Dr Melissa Holowaty

12/08/2025

Anxiety or Worry taking hold this winter?

The University of Saskatchewan Psychology Clinic invites you to join their new group therapy offered this Winter – CBT for Anxiety and Worry!

Wednesdays from 10:30am-12:30pm to work with a supportive group as you develop skills to help alleviate anxiety and worry.

Sessions take place on campus at the University of Saskatchewan Psychology Clinic and start January 14, 2026. This group includes eight sessions and costs $100 (that’s only $12.50 per session!).

Have questions? Interested in joining? Want more details? Contact the clinic by phone or email.
Phone: 306-966-6895
Email: psychology.clinic@usask.ca

12/06/2025

It's interesting that I've tried to post this article here for 2 days and Facebook isn't publishing it - Read my blog on Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women here -

guest blog - Melissa Holowaty

11/30/2025

Another great mental health resource I was recently made aware of - this time for pregnant and post-partum women. They have links to support groups (virtual and in person), support volunteers, and a peer mentor program.

This resource is highly valuable for anyone dealing with mood, anxiety, or emotional challenges during or after pregnancy.

👶 The Blue Dot Project: Perinatal Mental Health Resources
The primary goal of the "Get Help" page is to ensure that pregnant and new parents know they are not alone and have immediate access to support for mental health and mood disorders.
Specialized Maternal Mental Health Helplines
• Postpartum Support International (PSI) HelpLine:
o Call 1-800-944-4773 (4PPD)
o Text in English: 800-944-4773
o Text en Español: 971-203-7773

If you are struggling right now please know you are not alone and thousands have been right where you are, and are thinking of you right now.

11/28/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/14Qpc4zKexX/

11/25/2025

🧠 Greater Good in Action (GGIA)
https://ggia.berkeley.edu/

I was just made aware of this resource! The website curates over 100 short, science-based practices designed to foster a happier, more meaningful life. The practices are based on research from the fields of positive psychology and social-emotional learning.

Each practice is a brief, guided activity (e.g., a short reflection, a writing exercise, or a simple meditation) with instructions on how to do it and the science behind why it works.

The practices are categorized by themes:

Mindfulness: Practices like Mindful Breathing and Body Scan Meditation are essential for calming the nervous system and reducing stress, which can amplify pain.

Resilience to Stress: Techniques for changing your outlook on negative events, Gaining Perspective, and managing challenging emotions.

Self-Compassion: Practices like the Self-Compassion Break and Self-Compassionate Letter help counter self-criticism, which is a common challenge when living with a persistent condition.

Happiness & Gratitude: Exercises like Three Good Things help shift attention away from pain and towards the positive moments in your life.

11/21/2025

For people with long-term (chronic) pain, guided movement therapy (like physical therapy) is often the best treatment, but it's hard for many to get because public insurance doesn't cover it.

In discussing this with a colleague this week I got to learn about a couple of free resources:

🧘 Pain BC: Free Resources for Movement and Support

Pain BC offers several free programs that focus on education, movement, and emotional support.

1. Gentle Movement @ Home (Movement Therapy)

What it is: A collection of free, guided movement and relaxation videos specifically designed for people with chronic pain.

Led by: Physiotherapists and other therapeutic movement experts.

How it helps: The exercises help you learn to move safely and comfortably again by focusing on breath, relaxation, and gentle movement.

Where to find it: These are available for free on the Pain BC YouTube channel.

🤸 NeuroSask: Active and Connected (Free Movement & Support)

NeuroSask is a free, virtual program that offers movement and connection, originally designed for people with neurological conditions (like MS or Parkinson's), but it is generally a wonderful resource for anyone needing gentle, guided movement for chronic pain.

It is run by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine in partnership with different health organizations.

1. The "Active" Sessions (Physiotherapy-Guided Movement)

What it is: LIVE, seated movement classes led by a physiotherapist (a movement expert).

When: The classes run twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saskatchewan time).

How it helps: It focuses on gentle movement, stretching, and body awareness to help with range of motion, pain, and spasticity (muscle tightness).

Bonus: Tuesdays often include an extra stretching session focused on managing pain.

2. The "Connect" Sessions (Expert Education & Community)

What it is: A meeting right after the Thursday movement class featuring a guest expert on a health and wellness topic.

How it helps: This provides people with free, reliable information on managing their health and pain, and it fosters a community where participants can connect with others.

What kind of free/low barrier resources for movement have you found helpful?

11/17/2025

The polyvagal theory really speaks to me - as a psychotherapist, as a chronic pain physician and as an addictions doctor. It connects the body and the mind through the power of the nervous system. How we react depends on whether the body and the spirit feel safe and connected. And sometimes, if we grew up or spent a lot of time with someone who impacted our nervous system in traumatic ways (by things being done to us or love/safety being withheld from us) we can get stuck on different places on the ladder.

When the nervous system has been shaped by trauma, our responses tend to be to protect us or assist in our survival rather than focusing on connection and social engagement.

Resilience is an outcome of being able to flexibly navigate the autonomic hierarchy.

What do you think of this idea?

11/13/2025

Free 30 day program from Pain Psychotherapy Canada.

I am not part of/affiliated with this group - but I really like their approach.

What do you think?

PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER BELOW BEFORE BEGINNING THIS PROGRAM.If you live with chronic pain, fatigue, or illness, you’ve probably tried everything — medicat...

11/11/2025

Through my practice, I have been privileged to be the physician for numerous members of the military. They taught me so much, and I still think about every one of them and their stories they shared with me.....

Today is a day to honor those who have served, and reflect on those who fought in Canada's wars. Some wars of which we were not even privy to, but they had to show up all the same in order to maintain this beautiful country.

**Photo by Bart Ros on Unsplash

11/07/2025

From the SHA and available to all SK residents. I am not affiliated with this program, but have heard good things!

11/05/2025

The first class of the USASK Chronic Pain Clinic (UCPC) Mindfulness course took place this week! I have had a lot of fun creating these 12 sessions and tried to do so in a really thoughtful way. Each session has an information part, and then a mindfulness exercise. Each week there is a different topic and a different exercise.

Topics include: Beginner's Mind, Acceptance, Gratitude, Trust and Patience, Polyvagal Theory, Stress, Mindfulness and Eating, Mindfulness and Movement, Sleep, Non-Striving and Self-Compassion.

If you are a patient of the UCPC or are on the wait-list for UCPC, this course is available to you.

10/30/2025

What is chronic pain and even more - how to reverse it. Yes, many chronic pain conditions can be REVERSED. Even if it started with an injury, even if you've been suffering for years.

This is the intro in a series of animated videos I created along with Dr. Sohrab Gollogly, who is an (enlightened) spine surgeon.