In this edition of "Meet The Westwind Staff", we are asking four questions of Breanna Mills, the newest Registered Dietitian to join our team at Westwind. What led you to Westwind? I was finishing up my dietetic practicum and searching for job opportunities. I have always been passionate about eating disorders and mental health; however, I never imagined that I would be able to start my career here! Making the move from Saskatchewan was a no brainer to me, and I am so glad t

This summer marks Westwind’s 20th anniversary, and we feel very fortunate to be part of so many people’s recovery stories. Westwind Eating Disorder Recovery Centre has offered residential treatment for eating disorders since 1998, and is unlike any other residential treatment facility in Canada. Throughout the 20 years Westwind has been operating, our staff have followed an approach that allows our clients to be independent within a supportive and collaborative therapeutic en

Tucked away in Western Manitoba, Brandon is a relatively unknown place. Many people from areas like Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto have never visited Brandon, and possibly haven’t even heard of it. So why would clients pass up staying in their home cities to travel to attend Westwind? Many clients who come to Westwind enjoy the anonymity they have here. Being able to get space from family members and friends, while staying connected through technology, gives them the privacy

February 1-7 is Eating Disorder Awareness Week across Canada. We want to address three common misconceptions about eating disorders that perpetuate stigma, and can hinder support for people in recovery and their loved ones. 1. EATING DISORDERS COME IN A VARIETY OF SHAPES AND WEIGHTS. The media often displays images of people with eating disorders as quite underweight or emaciated. While some people’s weight reach these levels, many people with eating disorders appear to be

On January 25 it is the official Bell Let’s Talk day! Bell is committed to moving mental health forward in Canada by promoting awareness. On January 25th, Bell will donate 5 cents every time you talk, text and join in on social media to mental health initiatives, so please join in. Bell focuses on 4 key pillars in their efforts to increase awareness and action. These include fighting the stigma, improving access to care, supporting world-class research, and leading by examp

In this edition of "Meet The Westwind Staff", we are asking five questions of one of Westwind's Registered Dietitians, Lauren Paquette.

In this edition of "Meet The Westwind Staff", we are asking five questions of Westwind's Senior Support Staff, Jennifer Lagimodiere. 1) WHAT LED YOU TO WESTWIND? A) After having gone through treatment for an eating disorder myself, I was looking to enhance some of the areas in my life that had been neglected before I chose recovery. One of those areas was finding purpose and fulfillment in the work I wanted to do. Having gone through all the difficulties and challenges

In this edition of "Meet The Westwind Staff", we are asking five questions of one of Westwind's Counsellors, Katrina Wilson. 1) WHAT LED YOU TO WESTWIND? A) Growing up in the small town there wasn't much exposure to mental health issues, or eating disorders in particular. We had the wellness days in school where we talked about body image and nutritional eating, but there were never any open discussions about mental illness. After graduating high school I moved to Brand

In this edition of "Meet The Westwind Staff", we are asking five questions of one of Westwind's Directors, Tresa Clemmensen. 1) WHAT LED YOU TO WESTWIND? A) When I was completing my undergraduate studies I knew I wanted to work in the field of eating disorders. I grew up in Brandon and was aware of the treatment center and was hoping I would be able to join the team once I had completed my Masters degree. I felt very fortunate to start working at Westwind shortly after

In this edition of "Meet The Westwind Staff", we are asking five questions of one of Westwind's Directors, Valarie Bittner. 1) WHAT LED YOU TO WESTWIND? A) A prairie girl at heart, I grew up in Manitoba and was excited to become part of a unique place of healing in my home province after finishing my degrees. I graduated with a masters degree in Counselling and have been practicing as a therapist in the field of eating disorders since 2002. I'm a certified Canadian Coun

Welcome to our opening blog entry! We hope to inspire you, our readers, on your journeys towards healthy eating, body acceptance, self esteem and overall emotional wellness. We're also excited to use these entries to increase awareness about eating disorders and related struggles, and be a tool on the road to recovery. TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHO WE ARE . . . Westwind is a private counselling centre specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, body image, self este