Community Health Sessions

Calling all parents of young families

Starting the last Thursday in February, we will be running monthly group sessions until June, and we think you’ll love it!

Why Are We Doing This?

We all need ‘our people’. Studies have shown that being part of a community has a positive impact on both our physical and mental health. We all know what it feels like to be lonely or isolated or unseen. Connecting with like-minded individuals that are experiencing the same challenges allows us to grow, learn, and heal.

Over the years we’ve connected with many patients and see the common thread of challenges and goals – we all are trying to learn, heal and grow for ourselves and our families – but the bar keeps rising and the information keeps growing.

We’ve done the research, pooled the results, and now it’s time to get into the nitty gritty on how to make it work for you and your family. You’ve trusted us to be your healthcare providers and now we want to connect you with likeminded people to help you expand your tribe. Offering group visits allows us to give the same high-quality information at a lower cost and with the problem-solving suggestions of your peers. All you have to do is show up.

Who is this For?

Anyone can join, but the focus is on family medicine. These sessions are particularly catered for those feeling overwhelmed with the mental load and chaos of mid-life: kids, work, meals, cleaning and everything in between, while still trying to maintain social connections, prioritize health, nutrition and exercise somehow!

We are confident at the end of the 5 months that you will walk away feeling energized and motivated, full of ideas to elevate yourself and your family, and connected to ‘your people’. You deserve 2 hours once a month, so join us.

To keep the group sessions intimate, we are limiting the number of spots to 8 people.

What Happens in A Group Session?

Each session will include both an educational component and guided group discussion. We will focus on a specific health topic each month, review the literature, followed by a facilitated group discussion. Pre-determined questions will be available to help guide the conversation in order to get each attendee to consider their current barriers, challenges and strategic solutions.

Our goal is to create a safe space for organic, candid conversations. Dr. Chanel Cressman ND and Dr. Colin O’Brien ND will be the main facilitators, with guest Sprout Wellness practitioners for specific topics.

What Are the Dates and Topics?

Our Community Based Health program runs each month from Feb-June, each two hours in length and offered on the last Thursday of the month. The dates and topics are as follows:

Session 1: Community and Connection (Thursday, February 26th @ 7-9pm)

Social connections make us mentally and physically healthier. Did you know that the influence of social relationships on the risk of death are comparable with smoking and alcohol consumption and exceed the influence of physical inactivity, obesity and air pollution?

We need to start approaching the health of our social life and community with the same intentionality that we give to diet, exercise and medication. By building our relationships with nature, ourselves and others, we find purpose.

Session 2: Stress Management (Thursday, March 26th @ 7-9pm)

Unfortunately, stress has become a regular part of our day-to-day. And the reality is that it’s not going away, at least not in the current phase of our busy lives. How do we manage the stress and overcome its ill effects? Let’s share tips and tricks that work for us and find manageable ways to put them all together.

Session 3: Nutrition (Thursday, April 30th @ 7-9pm)

Arguably the cornerstone of health, no one doubts the importance of high quality nutrition for ourselves and our family members. Yet, logistical challenges like picky eaters, time constraints and the high cost of groceries make it difficult to implement a consistently high quality diet in the home.

This session is less about discussing quality nutritional foods and more about to get them into our kids, partners and ourselves in convenient and manageable ways.

Session 4: Technology and Exercise (Thursday, May 28th @ 7-9pm)

Technology and social media are an integral part of our lives. They can offer much value and perhaps even improve certain aspects of our lives, making us more efficient and organized. But at what cost?

Greater technology use has long been established to raise the risk of mental health concerns in both children and adults. What is even worse is that more time spent online likely means less time moving our bodies and exercising, one of the foundational and most important predictors of overall health. This session will discuss how to find a healthy balance between the two domains.

Session 5: Sleep (Thursday, June 18th @ 7-9pm)

We all crave more sleep for the rejuvenation and immediate energy boosts! Sleep is when the body is healing and it needs to be prioritized not just for how we feel the next day but for our long-term health. Consider that poor sleep is linked not just with poor mental and physical performance, but also higher risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, diabetes and weight gain.

Let’s find ways to get everyone in your household more rested, in spite of the constant changes in routines, unpredictable kids’ habits and our own racing thoughts.

What is the Cost?

The cost for the five 2-hour sessions is $400 + HST. This is not a program designed to be covered under extended insurance plans as these should still be reserved for your individual visits with your practitioner to discuss your specific challenges and tailored needs.

Think of everything else that you do for your health and wellness (gym memberships, lab tests, supplements, etc) and consider this an investment in your entire family’s wellness.

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