energy, the more we trust our gut knowing, the better we can trust, share and receive what we truly desire.
Meet Your Practitioner
Meet Mandy Fraser – Individual and Relational Therapist/Yoga Practitioner (BAH, MMFT, they/them). Mandy is an experienced clinician specializing in helping people navigate relationships. They teach coping skills to regulate strong emotions so that we can work on safely unearthing root causes of problematic patterns. Mandy enjoys helping people connect to their true selves; prioritizing creating safety so clients can experience vulnerability without being overwhelmed. As a member of the queer community, they are passionate about working with 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Whether the issue is related to gender/sexual identity, or you simply want to experience therapy in a queer affirming space, they would love to support your process!
Runner’s Knee?
“Runner’s knee” is commonly used to describe two types of injuries of the knee, iliotibial band syndrome and patellofemoral pain syndrome. Both fall into the category of overuse or repetitive strain type injuries. They can occur in isolation or in combination, but both have been shown to be related to poor running mechanics and improper training volumes. What’s the solution? First step is a proper diagnosis by your healthcare practitioner. This should be followed by strength and mobility exercises to improve biomechanics, adjustment of training volumes as needed, and possibly gait analysis and footwear adjustments if it is deemed necessary.
