Community Health Visits

Calling all Adults 50 years and Older

Our group sessions are back! Starting Wednesday, September 23rd, we will be running our next set of group sessions every 3 weeks until mid-December 2026!

What are Group Sessions?

Our group sessions are an opportunity to come together, with like-minded people, to dissect a health topic and offer real-life application. These cost effective sessions allow access to 2 of our Naturopathic Doctors expertise as they dive into a topic and facilitate discussion among the group.

Each with over 15 years of clinical experience, we’ve seen tons of patients and know the common threads when it comes to challenges and goals for improving one’s health. These group sessions allow us to educate what’s in the research and seen in clinical practice while simultaneously pooling the groups’ shared knowledge and real life experiences.

Studies have shown that being part of a community has a positive impact on both our physical and mental health. These sessions are more than education, they are healing and growth.

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, reviewing the literature and following with a facilitated group discussion. Pre-determined questions will be available to help guide the conversation in order to help 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.

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, isolated, unseen or lost. 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 we’ve seen the common thread of challenges and goals. With the expansion of the internet, it has become near impossible to accurately assess so many information sources and reach well-balanced conclusions. We’ve done the research and can be your expert guides.

You’ve trusted us to be your healthcare providers but we don’t always get the chance to dig into the nitty gritty details – this is your chance to do that. 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 fall 2026 sessions will focus on health for those 50 years and older. These sessions are particularly catered for adults that finally find themselves with time to prioritize their own health – the so-called “empty nesters”. You’ve spent decades caring for your children, partner and perhaps even your parents. Now, a new challenge exists: how can you optimize your own health as you transition into a new stage of life.

We are confident that, at the end of the 5 sessions, you will walk away feeling energized and motivated, full of ideas to elevate yourself and your loved ones, and connected to ‘your people’.

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

What Are the Dates and Topics?

This upcoming Community Based Health program runs from Sept-Dec 2026, each session being two hours in length and offered on Wednesday mornings. The dates and topics are as follows:

Session 1: Community and Connection (Wednesday, September 23rd @ 9:30am – 11:30am)

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: Nutrition (Wednesday, October 14th @ 9:30am – 11:30am)

Arguably the cornerstone of health, no one doubts the importance of high quality nutrition for ourselves and our family members. In this session, we will discuss various fad diets, reading labels, organic vs non-organic, and simplifying your diet.

Be prepared to share your food challenges, recipes, dietary tricks and tips with one another!

Session 3: Sleep (Wednesday, November 4th @ 9:30am – 11:30am)

We all crave more sleep for the rejuvenation and immediate energy boosts. But 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. 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.

In this session, we will talk about the unique sleep challenges that come with aging; changes in hormones, chronic stress response, environmental disruptions (snoring, pets etc) and share strategies from the group for success.

Session 4: Exercise (Wednesday, November 25th @ 9:30am – 11:30am)

Exercise is more than just weight management. Improvements in cardiovascular function, blood sugar regulation, mobility, flexibility, endurance and strength can all be achieved through regular, moderate intensity exercise, regardless of the number on the scale. Exercise has tremendous benefits for our cognitive health, mental health, self-esteem and all areas of our life. Quite simply, it reduces disease risk across the board.

In this session, we will discuss the recommended activity targets as we age, how this impacts us in both the short and long term, and discuss how to incorporate this into your life despite aging challenges such as pain, injury and low energy.

Session 5: Stress Management (Wednesday, December 16th @ 9:30am – 11:30am)

Unfortunately, stress is a regular part of our day-to-day lives. And the reality is that even as we approach the ends of our careers, or children moving away from home, stress doesn’t go away but instead changes. How do we manage the stress and overcome its ill effects when our patterns are more deeply ingrained with time and practice?

In this session, we will break down the physiological impact of stress, coping strategies and natural supplement options, with ample discussion time for shared challenges and helpful strategies.

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.

As we age, what becomes more important than your wellbeing? Consider this a cost effective, foundational program that will set you up to enjoy the next stage of your life with wellness. Invest in your health; you can’t afford not to.

Community Health Visits – Fall 2026