Dr. Ric Arseneau Core Group | Dr. Ric Arseneau

This group explores the challenges with living with “invisible” conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), and and Long COVID. You will develop tools to help you better cope with these misunderstood conditions.

Core Group Topics

Introduction: Meet Participants & Rules of Engagement
Introduction: The 3 Tools
Energy Envelope, & Body Awareness
Mind-Traps, & Suffering
Managing Your Energy Envelope: Pacing
Minimizing Relapses
Dealing with others
Pacing for Travel & Special Events
Stress
Course Review

Shame and Trauma Group

Facilitators

Dr. Ric Arseneau

Prerequisite

You must have completed Core Group before participating in the Shame and Trauma Group.

90 minute weekly sessions for 6 months

This group explores takes a deep dive into shame, trauma, and post-traumatic growth

Shame and Trauma Group Course Outline

Introduction
Attachment and Attunement
Book chapters:
• The Language of Shame (Chap. 1)
• The Nature of Shame (Chap. 2)
• Sources of Shame (Chap. 3)
• The Impact of Shame (Chap. 4)
• Co-Narcissism
Boundaries
The Road to Mastery
"Sorry"
Behaviour Change and Chain Analysis
Dialectics:
Important concepts and tools
Schemas and schema switching
Secret vs private
Wise Mind
Projective identification

Hypermobile-Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Group

h-EDS Group:
Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders

Facilitators:
Judit Orban, Physiotherapist, Schroth Therapist
Dr. Ric Arseneau

60 minute weekly sessions for 15 weeks

This group explores the assessment and management of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders

h-EDS Group Course Topics

Introduction
Good pain or a bad pain? Understanding pain patomechanism and types of pain related to EDS/HSD
Managing breathing dysfunction. the importance of nasal breathing and how the diaphragm works
Managing acute subluxation or sprain
Understanding fear of movement and how to improve proprioception, perception (muscle sensitization) and balance
Orthotics, braces, support and mobility devices
Exercises when ‘everything hurts’. The physiological benefit of lower load resistance training - and how to do it pain free.
Strength training with persistent pain

Dr. Teresa Clarke

Dr. Clarke received her MD from UBC in 1981. She was a family physician before developing an interest in integrative medicine. She was certified in acupuncture in 1995 and in clinical hypnosis in 1998 and has facilitated fibromyalgia group programs teaching photo tools of self-hypnosis to improve health and well-being. She has included holistic integrative approaches throughout her medical career. Currently, she is a staff physician at the Complex Chronic Diseases Program at BC Women's Hospital

Dr, Clarke will be offering the following groups:

Holistic Approaches to Chronic Illness

90 minute weekly sessions for 7 weeks

Sessions:

1. Acupressure 1
2. Acupressure 2
3. Acupressure 3

In these 3 sessions you will learn how acupressure and other techniques based on eastern healing traditions can be utilized for your self-care with chronic illness. If you have reached an optimal level of medical management but still have symptoms affecting your quality of life, these sessions may help you to improve your well being and symptoms of chronic disease.

You will learn the history and principles of Chinese acupuncture and self-treatment techniques such as acupressure, ear massage, tapping, and chi gong breathing to improve your well being. These workshops are hands-on with simple instructions and demonstrations for you to actively engage in the techniques.

4. Alternative Therapies: A Common Sense, Evidence-Based Approach
5. Review of Acupressure and Alternative Therapies, Q&A discussion

If you are interested in alternative therapies because your chronic health challenges reduce your quality of life in spite of optimal medical management these 2 sessions will help you choose wisely to integrate evidence-based therapies into your foundation of self-care. The follow-up discussion session will provide opportunity for Q & A for both the Acupressure and Alternative Therapies sessions and participants will be able to learn from each others' experiences.

6. Holistic Approaches to Immune Health
7. Review/Final Session

This session will be helpful for those interested in supporting their immune health while living with chronic illnesses that may increase their risk of infection and risk of prolonged poor health after an infection. Holistic approaches may be added to medical treatments to prevent or reduce the severity of infection, and improve recovery of well being. Dr. Clarke will highlight lifestyle factors that optimize immune health; present some evidence based integrative approaches; and discuss the key elements of self-care to promote recovery from post infectious illnesses. The follow-up session will provide opportunity for Q & A and discussion.

Experiencing the power of self-hypnosis
to influence our health and well-being

Brain Body Integration

90 minute weekly sessions for 6 weeks
Pre-requisite: Holistic Approaches to Chronic Illness group must be completed first

This webinar workshop series takes a holistic integrative approach that is both educational and experiential. Each session includes simple practices of self-hypnosis related to the topics listed below to help improve symptoms and well-being while living with chronic illness.

Sessions:

1. Understanding the biology of the mind-body connection
2. Improving lifestyle habits, pacing and sleeping
3. Mastering stress reactivity
4. Calming pain
5. Exploring meaning and purpose
6. Engaging our spirit, singing our song

Cranial Nerves And Their Effects
On Our Well Being

90 minute weekly sessions for 3 weeks

This webinar series takes an educational and experiential approach to understand how the 12 cranial nerves affect our well being and how to support their healthy function. People with ME/FM/Long COVID with reactive autonomic nervous systems would benefit from this series.

Session 1:

Overview of the 12 cranial nerves. You will understand how neuroinflammation can affect healthy functioning of our cranial nerves resulting in a myriad of symptoms in complex chronic conditions.

Session 2:

Review of the largest cranial nerve, the Vagus nerve, and The Polyvagal Theory. Simple techniques will be discussed or practised to support the healthy functioning of the Vagus nerve in its role of visceral regulation and stabilization of the autonomic nervous system.

Session 3:

Introduction and practice of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), the tapping of acupuncture points, to break free from the fight/flight/freeze reaction described in The Polyvagal Theory. This workshop offers an opportunity for participants to practice EFT with examples of life stresses that cause heightened stress responses.

Emotional Freedom Technique Workshops

90 minute weekly sessions for 4 weeks

These workshops build on the introduction to Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or tapping of acupuncture points in Acupressure session 2 of the Holistic Approaches to Chronic Illness series. EFT can help us reset our autonomic nervous system's reactivity to life stresses and can be especially useful for those living with complex chronic conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system. The workshops are experiential for attendees to actively practice tapping.

Group topics

Phobias
Fears
Relationship stresses
Disability stresses

Alexandra Perel-Winkler, MD

Dr. Alexandra Perel-Winkler is Internal Medicine and Rheumatology trained physician with special interest in health, wellness and the intersection of science and spirituality. Her unique training includes Functional and Integrative medicine, Applied Quantum Biology, herbalist study, and study and training in animist/nature based spirituality and healing practices. Alexandra loves working with people on their healing journey and is continually humbled by what she learns from her patients and clients. When not working, Alexandra spends time with family and friends. She loves to be in nature, travel, read, experience art and live life to the fullest.

Dr. Perel-Winkler will be offering the following groups:

Central Sensitivity Syndrome Foundations (12 sessions)
Themes on Living with Complex Chronic Disease (10 sessions)
Mitochondrial Bootcamp (4 sessions)
Anatomy of a Healing Journey (4 sessions)
Thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person (6 sessions)

Central Sensitivity Syndrome Foundations

90 minute weekly sessions for 12 weeks

Dr. Alexandra compiles the most recent research and understanding of Central Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to help you understand the processes occurring in your body, possible precursors and imbalances in your system and tools to address them!

Group Topics

Introduction to Central Sensitivity
Pacing
Surprise!
Sleep
Systemic Inflammation & Anti-inflammatory Lifestyle
Central Nervous System inflammation & targeted therapies
Stress & the HPA Axis
Trauma
Mitochondria & Pacing check-in
Irritable Bowel
Bladder irritability / Pacing Revisited
Sum Up and Closing

Themes on Living with
Complex Chronic Disease

90 minute weekly sessions for 10 weeks

This is a non-didactic participatory class with Dr. Alexandra. The group aims to provide hope, inspiration, community and connection while tackling pertinent topics related to living and thriving with Complex Chronic Disease. We gather together to discuss themes related to living with Chronic Complex Disease which include but are not limited to acceptance vs. giving up, exploring vs. fixing, suffering vs. pain, emerging therapies, shifts in identity, relational challenges, self compassion, neuroplasticity, emotional regulation and alexithymia, spirituality vs bypassing and more.

Pre-requisite includes: willingness to participate and familiarity with concept of pacing.
Recommend Alexandra’s CSS Foundations or Dr. Arseneau’s Living with CCD before this group.

Mitochondrial Bootcamp

90 minute weekly sessions for 4 weeks

The mitochondria are well known to be the 'energy powerhouse of the cell', and more and more research points to the health of our mitochondria as the pivotal piece leading to health or disease. By incorporating cutting edge research in Quantum Biology and Integrative Medicine, Dr. Alexandra aims to create a fun and participatory experience where we learn about how to support our mitochondria and actually do it!

week 1- intro to mitochondria and your health
week 2 - All about light and it’s impact on bodily processes and the mitochondria
week 3 - optimizing the electron transport chain
week 4 - hot/cold, food, supplements and more

Pre-requisite includes: willingness to make small lifestyle changes during the course of the group

In this group we discuss the most recent and cutting edge research about the mitochondria and its function in both health and disease. We review what we know about the mitochondria and discuss methods to implement lifestyle changes to optimize mitochondrial health.

Anatomy of a Healing Journey

90 minute weekly sessions for 4 weeks

What is healing? How do I know if I'm making the right decisions for myself on this journey? Dr. Alexandra answers these questions and takes you through 4 core tools that are essential in successfully navigating your healing journey.

session 1:
The concept of a healing journey is introduced. Healing is not about becoming cured or fixed, but about evolution, growth, and transformation Tools are introduced that will be expanded on in future sessions.

Session 2:
Review of the concept of healing as a journey and delved into the details of the first 2 tools including embodiment and intuition. We discussed how regulating the nervous system and allowing oneself to be mindful and present with the body is essential for clear thinking and connectedness to self. We delved further into the concept of 'intuition' or inner wisdom. Empowering the listener to consider slowing down to listen within to guide their choices on their healing journey.

Session 3:
Discuss the tools of self compassion and health boundaries by reviewing research and ideas from experts in both these fields. Both tools are necessary to navigate one's life experience with autonomy .

Session 4:
Sum Up, Questions and Shares.

Thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person

90 minute weekly sessions for 6 weeks

Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, loud noises or everything at once? Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?Do you feel other people's emotions strongly? Have you always been 'sensitive'? In 1991 Dr. Elaine Aron coined the term “Highly Sensitive People” after a trait was uncovered in the human brain and nervous system, largely called Sensory Processing Sensitivity. While 15-20% of the human population (as well as 100s of animals) have this trait, meaning it is beneficial to the population at large, little is understood about it and people who have it often find it a burden. The trait leads to differences in process information from surroundings, internally and has great implications of people’s identity and relationships. In our modern world being highly sensitive does not always feel like a gift, and yet you are one of the special 15-20% that have this trait. Join these sessions to learn more about how your nervous system works, as well as practices and methods to clear and protect your energy, balance your system and thrive as an empath.

Week 1: What is a Highly Sensitive Person and a review of the Research
Week 2: Know your Energy
Week 3: Clear & Protect your Energy
Week 4: Embrace Your Sensitivity
Week 5: Thrive
Week 6: Sum Up

Having graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Masters of Occupational Therapy, and the University of Windsor with Honours in Psychology (focusing on neuroscience), Zara is now committed to patient centred and evidence-based care that is holistic and filled with compassion.

She is focused on building strong relationships with her clients; making sure each person knows they are going to receive the best possible care. For her, nothing is more fulfilling than to aide in someone’s recovery journey and witness them develop the skills needed to live their lives more autonomously. Zara has worked with a variety of ages and populations and has developed a strong skill set in traumatic brain injuries, mental health, chronic fatigue, long COVID and chronic pain.

When she is not practicing Occupational Therapy, Zara can be found adventuring through the mountains, playing music, trying out a new cookie recipe, meditating, crafting and volunteering.

Zara will be offering the following groups:

Rewiring the Nervous System (6 sessions)
Managing Chronic Pain (6 sessions)
Mind Body Connection (6 sessions)
The Inflamed Brain: How Reducing Inflammation can reduce symptoms (6 sessions)
Embracing Joy: A 4-Week Journey to Reconnect with Your Inner Child (4 sessions)