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An integral approach to mental wellness
Well rounded solutions

When it comes to taking care of our family's mental health, there is a combination of several integrative solutions, such as mindfulness, nutrition, exercise, nature and therapy, that can support a more dedicated and balanced approach to health and wellbeing.

 

Each of these modalities care for different aspects your child's emotional and mental development that can lead to healthier, happier and more resilient individuals. Therapy can help parents and caregivers understand how to better support their child's mental health and provide an environment of compassion and understanding.

 

To learn more about mental health treatment, schedule a consultation at Sooke Child and Family Therapy. We offer therapeutic services tailored for children of all ages, helping them enhance their tool kit for growth, resilience and confidence in supportive ways. Together we can help you and your family align with a bright future.

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Image by James Wheeler
Image by Alejandro Tocornal
Mindfulness foster calm and clarity while reducing anxiety, improving focus and enhancing regulation. Simple mindfulness practices can help with stabilizing moods and restoring sleep. 
Parenting with presence

The parent-child relationship is the most primary relationship and a parent is a child’s first role model. When parents relate to their children in a warm manner by empathizing with their difficult emotions and consistently offering healthy structure, it can result in positive self-perception and respect for others.
 
We honor this important relationship and work to resolve conflicts and enhance the connection between a parent and child.  In situations of stress and trauma, it is not uncommon for communication patterns to become strained between parents and children. We support parents to have the tools to support their children and their family’s needs to enhance safe connectedness.

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Our environment and emotional experiences in childhood has profound implications for the rest of our lives. It’s up to all of us to ensure that children have access to a safe and enriching place to grow their potential.

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Family in Nature

Connection

Fostering attachment invite playful learning with a relationship based focus which invites joy and patience.

Engagement

Providing a safe space in the relationship, with supportive participation for modelling and growth.

Attunement

Offering emotional responsiveness with eye contact, simple communication and gentle speech help calm the body.

Integrative mental health
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Addressing Early Childhood Trauma and Adversity
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Early intervention is critical in cases of early childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Integrative mental health focuses on therapeutic strategies that not only address the psychological impacts of these experiences but also mitigate their wider effects, which can predispose children to mental health issues later in life.

Integrative mental health perspectives has significant potential to help maximize children’s health, maintains a strong focus on prevention and increasing sense of self-efficacy in both child and parent. Mental health and overall wellness are closely linked. Cognitive development and brain health are a delicate balance of positive environment, healthy lifestyle, emotional well-being, proper nutrition, exercise and mindfulness.

Integrating Lifestyle Changes

– Sleep Quality: Prioritizing healthy sleep habits to improve mood and cognitive function.
– Nutrition: Emphasizing a balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods (sugar free).
– Physical Activity: Encouraging regular exercise, which can enhance mood through the release of endorphins.
– Play and rest: Enjoying being outside in nature, sharing play time and slowing down.
– Connection and Compassionate Parenting: Fostering a supportive home environment.
– Growth Mindset: Helping children develop resilience and a positive outlook on life challenges.
-  Circle of care: Family and Community Support, Nature, Spirituality

The Diet-Wellness Connection, the Role of Diet and Nutrition in Childhood

A proper diet supports a healthy body, cognitive function, and emotional regulation, all of which influence your family’s overall well-being. Fast food and empty-calorie high sugar snacks starve you of nutrients, weakening your body and dulling your mind, while balanced diets rich in whole foods support overall healthy development for all ages. By understanding this connection, you can give your family the nutritional tools their body and mind need to thrive.

Nurturing Emotional Intelligence

Mindfulness supports emotional intelligence development in both parents and children by emphasizing the importance of understanding and accepting emotions without judgment. Practice responding to challenging situations with empathy – encourage open discussions about emotions, which helps your children identify and articulate their feelings. With more introspective insight, both you and your family can take a more compassionate view on how you handle situations.

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Image by Christina Deravedisian

Land Acknowledgement

Offering appreciation for living, playing and working on this beautiful unceded traditional territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and Coast Salish people. Decolonized perspectives of practice invite traditional Indigenous knowledge systems as an important framework in this work while considering mental health as part of integral relationships with family, community and the Earth.

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