The emotional side of being a veterinary professional can be quite intense! It’s hard enough having to deal with your own feelings, let alone those of your colleagues or clients. So how can you manage? Perhaps you're looking for ways to overcome negativity or anxiety throughout the workday when dealing with a variety of situations, some more difficult than others. In this Facebook Live session, veterinary wellness advocate Dr. Marie Holowaychuk answers more excellent questions regarding...

Sometimes not feeling like yourself may be a sign that it is time to consult a mental health professional. Or perhaps someone at your clinic has expressed the need for professional support... But where should you start? Also, have you ever wondered if there is a difference between experiencing burnout and depression? In this Facebook Live session, veterinary wellness advocate Dr. Marie Holowaychuk answers three excellent questions regarding wellness. Watch the recorded session now as she...

In these challenging times, it might seem especially difficult to set boundaries and maintain work-life separation. Our fast-paced reality might also make it feel impossible to remain grounded and focused while performing everyday tasks. In this first Facebook Live session, veterinary wellness advocate Dr. Marie Holowaychuk answers two excellent questions regarding wellness. Watch the recorded session now as she shares some amazing tips on how to recognize and manage burnout, as well as how to...

A co-worker of yours has shown changes in her behaviour that are impacting patient and client care. She is avoiding cases in the clinic, seems detached from the team, and is complaining of sleep problems at home. Answer: Compassion fatigue Compassion fatigue can affect any individual working in caregiving professions and is characterized by profound emotional and physical exhaustion that impacts a person in and outside of the workplace. Signs at work can range from dissociation and apathy to...

There seem to be more blog posts, articles, and documentaries on organization, clearing clutter, and tidying up living spaces. And with spring right around the corner, cleaning tends to be on people’s minds. Answer: Several studies back the premise that keeping things clean and orderly fosters physical and mental health. In fact, people with clean houses are healthier and more active than people with messy houses. Additionally, people who make their beds every morning are more likely to...

Your colleague goes out of town leaving you to manage one of her long-term patients. You make decisions to the best of your ability, but when your colleague returns, she questions your choices and insists she would have done things differently. You want to discuss this with her but are uncertain how without getting defensive or becoming argumentative. Answer: Information conflict Information conflict occurs when people have different ideas, opinions, or viewpoints, or disagree about a...

Do your emotions sometimes get the best of you? Our interactions with clients have changed dramatically over the last year. Not only are many of them virtual or curbside, but emotions are often heightened due to ongoing restrictions consequent to the pandemic. These difficult exchanges have led to anxiety and stress among veterinary team members, resulting in psychological distress and job dissatisfaction. During this webcast, veterinary wellness advocate and Thrive! collaborator, Dr. Marie...

Although 2021 is well under way, many of us are still looking to make changes after the trying year that 2020 turned out to be. Resolutions like getting back to exercise, eating more healthfully, and getting finances in order are top of mind among Canadians. Answer: Creating healthy habits Surveys suggest that resolutions set at the beginning of the year rarely last beyond February. On the other hand, if a person can create healthy habits (or conquer unhealthy ones), there is a much higher...

Mental health has become a relevant and common topic of discussion with Mental Health Awareness Month, Bell Let’s Talk, and other initiatives aiming to educate, raise awareness, break the silence and end the stigma. More than simply ‘hanging in there’ or ‘thinking positively’, it’s about changing the way people see and talk about mental health to strip away the shame and acknowledge how difficult it is to overcome the disease. It is also about encouraging people to seek help and support if and...