Holsom Wellness

12/08/2025

Thankful for another lovely workshop over the weekend with Gabor. This time we met with Dr. Ramani Durvasula, author of It’s Not You, a powerful book on understanding narcissism and healing from relational harm.

Many people are familiar with the acronym DARVO (Deny – Attack – Reverse Victim and Offender) when talking about narcissistic patterns. In our workshop, and in her book, Dr. Durvasula introduced another helpful framework: DIMMER:

D – Dismissive: disregarding or belittling another’s feelings, needs, or perspective
I – Invalidation: undermining someone’s emotional reality, often making them feel insignificant or wrong
M – Minimization: downplaying concerns or struggles, making them seem unimportant
M – Manipulation: using control or deceit to influence people or situations
E – Exploitativeness/Entitlement: believing they deserve special treatment regardless of others’ needs
R – Rage: sudden, intense anger that surfaces when their sense of superiority is threatened or shame is activated

As always, I offer a gentle reminder: learning this material isn’t an invitation to diagnose the people around us. Information is empowering - and human personality exists on a wide, complex spectrum. All of us carry some narcissistic traits simply because we’re human.

I’m excited to dive into the paper copy of this book so I can mark it up with all the highlighting and tabs!!

If anyone is interested in reading together - a small, curiosity-driven book club in the new year - let me know. This wouldn’t be a therapy group, just a space to learn and explore, together.

11/29/2025

❤️ If the news and recent changes in our province are feeling heavy right now, you’re not alone. You are valued here. It’s okay to pause, to breathe, and to tend to yourself.

Systemic oppression carries a real human cost, and that weight doesn’t land on just a few people. It ripples outward and affects us all. I see you.

We are also fortunate to live in a democracy where our voices still matter. There are meaningful ways to respond:

• Take good care of yourself
• Reach out to your MLA
• Read the legislation and stay informed
• Attend or organize a peaceful rally
• Volunteer, or sign a petition
• Take good care of one another

Compassion is an act of resistance.
For yourself. And for others. 💛

11/21/2025

Today, the Government of Alberta tabled Bill 13, the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act. I know people may start hearing about it and wonder what it means, especially those who rely on regulated professionals.

❓️Bill 13 applies to an enormous range of regulated professionals across Alberta. This includes psychologists, physicians, nurses, midwives, chiropractors, teachers, ECEs, real-estate professionals, home inspectors, funeral services, environmental, trades, safety codes officers, driver examiners, security services, and many more.
❗️In reality, this bill reaches far beyond any one field - it affects the standards and oversight of many of the professionals Albertans rely on every single day.

Acknowledging upfront that the College of Alberta Psychologists remains my regulatory body and the authority on how any new legislation affects the practice of psychology in this province. This is Holly's simple, early overview of what the bill says, based purely on the text introduced in the Legislature today (not legal advice or a CAP interpretation).

❓️What Bill 13 Proposes
Bill 13 limits what regulatory colleges can require, oversee, or respond to.
⚖️ Section 8 prevents regulators from requiring training in cultural competency, unconscious bias, diversity, equity, or inclusion.
⚖️ Section 6 restricts regulators from acting on principles that involve systemic patterns of bias or disadvantage, including concepts like privilege, unconscious bias, or systemic oppression.
⚖️ Section 5 narrows when regulators can intervene in a professional’s public statements. They may only act when there are threats, violence, sexual misconduct, or misuse of a professional role.

Together, these changes shift regulation away from the broader public-safety model people are familiar with in Alberta. It may affect the consistency of standards and how certain concerns are assessed.

What This Means For You
💡Regulation exists to protect the public by ensuring professionals stay competent, ethical, up to date, and accountable.
💡When required training and the ability to evaluate conduct through cultural, social, or systemic lenses are restricted, the role of a regulator changes. They may become more like a licensing office and less like an oversight body that can respond to evolving risks or inequities.
💡This does not eliminate regulation, but it narrows what regulators are allowed to require or address, which may create more variation across professions in areas that used to support safe, inclusive practice.

Albertans deserve clear information so we can think critically about how regulatory changes may affect the consistency and safety of professional services in our province.

My commitment remains the same: to practice at a standard grounded in care, responsibility, cultural humility, and deep respect for the people I serve.

Wishing you gentle days ahead.

~ Holly

11/10/2025

Do you need reminders for self care?
Here’s an app to make it fun.
It has a paid version but the free version is lots.
Have a great Monday, all!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EdcpHGTMF/

Self Care Pet Game

10/22/2025

"You will end up in the black, contemplative splendors of self-doubt" - David Whyte

What do we do if we are lost?

How do you know you are on the right path?

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

10/17/2025

Want to help build community?
November 8th ❤️ Monarch Theatre 🎥
You're not going to want to miss this ❤️

Join What Matters to Hatters Coalition on November 8 at The Monarch Theatre for the Project UnLonely Film Fest & Community Mingle.

Medicine Hat Healthy Communities - An Equity Lens will also be publicly launched and shared about at this event. This initiative is aimed at promoting inclusivity and resilience within our city.

A community mingle will be hosted following the viewing of the films which will include an overview of the initiative's goals and how it aligns with fostering a healthier, more connected community. Local work being done to address social isolation and loneliness will also be showcased, as well as local opportunities to get together and connect. This is a unique opportunity to engage with community leaders, share your perspectives, and discover meaningful ways to contribute to building a healthy, resilient Medicine Hat.

Together, we can create a stronger, more connected community. We look forward to seeing you there!

10/14/2025

The air feels clearer, the world softer.

Grateful for the hearts I get to walk beside and the gentle reminder from Mother Nature of how beautiful it can be to let go. 🍂

I am so thankful for family, friends, and my amazing clients who share their beautiful hearts with me.

Thank you for every tear and every smile, for each fear and worry.

Thank you for sharing your triggers - and for humoring me each time we’re reminded of the green bush. 😉

Thank you to all who have referred others to find me.

And to my fellow health professionals, thank you for helping build healthy workplaces for one another and healing spaces for those we serve.

Feeling deeply thankful for you all. ❤️

10/12/2025

Exciting news from Jane, our proudly Canadian electronic health record provider! ❤️

This app works for those in 🇨🇦 and 🇺🇸.

Give it a try and let me know if there are any struggles.

09/23/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BAocqMTUi/

APA Statement on White House Announcement on Autism https://ow.ly/P6k850X0zCi

09/22/2025

09/21/2025

Welcome, Dr. Jeff!

Hey everyone! My name is Dr. Jeff Staheli and I am happy to have joined the Powers & Jans team as Chiropractor. My chiropractic journey has taken me to some pretty exciting places including Oregon, Arizona and BC, but being born and raised in Alberta, I am excited to move my family back home and plant roots in Medicine Hat.

For over 15 years I've been working with patients ranging from professional athletes, weekend warriors and families of all ages, to help them reach their health & fitness goals. I am excited to bring my experience to Powers & Jans and help promote a healthy lifestyle in the community of Medicine Hat.

09/21/2025

❤️

🕊️✨ International Day of Peace – September 21 ✨🕊️

This day calls us to reflect on the power of nonviolence, justice, and unity — values that Dr. Maya Angelou championed in her poetry and activism.

💬 “Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.” – Maya Angelou

May we choose peace, understanding, and compassion in our actions today and every day. 🌍💛