We are seeing a lot more about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the media in recent years, particularly as more and more military personnel are returning from combat and as our culture is recognizing the traumatic impacts of physical, emotional, and sexual violence. This increase in awareness and the available treatments for PTSD is largely positive and will help lower the stigma or messages that one should “just get over” a traumatic event, allowing more people to receive treatment and alleviate suffering.
Read MoreIn my first two blog posts on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, we explored how the show portrays symptoms of trauma and resiliency. In this post, we will look at Kimmy's recovery and how her process depicts what survivors may face during their own journeys.
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This month's yoga workshop is on Saturday, April 25th. We will focus on increasing a sense of personal power and will through yoga asana, breath, and meditation
Read MoreIn the first blog post on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, we looked at the impact of trauma on the character of Kimmy. This second post shifts to exploring ways Kimmy exemplifies resiliency and posttraumatic growth.
Read MoreIn March, Netflix released the first season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, an original series created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. I would probably watch anything involving Tina Fey and actress Ellie Kemper (who plays Kimmy Schmidt), so I settled in without knowing much about the plot of the series.
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This month's workshop focuses on the principles of safely backbending and increasing awareness in the back of the body.
Read MoreI have two yoga workshops this month. Due to inclement weather last weekend, the Self-Care Workshop has been rescheduled to Saturday 3/14/15.
Read MoreDr. Irina Diyankova is a friend and colleague who is providing valuable therapy services to survivors of trauma in Knoxville, Tennessee. She recently wrote the following blog post about the high activation and disconnection
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Our ability to produce so many thoughts is amazing...or frustrating...or exhausting, depending on the moment and the tone or pattern of those thoughts. Learning to moderate flow of thoughts is a common goal and concern for people with whom I work. To be able to shift our thoughts is incredibly powerful and not a quick or one-time accomplishment.
Read MoreYoga workshops will be offered every month this spring! I will facilitate a workshop every last Saturday of the month, and workshops will continue to be from 9:30-noon
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My next yoga workshops will be on Saturday, January 31st from 9:30-noon. During this workshop, participants will learn about the five koshas (or "energetic bodies")
Read MoreI came across the website yogaformen.com recently. The website's mission is to inspire more men to improve their lives with yoga.
Read MoreMy clients often speak about their experience in their jobs, the meaning of their professional work, relationships with supervisors and coworkers, and strategies to make their work more effective. It makes sense to focus on and explore feelings about our working world, even if it is not the reason for coming to counseling.
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I will be offering my next yoga workshops on Saturday, November 15th. During this workshop, we will do two different yoga sequences and look at tools and concepts related to grounding and lowering anxiety during the busy-ness of the holiday season.
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The symptoms of anxiety or effects of trauma can take up a lot of mental and physical space in the body. As humans, our attention goes to these areas of pain or discomfort. This is adaptive in some ways (for instance, you need to notice pain that lets you know that you are in immediate danger), but it is problematic when the attention chronically goes to areas of unease.
Read MoreBreathing is one of the simplest ways to come into the present moment and connect to the body. Breathing increases regulation when you are pulled into experiences of the past or are spiraling into worries about the future. It is also a way to focus the mind, even if is it only briefly. For these reasons, it is commonly recommended to spend time on breathing when one is anxious, angry, stressed, or overwhelmed.
Read MoreThe Free Day of Yoga is an Austin tradition. Most of the studios in town participate by offering free yoga classes
Read MoreI will be offering my next yoga workshop on Saturday, August 30th. During this workshop, we will do two different yoga sequences and look at tools and concepts related to ahimsa (non-violence),
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Panic attacks feel horrible! When you have one, your mind and body are using all of the energy that would be needed to fight or get away from a huge threat, even though that threat is generally not present.
Read MoreI will be offering my next yoga workshop on Saturday, August 16th. During this workshop, we will do two different yoga sequences
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