Empowering Your Wellness Knowledge
Our blog shares evidence-informed insights, practical strategies, and compassionate perspectives to support your well-being. Whether you’re exploring body image, navigating weight stigma, strengthening relationships, or building self-compassion, you’ll find articles designed to inform and empower. New posts are published twice monthly by members of the Valeo team.
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How to Advocate for Yourself in Healthcare Without Expecting the Worst
How to Advocate for Yourself in Healthcare Without Expecting the Worst
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What to Say (and Do) When Someone Is Struggling: Supporting Someone Through a Hard Time Without Trying to Fix It
What to Say (and Do) When Someone Is Struggling: Supporting Someone Through a Hard Time Without Trying to Fix It
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A Healthy Relationship Does Not Require Your Disappearance
A Healthy Relationship Does Not Require Your Disappearance
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Reflecting on January: Resolutions that Support Your Well-Being (and Don’t Burn You Out)
Reflecting on January: Resolutions that Support Your Well-Being (and Don’t Burn You Out)
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Your Year Was Meaningful, Even Without a Highlight Reel
Your Year Was Meaningful, Even Without a Highlight Reel
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The Mental Load of the Holidays: A Gentle Reminder to Let Go of Perfection
The Mental Load of the Holidays: A Gentle Reminder to Let Go of Perfection
Read MoreNews and Updates
Stay connected with what’s happening at Valeo. Here you’ll find practice updates, upcoming events, team news, and opportunities to connect with our community. Check back regularly for the latest from our team.
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Presenting Our Research at the Canadian Obesity Summit in Montreal
Presenting Our Research at the Canadian Obesity Summit in Montreal
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Breaking Free From Social Comparison
Breaking Free From Social Comparison
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Practical Strategies to Support Positive Body Image in Children
Practical Strategies to Support Positive Body Image in Children
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Body Talk: How Parents Can Nurture Positive Body Image
Body Talk: How Parents Can Nurture Positive Body Image
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Supporting Everybody During The Holidays
Supporting Everybody During The Holidays
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Presenting Research on Body Image in Milan
Presenting Research on Body Image in Milan
Read MoreWellness Resources
At Valeo, we know support can take many forms. This section brings together carefully selected resources that may be helpful as you navigate your relationship with your body, food, movement, mental health, and overall well-being.
Our team updates these resources regularly. We aim to share information that is compassionate, evidence-informed, practical, and aligned with our commitment to non-shaming, psychologically safe care. These resources are intended to support, not replace, individualized care from a qualified professional.
Mental Health and Crisis Support
If you or someone else is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical support, please call 9-1-1.
For immediate crisis or emotional support in Canada, call or text 9-8-8, available 24/7.
In Calgary and Southern Alberta, the Distress Centre provides confidential 24-hour support by phone, text, and chat at 403-266-HELP (403-266-4357).
Alberta’s Mental Health Help Line is available at 1-877-303-2642, and 2-1-1 Alberta can help connect you with local community, social, and health services. Young people can contact Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.
Reads For Children and Teens
Books can be a gentle way to start conversations with children about bodies, food, feelings, and self-worth.
- Your Body is Awesome: Body Respect for Children by Sigrun Danielsdottir
- Shapesville by Andy Mills and Becky Osborn
- I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson
- Full Mouse, Empty Mouse: A Tale of Food and Feelings by Dina Zeckhausen
- The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless by Charlotte H. Markey
- Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder
- The Pronoun Book by Jem Milton and Cassandra Jules Corrigan
- Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah Hoffman
- The Pants Project by Cat Clarke
- King and King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
- In Our Mothers’ House by Patricia Polacco
- My Shadow Is Purple by Scott Stuart
- P Is for Pride by Greg Paprocki
- A Single Dreadlock by Xaiver Michael Campbell
- Our Skin: a First Conversation about Race by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli
- Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney
- Dancing on Wild Rice by Elizabeth Albert-Peacock
- My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom
- The Sharing Circle by Theresa “Corky” Larsen-Jonasson
- AAAlligator! by Judith Henderson
Reads For Adults
- ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction–from Childhood through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey
- Smart But Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD by Thomas E. Brown
- Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents by Russell Barkley
- More Than a Body: Your Body Is an Instrument, Not an Ornament by Lexie Kite and Lindsay Kite
- Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight by Lindo (formerly Linda) Bacon
- Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith
- The Emotional Eating, Chronic Dieting, Binge Eating & Body Image Workbook by Judith Matz, Amy Pershing, Christy Harrison
- Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
- Becoming the Kind Father: A Son’s Journey by Calvin Sandborn
- The Mindfulness Solution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems by Ronald Siegel
- Fierce Self-Compassion: How to Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Your Power, and Thrive – A Personal Development Guide for Women Seeking Balance and Motivation by Kristin Neff
- Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
- Body Happy Kids: How to Help Children and Teens Love the Skin They’re In by Molly Forbes
- The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
- Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith
Online Resources
Relationships
RSA Short: Empathy – Brené Brown
The Gottman Institute: The Gottman Institute | Relationships
Self-Compassion
Body Equity Lab
Dr. Alana Ireland, the founder of Valeo, also leads the Body Equity Lab. Housed at Athabasca University, the lab supports more equitable research around weight, eating disorders, body image, weight stigma, and health. The care offered at Valeo is evidence-informed and grounded in current advances in research, including research being conducted at the Body Equity Lab.
