Covid Protocol Details

This blog is all about our covid protocol details and the minutiae of some of what we are doing in the clinic to keep both practitioners and patients safe. We have been working successfully over this whole time that covid has been happening, and I’m proud to say that the team has done extremely well under these stressful circumstances without any incidents at all. If you still have questions after reading this blog, please feel free to ask for more details or information so we can put your mind at ease (email is hello@danfortheastwellness.ca and phone number is 416-461-1906). 
First off, to start and end the day we use a disinfectant (Foster 40-80, which is on the Canada guide for disinfectants effective against covid) on all touch surfaces in the clinic. We also spray down used surfaces between patients. We use hand sanitizer (either manorapid or isagel, which are on the Canada guide for hand sanitizers effective against covid) for patients and practitioners. When someone enters the clinic they are asked to remove their shoes and either wear a pair of indoor shoes they’ve brought, use a pair of new socks, or use clinic crocs. We ask them to sanitize their hands. If they have a cloth mask or a visibly soiled mask we provide an ASTM level 2 mask for them. Some practitioners ask that all patients replace their masks with a new one, for their own comfort levels. If people are wearing KN95s we generally do not ask them to remove them, but again, it is at the practitioner’s discretion as to how they feel most protected. The practitioners either wear ASTM level 3 surgical masks or KN95s. 
In the registered massage therapy rooms the tables are covered with a vinyl slip clover, and all pillows are sealed in vinyl. These are then disinfected between patients. Then we apply linens which are completely changed between patients and laundered twice a week by Beach Solar Laundromat
There are hepa filters in each room in the clinic (except reception which gets a high flow of air exchange due to the door opening frequently). The HVAC system for the clinic also has a viral filter on it. We send a covid screening to every patient two hours before their appointment. There is no fee for a last minute cancellation due to illness, and we are thankful to have a very responsible patient base that is considerate of our safety. 
We do contact tracing for all people entering the premises. The practitioners self-screen every day, as mandated by our regulatory bodies.
PHEW! There we are! A quick over-view of our covid policies and procedures!


Stay healthy and safe and see you soon!


The Danforth East Wellness Team

Clinic ‘Growth’

We have many lovely things to share about recent clinic ‘growth’ – Dr. Elisa is expecting her first little babe this January and we have added two fabulous practitioners to our clinic!


Dr. Elisa has been able to share her joyous news in person with most of you, but for those of you we haven’t seen recently in practice – surprise! She will be taking a leave at the end of December to focus on being a first time mom, but plans to return to practice in some capacity in the spring/summer. During her leave Dr. Katarina and Dr. Anita will be able to assist with chiropractic care, and Dr. Nicole will be able to provide acupuncture services. Dr. Elisa would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you for your continued support and is looking forward to sharing pictures and stories upon her return.
Ann Ching is passionate about being a Registered Massage Therapist and finds immense joy in the healing and relief that her massage treatments bring to her clients. She is a graduate of Sutherland-Chan, and incorporates her intuition, knowledge, and practical experience with diverse client groups into her work. Her experience as an educator, and her enthusiasm for learning about the human body and helping people led to her career as an RMT.
As an active individual, Ann enjoys playing multiple sports, being outdoors, travelling and is always searching for the next adventure.  Don’t be surprised if you see her paddle boarding out on Balmy Beach this winter!  
Cassie Scott is deeply and joyfully committed to the healing power of touch and is delighted to be part of the Danforth East Wellness team. She is a member in good standing with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and a graduate of the Sutherland-Chan School of Massage Therapy. She is also a Rosen Method practitioner and a member of the Rosen Institute. In her Rosen practice, Cassie is passionate about listening to the body and bringing curious and compassionate touch to physical holding.
Cassie’s practice is informed by three decades of body-mind engagement including meditation, movement improvisation, yoga, expressive arts practices and gardening. She loves growing food, sharing seeds and playing in and on water.

As you can see, we are bursting with wonderful news! 
Hoping to see you soon!

The Danforth East Wellness Team

Dr. Anita Gill, Danforth East Wellness

Coming Full Circle


It’s amazing how sometimes things come full circle! Dr. Anita Gill (she/her) is joining our clinic as a chiropractor two Saturdays a month beginning October 23, but she actually began her career as Dr. Katarina Bulat‘s very first associate over ten years ago!
Dr. Anita is an extremely talented chiropractor who graduated from New York Chiropractic College in 2006 Cum Laude. She has returned to Toronto after living in The Big Apple for five years. As a mother to three active girls and a 100lb puppy, Dr. Anita is well aware of the important role that chiropractic care plays in living each day mobile and pain free.  She incorporates nutritional counselling and physical exercises to help patients achieve their health goals, while working within their comfort levels. When she is not at work, she enjoys working out, spending quality time with her family and friends, and of course good food!
Currently Dr. Anita is prioritizing existing patients in the clinic, but is also open to seeing new patients who primarily have maintenance and wellness needs.

Dr. Anita is looking forward to being a key part in your journey to good health and well being!

Hot Stone Massage at Danforth East Wellness with Bonnie Jean Spillane

Hot Stone Massage!

We are pleased to welcome Bonnie Jean Spillane to our clinic where she will be using her skills as a registered massage therapist in providing Hot Stone Massage as a new service on offer!

A hot stone massage uses hot (basalt) stones to help soothe and soften muscular tension, prepare the musculature for deeper trigger point, myofascial and scar tissue work. It is excellent for chronic stages of healing, chronic pain, anxiety and stress. With certain bookings there is an option to add sound bath therapy. A variety of instruments including crystal and brass singing bowls, tuning forks and native flutes are used to create sounds. This helps to facilitate deep rest, relaxation and healing.

Bonnie is a Registered Massage Therapist who graduated from the Sutherland-Chan School of Massage Therapy. She utilizes a holistic approach when working with each individual client, tailoring each massage to their specific needs.  Bonnie uses a variety of methods such as Swedish massage, myofascial release, trigger point release, deep tissue work, muscle energy techniques, hot stone and Thai massage.  She incorporates and weaves higher vibrational work into her sessions, as well using old healing wisdom of Reiki, meditation, sound baths, light work and crystalline energy. 

Bonnie has been analyzing and studying the body all of her life.  Her first love and career was dance, later transforming to become a group fitness, yoga instructor and personal trainer.  She has dedicated the past 35 years of her life working one-on-one with people in regard to their health, wellness, movement and meditation.  Bonnie feels comfortable with all demographics and ages, from the very young to the senior and elder population.  She has specialized training in the aging body in regard to strength, fall prevention, disease and pain management.  Bonnie is a mom of two and also understands the pregnant body very well.  She is here to support you through all the ebbs and flow of your life and your journey here on this earth.  She provides a safe haven where people can heal and feel comfortable in their skin again.  A homecoming to yourself, your body and your spirit.

Book in today to experience a phenomenal treatment for your body, with an extraordinary practitioner!

See you at the clinic very soon!

Pandemics are Bad for Your Mental Health

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a once-in-a-lifetime traumatic event is affecting our mental health, but many of us seem to feel that we aren’t coping as well as we should be.

Should. That’s a loaded word, isn’t it? We should be kinder, more patient parents. We should appreciate our partners more. We should eat healthier food, and exercise more, and be more productive at work. We should … well, the list is endless. And honestly? Beating yourself up because you aren’t meeting an imaginary standard isn’t the way to feel better.

Here’s what’s true about pandemic living and mental health.

1. We’ve lost our sense of security. Our routines are disrupted, we’ve lost household income, and some of us have lost loved ones. Even if we’ve been relatively unscathed, we’ve sat at home watching news reports of a fatal disease creeping ever closer to home. That’s a recipe for anxiety and depression.

2. Our support networks are disrupted. We haven’t been able to hug our friends or family. The people we rely on to support us through tough times are all going through the same experience and can’t lift us up the way they normally would. We feel isolated, even if we’re surrounded by people.

3. We are spending too much time with our spouses. Yes, I said it. We weren’t meant to be joined at the hip 24-7 to our romantic partners. Relationships thrive when we have space to appreciate them and fresh experiences to bring into them. It can be very disconcerting to realize that when you finally have time together, you spend it arguing.

4. We’ve reached the end of our ability to multi-task. We’re trying to work, homeschool our kids, and live our lives, all in the same physical space. And we feel like we aren’t succeeding at any of it.

5. We’re wondering if we want to go back to life exactly as it was. We miss normal life, except for the parts we don’t miss at all, and it feels overwhelming to contemplate returning to business as usual.

If any of this sounds familiar, congratulations: You’re completely normal.

Having said that, this is a terrific time to do some of the mental housekeeping that we put off when times are good, and we’re too busy to think about the inconvenient stuff: the fact that we don’t feel passionate about our work, or that we sometimes feel blue for weeks at a time and don’t really know why, or that we wish we could communicate better with the people we love.

I’d love to help you chart a course for a future that’s less about what you should do and more about what you want to do. Let’s talk.

Kate

Counselling (Psychotherapy) Services Starting Soon!

We’re excited to be adding a new team member, along with psychotherapy services, at Danforth East Wellness! Kate Hilton, a therapist-in-training, will be seeing clients on Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting on June 16. Here’s the scoop on Kate and her practice.

Q: You’re a therapist-in-training. What does that mean?

A: It means that I’m partway through the process of becoming certified as a Registered Psychotherapist. In my case, it means that I’ve done three years of intensive training and am entering the clinical phase of my education. It also means that I’m required to discuss all of cases with my clinical supervisor (without identifying my clients, of course).

Q: Why did you pick Danforth East Wellness for your training site?

A: Because I’m a client! I love the staff at Danforth East Wellness and the whole mood at the clinic. I’m really happy to be able to spend more time there.

Q: Why should someone consider psychotherapy?

A: So many reasons! Maybe you’re struggling with anxiety and depression, like so many others during this pandemic. Maybe your relationship with your partner is under stress and you’d like to figure out why you keep having the same arguments and getting nowhere. Maybe you’re grappling with a life transition. Or maybe you just think that it’s time to get to know yourself better. There are as many reasons as there are people.

Q: Do you work in a particular modality?

A: I work in several. I have pursued specific training in Gestalt Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy, but my approach will depend on your goals for our work together. If you’d like to learn more about how I work, you can check out my website at katehiltontherapy.com.

Q: What do you do when you aren’t at the clinic?

A: The two big things are parenting and writing. I have three teenagers and a rescue dog (pictured above). And I’m a published novelist, so I always have at least one writing project on the go. My latest is a comedy called Better Luck Next Time.

Book a free 15 minute phone call with Kate to explore how she may be able to help you navigate your daily life with more ease!

Danforth East Wellness, scar tissue release

Scar Tissue Release Therapy

Have you had surgery in the past? Do you have one coming up? Have you had a tendon strain like Achilles tendonitis in the past? Do you have plantar fasciitis or a rotator cuff strain? These are just a few of the conditions we are able to address with our microcurrent point stimulation Scar Tissue Release Therapy (STRT)! STRT is excellent for scars and scar tissue, which forms with injury to the skin. 

What are Scars?
Scars can be external or internal, resulting from wounds that have healed, accidents, or surgery. Scar tissue is thick and fibrous tissue that is generally less flexible than its surroundings. It is important to address scar tissue for a number of reasons:

  1. Scars can be a common cause of stress activation as they are shown to be involved in up-regulating the sympathetic nervous system.
  2. Internal adhesions from scars can cause pain and affect body functions, including hormone regulation.
  3. Circulation and lymph drainage can be impeded by scars.
  4. Emotional trauma and chronic pain can be associated with scar tissue.

How does STRT work?
STRT uses low level electrical impulses to stimulate cellular activity. It is generally completely painless – rarely, if anything, there’s a ‘tingle’ – and is Health and Canada FDA approved. STRT reduces and fades scar tissue and reduces adhesions and restrictions in the body. This helps in a number of ways – reducing pain, normalizing sensation, decreasing stress on the body, improving muscle and organ function, improving blood flow and improving circulation. 

How do appointments work?
An initial appointment involves a history intake, examination and treatment as appropriate. Subsequent appointments are shorter in length and focus on treatments. The number of sessions needed depends on the depth and age of the scar tissue as well as how your body responds. Generally, we find that most individuals respond well within 3-5 sessions.

What types of conditions can be addressed by STRT?

  • Post-surgical scars of any kind (i.e. hip or knee replacement scars, C-section scars)
  • Childhood injury scars
  • Nerve irritation like carpal tunnel or other entrapments
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Acupuncture point stimulation for people frightened of needles

STRT is a therapy provided under Chiropractic care, and as such may be billed as a Chiropractic session. Connect with us if you have any questions about this wonderful therapy and whether it is appropriate for your condition. We look forward to speaking with you soon about how STRT can change your body!!!

Fully Open!

Yes, we are FULLY OPEN although stricter lockdown measures are effective Monday November 23, 2020 for a number of regions, including Toronto. All regulated health professionals are permitted to continue to provide in-person care. We are pleased to help you and your body cope with stressors during this turbulent time.
If you need any information about our covid protocols in addition to the information on our website, please feel free to reach out to us. We also  understand if you feel more comfortable rescheduling your appointment, and will see you when you are ready.
Be well until we see you next!
The Danforth East Wellness Team
(Dr. Katarina Bulat, Dr. Elisa Petricca, Dr. Nicole deYonge, Susan Tomkins, Sarah Podolsky, Renee Long)

Registered Massage Therapy available again!

We are so excited to announce that as of Monday June 15, 2020 we have registered massage therapy available at the clinic once again!

Susan Tomkins will be in on Thursdays from 11-7 and every other Friday 11-7. We also have a new registered massage therapist, Sarah Podolsky, beginning on Mondays from 3:30-7:30. More information about Susan and Sarah can be found on our website.

A gentle reminder that 2hrs before each appointment a covid prescreening will be sent out to you through email. You will be asked to wash your hands after you enter the premises, and you are required to wear a mask in the clinic, as well as during treatment.

These are new times for us all and we know they are different. We are looking forward to navigating them together, and are excited to provide care for you again!

See you soon!

Susan and Sarah

Supporting each other!

Thank you so much for all of your outpourings of support for the clinic through this difficult time. We are very grateful to have such wonderful patients. Some of you have asked how you can continue to help and we’ve come up with a few ideas if you are interested and able.

  • Follow us on Facebook (Danforth East Wellness) and Instagram (@DanforthEastWellness), if you don’t already
  • Read and share our blogs and Facebook posts
  • Consider buying gift certificates for registered massage therapy (just a side note that they cannot be reimbursed by insurance companies)
  • Leave reviews for us on Facebook, Google and Yelp

To help support YOU through this time, please know that we are available for virtual appointments and consultations for any of your questions. Let us know if there is particular content you would like us to address in our blogs that would help you. Also, please know that if you DO happen to run into difficulties, our chiropractors are available for emergency only visits.

Take care and be well until we see you next,

 

The Danforth East Wellness Team

Dr. Katarina Bulat, Dr. Elisa Petricca, Dr. Nicole DeYonge, Susan Tomkins RMT