Using IFS Therapy to treat anxiety is perhaps one of the best-use cases of this cutting-edge form of psychotherapy.
How IFS Therapy Works
IFS stands for Internal Family Systems.
IFS Therapy teaches that our inner life is composed of different parts (feelings, thoughts, beliefs, behavior patterns or somatic sensations), sometimes called subpersonalities. By learning to focus on and work with your “inner family” of parts, IFS helps you develop emotional intelligence and emotional regulation skills.
For instance, one part of you might be feeling anxious, while another part of you judges your anxiety and wants it to go away.
Normally the secondary reaction of self-criticism might lead to an escalation of anxiety. But when we are able to relate to parts of our inner system from a mindset of genuine curiosity—for example it’s ok that I’m feeling anxious right now…I wonder what could be causing this?—the parts tend to relax and give you more space to see the big picture.
A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Anxiety with IFS Therapy
This ability to separate from the thoughts, feelings and beliefs of our parts is what Internal Family Systems calls Self. IFS therapy for anxiety is therefore a “mindfulness-based” approach. Self is curious, compassionate, calm, centered, courageous, creative and connected.
By linking these Self-qualities to moments of anxiety, you may discover how to shift your focus into states of mind that will bring you peace and greater resourcefulness.
Working with an IFS therapist for anxiety, you’ll find more ease even with distressing or anxious thoughts. You’ll learn how those parts of you are working hard and deserve respect. Most other approaches to anxiety teach that you should confront and battle your anxiety to keep it from encroaching on your life, but this can be burdensome to an already hard-working nervous system.
IFS therapy for anxiety is a novel and creative treatment that is increasingly evidence-based (meaning it is validated empirically in scientific studies of anxiety treatments).
Most people think of individual therapy as a way to deal with personal problems or issues. While this is certainly true, individual therapy can also be a powerful tool for improving your relationship with your partner. In fact, individual therapy can be one of the most effective ways to resolve conflicts and improve communication.
Sometimes people refuse to go to therapy with the person they love. There can be many reasons why they refuse. Everything from denial to embarrassment. Their refusal can also stem from a lack of trust or faith in therapy. They may feel that it won’t do any good or that their problems are too big to solve.
You can try forcing them to go to therapy against their will. Most of the time that will end with a healing outcome.
You could just throw your hands up in the air and give up. Feeling hopeless is understandable, but it’s not a feeling we want driving the bus. .
Those are not your only two options.
Even if both partners refuse to go to therapy together, individual therapy can still help improve the relationship. In fact, individual therapy is often recommended for couples who are struggling to resolve conflicts.
One of the main benefits of individual therapy is that it can help you to explore your own personal issues and dynamics that might be affecting your relationship.
Here are a few of the ways individual therapy can help your relationship:
Better Communication Skills
One of the main problems in many relationships is poor communication. Individual therapy can help you to learn better communication skills.
Good communication skills do not involve only expressing your own thoughts and feelings, but also having good listening skills. Actively listening to your partner and trying to understand them can go a long way towards any conflict resolution.
You Will Fight Fair
In any relationship, there will be disagreements. How you handle those disagreements can go a long way in determining whether or not your relationship will last.
One of the things that individual therapy can help you with is learning how to fight fair. This means that you argue in a constructive way and do not resort to name-calling, blaming, or trying to coerce the other. .
You Are Happier
Individual therapy can also help to make you a happier person. When you are happier, your relationships are likely to benefit too.
Being happy does not mean that you will never have any problems in your relationship. However, it does mean that you will be more equipped to handle those problems in a constructive way.
You Become a Better Parent
If you are considering having children or already have them, individual therapy can help you to become a better parent.
Being a good parent is not only about providing for your child’s physical needs, but also their emotional needs. Individual therapy can help you to learn how to be a more emotionally present parent and how to deal with any emotional issues that might arise.
You Can Share Techniques With Your Spouse
If your partner is unwilling to go to therapy with you, you can still get a lot out of individual therapy. In fact, you might be able to share some of the techniques that you learned in therapy with them.
This can help to improve communication and resolve conflicts in a more constructive way.
Your Partner May Change Their Mind
There is no guarantee that your partner will change their mind about going to therapy, but it is possible.
If they see how much individual therapy has helped you and how it has made you a happier, more balanced person, they may be more willing to give it a try.
Focus on You
Individual therapy can be an extremely effective way to improve your relationship with your partner. Even if they are unwilling to go to therapy with you, individual therapy can still help. Therapy can help you to explore your own personal issues and dynamics that might be affecting your relationship. It can also provide a safe space for you and your partner to discuss any problems or concerns that you might have.
When we stop doing something, the thoughts and feelings of what used to happen usually get worse. When quitting an addiction such as drugs or alcohol, it’s important to avoid any triggers that remind us of the past so we don’t slip back into old habits. We can’t avoid everything in our lives, but there are some things we can do to help us stay on track and not relapse.
We’ll discuss two common types of relapse triggers: physical cues and emotional cues. These will be followed by a list of tips for avoiding these triggers during recovery from substance use disorder including both general tips and specific examples related to each type of trigger.
List of Common Relapse Triggers
Being around people who are drinking or using drugs
Being around places where people use or drink, e.g. bars or clubs.
Smells that remind us of alcohol or drugs, e.g. hand sanitizer, chemical detergent (which can smell like cocaine), etc…
Feeling alone and isolated – boredom/lack of structure in life
Family problems, including relationship with spouse, family members, parents.
Stress at work or school and other important relationships
Trouble sleeping; may increase using alcohol or drugs as a way to sleep. Also may stress us out which makes it hard to sleep without the use of substances.
Untreated mental health issues like depression, anxiety, etc…
Ways You Can Avoid Relapse Triggers
Involve family members at every level of the recovery process
In order to avoid relapse, it’s important to have support from your loved ones throughout all stages of the recovery process. If they’re involved, they can understand what you’re going through and provide a lifeline when needed, while also helping you stay on track during tough times.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), around 70 percent of people relapse when they try to quit by themselves, but this number is significantly lower with recovery support – only 10-20 percent of those who have others involved in their recovery tend to relapse.
Having a routine
People are more likely to stay on track with their recovery when they have a routine. If you have a specific time of day that you use or drink, then try to follow this schedule as much as possible after you stop using.
For example, if you used to wake up and drink before work every day, then try waking up at a similar time even if you don’t need to be at work. If you drank right after work, then try going for a walk or doing something different instead.
If possible, avoid spending time with people who use substances as it can lead to relapse
It’s pretty common for those trying to stop substance abuse believe that they’re not vulnerable to relapse if they’re only around family and friends that don’t use. However, close friends or those who are important in our life can lead us back into the habits we’ve been trying to avoid because of their influence.
Even if you feel like you can handle it, try to take a break from people who still use as much as you can. If you can’t avoid them for some reason, at least try to avoid social situations where substance use may increase such as bars.
Treat mental health problems if they exist
If you have a mental illness and don’t receive treatment for it, your relapse rate is much higher than if you do manage to treat the disorder first. Instead of using substances to cope with problems, get a therapist and a psychiatrist if needed to treat any mental health conditions that may exist.
Avoid drug-related cues
Cues can be anything from triggers like smells or people, places or times of day when you used addictive substances. If you tried to quit by yourself in the past and failed, take note of what may have led you back to using so that you can avoid these cues in the future.
Plan Ahead
Take notice of common relapse triggers and do your best to plan ahead, especially if it’s a place or time when you used substances before. For example, if it’s the holidays, then try to find things to keep busy – don’t just spend time at home alone where there won’t be any distractions.
Reach out for additional help if needed
Relapse triggers are something you should be aware of and avoid. If possible, try to stay away from people who use substances as it can lead to relapse. You may also want to check out some additional resources for help if needed- there’s no shame in reaching out for assistance!
We can help you to take back control of your life. For help in dealing with an addiction for you or a loved one, reach out to our addiction counselors today.
Addiction is a complicated and pervasive issue that can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion or occupation. It doesn’t matter if you are old or young: addiction knows no bounds. Addiction is also an inescapable disease which has been with us for centuries and will be with us in the future. A person who suffers from addiction needs help to get better and live a healthy life again; they need somebody on their side to fight alongside them during this challenging time.
Different Types of Addiction
When people think of addiction, many different images come to mind. Some people might think about abuse of illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Others may think about the effects of drinking too much alcohol or smoking too many cigarettes. People often relate addiction to homelessness and prostitution because they are likely to see these people on the streets.
Sometimes, people might not even think about addiction as an actual disease because of the common stereotypes associated with addicts. However, the truth is that there are a number of different types of addictions and each one has a specific group of symptoms and behaviors which make it unique in its own way.
Signs and Symptoms
People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol will often develop a tolerance for the substance they are abusing. Over time, they have to keep taking more of the drug in order to get high. They may also suffer from withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it suddenly.
Sometimes, people turn into addicts because they are suffering from an untreated mental illness. In this case, the addiction is a way for them to self-medicate and deal with depression or anxiety.
In other cases, people may have an issue with gambling which becomes so severe over time that it begins to take over their life. They neglect family and friends in favor of spending all their time and money on putting bets down.
Behaviors
Addicts tend to be secretive about their actions and will often hide the addiction from loved ones. They may also try to justify or rationalize their behavior when they are challenged by others about it. Addicts may even display aggression in order to get what they want when they are unable to acquire drugs or alcohol on their own.
Addicts often engage in risky behaviors when they are intoxicated or withdrawing from drugs and alcohol. They may drive drunk, engage in prostitution, rob someone of their money to buy more substances or partake in any number of other harmful activities.
Finding a Counselor
An addiction can’t simply be turned off like a switch; it is an illness which requires professional help.
An addiction counselor is a professional who, through experience and education, can help an addict find sobriety and stay clean. There are many different types of addiction counselors: some specialize in group counseling, others in family counseling or prevention, and yet others in intervention services or behavioral therapies.
There are many resources available to help addicts get the assistance they need, even if they don’t have insurance or access to health care. Many churches and community centers offer support groups for addicts and their families. You can also try contacting your insurance company or health care provider to find out about addiction counseling support in your area.
You can also check your local hospital or medical center for resources related to addiction treatment.
When you’re looking for an addiction counselor, it’s important that you find somebody who is qualified and experienced in treating your type of addiction. Different types of counselors have different specialties they focus on. For example, some may specialize in drug or alcohol abuse while others may focus on other types of addictions like gambling or sex addiction. In this way, it’s important that you find somebody who specializes in your particular issue so that they can provide the most effective treatment for you.
Couples counseling can be a helpful tool in any relationship, but it is especially useful for couples who are experiencing difficulty. Whether you’re trying to fix the problem or just looking for ways to enhance your connection, there are many benefits of working with a trained professional. Here are some reasons why couples should consider seeking out sessions with an expert:
-To learn how to improve communication and turn arguments into meaningful discussions
-To help resolve conflict that may have been affecting your sex life
-To explore possible differences in values and lifestyle choices
-To get support when one partner has experienced trauma such as abuse or addiction
-For guidance on what steps to take if you want to end the relationship
What is couples counseling and how does it work?
Couples counseling is a type of psychotherapy – not unlike individual counseling – designed to help partners in a romantic relationship to be happier and more fulfilled, both as individuals and as a team. In couples counseling, the two people in a couple are treated together so they can focus on their partnership rather than individually. Couples counseling may also involve family members or friends if they are causing problems in a relationship.
Another name for couples counseling is marriage therapy . However, it’s not necessary to be married in order to have a successful therapeutic experience in the presence of your significant other.
Why should you seek out sessions with an expert?
Couples counseling is for anyone with a serious concern about their romantic relationship. This could include relationships in which either: Both partners are experiencing emotional suffering, or one partner has difficulty adjusting to a long term relationship and the other partner is having problems handling what’s going on.
When is the right time to start going to couples counseling?
The answer to this question depends on the issue you are dealing with. In all my years of counseling couples, I have found that there are three distinct reasons that people seek out couples therapy.
1) The first type of couple is what I consider to be “The Perfect Couple.” They have been married for a number of years and have no major issues. They are happy with their marriage and enjoy going out on dates, cooking together, sharing hobbies, etc. Their kids are grown and they share in the responsibilities that come with them. There is a lot of intimacy between them, but just not enough passion. They are often wondering if there is something wrong with them as a couple because the flames of passionate love seem to have gone out.
2) The second type of couples that seek counseling are those that deal with recurring emotional or verbal abuse in their relationship. These relationships escalate from small disagreements into a major argument where excessive nagging or yelling of hurtful things (often true) occurs. These couples will fight over minor issues and end up talking to each other in ways they would never talk to anybody else. They both feel the love for one another is gone. Sometimes, they have been dealing with this kind of behavior for years and wonder if there is any hope for them to have a loving marriage.
3) The third type of couple are the ones that say, “I just don’t love you anymore.” These couples have either been married for a short amount of time or have been together for 10 years and are dealing with some of the common problems that every committed relationship encounters in order to grow, (e.g., sexual problems, financial difficulties, moving into a new phase of life issues). These couples usually have been to see a clergy person and/or attended marital retreats; however, they just don’t seem to be able to get their love for one another back.
In my opinion, it really doesn’t matter which type of couple you are dealing with, there is hope for all of you.
Couples counseling offers both partners tools and techniques that allow everyone to understand the things they are doing to cause tension in their relationship. It also gives couples an opportunity to learn how to repair relationships when conflict occurs so that it doesn’t escalate into more severe problems.
In general, the goal of couples therapy is to ensure that both partners in a relationship feel valued, respected, and loved for the person they are. This is accomplished through honest communication between both partners about what they need to be happy and fulfilled in life.
How can you tell if your relationship needs help from a professional?
Many people want to know if what they are going through is a common problem and one that requires professional help. All couples have disagreements from time-to-time; however, if there is an ongoing pattern of arguing about the same things over and over again, then it may be worth getting some feedback to see where you stand as a couple.
What are some of the benefits of working with a trained professional in this area?
There are numerous benefits of seeking out couple’s counseling.
The primary benefit that is always mentioned is the professional allows couples to “air dirty laundry.” That’s one way to put it, but I prefer to think of it as a safe and neutral space where you can talk about things that you might not otherwise feel comfortable talking about with anyone else in your life.
A trained professional will listen to you without judgment and offer feedback in a respectful way that can help you reach your own answers. Many people don’t feel comfortable talking about sexual difficulties, financial struggles, or parenting issues with anyone including their friends or family members. In cases like these, couple’s counseling is where the process begins so that couples can be on their way to a more harmonious relationship.
Anger is a normal human emotion that can be healthy when expressed appropriately.
However, many people struggle with inappropriate anger or chronic rage. Counseling may offer you the opportunity to regain control of your emotions and to find peace in your life.
This article discusses signs and symptoms of anger problems. If any of these signs sound familiar, it might be time to consider anger management counseling for yourself or a loved one.
The first step in dealing with an unhealthy level of anger is identifying what’s going on inside you which leads to such feelings. Understanding can help you to better understand how to deal with these feelings. The following are some indicators that someone may need to seek the help of a professional:
1) You feel chronically angry to the point of being explosive or you suffer from uncontrollable outbursts.
2) Anger often follows you into your sleep and it keeps you awake at night.
3) You have a short fuse and get easily agitated over the smallest things. People often tell you that you’re too sensitive about certain matters, but when they do, you get even angrier.
4) Your anger causes trouble in your relationships and makes people around you feel uncomfortable.
5) You’ve been arrested at least once for domestic violence or assault under the influence of extreme emotion/anger (i.e., road rage).
6) You are quick to criticize, condemn, or ridicule (usually upon hearing the first piece of negative information about someone).
7) You feel guilty all the time for verbalizing anger or you feel ashamed of something that happened in the past and you’ve never been able to forgive yourself. Sometimes talking about past regrets is a healthy way to release guilt, but if it occurs too often, especially when discussing something that happened a long time ago, you may be holding on to anger rather than releasing it.
8) You feel like you are in control of your anger, but other people tell you that sometimes you go too far and they become afraid of your behavior. They say things to calm you down or avoid doing things with you when they know you’re angry.
9) You have an intense need to be heard and understood, but when people try to help you they fail. You ask people to listen more often, but they don’t know what to say. They don’t tell you what to do, they just listen as if it’s enough. This makes you even angrier, and brings about a vicious cycle where you demand to be heard more, but no one is able to hear what you’re saying because it’s all coming from a place of rage. When people try to help this way, nothing changes and you feel worse instead of better.
10) You don’t notice the impact your anger has on the people around you and when they do tell you something is wrong, you don’t believe them. Sometimes knowing that someone else sees how you act helps to put things in perspective, but if you’re too caught up in your own misery or have lost touch with reality, it just makes things worse.
11) You want to get help, but can’t find the time or resources. Many people feel guilty about seeking professional help because they don’t think they can afford it or there is no time in their schedule for counseling appointments. However, therapists will usually work with you on scheduling around your work and school schedule and often health insurance will reimburse members for a portion of their counseling costs.
In many cases, people experience short bouts of anger from time to time, but when someone enters into an unhealthy cycle of being angry all the time and it interferes with their personal and professional lives, it’s time to reach out for help.
Being overly angry can be painful, both physically and psychologically. If you are worried that your anger is hurting you or someone else, it might be time to contact an accredited mental health professional for advice on how to cope with the symptoms of anger where they originate as well as how to recognize what’s going wrong so that the problem can be addressed. In essence, you are asking a professional to help you assess whether or not the anger is a symptom of an underlying mental health issue or if there is another reason for it.
Samantha Mitchell of ABC7 News had a chance to connect with Keith Miller and Dr. Maria Zimmitti to talk about how to approach the holidays in the midst of a pandemic and the current political divisiveness in our country.
Many people are struggling with what to do over the holidays. Should we have gatherings in the midst of this pandemic? Should we postpone them? Some people are already planning “SpringGivings” as an alternative to a family gathering this week.
The other thing that people are really having some apprehension about leading into the holidays is where some conversations may go with family certain family members. The election may be over, but our political divides still run deep.
In the interview, Keith suggested thinking of going into a potentially conflicting situation with someone who thinks differently like going skiing or surfing – if you go with a wave and go the direction, you end up ok.
“Go with the person who’s pushing you, pushing your buttons,” Miller said. “Go with it until you find the opportunity to steer out of it. Stay relaxed – when you’re dealing with a current or undertow – you don’t have a choice sometimes, you react to other humans, we care about how other people feel about us. We sometimes have to go with it, and be empathetic.”
He also said you can “tread water,” and reflect on them, asking them to tell you about the world the person lives in and hurts them. Eventually, they run out of gas and there might be something you can relate to.
“You already have what you need to get through this pandemic,” Miller said. “I don’t think we need anything more, so I would ask people to reflect on what they have and appreciate what they have, at least ten percent more.
You can read the full story and see the video interviews at:
I think it is probably safe to say that many of us thought that the general unrest and divisiveness the country experienced during the last Presidential election cycle in 2016 could not possibly get any worse. That was a once in a lifetime event. Then 2020 came along and said, “Hold my beer.”
Take the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, perhaps the worst economic hardship we have seen since The Great Depression, natural disasters from coast to coast, and blend all of that together with an election year like none before it, and the result is many Americans are feeling uneasy right now. Some are even experiencing severe onsets of stress in regards to the election.
Various polls in 2016 found that around half of American adults felt that the 2016 Presidential election was a “somewhat” or “very significant” source of stress for them. With everything going on around us, it is hard to imagine that those figures would be any lower in regards to the 2020 election.
Stress can affect our mental and physical health. Because many people on either side of the political spectrum see this election as the most significant one in their lifetime, that stress is even higher.
People are worried not just about the results, but also what comes after. Will there be peace and acceptance of the results or will there be protests, violence, and rioting in the streets?
How stress impacts our mental health
When stress is introduced our body activates its “fight or flight” response. This response will initially help a person cope with the situation, but over the long run if the stressor is introduced frequently or continues to linger it can impact one’s mental and physical health.
Stress and anxiety can cause you to feel overwhelmed, sad, irritable, and confused. It can cause people to withdraw socially to avoid situations that introduce that stress.
Untreated, stress and anxiety will hamper our immune systems, leading to more frequent illnesses. It can also lead to depression.
How to cope with stress
Beyond right versus left, conservative versus liberal, and Republican versus Democrat this year, there are a lot of other factors that are contributing to higher stress levels this year. The most obvious, of course, is that The United States is still in the midst of a global pandemic with little certainty of when that might end.
As a result of the pandemic, more people than ever are going to cast their vote by mail-in ballot this year. Due to the extra time it is going to take to count mail-in ballots, we are likely not going to know who won on election day, or the day after… or the day after that.
We could be looking at something like what we saw in the 2000 Presidential election where we were waiting for weeks for multiple recounts in Florida and for officials to figure out what to do about “hanging chads”.
The waiting and uncertainty is going to be a major source of stress for many of us.
It is best to start preparing yourself mentally for that now. Understand that the most you can do is to vote. Once you have done that, you have done everything you can do. Worrying about the result will not change anything.
It is also important that you talk about your feelings. Talk to friends. Talk to family. Share the tensions and negative emotions you are feeling, but also be sure to focus on positive emotions. Despite what may feel like a whirlwind of negative story after negative story, there are a lot of amazing things going on in the world today, both nationally and right in front of you. Take time to appreciate and celebrate those things.
If you find that political discussions are causing increased levels of stress, avoid them or set boundaries with friends, family members, and co-workers. There is nothing wrong with saying, “I am not going to change your mind on this topic. You are not going to change my mind. It is becoming a source of constant disagreement between us. Let’s just agree to not discuss it anymore.”
Many of our political disagreements in 2020 can be found on social media. Few of us have connections that are only from one side of the political spectrum, and that can cause some heated, and sometimes toxic, disagreements on both sides. Take a break from social media if you need to do so. You do not necessarily need to leave social media completely until the upcoming election. Staying off of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram even for just a few days can often have a great calming effect.
In addition, make sure that you are taking care of yourself physically. Ensure that you are eating healthy, drinking adequate amounts of water, getting enough sleep each day, and adding some physical activity to your weekly routines.
All of these things have been proven to help reduce levels of stress, and can help you get through what are sure to be a chaotic few weeks coming up.
If you find that you are feeling overwhelmed regularly and that feelings of stress and anxiety are impacting you on a daily basis, it may be time to reach out for professional help. You can contact us to schedule an appointment. We are scheduling both in-person and online appointments to conveniently work around your schedule.
“May we decompose violence in ourselves before we ask it in the world.”
Brontë Velez
Black Lives Matter. Black Mental Health Matters.
We hope you are finding care and support during these trying times in our world. It is a time of grief and mourning as well as a call to awareness, change, and action.
As an organization that responds to the impact of trauma, we must acknowledge the reality of racism and the trauma that racism inflicts on people and communities of color.
Last week was the Minneapolis burial for George Floyd.
The brutality experienced by George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and many other individuals, as well as their loved ones and communities of color across the country is unconscionable. These are painful realities we must face, together.
Our counselors stand in solidarity with people collectively raising their voices to assert that Black lives matter.
Racism is a public health crisis. Not only does it cause ongoing racial trauma, but it is a driving force in other health disparities and severely restricts access to competent and affordable health care, including therapy. Psychotherapy and mental health care may have the potential to help heal trauma—but individual therapy does not treat institutionalized racism.
The fields of psychology, counseling and healthcare must commit to creating equitable access to care. We want to be a part of this conversation. Healing is intertwined with justice.
Society will heal and transform—as the great Civil Rights leader John Lewis said yesterday “not from our bitterness”—but by our being steadfast to understand our fears and decompose violence that has seeped into our minds and bodies. Oppressive ideologies, policies, and systems will not be moved by our hatred of them, but by the re-moving of hatred and fear in our minds, bodies, and actions.
The end…and a new beginning
As counselors we’re working every day to integrate actions that work to heal the legacy of racism inside of and between individuals and within families. But I believe that today is the day we are ready to end one aspect of this work—sharing ourselves only with those that can afford our fees.
Today is the day of something new that transcends our usual, highly selective focus on individuals and families through counseling or psychiatry. Today we move beyond this singular focus of our work and develop clear actions that bring together voices in our communities to enact healthy changes in group behavior, rules, laws, and the fabric of our shared culture.
We will still be counselors and we’re still here to support you with therapy.
We have a long way to go and there are many fronts that this integrative work is already happening. But today we are going to start to make this happen in a new way. I believe it starts with us.
A call-in to connection, courage, and change
Rather than simply calling-out injustice, which we support and believe has a vital place in healthy families and healthy societies, we also believe that calling-out without an equally vigorous calling-in-to connection and belonging while emotionally cathartic—is unproductive, and breeds further disconnection and pain.
We thrive, create, innovate, and find joy when we know that we belong.
The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and others, along with the story of Amy Cooper’s attempt to frame Christian Cooper, have shined a light on the ways in which Black people live with fear of violence, abuse, or discrimination in this country in profound physical and emotional ways. For far too long and for far too many, people of color in this country still sometimes feel they do not belong.
Speaking the names
Speaking the names of those involved in highly public tragedies fueled by hatred, fear, or racism is not being done here to advance judgment, but rather, to advance our collective memory of what is really happening. These recent events reflect an ongoing, centuries-long pattern of violence involving state-directed brutality, murder, false accusations, disenfranchisement, criminalization, and disproportionate punishment of Black people.
We are choosing to ask you to help us re-member—to literally embody the energy of oppression in our living bodies so that we are agitated enough to move through our doubts and face the parts of us that block us from knowing more fully our own pain, and the pain of others.
Speaking the names, reading the stories of victims of racial hatred, and taking the risk of sharing with others important to you how these stories move you is a therapeutic response to violence and trauma. When we are able to feel safe talking about confusing or terrifying things, the mind is more rapidly able to process confusing binaries, and come up with creative modes of connecting the dots to form a coherent whole.
Mindful inquiry and courageous communication
We are going to bring together foundations of inquiry principles like “beginner’s mind” (mindfulness) and neurobiological principles of trauma-informed care to help others find wholeness and purpose in the mist of rapidly fragmenting events.
We believe that building strong relationships requires courageous communication—saying the truth about ourselves to call the other to be with us in our vulnerability. We’re sharing how we have been moved by recent events to ask you to also pay close attention to how you are being moved by these events.
What vulnerabilities do these events put you more in touch with? We’d like to hear from you.
Healing begins with us
In the weeks and months ahead we plan to be engaging in a new ormat to achieve healing results in a way that’s new to us—and frankly, is a work-in-progress. This experimentation comes out of our own journeys of growth and healing.
Normally, we counselors only offer our licensed professional skills (governed by a board of health license) in the form of paid counseling. The license-health-provider model of practice guides our standard of care while protecting consumers from many problems. This is good.
We are still offering our normal professional counseling services and will continue to do so (services remain 100% online until further notice). However, we would also like to facilitate healing conversations in a community/group online format, with more transparency and connection to who we are, not just what we do.
This would allow us to:
Bring more creative parts of ourselves into healing dialogues
Focus more in-depth on core topics that are require significant repetition to gain results
Distribute access to mindbody (emotional/psychological/physical) health care more broadly and for free or very low cost
Nurture community growth between people who can help each other learn, encourage, focus, and share struggles more efficiently than in the isolation of private counseling
Practice courageous communication and innovate together to show up more powerfully in the world where it needs us most
We invite you to join us in our collective learning about the legacy of trauma (fear, violence, shame and disconnection) that racism triggers in ourselves, and find actionable ways in which our learning will touch the lives of others around us to move us forward toward a safer and more healthy society.
“…and that visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the source of our greatest strength.” ― Audre Lorde
Resources for further learning on this subject
During these times it’s ever more important to take care, of ourselves and each other, and to stay connected.
Here are just a few resources for taking care and being aware so that we can remain present and engaged in the search for truth, growth and purposeful action!
Many of us have found ourselves in a very isolated situation during the coronavirus pandemic. It may be by choice that you are leaving your house very infrequently in an attempt to be safer because you are in one of the high-risk health categories. It may be that your job has decided to have employees work from home. Or you may have been exposed to the coronavirus and been in self-isolation as a result.
Whatever the circumstances are behind your isolation, you may find that you are not prepared to deal with the feelings of loneliness that can come with the new situation. Most of us are used to getting out daily for work and other obligations. Even those who are retired are running errands and attending social events with friends.
For all of that to stop so suddenly can be a bit of a shock to the system.
Under normal conditions, less social interaction and being stuck indoors more often can lead to increased feelings of stress. These, of course, are not normal conditions. Add in the underlying worry about catching the virus and possibly an increased financial strain depending on how your employment situation has been impacted, and all of this stress can increase the likelihood of experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression.
That’s why it is important to be proactive in taking care of your mental health during times like this.
What can you do?
Social distancing refers to avoiding large gatherings of people and maintaining a safe distance from one another when out in public. Part of social distancing is also only leaving the house for essentials. It can feel like a very lonely way to live.
One of the main things you can do to help cope with feelings of loneliness is to stay in contact with friends and family. Social distancing does not mean no socializing. You can do this online, with a phone call, or even a simple text message. Today with video chat and Zoom taking the world by storm, it’s easier than ever to connect with those you care about.
You don’t have to just chat either. There are more options than ever for enjoying a game online with friends and family. Anything from chess to the classic Monopoly is at your disposal. Combine that with a video chat with everyone playing for an evening of fun and catching up.
You can also schedule calls to add some structure to your social time. It will give you something fun to look forward to at the end of your day or week. Maybe grab some friends and have a standing virtual happy hour every Friday at 5:30. There could be Saturday night trivia or even karaoke.
Online dating apps are as busy as ever. Many people are taking advantage of the extra time they have at home to make new connections. As long as you are not planning to meet up until it is safer to do so, it can be a great way to connect with someone and not feel so lonely.
If you do end up meeting with someone you start chatting with during this time, the excitement level for that first date might be even higher after all the build-up.
Things to do by yourself
Remaining social is an important part of staying mentally healthy and the best way to fight feelings of loneliness, but there are things you can also do on your own that can be beneficial for your mental health.
Exercising and physical activity are always good for both our physical and mental well-being.
Go outside for a walk each day. Even just 10-15 minutes out of the house and in the sun can do wonders for your mind and body.
You can take the extra time at home to start working out. You will find plenty of free workouts on YouTube or you can take it up a notch and look at services like BeachBody, which offers access to popular home workouts such as P90X and Insanity for a low monthly fee.
Exercising your mind is just as important as exercising your body. Many people are taking the time to learn a new skill through online courses during the pandemic. Quite a few colleges and universities are offering some of their classes for free right now.
You can also find plenty of tutorials online for everything from learning computer programming to learning how to build a new wooden coffee table.
You can also stretch your mind creatively through outlets such as drawing, coloring, painting, and music.
When to seek the help of a professional
There is no denying that we are living in an unprecedented and stressful time. We are being hit with news and information about the coronavirus on social media and television almost nonstop. For many of us, anxiety is at an all-time high.
If you find that your normal coping mechanisms do not seem to be enough and you are turning to alcohol or drugs, if you are having difficulty sleeping because of the stress you feel, or if you are frequently experiencing depressed moods, it is time to reach out for help.
You can call us or visit our contact page to set up an appointment with one of our counselors. We see clients both online and in person.
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