Tagged With "emotional healing"
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How Trauma Therapy Cultivated My Recovery
I was 5 years old when I had my first encounter with trauma. Too young to comprehend the magnitude of the situation, my first grade class participated in a “Good Touch/Bad Touch” workshop,centered around educating and recognizing signs of sexual abuse. I found relief in finding a safe place to lay down the burden I had been carrying. I went straight to the school counselor and told her, in vivid description, the intimate details of my unwarranted molestation. I remember the grueling...
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3 Steps Toward Managing And Healing Anxiety
I've struggled with anxiety throughout my life. A difficult childhood and my highly sensitive personality meant I grew into an anxious kid—there was just too much pain and emotional overwhelm for my young brain to handle. My anxiety most often manifested as perfectionism and people pleasing, so from the outside everything seemed great. I excelled in school and I was a good kid who did as she was told. But there was a war inside me. I felt broken, unable to navigate these huge feelings of...
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Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience Two-Day Intensive Training
with Author, Carolyn Rich Curtis, Ph.D. 8:30 AM–5:00 PM $399 for 2-day Intensive Training CEUs are available for an additional charge. Each trainee must have a copy of Mind Matters ($299 plus tax (CA and SD only) plus S/H) As a result of this training , you will learn to teach: Self-soothing skills to manage emotions Ways to analyze stressful thoughts How to deal with intrusive memories Ways to develop a protective lifestyle And you, as an instructor, will learn . . . How to provide a safe...
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Need 45 Trauma-Informed Practitioners or Clinicians For Study on Using a Brain Regulation Headband-Bellabee Designed To Help Trauma Survivors Regulate Their Brains.
Need 45 Trauma-Informed Practitioners or Clinicians For Study on Using a Brain Regulation Headband-Bellabee Designed To Help Trauma Survivors Regulate Their Brains. All trauma informed practitioners who are suffering with or who work with adults or children suffering with C-PTSD, PTSD, Developmental Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD & Sleep Disorders are welcome to apply to be considered for this study. The deadline to request and submit your application is: March 20, 2020 As a trauma...
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Need 45 Trauma-Informed Practitioners or Clinicians For Study on Using a Brain Regulation Headband-Bellabee Designed To Help Trauma Survivors Regulate Their Brains.
Need 45 Trauma-Informed Practitioners or Clinicians For Study on Using a Brain Regulation Headband-Bellabee Designed To Help Trauma Survivors Regulate Their Brains. All trauma informed practitioners who are suffering with or who work with adults or children suffering with C-PTSD, PTSD, Developmental Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD & Sleep Disorders are welcome to apply to be considered for this study. We currently have 41 applicants, and applicantions are approved on a first come first...
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Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain
In my last post, I highlighted a book Vincent Felitti mentioned at the CAMFT conference in Orange County. In the same talk, Dr. Felitti also recommended a form of therapeutic writing developed by James Pennebaker to help individuals uncover painful emotions and heal trauma. Pennebaker's book Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain details the why and how. The Pennebaker method has been referenced elsewhere on ACEs Connection; I thought...
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Parent Handouts updated and available In Dari, English & Spanish
The updated parent handouts are now available in Spanish as well as English and Dari. Here's the blog post with links to all three versions of each flyer. All versions of the Understanding ACEs and Parenting to Prevent & Heal ACEs parent handouts can be downloaded, distributed, and used freely. Both flyers were made with generous support from Family Hui, a Program of Lead for Tomorrow, who is responsible for making the Spanish and Dari translations available. These are updates of the...
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Passing the Baton
Hello, Everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that I’ve decided to step away from my volunteer position as co-manager of the Practicing Resilience for Self-Care & Healing community. In the nearly two and a half years since I’ve held this post, I’ve learned so much and gotten to know (virtually) so many great folks who’ve contributed their wisdom, experience, compassion, and knowledge. I am in awe of you all, your willingness to share and give of yourselves, your strength and courage...
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Resources for ACEs Survivors
With the link between ACEs and health outcomes now firmly established, many people are asking how to help those who have survived ACEs. Often people are seeking written resources. Having developed resilience curricula that were piloted at the University of Maryland School of Public Health and taught to various high-risk populations, I’d like to suggest some resources. As an outgrowth of these trainings, I developed three books that are skills-based and experiential, since information alone...
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Self Soothing Strategies for Parents and Kids
Learn 4 simple tools for parents and kids to calm down together. About the presenter: Joyelle Brandt is a self care coach for moms. She specializes in working with mothers who are survivors of abuse, to help them develop a personalized self soothing toolkit for stress management. As a speaker, mothering coach, and multi-media creator, Joyelle works to dismantle the stigma that keeps childhood abuse survivors stuck in shame and self-hatred. She is the author of Princess Monsters from A to Z...
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Shattered By The Darkness: Powerful book by a humble man on a mission to prevent what happened to him from happening to other children.
Gregory Williams, PhD, will help change the world by taking this book into medical schools and teaching physicians and nurses about the root cause of most adult illness: childhood trauma. I just read this book in one sitting, save one hot tea refill. I could not stop reading it. Even though there were some passages that evoked anxiety, I couldn’t stop reading it, as I so wanted to learn more about this remarkable man and how he earned a PhD, had a normal family life, and earned the respect...
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Sick and Stressed from CPTSD? Power Up Your SELF CARE (Resilience Series)
I’ve been talking about resilience in recent posts — the obstacles that hold back recovery, and the strengths we need to keep healing. Last week the topic was fear. In this post (and the video that goes with it) I want to go up a layer to the next strength, and that’s self-care . I used to think self-care was just hot baths and chocolate for people whose problems were so small that this would actually solve them. But 25 years of continuous healing and strength-building has taught me that,...
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Sick and Stressed from CPTSD? Power Up Your SELF CARE (Resilience Series)
I’ve been talking about resilience in recent posts — the obstacles that hold back recovery, and the strengths we need to keep healing. Last week the topic was fear. In this post (and the video that goes with it) I want to go up a layer to the next strength, and that’s self-care . I used to think self-care was just hot baths and chocolate for people whose problems were so small that this would actually solve them. But 25 years of continuous healing and strength-building has taught me that,...
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Tell Me Who You Trust the Most
Imagine that you are being held by someone you love (partner, parent, best friend, someone you once knew, or someone you imagine). You are safe and warm and connected. You feel the soothing of presence - the beating of a primitive language. As you find the rhythms of oneness, you know that all is right. You are protected from whatever unknown lies beyond. Close your eyes and feel the exquisiteness...Now imagine that the exquisiteness fails.
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Yoga Transformed Me After Childhood Abuse [yogajournal.com]
How yoga helped me heal from neglect and violence I grew up in poverty in a drug-addicted and violent family. Without necessities like proper food or shelter, and subjected to regular abuse, I ran away at the age of 13. Within two years, I was on the road with a 19-year-old man. Being so young, I was attracted to his antisocial, rebellious past rather than recognizing these behaviors as red flags. Eventually, we called my mother and she threatened him with jail time for statutory rape and...
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Young People are Using Musical Theater to Heal Their Trauma — and it's Working [nationswell.com]
By Monica Humphries, Nation Swell, July 12, 2019. On the drive home from Priya Shah’s first Storycatchers musical, she pulled over to cry. Shah, who now serves as the executive director of Storycatchers, had just seen a musical at the Illinois Youth Center, a juvenile detention center in Warrenville, Illinois. She watched girls tell stories of sexual abuse, battery and neglect. She also saw stories of hope and resilience. “It struck me that these characters I had just watched struggle, joke,...
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Re: Self-Compassion Is Your Perfect Present Guidance, Even In The Most Troubled And Turbulent Of Times.
Bob, beautifully written. I wish real love could be found in every church. Jesus gave only 2 commandments Love God and Love your neighbor. However, sadly love is the last thing you find in a church. What you get is judgment, meanness, superiority, lack of support. Money is what speaks in most of these houses of God. All you need is 1 kind and loving person to heal. If you are lucky you will find him/her or else the pain never goes away.
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Re: To Heal From Trauma, You Have to Feel Your Feelings [psychologytoday.com]
Getting a great share response to this article after sharing it on my podcast Facebook page. Thanks for sharing here!
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Missy Garcia: Sexuality, Leadership, Healing
I appreciated what Missy Garcia had to say about how non-sexual types of touch -- stroking one's arms when upset, for example -- provide the sort of pleasure that can soothe emotional upset. I have read that one "tell" when people are, say, fidgeting with their hair or with a pen is that if the object of fidgeting is external -- such as the pen -- then most likely what's causing them turmoil is outside of themselves, whereas if a person is twisting their hair, then something internal --...
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Missy Garcia: Sexuality, Leadership, Healing
Fascinating! I'm betting there's some truth to that theory, as well. I had never thought about using my feminine sexual power to heal my sexual trauma remnants. I loved Missy's ideas of empowerment and leadership growing from that place of hurt by "taking our power back". She certainly has me looking at this from a new angle. Which is why I love these podcast interviews so very much! Thanks so much for taking the time to offer feedback. Peace, Teri
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Re: Toxic Childhood? 5 Spiritual Exercises to Heal the Soul [psychologytoday.com]
Hi Laura, Thanks for sharing this very important article! The mother-daughter relationship is complex, and in many cases informed by the mother's unmet needs, hopes, and aspirations. The unresolved trauma and suffering experienced by a parent will, invariably, shape and inform the trajectory of a child's life. This article allows us to consider, what many might see, as the unthinkable...a mother who does not or cannot provide the love and support that many associate with mother role. I think...
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Re: Toxic Childhood? 5 Spiritual Exercises to Heal the Soul [psychologytoday.com]
Hi, Tosca, Yes, it's an uncomfortable topic for many and it often evokes denial in those who don't wish to face the reality that in many cases, a mother's unmet needs, unaddressed trauma, mental health issues, or other difficulties directly impact her children and often in turn traumatize them. It's taboo in our society (and I'm guessing in many other societies) to view or discuss mothers in any but the most flattering--even idealistic--light. We're not doing anyone any favors or supporting...
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Re: How You and Your Kids Can De-Stress During Coronavirus [pbs.org]
I loved reading your article and it inspires me. I am working on a children's show to do on You Tube to teach kids all the different healing modules. I have been working in a private practice for over a decade in trauma and want to get the sciences that heal my clients out to the kids...since mainstream doesn't really know much about these sciences...thank you for all that you do! Blessings!
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Re: Self Soothing Strategies for Parents and Kids
Awesome! Sharing on The Healing Place Podcast Facebook page. Excited to edit and publish our interview next week.
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Re: Self Soothing Strategies for Parents and Kids
Joyelle, these are great ideas. I love that they are the sorts of things that parents and children can do either together OR alone, especially once the parents have taught the children these strategies and modeled their use. It's so helpful to recognize that for trauma survivors, often when they are feeling stressed it's caused by or exacerbated by an ingrained reaction originating in early trauma, and the key to overcoming that is in the body. Thank you for sharing these ideas here (I was...
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Re: Transforming Trauma: Healing Through Connecting with Animals [psychologytoday.com]
I can tell you from a therapy-dog team handler, Sammie (our labradoodle) was born to help humans (particularly children) heal. She knows immediately, upon entering a room, who needs her love the most. She will snuggle into a child and not want to leave their side until their tears have dried and a smile lights up their face. And when I see she is beginning to exhibit signs of stress (as alluded to in the article), I give her a break (as specified by our Pet Partner guidelines, but also...
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Re: 5 Tips to Get You Through the Kavanaugh Investigation (No Matter What Are Your Politics)
Great tips for actions anyone can take just about any time to relieve stress and process difficult emotions. These sound like good habits to develop so we always have a way to help calm ourselves no matter what is happening in our world. Thank you, Hilary.
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Re: For Many People with Anxiety, Self-Care Just Doesn’t Work [healthline.com]
Thank you for posting this, Laura. While I appreciate the sentiments expressed by the author and get what she's saying, I always bristle when I read about a backlash to what, in fact, is sound advice. Self-care is important. Period. No one says there's a one-size-fits-all approach. When sound advice becomes a trigger, that doesn't mean the advice is wrong. It means you can use that as an opportunity to take responsibility for why you feel triggered—without blaming the messenger—and use that...
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Re: For Many People with Anxiety, Self-Care Just Doesn’t Work [healthline.com]
You know, Diane, I would regret posting this article, if it weren't for the opportunity for discussion it provides that you have recognized and acted upon. Thank you for that. At first glance, the author's view seems short-sighted and she seems bent on "self-care bashing", perhaps because of her frustration at seeing her anxiety worsen instead of improve as she attempts to "do" self-care. She does, though, come around at the end to this notion: If you feel strongly about developing a...
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Re: For Many People with Anxiety, Self-Care Just Doesn’t Work [healthline.com]
Hi Laura, I love your well-thought-out analysis. Thanks for sharing your insights. I had read the entire article before posting my comment and wonder, as you noted, if the beginning was click bait motivated. At the same time, all articles are worth posting when they raise worthwhile discussion and reflection. I reacted to this article because one of my biggest pet peeves is when authors seem to try to boost themselves/their approach by denigrating others. I see this with a backlash to...
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Re: The Importance of Connecting with Your Inner Child
Very encouraging post. I'm not sure anyone who's experienced childhood trauma can recover from its effects without connecting with their inner child, and I suspect that getting to know one's inner child is helpful even for those with no history of childhood trauma. Our childhood experiences -- good, bad, indifferent, and everything in between -- really do lay the foundation for all else to come. I think too that when we connect with our inner child, it's easier for us to cultivate...
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Re: The Importance of Connecting with Your Inner Child
Thank you for sharing! I connected to much of what you wrote. Particularly in the first paragraph when you wrote about childhood memories as being "home videos". Oh so true. But, through EMDR therapy I was finally able to see my life and past through my own eyes in lieu of the dissociated state of watching something horrible happen to a little girl (me) as if I was watching a movie. I wish you (and your inner child) continued growth, healing, empowerment, and peace. Teri
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Re: The Importance of Connecting with Your Inner Child
I'm going to send this to someone I dearly love--had a conversation with her about this just last night!
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Re: Crafting Provides Cross-Body Therapy Which Helps Mental Health [blogs.psychcentral.com]
One of the simplest and easiest cross-body exercises is crawling . It is the best mind-body exercise. It requires just a minute, 3 to 4 times a day but it really keeps me fit and has helped me heal my back.
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Re: How Helping Others Benefits Your Mental Health
It's impressive that you helped yourself heal and recover by reaching out to help others and now are continuing to do so by sharing your story and suggestions here. Thank you for an inspiring post, Tricia.
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Re: Seven Benefits of Working with a Therapy Animal from a Handler's Perspective
Teri... such beautiful work you do. Your big heart—and Sammie's—help heal so many hearts. ❤️
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Re: Crafting Provides Cross-Body Therapy Which Helps Mental Health [blogs.psychcentral.com]
Cheryl, I read your blog post about crawling, and it was so intriguing. I've tried it a few times and have been trying to get into the habit of doing it on a regular basis. It's such a novel way to move around, and if it helps with back trouble, I'm in! --Laura
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Re: Seven Benefits of Working with a Therapy Animal from a Handler's Perspective
There's so much to like about this "love letter" to working with a therapy animal, if I may. Two bits that stand out, though, are "Do I approach with a 'wagging tail' and welcoming aura?" -- definitely goals for which to strive. I know that in my decades-long habitual self-guarding and hypervigilance, I can unintentionally come off as aloof. I'm now inspired to try to wag my figurative tail when approached or approaching others. And this whole piece just sings with the fact that you and...
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Re: Seven Benefits of Working with a Therapy Animal from a Handler's Perspective
Thank you for this. You made my big heart smile big I was away visiting my son in Colorado and had to leave Sammie for a week. She's still not speaking to me. Ha! I'm excited for school to start back up so this dog can begin helping kiddos again.
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Re: Seven Benefits of Working with a Therapy Animal from a Handler's Perspective
Oh, I so relate to what you wrote about the hypervigilance bit and coming off as aloof. I lived in a guarded state for decades. Once I started the healing journey I began shining a light from within and found myself smiling without even realizing I was doing so as I would notice others smiling back at me or stating, "You must be having a great day based upon that grin!" And, yes, yes, yes . . . I find joy in watching Sammie help children find their smiles which naturally brings me to a place...
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Re: Writing as Medicine
Writing IS medicine. This looks like a great opportunity for anyone wishing to learn from someone who has used writing to heal herself. Thanks for sharing this here, Donna.
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Re: Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain
Yes, writing does help to a certain extent, it gets things out which one would not be able to share talking. However at the end of it, one still needs an enlightened witness to validate our experiences. For those of us who have suffered trauma, our sense of self is distorted or fragmented. However, only when our experiences are validated and our struggles acknowledged do we really heal - we feel whole.
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Re: Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain
We also need that enlightened witness when our ability to trust ourselves -- our judgment, our opinions, our emotions, our sense of self, and sometimes even our very senses -- has been undermined by the trauma we experienced.
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Re: Resources for ACEs Survivors
These are wonderful. Thank you for sharing, Glenn! To make sure community members can access your books as more recent posts push your post down the Blog Posts list, it would be excellent if you could add these 3 books to this Resources for Downloading folder . Or I can add them if you would prefer; please let me know!
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Re: Can EFT Play in Integral Role in Helping Victims of Sexual Assault? New Research Says YES
Thanks, Craig. We in the EFT community join you and Alina in continuing to spread the word and validate EFTs successful use in real world solutions to real world problems.its ease of use, flexibility and swift results offer hope to many more people everyday. And the research, platforms and articles like yours keep that momentum fresh and expanding.
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Re: Can EFT Play in Integral Role in Helping Victims of Sexual Assault? New Research Says YES
Thank you, Craig. I regularly use EFT with my psychotherapy clients. It works in so many ways and is especially useful as a self-healing tool to help calm the body when dysregulated. Thanks again for posting this!
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Re: Can EFT Play in Integral Role in Helping Victims of Sexual Assault? New Research Says YES
I have used EFT along my personal healing journey and have had a few of my guests on The Healing Place Podcast discuss its tremendous benefits in working with their clients. Thanks for this informative piece! Peace, Teri