Counselling Abuse Support Group for Healing

Healing from any form of abuse—whether emotional, physical, or psychological—can be a challenging and lengthy journey. Survivors often feel isolated and overwhelmed by their experiences. A counselling abuse support group offers a supportive space where individuals can connect with others who truly understand what they are going through. These groups are essential in reducing feelings of loneliness and creating a sense of community, which plays a vital role in the healing process.

Why Join a Counselling Abuse Support Group?

At Warman Physiotherapy & Wellness, our Registered Counselling Therapist, Shireen Abedi, Counselling TherapistShireen Abedi, will be leading a monthly counselling support group designed to guide survivors on their path to recovery. These sessions allow participants to share personal stories, receive emotional support, and gain practical tools to cope with the effects of abuse.

  • Building healthy boundaries
  • Managing emotional triggers
  • Practicing mindfulness to enhance mental well-being

The Benefits of a Support Group

One of the biggest advantages of joining a support group is the opportunity to learn from others. Seeing fellow participants make progress can be incredibly motivating and provide a sense of hope. The group setting also offers structure and accountability, helping participants stay committed to their healing journey.

Moreover, having a group to lean on reminds us that we are not alone in our experiences. The shared understanding creates a sense of belonging that is crucial for emotional recovery.

Abuse Support GroupUpcoming Group Sessions

If you or someone you know has experienced abuse and is seeking support, consider joining our counselling abuse support group. Shireen Abedi will be hosting sessions on October 29, November 19, and December 17 in 2024 for 90min sessions which can be booked online. These sessions offer a safe, therapeutic space for survivors to connect, learn, and heal together.

Shireen also offers individual counselling sessions at both our Warman and Saskatoon locations for those seeking one-on-one support.

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We are Hiring Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

The time has come! I am looking for someone to mentor that is interested in my specific areas of expertise. As a pelvic health and pediatric pelvic health physiotherapist, I see a huge demand in this area; for clinicians that are not only well versed in pelvic health and it’s intricacies, but also willing to treat the whole client. This includes the orthopedic components that impact the pelvis!

I am looking for a physiotherapist that has training in the area of pelvic health, or is willing to learn. Someone looking for a supportive team environment for developing their skills through mentorship and collaboration.

About us

Our clinic vision is to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to our clients in a non-judgmental environment that allows our clients to reach their health and wellness goals at any age.

Warman Physio has built a strong team of therapists with close working relationships with many allied healthcare providers and organizations. We are grateful to have been nominated for and won several local and provincial awards for business management and client care. We do this specifically to be involved in and helping the communities we are a part of.

At this time a focused mentorship will be available to any candidate including:

  • Pelvic Health
  • Pediatric Pelvic Health
  • Manual Therapy
  • TMJ assessment and treatment
  • Integrated Systems Model (ISM) approach
  • Dry needling
  • Chronic Disease Management
  • Case management
  • Third party payers

Want to know more?

We believe that our clients need holistic care, management, and support; with this in mind, we treat our staff and providers with a holistic lens as well. This means that we strive to achieve a supportive and playful workplace where we can cultivate a culture of trust, enjoyment, and excellence.

Our vision, mission, and overall values encourages our providers to cultivate and create the client-base that will bring them work satisfaction, passion, and desire to continue learning. This makes for a unique experience for not only our clients, but our staff as well.

A Successful Candidate

We are looking for someone that is a good fit for our team on a variety of facets. Some key attributes will including striving to be a life-long learner, being self-motivated and possess an authentic enjoyment in helping people to help themselves. This position will have room for growth and development and great opportunity for leadership and management moving forward if desired.

Applicants with manual therapy levels, acupuncture or dry needling, vestibular therapy, pelvic health training, and other coursework would be an asset but is not required to apply, and will be considered in renumeration at onboarding.

Wondering about renumeration?

Competitive compensation with opportunity for advancement is available in one of two formats. There is significant support and guidance in building and maintaining a caseload, including file management, follow-up care, and ensuring client resolution. There can be the opportunity to set-up various monetary incentives and allowances for sick days, education, and family days in addition to RRSPs. Each of our clinics hosts private treatment rooms, and will have available clinical mentorship.

Minimum requirements:

  • Registered member (in good standing) with SCPT
  • Training/coursework within pelvic health (or plan to achieve the same)

Interested? Email Haylie at haylie@warmanphysio.com

 

Looking for a new clinic and not a pelvic health physiotherapist? We are always on the lookout for an orthopedic therapist that is the right fit for our team as well. Send us an email and we will see what opportunities are available for you!

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Pelvic Health – for ANYONE!

The public is becoming more aware of the benefits of pelvic floor physiotherapy (PFPT). When we first opened in Warman in 2014, about 20-25% of people had even heard of PFPT! Now there appears to be an assumption that leakage or pelvic floor pain issues ONLY happen to people that have had kids. That it can’t happen for those who have never been pregnant or given birth before – but that is not the case!

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

There are people of all backgrounds and ages of any gender, who suffer from pelvic floor problems. There are many different reasons for why this may be the case. First, here are some issues that are common symptoms:

  • low back or hip pain
  • leaking of urine (or stool)
  • pain (with intercourse or otherwise)
  • night wetting (or waking to void)
  • constipation
  • hemorrhoids
  • pressure/heaviness (feeling like things will fall down/out)
  • tailbone pain
  • pelvic girdle pain (SIJ, hips, pubic symphysis)

 

Some of the reasons for pelvic floor dysfunction include post op complications or side effects from surgeries performed in the abdominal or pelvic region, radiation therapy to the pelvis due to pelvic cancers, prostate issues, and menopause. Stress, anxiety, and overall pressure system problems can also be an underlying cause.

Weigh the Risk

There are some risk factors that may contribute to leakage of the bladder including:

  • chronic strain to the pelvic floor from a persistent cough (ie smoking or asthma/COPD)
  • chronic constipation
  • highly athletic populations (especially with a vagina)
  • individuals that have obstetric injuries
  • someone that has had trauma to the pelvis
  • anyone that has received abdominal surgery

Our athletes in particular may have some leakage issues or heaviness/prolapse symptoms. This may be associated with heavy lifting or running/jumping sports due to the strain that can be placed on the pelvic floor with these activities. The exercise itself is unlikely to be the culprit, but the strategies being used may be contributing.

 

The Pelvic Floor and What you Consume

There are some behavioral components that may impact urinary leakage as well including:

  • consuming or drinking caffeine(!!) and carbonated beverages
  • spicy foods
  • citrus foods
  • alcohol (red wine in particular!)

 

Our Pelvic Floor Helps us Compensate

Sometimes anxiety can have a role as well if we have a tendency to hold too much tension in the pelvic floor muscles. This in turn can contribute to pelvic pain or incontinence issues – or even constipation!

People with chronic pain conditions such as:

  • endometriosis
  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • inflammatory bowel diseases
  • interstitial cystitis

…for example may have tightness in their pelvic floor muscles which may be contributing to some of their pain presentation. Sometimes back or hip pain can actually be originating from the pelvic floor. When someone has had “problems forever” and they haven’t seen a PFPT – this is often a good place to start.

 

How does PFPT Help?

A PFPT can be helpful as part of the medical care team in addressing pain that may be contributed to by the pelvic floor muscles. PFPT utilize various techniques, either with internal manual therapy techniques or external techniques. If the client is comfortable with internal, this via a vaginal or rectal exam. Some people are not comfortable and we can proceed with education and exercises for relaxation/stretching of these muscles.

 

If there is urinary leakage then there can be behavioural techniques that a pelvic floor physiotherapist can teach to help address these issues. This is especially true if there is leakage preceded by a strong urge to pee. Should there be weakness of the muscles then this can contribute to leakage of the bladder or bowel as well. Although this weakness is not a common finding, it can happen post operatively in the pelvis or abdomen. Regardless of the reason, a PFPT can be helpful in teaching specific exercises to address the issues.

 

If you are having problems with any of these issues seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist may be beneficial:

  • leaking with laughing/coughing/sneezing
  • leaking due to urgency of the bladder
  • chronic constipation
  • pain with intercourse
  • pelvic pain/low back or hip pain (especially if addressing the back and hip tissues with prior rehab does not appear to be resolving the issue)

If you are finding yourself worried about what to expect as an adult coming for a first appointment, check out this blog!

 

Ready to take control? Book your assessment today in Warman HERE and in Saskatoon HERE

 

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Physio for your… Behind?! Anorectal Disorders Explained!

Pelvic floor physiotherapists are physios who have had additional training to perform external and internal pelvic exams in order to treat a variety of pelvic floor disorders. Among those disorders include some that pertain to the dysfunction of the bowel – your behind. These anorectal disorders may include

  • Leaking of stool from the rectum (fecal incontinence)
  • Inability to control flatulence (being unable to hold back a fart)
  • Chronic constipation
  • OASIS (obstetric anal sphincter injuries) which include 3rd or 4th degree perineal tears sustained during labour and delivery, rectocele, rectal prolapse, and pain disorders of the anus
There is something we can do to help!

Fecal incontinence refers to the uncontrolled passage of fecal material (aka poop) in individuals who are 4 years old or older. There can be various reasons why fecal incontinence may be present. There may be damage to the internal or external anal sphincters during OASIS. Radiation therapy for certain pelvic cancers may have reduced the ability of the rectum to stretch contributing to incontinence, stool consistency may be too liquid making it difficult for the sphincters to stop the feces from exiting the anus (possibly due to partial bowel resection surgery due to various medical conditions. Food intolerances/poor diet may also cause stool consistency to be too loose. There may be some weakness in the external anal sphincter muscle or the puborectalis portion of the levator ani muscle (the main pelvic floor muscle group) contributing to leakage of stool.

Some leakage can be due to nerve disorders (example multiple sclerosis). Sometimes even chronic constipation can be a source of loose stools leading to fecal incontinence!

 

What does it mean to have a 3rd or 4th degree tear during labour and delivery?

A 3rd degree tear is a tear into the external anal sphincter and a 4th degree tear includes tearing into the internal anal sphincter. These two sphincters are what control the exit of the stool and gas out at the anus from the rectum. When there is a tear in the sphincters, the scar tissue that forms from the injury may cause problems. Common issues to these injuries include having pain during bowel movements and it can contribute to constipation. There can also be low tone of the IAS or EAS (internal or external sphincters) or weakness of the external anal sphincter that may cause fecal incontinence or difficulty with controlling an unwanted fart. Fecal urgency can also be a symptom following 3rd or 4th degree vaginal tears.

Even if there is no bowel dysfunction in the post partum period following labour and delivery with a 3rd or 4th degree tear, having a pelvic floor physiotherapist examine the pelvic floor and provide an individualized home exercise program to optimize the scar tissue mobility, pelvic floor mobility and strength, and provide education on optimization of defecation strategies. This can be very helpful as sometimes occult injuries (meaning those without obvious injury to the anal sphincters) are present. They could result in symptoms like fecal urgency and loss of control of farting or fecal incontinence later in life (post menopausal).

Proactive treatment can be beneficial in these cases!

Chronic constipation is often characterized by:

  • having a bowel movement less than 3 days/week
  • and/or a stool consistency on the Bristol Stool Chart of Type 1 or Type 2
  • history of very large bowel movements (plugging the toilet for instance)

A pelvic floor physiotherapist can be helpful in providing various strategies to assist with the evacuation of the bowels. Some basic recommendations may include:

  • general advice on fibre and fluid intake recommendations for optimal stool consistency
  • activity recommendations
  • manual therapy techniques to assist with motility of the stool through the rectum
  • education on various physical evacuation strategies
  • breathing techniques to assist with optimal bowel evacuation
  • minimization/elimination of straining

 

 

 

For those suffering from prolapse, a physiotherapist can help by teaching optimal defecation techniques to reduce strain to the area, thereby reducing strain to the tissues. There may also be too much tension in the pelvic floor muscles or there may be scar tissue present from obstetrical or other surgical injuries which can lead to pain in the pelvic floor or anus with or without having a poop.

Struggling? Book online with a physiotherapist today in Warman at Warman Physiotherapy & Wellness or Saskatoon, at Warman Physio Saskatoon. Don’t see a spot that works? Add yourself to the waitlist! You can even select if you have a therapist, location, and day/time preferences!

 

 

This post was created by Maja Stroh MPT and pelvic health physiotherapist at Warman Physiotherapy & Wellness

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Why Should I Sit to Pee?

Half the population doesn’t give it much thought. The other half have various opinions. For people that have the option to stand to pee, here are some reasons to sit!

 

Potty Learning

When young children are first learning to use the toilet, it can be easier to teach them to stand to pee. Maybe they already stand to pee in their diaper. Maybe they don’t have the patience to wait to sit to pee. Whatever the case may be, sitting to pee has many benefits through the potty training phases.

Sitting to pee (at all ages) will decrease the amount of mess in the bathroom. Huge motivating factor if you ask me! This mess is reduced even if you are able to continuously hit the bullseye. Having the ability to sit to pee will also help young bodies learning the new skill to relax fully. Being able to relax all the pelvic floor muscles when you sit, gives kiddo the opportunity to have a poop too. Remember from a previous article – being constipated actually makes potty training harder!

 

Adults

Many adults struggle with functional constipation as well. We may still be pooping every day – but not completely emptying. This can lead to issues such as tightness, pain, or perineal discomfort that is tricky to pin down a cause to.

Sitting to pee often seems to take significantly more time, even for adults

Public Bathrooms

The most common question I get is – but what about public bathrooms? We all know the state those washrooms can be in… ick. So of course, in the event of a less than stellar bathroom situation, or being out in the wilderness, standing to pee is a great option! By all means use it!

Just remember – sitting to pee as a general default can often save you headaches later!

 

 

Haylie has been practicing pelvic health and focused in prenatal and post-partum care since graduating from the U of S MPT program in 2011. Officially adding to her practice pediatric pelvic floor therapy in 2017. She has been advocating for treatment for women, ensuring appropriate and effective care throughout pregnancy and post-partum, and helping all expecting and post-partum moms ultimately brought her to open her family-friendly clinic. She now primarily focuses on pediatric pelvic health, perinatal care, and persistent pain in her practice in Warman and Saskatoon locations.

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