January 2021

The free 2021 Compassion in Therapy Summit co-produced by The Awake Network and The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion begins Saturday, January 30th! If you or someone you care about is a therapist, social worker, clinician, psychologist, counselor, or anyone else working in mental health or you want to learn more about applying self-compassion to your own well-being, please check it out below and help spread the word! Join this FREE online event and learn mindfulness, self-compassion, and...

Every time we experience something new, a new neural pathway forms, and if repeated, reinforces and strengthens the connections between brain cells. So, neuroplasticity happens throughout our lives based on our experiences which either strengthen or weaken our neural connections. What we don’t use will be pruned away. However, there is a way neuroplasticity can be harnessed to successfully mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences on our adult lives.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Remember 'R.A.I.N' The RAIN of Self-Compassion The acronym RAIN is an easy-to-remember tool for practicing mindfulness and compassion, using the following four steps: R ecognize what is going on; A llow the experience to be there, just as it is; I nvestigate with interest and care; N ourish with self-compassion. You can take your time and explore RAIN as a stand-alone meditation or move through the steps whenever challenging feelings arise. The Truth of Who You Are The...

Our specialty yoga school (now virtual) is open for enrollment, emphasizing trauma-sensitive practices, inclusion, and accessibility. Meets two weekends a month: Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 5pm Some people show up to dive into their personal healing, others want to learn how to better serve vulnerable populations in their profession, still more have a passion for sharing healing yoga with the world. No matter why you want to study trauma-informed yoga, this training will equip you with the...

Thich Nhat Hanh offers advice on using mindfulness to take care of your anger, and ultimately transform it into love and understanding. When you are angry, close your eyes and ears and return to yourself in order to quell the flames. Smile, even if it takes effort. Smiling relaxes hundreds of tiny muscles, making your face more attractive. Sit wherever you are, and look deeply. If your concentration is not yet strong, you can go outside and practice walking meditation. Most essential is to...

However difficult the past, or slow the progress, you can always choose to begin again. Wednesdays 12:00-12:50 January 27 - March 17, 2021 Live Online Yoga Practice Sign up for the Eight Week Series or Single Classes By employing the contemplative movement practice of yoga through a trauma-sensitive lens, you will have the opportunity to observe your thoughts, feel your physical and emotional sensations and consider self-compassion as you invite yourself, from moment to moment, to begin...

My son often complains that he can hear my footsteps throughout the house when he’s trying to sleep. He says it sounds like I’m running. ‘Why don’t you slow down,’ he asks. When I think about it I guess I am rushing around to do this and do that, get things accomplished, and finish tasks. In fact, I take pride in my productivity, sometimes patting myself on the back at what I have accomplished by 9:00 a.m.! After my youngest son Jesse died, I started a foundation and began to travel almost...

New toolkit shares community-led strategies for creating social connection Five years ago, a diverse group of community-based coalitions rooted in neighborhoods throughout the country began to explore how they might better support mental health and wellbeing for boys and men of color and for military service members, veterans, and their families. With support from Prevention Institute and funding from Movember, coalitions from cities like Honolulu, Boston, and New Orleans and rural areas in...

At ACEsConnection we attempt to ‘walk our talk’ when it comes to our mission , values, and workplace practices. Last week, during our first all staff meeting of the year, we reflected on whether we were ACTUALLY, as an organization, creating a workplace environment that was structured to support staff wellbeing. Encouraging self-care is not enough. We must be intentional and committed to a sense of collective care as well as build structures and systems that support our ability to do this.

A new guide for healing the hidden wounds from ACEs The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc., 2021, 232 pages Practical, powerful skills for healing the hidden wounds of childhood trauma “ Dr. Glenn Schiraldi is one of the world’s most trusted experts on stress and resilience. His Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Wor kbook is the most complete, accessible, and evidence-based healing resource available.

By David Treleaven, Shambhala Mountain Center, January 7, 2021 A few months ago, I was approached with a problem by a colleague who taught meditation in a classroom setting. Here was the issue: a student of hers had lost her father to COVID-19, and was struggling with symptoms of traumatic stress. When she’d meditate, images and sensations would flood her field of consciousness, leaving her more rattled than before. “Should I keep meditating?” she’d asked my colleague. “I want to work with...

Psychology and spirituality are viewed as separate disciplines, but they shouldn't be. Healing is grounded in the place where they meet.