The Tranquil Mind

Something in your healthcare changing, even when it’s a positive change, can feel unsettling.In this short pop-up episode, I’m walking you through an important update in my practice and what it means for your care.As of July 1st, my Ontario practice will be moving fully online as I relocate to British Columbia. For many of you, this won’t change much. For others, it may bring up questions about what comes next.In this episode, we cover:What is changing and what is staying the sameHow virtual care will work moving forwardYour options if you prefer in-person care in OntarioAn introduction to Dr. Sheila Dyer, who will be seeing patients at Norfolk WellnessHow we are working together to support a smooth, thoughtful transitionThe goal is simple: you are not being left to figure this out on your own. You will have clear options and continued support, whatever you decide.If you’d like to continue care with me, you can book virtual or in-person appointments (until the end of June) using the link below.If you’re considering in-person care in Ontario, you’ll also have the option to work with Dr. Sheila Dyer at Norfolk Wellness.Next StepsBook with Dr. Katie:https://norfolk.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/2Book with Dr. Sheila Dyer:https://norfolk.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/61As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. If you have questions about your health, please connect with your healthcare provider.

Sometimes working on our mental health feels hard - especially when we are already struggling. In this episode Dr. Jola Sikorski ND shares her defence of hobbies. Inspired by a presentation in our mental health fellowship group - Jola brings brilliance, humour and a dash of real talk to this inspiring conversation about the benefits that can happen when we let ourselves engage in activities beyond "productivity"With sensitivity to the challenges that incorporating hobbies have Jola guides us through what a hobby is, why it helps and how to get one (if you aren't sure what your hobby even is!) This episode is full of gems for folks who are working on prevention and resilience building through to anyone having a rougher time these days. Want to Connect with Dr. Jola Sikorski ND?You can visit her website or connect with her on Instagram Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND?Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Back-to-school can be stressful — but it doesn’t have to be. In this solo episode, Dr. Katie shares how to support anxious kids and teens with naturopathic strategies focused on sleep, nutrition, movement, and nervous system regulation. Practical, compassionate, and calm.📥 Download the free Fed & Focused Nutrition ToolkitLooking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND?Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Not every healthcare provider works in a silo, and as Robyn Murray (she/her), physiotherapist and founder of The Village Physio & Co. shares, building a village of care providers can be transformative for both patient outcomes and practitioner wellbeing.In this episode of The Tranquil Mind, Robyn and I dive into multidisciplinary care, the nervous system, and what it means to truly partner with your patient — helping them find the next right step on their healing journey. We also explore how knowing yourself, including your own attachment patterns and nervous system responses, can shape the therapeutic experience. If you're a practitioner feeling the weight of burnout, or someone navigating complex care, this conversation is a breath of fresh air.Connect with RobynCheck out ⁠The Village Physio & Co. website⁠ to learn more or book an appointment.Connect with Katie Follow along on⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario, ⁠book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

In this episode of The Tranquil Mind Samantha Dass and I speak about navigating the swinging pendulum between boundaries and community - things we both agree you need in place for your health and wellbeing.We discuss:- knowing when you need a firmer boundary- building your own capacity to say no (and also to say yes)- managing the part where communities are made of people and relationships and that has inherent messiness in itThis one is fun and personal - I hope it helps you navigate where to look next in building your own village.Looking to connect with Dr. Samantha Dass ND? Check out her website or follow along on Instagram. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND?Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Not all of us face the same barriers when accessing healthcare, and as Kristie Brassard (she/her) founder of Kaleidoscope Counselling Collective explains sometimes it can feel like you have to educate your care provider about your entire community - rather than just getting to be yourself. In this episode of The Tranquil Mind Kristie and I talk about the challenges and also the unique joys and resilience in 2SLGBTQIA+ mental healthcare. This is an episode everyone can learn from and I hope you enjoy it!Looking to Connect with Kristie? Check out her clinic's website for more information including how to book an appointment. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND?Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

If you've ever had questions about mental health medications (and I know you have because I get asked them all.the.time) this is the episode for you! From questions about do I even need medications, to managing side effects, to understanding when and how we can discontinue medications this episode is the MythBusting Q and A you've been waiting for. I'm joined today by Dr. Taylor Thurston ND who shares her prescribing knowledge and experience from a mental health perspective. Looking to connect with Taylor? Check out her website or connect with her over on Instagram @drtaylorthurstonLooking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND?Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

The patriarchy rewards men for being stoic and disconnected from their feelings, and - sorry to be the drama here - but it's killing them. In this must listen to episode with John Shearer we talk about men's mental health, unpacking how career success and male loneliness are related and why modern parenting can feel like ripping off a band-aid in ways most of us never see coming. John shares from his own personal experience as well what he's noticed about men who go to therapy. Finally, John shares how we can all be a part of raising a new generation of boys who are allowed to feel their full range of emotions and equip them with the skills we all need to be present in our most important relationships. Want to Connect with John?Visit kickstartmenstherapy.ca for information on The Ultimate Fatherhood Course or to book with John and his team. Or follow @kickstartmenstherapy on Instagram. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND?Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Tweens are going through a lot. As puberty starts kicking in and their brains and hormones start to change, you know who else goes through a lot - their parents! On this episode of The Tranquil Mind Dr. Tara Rawana, naturopathic doctor and co-founder of All About Mental Empowerment, shares advice for parents about what is happening with kids mental health during the tween years and also how can we as their grownups show up for them and talk to them in this important stage of life. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally. Want to download the guide to 5 Essential Conversations to have with your Daughter Before her Teen Years? Get it here ⁠or connect with Tara on Instagram @dr.tararawana

Adapting to parenthood is a challenge - but how hard is it supposed to be? When do the normal worries and normal fatigue stop being "normal" or "the baby blues" and become a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder? Today we are joined by Heather Ratych, Registered Social Worker, Owner and Clinical Director of Bloom Psychotherapy to talk about asking for help in the postpartum period. Want to connect with Heather? Check out www.bloompsychotherapy.ca or connect with @bloom.psychotherapy on Instagram. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on⁠ ⁠instagram⁠⁠, check out her⁠ ⁠book⁠⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠⁠ book a strategy session⁠⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Nutrition is so much more than your menu plan! Nutritionist Kelly Carter and Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND, discuss the mindset changes we need to work on to be able to make nutrition changes stick. Want to Connect with Kelly? Follow her on instagram or email contact@kellycarternutrition Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Join Dr. Kirstie Griffiths and Me (Dr. Katie) at https://yogachiropractor.com/guelph-yoga-and-wellness-festival-2024/?aff=406" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Guelph Yoga and Wellness Festival! Not sure if this is the event for you? In this episode Dr. Griffith chiropractor, yoga teacher, and best-selling author shares about her love of yoga, and how she is sharing that - while helping her community - at the Yoga and Wellness Festival. Get the details on who this event is really for and what it feels like to go! Guelph Yoga and Wellness Festival is a great time and I hope to see you there Sunday June 23rd. Looking for tickets? Buy Yours Here --> https://yogachiropractor.com/guelph-yoga-and-wellness-festival-2024/?aff=406" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://yogachiropractor.com/guelph-yoga-and-wellness-festival-2024/?aff=406

Today on The Tranquil Mind we are joined by indigenous healer and author Asha Frost. Listen in as Asha and I speak about the anxiety of disconnection and as Asha what it feels like to listen to your own voice in a world that isn't built for your way of being. Asha offers a reminder of tools we can use to reconnect with ourselves and shares a oracle card reading (using her own deck) for this community. Want to learn more from Asha Frost? Explore her book You Are the Medicine, her oracle deck, and follow along on her instagram. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Thinking about starting (or restarting!) therapy can be a vulnerable place to be in and many people have a ton of questions. How do you even know if you need therapy? How does a practitioners training and background influence care? Do I need to look for someone who uses a specific model of treatment? What's it like to see a therapist? What if I really didn't like it the last time I tried therapy? In this episode I interview therapist and the host of Hope for Anxiety and OCD Carrie Brock. Carrie is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Tennessee. We chat all about what it's like to see a therapist, how her Christian faith intersects with care for her patients, and the therapeutic technique EMDR. To learn more about Carrie, check out her website www.hopeforanxietyandocd.com or listen to her podcast Hope for Anxiety and OCD. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

This one is for everyone who's ever had a critical thought towards your own body (so everyone) Listen in on this conversation with artist Emmy Tran as we discuss art, body image, and creative expression as part of healing. "If I'm capable of seeing so much beauty in the world, the world has to be capable of seeing so much beauty in me" ~Emmy Tran For more information on Emmy's classes, follow @paintyourownbooty on Instagram or check out Emmy's art here. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Have you ever wondered why you move towards some goals with determination it almost feels effortless, even when it's a lot of work and other times, it seems like no matter how much you try and move the needle, you just don't have the motivation? What if the difference was Purpose? In this insightful interview with Meghan Walker, we discuss purpose, it's relationship to anxiety, how purpose changes our physiology and how we can find and cultivate purpose in our lives. For more from Meghan Walker listen to her IMPACT podcast - this is the episode she mentioned - and follow her on instagram https://www.instagram.com/drmeghanwalker Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

You know that scene in How to Loose A Guy in 10 Days where Kate Hudson's character cons her boyfriend into "couples therapy" where her friend is the therapist? I think we all know that couples therapy isn't like that. But that leaves the question of "so what is it like?" In this episode I'm joined by Carrie-Lynn Adam. A social worker and psychotherapist who works with couples especially around the time when they are growing their families. For more information about working with Carrie-Lynn check out www.bloompsychotherapy.ca and for more information on her upcoming marriage class: https://bloompsychotherapy.ca/seven-principles/ Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

I spend a lot of time working with folks with generalized anxiety disorder. The kind of anxiety that's about everything and nothing at the same time. But what about when you have a very specific fear?  Today my guest is Dr. Beverly Walpole A clinical psychologist, educator and mom who is deeply invested in helping children overcome their worries, and supporting motivated parents in yes their parenting of their kids but also in the design of their home. In addition to her private practice, where she uses techniques like exposure therapy to help kids overcome specific phobias, she also is the founder of Haven, a wellness design company that helps families design a home that brings them peace and joy. Learn more about Dr. Bev's psychotherapy practice https://drbevwalpole.com/ and Haven wellness design https://havenwellnessbydesign.com/ Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Remember back to grade 7 science when you learned "the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell?" I know for a lot of folks that seems like something maybe not that helpful from quite a long time ago - but luckily Dr. Nicole DeYonge ND has a background in biomedical sciences, a passion for mental health and chronic pain and has agreed to share her expertise on - yes - the mitochondria and how supporting your mitochondrial health really supports your own health - include your mental health. Looking for more from Dr. Nicole DeYonge ND? You can learn more about working with Nicole at her website: www.nicoledeyongend.com or follow her on Instagram @drnicoledeyonge Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

I thought that if you were going to hang out with me here, you might want to know who I am, where I'm from, and how I came to think about anxiety and mental health the way that I do. So this is me. Embarrassing childhood stories and all. Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on ⁠instagram⁠, check out her ⁠book⁠, or if you live in Ontario⁠ book a strategy session⁠ to discuss working with her personally.

Wait, do *I* have *anxiety*? Anxiety is a universal experience. We have all had an anxious moment. But what's the difference between feeling anxious and having an anxiety disorder? And how do you know if you need help? In this episode I answer one of my most frequently asked questions: Do I have anxiety? Looking for support from Dr. Katie Thomson Aitken ND? Follow along on instagram, check out her book, or if you live in Ontario book a strategy session to discuss working with her personally.

Listen for a sneak peak of The Tranquil Mind, Coming Fall 2023!