Meditation for Health is a medical clinic located in downtown Toronto. We serve the community by providing programs of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to patients referred by their family doctor or psychiatrist. Our programs are attended also by healthcare providers and other caregivers.
Since opening in 1997, Meditation for Health has provided MBSR programs to more than 2500 patients and caregivers.
All our programs are instructed by Lucinda Sykes, M.D., in collaboration with Liz Creighton, M.S.W., and other experienced facilitators from the disciplines of social work or nursing. Our clinic’s longtime administrator and program coordinator is Diana Wilson.
Our Director
 Lucinda Sykes, M.D., has practiced medicine in Toronto since 1979. A graduate of the University of Alberta, and the University of Toronto, Dr. Sykes established first a practice of family medicine. She soon developed a special interest in psychotherapy, and trained in 10 years of analysis with Jungian analysts, Marion Woodman and Fraser Boa. She has continued active in Toronto’s C.G. Jung Foundation.
Dr. Sykes established Meditation for Health in 1997. She has participated in two residential programs of professional training conducted by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn with Dr. Saki Santorelli. She regularly attends continuing education events sponsored by the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts.
Dr. Sykes has maintained a personal practice of mindfulness and yoga since 1980. Most recently, she has studied qigong with Prof. P.Y. Shen in Toronto.
A former board member of the General Practice Psychotherapy Association, Dr. Sykes has continued active in the GPPA’s annual conference and professional education program.
Our Facilitators
Liz Creighton, MSW, RSW has more than 30 years experience in health care as a counselor and teacher. She has taught in the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, and has extensive counseling experience with individuals, couples and families. For the past five years, Ms. Creighton has facilitated stress management groups at a teaching hospital in Toronto. She has facilitated Meditation for Health groups since 2003.
Sue Hutton, BSW has more than 20 years experience in community-based case management for social service agencies, providing counseling care for those with disabilities and chronic medical and mental health needs. Since 1985, Ms. Hutton has practiced and studied mindful meditation in Canada, USA and India. She has facilitated groups that include mindful relaxation since 1996. Ms. Hutton has facilitated Meditation for Health groups since 2006.
Ron McFarlan, RN, BAAN has practiced as a registered nurse for more than 20 years, with experience in critical care, psychiatry and nursing informatics at the University Health Network in Toronto. His special interests include holistic nursing, clinical ethics and the relationship between stress and disease. For more than 15 years, Mr. McFarlan has also been involved as a volunteer programmer at CKLN community radio. He has facilitated Meditation for Health groups since 2002.
Channa Verbian, Ed.D.(can), RSW is a registered social worker and certified Focusing Oriented psychotherapist in private practice in mid-town Toronto. Her practice is client-centered, incorporating mindfulness and focusing techniques to help clients access and process their emotions. Currently, she is writing her doctoral dissertation in counseling psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.
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Our Program Coordinator
Diana Wilson has been the program coordinator at Meditation for Health since 1999. Prior to that, she managed community-based medical and holistic health clinics for over 20 years. Ms. Wilson completed a program of relaxation massage at Kikkawa College, and has had a private practice of massage since 1997. She has a special interest in the application of mindfulness practice to massage.
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