Allies Integrated Health

Call to Action 22 asks those who can change the health care system to:

“recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices”

The full call also asks for collaboration with Indigenous healers and Elders when Indigenous patients request it.

We want to be clear: sharing this call does not mean Allies has established those relationships or offers Indigenous healing practices...YET! We are currently seeking these connections.

It is an invitation to learn about a responsibility within health care—to respect Indigenous knowledge and people’s choices about their own care. Any relationships we build in this area need to develop with respect, consent, and guidance from those who hold that knowledge.

On September 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Allies will remain open and donate 100% of the day’s proceeds to the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. This is one concrete contribution, with more work ahead.

Read Call to Action 22 in full at nctr.ca.

A plum good reason to turn on the oven. 💜

It’s plum season in B.C., and these sweet-tart little gems deserve a moment.

Sweet, juicy, and bringing a little fibre and vitamin C to the party. Keep the skins on, and spoon your roasted plums over plain Greek yogurt for a snack with protein, too.

Easy maple-roasted plums:

• 6 ripe plums, halved and pitted
• 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup, depending on how sweet your plums are
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon melted butter or neutral oil

Place the plums cut-side up in a small baking dish. Drizzle with the maple syrup and butter or oil, then sprinkle with cinnamon.

Roast at 375°F / 190°C for 20–25 minutes, checking early if they’re very ripe. They’re ready when tender and juicy.

Spoon over yogurt, porridge, or vanilla ice cream. Absolutely include the juices.

Save this for your next market haul—or send it to the friend whose plum tree is currently feeding the entire neighbourhood. 🌳

Things you’re allowed to say at your first counselling appointment:

“I’m not sure where to start.”
“Nothing is technically wrong, but I don’t feel like myself.”
“There’s a lot.”
“Can you help me figure out what to talk about?”

You don’t need a neatly organized story to begin.

Our counsellors offer compassionate support for life’s challenges—with space to feel heard, explore what’s happening, and move at your own pace.

Meet our counselling team and find someone who feels like a good fit through the link in our bio.

Call to Action 18 asks governments to:

“recognize and implement the health-care rights of Aboriginal people”

It also calls on governments to acknowledge the connection between Indigenous health inequities and past government policies, including residential schools.

As a health care clinic, we have a responsibility to understand this context. Reading the call raises questions we need to sit with—and eventually answer through action: What barriers might people face in accessing our care? What assumptions do we bring into the room? What needs to change?

On September 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Allies will remain open and donate 100% of the day’s proceeds to the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. This is one concrete contribution, with more work ahead.

We don’t have all those answers. We’re sharing this call because it matters to the work we do, and because acknowledging it is a beginning.

Read Call to Action 18 in full at nctr.ca.

September 30 is a day to honour, remember, and consider what we do next.

On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, Survivors, their families, and communities.

Allies will remain open that day, and we have pledged to donate 100% of the day’s proceeds to the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.

We work on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Peoples, represented by the Songhees and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations, and the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples. Their relationships with these lands continue today.

As a care team, we are considering our responsibilities to Indigenous communities and the ongoing impacts of colonialism within health care.

We are still early in this work. There are gaps between our intentions and the learning and action needed to support them. This donation is one concrete contribution, and we recognize that reflection alone is not enough.

Leading up to September 30, we’ll share some of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action related to health care. We’re sharing them as responsibilities we need to understand and act on—not as work we have already completed.

☕ What if going to an appointment didn’t feel so clinical?

Care works better when you feel comfortable enough to be yourself. That’s why we’ve created a space with warmth, personality, and room to exhale.

No judgment. No pressure to fit a mould. Just thoughtful care and people who are glad you’re here. 💛

Pull up a seat. Visit the link in our bio to meet the team and plan your first visit.

🌈 Your sensory needs aren’t “too much.” They’re part of how we care for you.

A small comfort can make a big difference. Whether you need a fidget, extra time, clear explanations, a quieter experience, or another accommodation, you’re welcome to tell us what helps.

You know your needs best. Our role is to listen and work with you. 🫶

What would make your next appointment feel more accessible? Tell us when you book through the link in our bio.
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🔥 Sometimes healing looks a little fiery.

Fire cupping may look dramatic, but your experience at Allies is grounded in communication, consent, and care.

We’ll explain the process, answer your questions, and tailor your treatment to you—because feeling informed and respected is part of feeling safe. 💛

Want to explore whether cupping is right for you? Visit the link in our bio to connect with our team.

Meet Hannah Hale, Registered Clinical Counsellor and the newest member of the Allies counselling team! 🌿

Hannah offers warm, person-centred counselling for people navigating anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship challenges, identity, or that persistent feeling of being stuck.

As a polyamorous, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent counsellor, Hannah understands how meaningful it can be to work with someone you don’t have to educate about your identity, neurodivergence, or relationship structure. Her practice warmly welcomes LGBTQIA+, multicultural, and neurodivergent clients, as well as people in polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous relationships.

Drawing from Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Hannah adapts counselling to your needs—without judgment or a predetermined script for how your life should look.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin.

Ready to meet Hannah? Book your counselling appointment through the link in our bio, or contact us at [email protected].