Dr. Gabor Mate
"As a retired physician, author and speaker with experience and special interest in addictions, child development, multigenerational trauma. and cross-cultural issues, I am pleased to provide a warm endorsement for the Restorative Wellness Program"
"Having visited and worked in many First Nations communities across the country, I have often been struck by the prevalence of multigenerational trauma and the need to address it employing the latest insights and methodologies of modern trauma research and therapeutics. At the same time, it has long been my impression that missing from the Western models of treatment is the traditional mind/ body/spirit wisdom of Native people and that this wisdom is essential to healing. |
Dr. Dawn LaPorte - Nanaimo Psychiatrist
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Board Certified In Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Dr. LaPorte is known (along with some other stellar psychiatrists through the Nanaimo and Oceanside communities) for excellence in strength-based psychiatric care among clients and other clinicians. We are grateful to have her support in our community-driven services.
Dawn provides psychiatric consultation and support for clients in need of additional help. Her knowledge of how to navigate the system in order to access psychiatric care and medication management assists a number of our clients in achieving stabilization. Dawn does not see clients through RWP, but does provide psychiatric consult, inter-disciplinary case consults and recommendations for referral to the most appropriate psychiatric service for clients outside the catchment she serves. Thank you for being extra-awesome LaPorte! - RWP Team |
Naomi Bailey - Educator, SD 68 School Trustee
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Terry Waterland - Published Author and Retired Mental Health Clinician
During her time with Island Health, Terry served as a mental health clinician and won awards for the collaborative project she worked on for walk-in crisis counselling services. Terry recognized that long wait lists were prohibitive for clients with unresolved trauma who did not wish to engage with a psychiatric lens, but preferred to see trauma as a normal response to abnormal events. Through her dedication and commitment to community, Terry became a mentor to Kristen within her role as a coordinator for Island Health. Of note, Terry and colleagues brought the FOUR AGREEMENTS into the planning for walk-in crisis counselling, which reduced wait times for clients in need from months to 35 minutes. Terry had this to say about the Cultural and Spiritual Biopsychosocial model developed by the Restorative Wellness Project: "It is important to note that Kristen’s Ojibwey heritage and its teachings have been a strong part of the solid platform from which she springs and a part of her own deep healing. I am confident the combination of her clinical and cultural skills makes her the right match for this much needed approach to mental, emotional, spiritual and systemic wellness. I urge you to support the Restorative Wellness project in moving forward!" |
Brett Johnson - Recovery Coach
& Founder of One Life Recovery Society Mental health, trauma and subsequently addictions have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I began my path to change in 2006. What I have come to realize is that through community and connection individuals who seem hopeless can find hope, people who have given up find a reason to keep going, I have seen love win over hate, Us as people need that connection. Connection to self as well as the world around us. When given the tools to do that, through teachings of spirituality or when we are shown love, compassion and understanding through trauma informed practice the struggling person begins to thrive. Restorative Wellness Project falls in line with this philosophy and for that We at One Life Recovery Society are happy to support it. Brett Johnson – Founder, Interventionist, Coach www.one-life.ca |
At Restorative, we gratefully enjoy guest teachings from growing list of other Keepers of Traditional Wisdom (Ancient Teachings)
Our Indigenous-led Wellness Programming celebrates and invites teachings from Judaism , Buddhist Practitioners, Monks, Master Healers, Sufist, Muslim & Christian insights into wellness and mindfulness. |