Workplace Wellness: Presence-Based Care for Workers
For people who work with their bodies, healing should meet them there. This program offers a quiet, non-verbal approach to stress, burnout, and injury recovery—no therapy talk required, no pressure to share, no performance expected.
Who This Program Serves
Union members navigating high-stress shifts, physical demands, and workplace change
WSIB participants in recovery from workplace injury
Shift workers and trades professionals managing burnout, fatigue, or chronic pain
Anyone in a high-pressure role where “talking about it” isn’t how they process stress
This program was developed in part through work with GM Oshawa union members and WSIB participants. It recognizes that many workers—particularly those in physical, unionized, or industrial settings—don’t connect with conventional mental health services. Not because they don’t need support, but because the format doesn’t fit.
A Different Kind of Wellness Program
Most workplace mental health programs require employees to talk: explain their problems, share feelings, participate in group discussion. For many workers—especially those dealing with pain, injury, or workplace trauma—this is a barrier, not a benefit.
This program takes a body-based approach:
Ear acupuncture (NADA Protocol) — Five-point auricular acupuncture focused on stress and trauma recovery. Sit comfortably for 30–45 minutes in a calm, low-light environment
Simple body-awareness techniques — Learning to notice physical sensation as a way to interrupt stress patterns
No verbal processing required — You don’t need to explain, disclose, or perform in any way
No pressure to share — The session works through the body, not through conversation
You walk in, sit down, receive treatment, and rest. That’s it.
What Participants Say
“I left clearer than I’ve felt in weeks. I didn’t understand how it worked beforehand, but I didn’t need to.”
“No one asked me to talk about my injury or explain how I was feeling. I just sat there and something shifted. The tension in my shoulders released for the first time in months.”
Session Format
Duration: 30–45 minutes per session
Setting: Small group (8–12 participants), quiet room with comfortable seating
Frequency: Weekly sessions available; attend as often as fits your schedule
What to expect: Arrive, sit comfortably, receive ear acupuncture, rest in silence, leave when ready
No paperwork at each visit. No homework. No group sharing circle.
For Union Benefit Administrators
If you administer benefits for a unionized workforce, this program offers a practical mental health option with high uptake potential:
Low barrier to entry — Workers don’t need to identify as “having a problem” or schedule individual appointments
Group delivery — Efficient use of clinical time; serves 8–12 workers simultaneously
Non-stigmatizing — Framed as wellness, not therapy. Workers attend alongside colleagues without disclosure
OHIP-covered — No cost to the member or the benefit plan when delivered through Ajax Harwood Clinic
Complements existing benefits — Works alongside EAP, physiotherapy, and medication management
We can work with your union local to schedule sessions at times that align with shift patterns and minimize disruption.
WSIB Recovery Support
Workplace injury recovery is not only physical. Pain, sleep disruption, anxiety about returning to work, and the stress of navigating WSIB processes all take a toll. This program supports recovery by:
Addressing the nervous system dysregulation that often accompanies chronic pain
Providing a non-verbal outlet for processing injury-related stress
Improving sleep quality and reducing anxiety alongside physical rehabilitation
Offering a consistent, low-demand touchpoint during what is often a long and isolating recovery
Getting Started
Complete a short intake form — Available at the clinic or by request
Referral support — Your family doctor can provide a formal referral, or contact the clinic directly to discuss options