Transforming the Experienced Based Brain (TEB) is a modality that was designed to allow the nervous system to heal from early traumatic experiences, making it very effective for those who have experienced developmental and attachment trauma.
Transforming Touch works with two different systems within our nervous system: our stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) and our attachment system.
Read MoreOctober 31st, 1986, I was 24 and at a party with a girlfriend whose name I don't recall. I felt alone in a crowd, and truly by the Grace of God, I heard the line in AA's 3rd Tradition, "The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking." It was this sentence that helped me believe that I was welcome.
Read MoreAnytime we feel lost, hurt, or inspired to make even the most specific parts of our lives better in some way, we can find a website, article or paper about some self-help topic that speaks to us. This is often the first step taken before deciding to begin therapy with a helping professional. But rarely does someone talk about being the person who is married to or the child/parent/sibling of the person seeking help.
Read MorePlay is a universal language that transcends age, culture, and background. Children naturally engage in play to make sense of their world, express emotions, and learn valuable life skills. But did you know that play can also be a powerful therapeutic tool for individuals of all ages?
Read More…And what’s with the angst about letting go? I know I’ve spent more time, obsessing, worrying, and dreading downsizing. As I let go, give away and throw away, I feel lighter. I also feel hopeful.
Read MoreThe holiday season is in full swing! This can be a time of excitement, joy, love, giving, receiving, fun; and, it can also be a time of exhaustion, fear, guilt, and at times depression. This is a time when we want to be doing more self-care, not less. There are going to be a million things trying to grab our attention over the next few weeks, and I want to encourage you to be mindful of how, where, when, and with whom you spend your time. Here are few things to remember this holiday season:
Read MoreWhen I think back to my first holiday in sobriety it was extremely difficult. From the outside looking in, I was by all appearances ready to join the festivities, but inside I was not ready. I was still very much conflicted with myself, and I had a lot of shame. I felt stuck on how to be myself.
Read MoreHalloween is one of my favorite holidays because it is the sobriety date of my parents as well as my own. I distinctly remember being at a Halloween party with many people yet I can’t remember any of their faces or names…..I remember taking a beer and standing on the deck contemplating, really wondering whether or not I could drink the beer and forget myself, yet again.
Read MoreHalloween is just one week away! When you think of Halloween, there is a good chance that images of kids dressing in imaginative costumes, candy and decorations come to mind. It can be fun to reminisce about our childhood Halloween experiences, including going door-to-door collecting candy and sorting through the treasure at the end of the night. What a great and fun time to connect with your inner child!
Read MoreOctober is Inner Child month at Relationship Enrichment Center and to celebrate this, I wanted to share an intentional inner child connection activity with you. I have written two previous blog posts about the inner child: Inner Child and Fun Ways to Connect With Your Inner Child. You can read these two posts to learn more about your inner child!
Read MoreI often struggle with internalizing and allowing something to fester up and become much bigger than it needs to be. Over the years I have learned how to implement techniques to let the little things go.
Read MoreIf you’re struggling to make consistent changes in your life, it could be because your body has gotten used to operating as if there is a ticking clock above your head. Perhaps everything feels like it needs to be done NOW, while thinking of 8 other things. Or maybe you get so overwhelmed, you feel frozen and depressed, so doing anything feels monumental.
Read MoreAs someone who is learning how to have fun, a big part of my recovery is learning how to connect with myself, my inner child, in fun ways! Of course, part of the healing process is feeling our feelings, often feelings we have worked really hard not to feel. In this way, healing our emotional wounds can often be exhausting and overwhelming. It’s important to balance out the hard stuff with fun stuff!
Read More“Let go or be dragged” One of the members from group last night shared with us this AA slogan, “Let go or be dragged”. It’s really speaking to me this morning as I am continuing to take back the illusion of control. I surrender, and turn this over and then a few minutes later I find myself obsessing about a detail or a way that I might be able to manipulate a situation.
Read MoreACA and my recovery has taught me how the concepts of powerlessness, unmanageability, and an external locus of control have showed up in my life and in my relationships. I often work with clients who are seeking therapy because their lives feel so unmanageable, a feeling I am very familiar with.
Read More“In healthy families, the parents are there to meet the emotional needs of the children. In dysfunctional families, the children are there to meet the emotional needs of the parents.” Virginia Satir
In helping individuals in their own recovery, and or couples that are trying to lead their family in a healthier direction, this statement illuminates where some wounding may have taken place, or where some healing can still take place.
Read MoreMany years ago & when I first got into recovery, I was introduced to the term, Family of Choice. It was presented as being distinctly different than the family I was born into, and that there are specific criteria for members of a Family of Choice. Conceptually, I had no reference point. Yet seeing it play out was profound and life changing.
Read MorePMADs are most commonly described or known as postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression, but there is also postpartum panic, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder with postpartum onset, and postpartum psychosis. While these experienced are often described as having a postpartum onset, this is not entirely accurate. In truth, many PMADs present during pregnancy. For those with a history of depression and/or anxiety, symptoms may increase as pregnancy progresses.
Read MoreRe-think your idea of intimacy. Many people immediately think physical intimacy, forgetting that emotional intimacy is equally important for a couple to have a deep connection. Emotional intimacy means hearing, understanding, emotionally supporting, and connecting with your partner outside of or in addition to physical contact.
Read MoreWhat does your inner critic say to you? When you walk by a mirror what do you tell yourself? When you make a mistake at work, what do you think about yourself? We all have self-talk, and we should be kind to ourselves. Yet at times, we are our worst critic and beat ourselves up over whatever is happening in our lives. We need to practice self-compassion.
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