Who's Who Women in Business

20 who's who women in business Louise Blanchard, Birch Wellness Center Blanchard created a one-stop wellness centre to offer a variety of services under one roof. All is Wellness { one-stoP Practice feels like hoMe } By Nancy Boomer a mid the bustle of downtown Winnipeg, Louise Blanchard has created a tranquil oasis for people seeking wellness, and for a team of professionals dedicated to helping them achieve it. A long-time therapist in private practice, Blanchard was at a turning point in her career when she developed a unique service delivery concept that would become the Birch Wellness Center. "I was working with a psychologist at the time who was winding down her practice, so I was wondering what would be the next step for me," she says. "That's when I got the idea for a multi- disciplinary private practice. There is nothing like it in Manitoba, hardly anything like it in Canada and it has become a real movement in the U.S. It completely makes sense. It's a one-stop shop." The practice brings a comprehensive team of independent, private practitioners all under one roof, in a beautifully-appointed, turn- of-the-century heritage home with an inviting front courtyard and welcoming ambience. Fee-for-service options include clinical psychology, psychotherapy, clinical social work, psychiatry, nutrition consulting, occupational therapy, marriage and family therapy, play therapy, naturopathic medicine and massage therapy. The services are covered by several major group insurance plans, such as Blue Cross and Great- West Life. Blanchard has created a working atmosphere that both encourages professional collaboration for the team and provides a calming environment for clients. The centre's name was inspired by the naturally resilient birch tree, thematically reflected in artwork and other design elements throughout the house. "I believe that people are complex, so there is no one method that is likely to effectively deal with the variety of needs they face, such as those working through trauma or coping with mental health issues," Blanchard says. "I knew it would be beneficial to my clients to be able to provide a central, one-stop shop in the downtown area where clients could easily access our services from all points in the city. That was the vision." Blanchard worked with the Women's Enterprise Centre to do market research and develop a business plan. She says her husband — transformational and organizational management consultant Tom Klos — has been vital to guiding the venture from the start. The Birch Wellness Center opened on May 1, 2013 and today, 23 professionals offer wellness services under one umbrella, with the advantage of a complete professional infrastructure, including administrative support and stationery. "For clients, it's ideal because everything is here," Blanchard says. "We collaborate, we consult and we refer within, so it is not that we are all just a group of professionals working out of the same office. It really is a connected and collaborative process – a definite team approach." The success of that approach has led to renovations of the house's lower level to accommodate the growth of individual practices, as well as space for activities such as group meetings, yoga and meditation. "A clinical setting is hard for some people, so we wanted this to be a place where people would want to come," she says. "That's the feedback we are getting from people coming into the building — it feels kind of like home." • PHOTO By DARCy FINLEy

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