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Resilience, Inclusivity,

Tolerance and Sensitivity

W e all want to be more resilient, inclusive, accepting, tolerant, and sensitive.

We all want a world with more of these qualities. So why do we sink into
despair, hopelessness, rejection, blaming, and scapegoating?
The phrase “hurt people hurt people” was coined by Charles Eads,
a Texas school principal, in 1948. We understand that hurt, pain, injury, trauma, illness,
neglect, and abuse are, unfortunately, universal human experiences. Whether we have
experienced an adverse life event directly or indirectly, we know what the word hurt means.
When we cut ourselves, we apply pressure, we get help if we need it, and we heal. Why not
treat mental and emotional trauma in the same matter of fact way?
To do so, we need to recognize and advocate for our mental and emotional wellness.
However, our protective mechanisms activate when we are hurt, so we shut down, shut
out, lash out, cry out and sometimes give up. This is when the hurt one becomes the one
who hurts themselves or another. The first step to getting help is recognizing that we have a
need for mental and emotional healing. This is a big step especially in the face of stigma,
discrimination, and judgment.
The next steps require an often-underdeveloped skill. Listening. Not
being talked at or advertised to or surrounded by white noise but deep
listening with gentle, non-judgmental ears that notice and accept. This
is where trained professionals can help. We are trained to treat mental
and emotional trauma by doing this kind of listening and offering
current, evidence-based interventions that bring healing and ease
our human protectiveness. Effective listening helps us be kinder to
ourselves and others and brings a level of accountability that may
require making amends. When we stop hurting, we stop hurting.
At Soluna Wellness Medical Centre, we consider the
healing needs of the whole person. We take an inclusive
approach through group therapy. Registered Psychologist,
Rita Balanko and Psychiatrist, Jane Carr work together
using their breadth of perspective and expertise so that
participants get the benefit of simultaneous therapy with
a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Psychologist Rita and
Dr. Jane use an eclectic mix of modalities collected over
a combined fifty years of work in group therapy. From
the beginning, we offer tools to empower participants
to be active in their own healing process, to promote
and maintain wellness and resilience, and to grow in
confidence and self-esteem.
The ripple effect of healing occurs at a personal
level, at a systemic level, and at a global level. We
believe that healing people, heal people.

JANE C. CARR, MD FRCP(C)

RITA L. BALANKO MA REGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

Soluna Wellness Medical Centre
solunawellnesscentre.com I 780-240-3403

Christina Louise Photography
24 WOMEN IN PROCESS