Tagged With "hope"
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The Books That Helped Me Transition from Trauma to Triumph: A Book Review Series – “Getting Past Your Past”
Naturally, I would at times experience panic attack symptoms, and would almost always cry. Sometimes slow tears cascading down my cheeks. Other times full-on ugly crying, requiring a pause in the action.
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The Books That Helped Me Transition from Trauma to Triumph: A Book Review Series - "The Power of Now"
The author takes us on a journey into a deep place within us, a place where the truth is known "within every cell of (our) body"; beyond the masks we wear, the criticisms we've cloaked ourselves in, our over-thinker personas, fueled by the old doubts we've absorbed into our beings.
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The Healing Place Podcast - Dr. Kathleen Friend: The Greatness Chair
Kathleen Friend MD is a Child Psychiatrist, children’s author, musician and heart rhythm meditation teacher currently living in Tucson, Arizona. Her mission is to expand the paradigm of Child Psychiatry to embrace a holistic view of mind, body and spirit.
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The Healing Place Podcast - Dr. Kathleen Friend: The Greatness Chair
Kathleen Friend MD is a Child Psychiatrist, children’s author, musician and heart rhythm meditation teacher currently living in Tucson, Arizona. Her mission is to expand the paradigm of Child Psychiatry to embrace a holistic view of mind, body and spirit.
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The Healing Place Podcast - Gretchen Schmelzer, PhD: Journey Through Trauma
Thank you, Dr. Gretchen Schmelzer, for enlightening us even more about the "journey through trauma". Listen in as Gretchen shares her insights on trauma GPS, her work in the field of trauma-recovery and healing on individual and societal levels, Nelson Mandela, her five phase cycle for healing repeated trauma, and more!
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The Healing Place Podcast - Jen Johnson: Everyday Mindful
I thoroughly enjoyed sitting down with Jen Johnson to discuss the gifts contained in mindfulness practice, her counseling services as well as her coaching work with clients all over the world, her photography and writing outlets, along with sharing pieces of her own healing journey with us.
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The Healing Place Podcast - Missy Garcia: Sexuality, Leadership, Healing
Missy is passionate about empowering women with tools to come back into the true beauty of who they are, guide them to open their heart to completely loving all of themselves, and totally embracing their badass queen within. She coaches women to access their inner power, be healed from within and bring back the juiciness into their life, careers and relationships.
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The Healing Place Podcast - Shenandoah Chefalo: Garbage Bag Suitcase
What a delightful conversation Teri Wellbrock engaged in with the passionate and compassionate Shenandoah Chefalo, author of "Garbage Bag Suitcase: A Memoir" and faculty member of The Center for Trauma Resilient Communities. They dove into the depths of: the healing work of Crossnore and The Center for Trauma Resilient Communities; growing up in the foster care system; trauma-brain; 3 proven resilience-building factors; compassion approaches; and why they dislike tomatoes!
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Thoughts to share
Thoughts to share - “Abuse is never deserved, it is an exploitation of innocence.” Lorraine Nilon “When you can identify the insecurities inside the person that is hurting you then you can begin to heal. It isn’t about you. It is about their past.” Shannon L. Alder “Trauma… does not disappear if it is not validated. When it is ignored or invalidated the silent screams continue internally heard only by the one held captive.” Danielle Bernock Take care, Michael A diagnosis is not a destiny “...
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Unity Radio - ALL NEW Talking Wellness. Today's special guest is Michael Skinner
Unity Radio WUTY 97.9FM Worcester, MA ALL NEW Talking Wellness with Mike MacInnis. Today's special guest is Michael Skinner I'm particularly proud and happy about yesterday's "Talking Wellness" episode. Michael Skinner was a trailblazer in trauma informed peer support work, getting it done before people even knew it was a thing. A class act and genuine good guy. Definitely give this show a listen!
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Coping Strategy: Smile
As we discussed the Seven Mindsets, I was reminded how I had made a concerted effort to change my thinking patterns and create new habits filled with positivity instead of focusing on the struggles when I first started out on my healing journey.
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Defining Resilience Series: Step 5 - Healthy Habit Formation
Transforming our habits is a powerful tool we can utilize as we continue along our healing journey.
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Defining Resilience Series: Step 6 - Find a Guiding Hand to Hold
I am in love with the idea of utilizing our own healing experiences to help those who are looking for guidance and a comforting hand to hold. I know when I was in despair, I was flailing in my efforts to find answers.
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How a Therapy Dog Impacts a Child's Life
Afterward I discovered the horrific tragedy that had befallen this child only hours prior. I cried the entire car ride home. My sweet dog helped this little guy smile when smiling seemed an impossibility for these circumstances. She gave him an hour of reprieve from his heartache and trauma.
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Morning Meditation
As I continued practicing it, however, I found comfort in releasing the sound into the universe. There were times I would walk around the rest of the day feeling a beautiful energy, a tingly sensation, radiating from my forehead.
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Positivities of Persistence Series: Persistence & Positivity Defined
While some scholars may attribute persistence to a need for control, I like to take the stance with those who look at persistence as a will to not give up. More and more research is emerging on resilience and its positive impact in off-setting ACEs (adverse childhood experiences), even learned resilience skills in adulthood.
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Seven Benefits of Working with a Therapy Animal from a Handler's Perspective
Sometimes I feel selfish for walking away from our therapy dog sessions with my heart overflowing with joy, a smile radiating from my face AND heart. I love watching this dog turn a child’s tears into giggles. Sammie has a thing for kids. Her tail wags every time she sees one. Whether we are walking the halls at a school or the trails at a nature preserve. She wants to meet them all and offer a snuggle. As a result, her tail thumps in canine happiness, and I just can’t help but grin.
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Seven Strategies I Use To Reregulate As Anxiety Symptoms Surface
So, how does Teri Wellbrock bring herself back into a state of calm once the anticipatory anxiety has been triggered? Here is Teri's personal go-to list. Please keep in mind she created this plan on a trial and error basis. She loaded her coping skills toolbox with exercises, fidgets, courses, books, therapy suggestions, and techniques discovered through personal research. Following is her top seven strategies, however, please note that she has a much larger bag-o-tricks to pull from if needed.
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Re: Morning Meditation
I haven't yet tried the whole meditation, but I tried a few minutes of it and wow! You are not kidding about the tingly sensation in the forehead! It's quite lasting, and the way I imagine it might feel to be a rung bell, every cell vibrating. The sensation moves concentrically from the head through the torso to the limbs. I'm intrigued -- thanks, Teri!
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Re: Morning Meditation
While the sensation was a bit unnerving at first (my hyper-arousal at work!), I kept at it and eventually found myself enjoying the tingly reminder of sending my positive thoughts and energy out into the universe. There was a comfort in that. Peace, Teri
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Re: How a Therapy Dog Impacts a Child's Life
How fulfilling it must be to come full circle by helping children who've experienced trauma as you yourself recover from the long-term effects of childhood and adult trauma. And what a beautiful way to involve your adorable Sammie. Thanks for your work and for sharing here, Teri.
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Re: How a Therapy Dog Impacts a Child's Life
Oh, Laura, my heart fills with joy every Tuesday as I watch Sammie work her therapy dog magic. I had worked in a mental health agency in the school systems helping children with trauma, bullying, etc., but found it was taking its toll on me emotionally. I eventually left that job out of a forced situation (God's grace at work) as I had to go to work for a company I owned that was suddenly flourishing. Now I find I am back working with children, but this time Sammie is the one engaging them...
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Re: How a Therapy Dog Impacts a Child's Life
Teri, I LOVE your post on your sweet dog Sammie’s work!!! Best!!! Mary
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Re: How a Therapy Dog Impacts a Child's Life
Thanks, Mary! We had our Tuesday morning therapy dog work again this morning and the little boy I referenced in the post was beaming with joy when he walked into the room to see Sammie. My heart melted all over again.
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Re: Coping Strategy: Smile
Thank you, Teri, this is a wonderful reminder! I love it especially because your picture makes me instantly want to smile! Thank you for smiling me into a smile
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Re: Coping Strategy: Smile
Wow, yes! That beautiful picture of Teri infectiously smiling is a real boost!
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Re: Coping Strategy: Smile
Teri, I'm guessing you are aware (and you may be implying it in this post) that there's research that shows that the act of smiling -- even if it's a forced smile -- can improve one's mood. The reminds me of something I read recently about a remedy for insomnia that's caused by anxiety -- smile, just a bit, like the Buddha, while counting breaths (three inhales, three exhales) to signal to your brain that everything is OK. I've tried it several times, and more often than not, I drift right...
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Re: Coping Strategy: Smile
Well, your response made me smile big! Thank you for the positive feedback and I hope you find a million little reasons to smile this week Peace, Teri
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Re: Coping Strategy: Smile
You are most welcome. I appreciate you reading my post. Peace, Teri
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Re: Coping Strategy: Smile
Yes! Exactly. I was practicing a guided meditation a few years ago and it was suggested I turn the corners of my mouth up into a small smile and maintain it throughout the session. It was amazing the impact of that forced smile on my meditative results. That is when I decided to try forcing myself to smile in the midst of a panic attack. I had read how we can alter our chemical makeup by sending positive energy into negative or overwhelming emotions such as fear. And, for ME . . . it works!
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Dr. Kathleen Friend: The Greatness Chair
Thanks for sharing the information about your latest podcast, Teri. I always enjoy your interviews and I look forward to listening to this one soon. Just so you know, sometimes I have to listen to them twice because they are so jam-packed with good stuff! Also: another great thing about your podcast is that it's evidence of how much good work is going on in our world toward healing -- and you manage to find out about it!
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Dr. Kathleen Friend: The Greatness Chair
This made my heart smile big! And thanks double for listening in TWICE sometimes. LOL! I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to meet beautiful souls from all over this world who are doing incredible work helping others along their healing journeys. I continue to be blown away by their efforts, commitment, dedication, and overall love given by advocates and survivors alike in helping others. The podcast was recently approved by the Board of Directors of Fractured Atlas for fiscal...
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Dr. Kathleen Friend: The Greatness Chair
Another new podcast. I'm intrigued ... thank you again, Teri!
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Dr. Kathleen Friend: The Greatness Chair
Thanks, again, for tuning in! I love meeting all of these beautiful people doing amazing work in the world of trauma-recovery and prevention. Makes my heart happy and hopeful.
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Re: The Books That Helped Me Transition from Trauma to Triumph: A Book Review Series – “Getting Past Your Past”
Teri, this book has been on my list for a while (along with a blue million other books ...). Thanks for the reminder to nudge it toward the top of the list. I'm an EMDR veteran too, and your descriptions of your experience with that therapy echo mine. I too can say I wouldn't be where I am today without it. I've undergone a few more sessions recently and it has not lost its power. It is also quite the trip. Every time I think, nothing is going to happen this session. And then ... boy, do...
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Gretchen Schmelzer, PhD: Journey Through Trauma
I knew that name sounded familiar! I subscribe to Dr. Schmelzer's e-newsletter. But I don't think I've ever heard her interviewed before. Thank you, Teri!
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Gretchen Schmelzer, PhD: Journey Through Trauma
Such an insightful interview! Thanks for tuning in, Laura 😁
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Re: The Books That Helped Me Transition from Trauma to Triumph: A Book Review Series – “Getting Past Your Past”
I totally relate to your "along with a blue million other books" How wonderful you found EMDR and it helped you along your healing journey. And, wow, yes, those session where I would go in thinking everything was calm in my world then . . . BAM . . . I'd walk out thinking, "Where the hell did THAT come from?" But, so glad those aha moments would surface and I could process them and release that negative energy. Cathartic in so many ways. Thanks again for posting the obit for Dr. Shapiro. I...
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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: The Healing Place Podcast - Shenandoah Chefalo: Garbage Bag Suitcase
Ah, yes -- I have heard of Chefalo's memoir Garbage Bag Suitcase. I love hearing about people who've sublimated their experience with childhood trauma into work that helps others. Looking forward to listening!
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Shenandoah Chefalo: Garbage Bag Suitcase
Sorry for the delay in responding . . . I was enjoying a 9 day break at the beach on the Carolina coast! I, too, find it inspirational and heartwarming to know so many are using their triumph over trauma to guide others. A beautiful testament to becoming empowered. Thanks for listening in to the show and offering feedback. Makes my heart smile! Peace, Teri
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Re: Positivities of Persistence Series: Persistence & Positivity Defined
Hmmmm. I don't think my husband has ever called me persistent, but he HAS called me tenacious more than once. Because I am. And I think there's a lot of overlap between persistence and tenacity. I never thought about whether my tenacity is a result of childhood trauma, but it's not a stretch to suggest that it might be, as you posit about your persistence. In fact, I'd say BOTH traits are forms of resilience, because in order to be either persistent or tenacious, you have to keep pushing,...
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Re: Positivities of Persistence Series: Persistence & Positivity Defined
Great feedback! And, yes, I have been gifted the tenacious label, too. Another one I've been told is that I am determined. Holds the hand of persistent. So glad you found your tenacity to muscle through those first 20 years. And this success meme is perfect. And oh so true! Peace, Teri
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Jen Johnson: Everyday Mindful
Great conversation about mindfulness and meditation. You two covered a lot of territory! Thanks, Teri.
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Re: The Healing Place Podcast - Jen Johnson: Everyday Mindful
Thanks so much for taking the time to listen in and offer feedback, Laura. I feel blessed to meet beautiful souls from all over the world who are striving to help others along their healing journey. Jen Johnson is one of those souls.
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Re: Defining Resilience Series: Step 5 - Healthy Habit Formation
Great post, Teri. I like all the specific suggestions for how to implement each step, and that it's clear you've done all of this yourself! You are practicing what you preach and preaching what you practice. Thanks for sharing it here, and for the positive reinforcement for us all.