There are many areas in your life that impact your wellbeing. Eating well, exercising regularly, and taking care of your mental health can prevent and manage chronic diseases and keep you feeling confident and motivated to make long-lasting changes.
Explore the categories below to learn helpful tips to manage your health.
NEW: Virtual Group Programs West Carleton Family Health Team offers the following group programs through a virtual format (Zoom). All groups are led by a Registered Dietitian. Click on the group you are interested in to learn more.
Healthy Weights, healthy habits
Healthy Weights, Healthy Habits is a two-hour virtual group. This group provides evidence-based information about body weight, metabolism, calories and dieting (and all the misconceptions about these ideas) and also focuses on behaviour change to create long-lasting healthy habits.
managing cholesterol
Managing cholesterol is a 90-minute virtual group. In this group you will learn about the numbers on your cholesterol panel and understand how diet, lifestyle, and medication options can reduce your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.
Mindful eating
Mindful eating is a six-week program with sessions running once per week. Each session is two hours. This is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-based group that aims to improve your relationship with food and break the dieting cycle to create long-term, sustainable changes.
Mindful eating will teach you how to:
Listen to your body’s hunger and fullness cues
Understand and manage food cravings
Use cognitive behavioural strategies to assist with emotional eating
Prioritize both your mental and physical wellbeing
You must register and be available for all six sessions to take this group, as each week builds on content from the previous week.
How do I register for groups? At this time, you must have a referral from your health care provider to attend virtual group sessions. Self-registration is expected to be an option for patients in the near future.
Registered Dietitian West Carleton FHT has an in-house registered dietitian who provides both group and individual counselling. Our dietitian can help you manage your individual nutrition needs. Patients must be referred to see the dietitian by their health care provider.
Here are some of the conditions a Registered Dietitian can help with:
Diabetes and prediabetes
Heart Disease
Digestive disorders such as celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome
Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies
Prenatal health
Weight management
Picky eating
Vegetarian and vegan diets
Mental Health The West Carleton FHT has a mental health team consisting of clinical psychologists, social workers, and a consulting psychiatrist. Our mental health professionals work collaboratively with the primary care provider, registered nurses and nurse practitioners to help promote the mental health of our patients. The skilled staff work with their clients to better understand personal strengths and challenges, define goals, and enhance resilience and wellbeing.
Our counsellors support clients with issues such as:
Depression
Anxiety
Stress (including caregiver stress)
Relationship problems
Parenting issues
Substance use/misuse
Recovery from neglect or abuse
Self-esteem
Grief and loss
Adjustments to changes in health
Group programs may also be offered periodically by the mental health team.
Mental health services at West Carleton FHT are prioritized for patients who do not have access to EAP, workplace, or other benefits for assessment, counselling and psychotherapy. For information on how to access workplace benefits for counselling services, click here.
Community Paramedics The extensively trained Community Paramedics at West Carleton FHT can assist patients with a range of concerns in their own homes. This program focuses on reducing the stress on limited health services and improving quality of life so patients can live well independently. Patients must be referred by their health care provider to access Community Paramedics services.
Community Paramedics can help with:
Managing complex chronic diseases
Palliative care
Injections
Wound care
Urinalysis
Home environmental assessments
Various physical and mental health assessments (basic foot exams, ear checks, cognitive assessments)
Assisting patients recently discharged from hospital
Assisting patients at risk for homelessness or food insecurity
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