March Newsletter

What’s in this issue:

• Upcoming Peer Support Night

• Save the Date: Special event in June

• The importance of therapy and counselling in a veteran’s journey

• Meet the team: Dr. Reggie Sebastian

• Strength, Clarity & Resilience: A Guide to Functional Mushrooms

• Upcoming clinic/office closures

• Team tidbit: get to know Shannon MacQueen

March’s Peer Support Night

No matter how many years have passed since you hung up the uniform, the experiences of service stay with you. Military life shapes how you see the world, how you solve problems, and how you carry yourself long after retirement. But it can also leave behind challenges that aren’t always easy to explain to those who haven’t lived it.

That’s where peer support makes a difference.

Connecting with other veterans, especially those who understand the transition from active service to civilian life, can be grounding. There’s something powerful about sitting with someone who doesn’t need the backstory to understand the feeling. The sense of camaraderie, humour, resilience, and even the unspoken parts of service can still be shared, years later.

For veterans who have been retired for some time, peer support offers a chance to reconnect, not just with others, but with parts of yourself that may feel distant. It can reduce isolation, strengthen community ties, and remind you that your experiences still matter.

And for those who choose to share their wisdom, mentorship and lived experience can be incredibly meaningful. Your insight may be exactly what another veteran needs to hear.

Peer support doesn’t replace professional care, but it complements it. It’s about staying connected, staying engaged, and continuing to look out for one another—because that commitment doesn’t retire.

We invite you to join us for our upcoming Peer Support Night, March 25. This is a relaxed, welcoming evening for veterans to connect, share stories, and enjoy good company… no pressure, no expectations.

Whether you’ve been retired for five years or thirty, you’re welcome!

The importance of therapy and counselling in a veteran’s journey

Written by Lyndsay Long, Psychologist, Psych. Department Lead at VFH

Therapy and counselling can help veterans understand why they are feeling a certain way. It’s normal to feel scared about going to therapy for the first time. Therapy doesn’t have to involve talking about the “heavy stuff,” and it’s not one-size-fits-all. Our job as mental health professionals is to work with our clients where they are and focus on what’s important to them. This might mean holding space, helping clients learn new coping skills, or building personal resources.

Meet the team: Dr. Reggie Sebastian

How do you build trust with veterans who may be hesitant about seeking mental health care?

I build trust with veterans by listening without judgment, acknowledging their experiences, and emphasizing that seeking mental health care is a sign of strength, not weakness.

How do you tailor your approach for military culture or combat-related trauma?

I tailor my approach by understanding the culture and values of veterans, using trauma-informed care principles, and creating a safe, respectful space where veterans feel understood, in control, and never judged for their experiences.

What’s one piece of advice you’d offer in keeping well?

Make your mental health a priority by staying connected to people, purpose, and routines that support your well-being and don’t hesitate to ask for help early.

Strength, Clarity & Resilience: A Guide to Functional Mushrooms

Functional mushrooms are more than ingredients, they’re nature’s allies in the everyday pursuit of wellness. Proudly Canadian, sustainably grown, and crafted with care, these mushroom-based products can be woven into your daily routine to support focus, stress resilience, immune balance, and overall vitality in simple, meaningful ways.

🧠 Morning Momentum: Start the Day Right

• Brain Boost: Begin your day with a few drops of the Lion's Mane Ultrasonic Dual extract Tincture added to coffee, tea, or a smoothie. Lion’s mane is traditionally associated with supporting focus, memory, and clarity — ideal as you tackle tasks or plan your day.

• Energy & Endurance: If you’re looking for whole-body vitality, a blend like the Cordyceps Mushroom Powder, perfect for morning beverages. Keeping consistent helps the body adapt and build resilience over time.

🌞 Midday Mindfulness: Balance Through the Day

• Steady Support: Make functional mushrooms a daily habit by pairing them with established routines like afternoon tea. The calming taste and wellness benefits of a mushroom blend can help manage everyday stress and keep you centered.

• Immune Wellness: Consider adding mushroom products focused on immune support such as our Turkey Tail Ultrasonic Dual Extract Tincture to your regimen; its rich in polysaccharides and traditionally used to support a healthy immune system and digestive wellness.

  For veterans committed to daily strength, it’s an easy step to feel stronger and healthier every day. Add it to your routine to reinforce your body’s natural defenses on your healing journey.

🌙 Evening Wind-Down: Rest & Recovery

• Relaxation Ritual: Wind down with a cozy mug of tea such as the Reishi + Turkey Tail blend. Reishi is known in traditional practice as an adaptogen — helping the body adapt to stress and support calm as part of your evening routine.

💡Daily Habits That Make a Difference

Consistency matters: Functional mushrooms aren’t instant magic — regular use over weeks (often ~2 weeks or more) tends to yield the most noticeable effects.

Simple integration: Drops in your morning beverage, a mushroom powder stirred into soup or brew, or a nightly tea can all make the practice sustainable.

Tailor to you: Whether you’re looking to sharpen your mind, support stress balance, or nurture your immune system, there’s a blend or method that can fit your daily rhythm.

Functional mushrooms are part of a broader picture of holistic well-being — complementing exercise, nutrition, social connection, and self-care. They aren’t a substitute for medical advice, so if you’re on medications or have health concerns, check with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

But for many veterans looking to fortify their daily wellness with natural support, mushroom-based products can be a meaningful part of the journey — one mindful sip at a time.

Upcoming clinic closures

It may feel like it is far away but we will be closed during the Easter weekend.

That means we will be closed on Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6.

If you have time sensitive needs or requests visit us before then!

Team Tidbits: Shannon MacQueen

Each month we will be highlighting a member of our core team so you can get to know them a little better!