Our Philosophy

Recovery-oriented approach is considered the best-practice, most helpful framework for approaching mental health care and treatment. A dynamic and rapidly-growing philosophy, it is rooted in hope and a strong belief that individuals affected by mental health issues can lead overall healthy and fulfilling lives despite the adversity their symptoms may cause.

It consists of several components that ensure the client themselves are prioritized and actively involved in their care - as listed in the graphic above.

Fundamental to the Cocoon Clinic belief system is that mental health issues are not something to be “fixed”, and recovery means an absence of symptoms. 

These issues are more often than not chronic and require ongoing management and support.

There is a natural ebb and flow to symptoms and disease process. There may be periods 

of strong functioning, and psychosocial stressors or uptick in brain chemistry at a 

later time may exacerbate symptoms. 

The current treatment process, with limited to no follow up, reduces the opportunity for mental health care providers to observe and consider these important factors.

Our intention at Cocoon Clinic is to 

follow individuals over long periods of 

time for several reasons.

1)  To prevent re-referrals and long wait times upon re-emergence of symptoms and provide continuity of care.

2)  To evaluate effectiveness of interventions which often require long periods to note change.

3)  To provide a reliable and accessible means for families to seek counsel and advice over time to determine if a heightened level of support is again required.

There are several groups of people who are particularly vulnerable and experience mental health issues at both a greater rate and severity than the general population. In particular:

- Indigenous and other visible minority Manitobans

-  LGBTQ2 Manitobans 

- Individuals with trauma or abuse histories 

These groups can often feel a sense 

of distrust towards health care practitioners given historical stigmatizing, poor prior experiences or a general feeling of existing outside the norm. 

At Cocoon Clinic we are committed to being culturally aware of the unique challenges facing these vulnerable populations and will advocate for connection to healing groups. 

This distinction is critical in what makes the establishment of a mental health nursing care clinic unique. Key to a nurse’s practice is the establishment of “nursing diagnoses”. 

Nursing diagnoses differ from medical diagnoses in that: 

- Rather than identifying a disorder, they pinpoint human response or actual or potential health problems and life processes. 

- While a medical diagnosis focuses on the illness, nursing diagnoses focus on the patient’s signs and symptoms. 

Some examples of mental health nursing diagnoses include: 

- risk for injury 

- impaired social interaction 

- ineffective coping 

- self-care deficit 

Nursing care plans identify existing needs and recognize potential needs or risks. They provide communication across stakeholders to ensure quality, consistency, and accountability. Care plans promote evidence-based nursing care, support holistic needs, identify and distinguish goals and expected outcomes, and provide a tool for measuring care.

Youth spend 8 hours of their day at school – it is virtually their full-time job. Academic stress and mental health issues have a direct relationship. Mood and anxiety symptoms include fatigue, lack of motivation, poor memory, and attention and concentration deficits – to name a few.

These experiences can make school extremely difficult and can cause attendance and grades to suffer. Isolation and feelings of guilt related to academics can in turn exacerbate their mood and anxiety symptoms. It is a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break.

 It has historically been difficult for school teams and health care practitioners to connect given fears and limitations around confidentiality. 

We will actively work with clients and families to obtain consent to share information with school teams, closing the loop of care and ensuring involved adults are informed and optimally mobilized.