The Balance of Balance

Balance is a struggle. It's not always like those neat little pie graphs that lifestyle specialists share with us. I am

always amused by those graphs, as I think a more accurate depiction would be a bunch of hands reaching in and trying to pull pieces of the lifestyle "pie" away from center. Isn't that what life is like....constant pushes and pulls away from the balance we strive for? And the subsequent guilt we feel about not being able to balance it all? Feeling guilt as the kid's eat a Happy Meal, or you didn't make it to the gym today, or you are slacking on your new year's journaling resolution. Who are these people who can create this little utopia of wellness, live off kale and meditation, and can balance it all?!

When our staff met for 2015 to set goals for us as a practice, one of the words we felt strongly about building into our values was "sustainability".  We wanted our clients and ourselves to find a way to work the type of wellness that works for them into their daily life in a manageable and sustainable way. Giving our clients a break from the guilt of "not doing enough" and finding peace in "today, I did something" is powerful and the foundation that true sustainability is built upon.

A few weeks ago, I was having a conversation about smoking a cigarette before a yoga class...to which my (fabulous) instructor said "it's better than having one without doing yoga". She was so right.

It has struck me that maybe balance isn't about doing everything, but balancing out  what you do for yourself to be well and stay well with the things that we previously felt guilty for. Maybe you had a beer last night, but made sure to hit yoga in the morning. Maybe you haven't hit that journaling as hard as you want, but you treated yourself to a massage. Maybe you had that pizza last night, but found time to make it to Pilates today. Maybe you overslept and forgot all your coping skills for stress management, but called and opened up to a friend. Plan and build in what works for your life in a way you can succeed with, and make wellness manageable. 

Let the wellness you do build in define you and find pride in what you can manage and sustain. Love the life you live. I, for one, will be at the beach today....and even though there is plenty else I could be doing, this is my balance.

Find yours.

Best,

Liz

Massage for Health and Wellbeing

When we ask people about their goals for wellness, it almost always involves the statement "I just want to feel better/good/well/etc". This statement is so honest and accurate for the human desire to be well in mind, body, and spirit.   The connectedness of the three is what allows us to achieve and sustain overall health, and massage therapy can play an important role in supporting this quest.

When people initially think of massage therapy, there is this misconception that it is a luxury service meant as a "one time treat" verses an ongoing wellness practice. However, we support the idea of integrative, mind-body medicine and wellness, and have not only been educated as to the incredible impact regular massage therapy can have on emotional wellbeing, we have seen it first hand with our clients!

If you haven't incorporated regular massage therapy into your health and wellness routine yet, here are some promising links between the effectiveness of massage therapy in aiding in the treatment of mental health symptoms.

In a recent study in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers concluded massage therapy could serve as an effective intervention in managing blood pressure, a major health concern for clients coping with anxiety. The study showed that the immediate results of lowered blood pressure lasted up to 72 hours after massage, and had a drastic impact on reported levels of stress and anxiety.

Research published in Military Medicine reports that military veterans indicated significant reductions in ratings of anxiety, worry, depression, and symptoms of PTSD after receiving massage therapy treatments. Analysis also suggests declining levels of tension and irritability following massage. We have seen first-hand at the practice the benefits of massage therapy for our clients experiencing intrusive PTSD symptoms.

There has been promising talk about the usefulness of massage therapy as a supportive additional practice for the treatment of bipolar disorder, in conjunction with other treatment options. Massage therapy can increase client's mindfulness practice, ability to tune in with their body's experience, regulate emotional imbalances, and reduce irritability and agitation.

Additionally, massage therapy can be useful to help cope with chronic depression, grief, mania, anxiety, chronic pain, symptoms related to autoimmune disorders, and PTSD.

Many insurance plans have wellness benefits included that can be used for massage therapy services. Contact us to see if your plan includes this, and to schedule your massage therapy intake appointment, where you and your MT will work collaboratively to discuss your goals  and wellness needs to create a individualized plan that best suits you.

Christine, our Licensed Massage Therapist can be reached at 978-660-3836. We currently have many new clients and package specials going on.

Be well!

Social Media: Wellness at Your Fingertips

We live in a world where we want everything accessible and convenient. We can order dinner online (and it ay someone to deliver it from a non-delivery restaurant), we can download a whole series of television in one sitting, and we can google just about any topic, anywhere, at any time (alligator attacks anyone?). But how does this effect the world of wellness?

We all know the quest to wellness takes hard work, and that change takes time. Therapy, as challenging as it can be, works, as do diets when done correctly, physical training, and a litany of other wellness ventures. At Enlightened Interventions, we celebrate the individual journey as part of being well and staying well, and embrace the idea that true wellness is about sustainability and integrative plans that take commitment.

However, we know that the best way to help you achieve and sustain your goals is to make the tools you need to achieve them accessible to you. Whether it be a coaching call or text with our team here, a quick stop in on the facebook page or twitter account to learn about the wellness tips or special offers of the day, a login to the instagram page for a meditation mantra, or a quick coping skills review on the pinterest page, we want our commitment to your wellness to be easy for you to access.

In a world of social media, we want you connected with us through as many ways possible. Please take some time and link up to our pages, accounts, and everything in between to help you stay on top of having all the skills you need for your wellness goals.

Our Facebook page: The best way to stay on top of our latest specials and new services.
https://www.facebook.com/enlightenedinterventionsllc

Our Pinterest Account: A collection of our resources, best skills and tips, local resources, and other information to help you get through the day to day
http://www.pinterest.com/enlightintllc/

Our Instagram Account: A compilation of quotes, pictures, and practice updates to keep you in the loop!
http://instagram.com/enlightenedinterventions/

Our Twitter Feed: A Great Way to Follow Helpful Education for Your Wellness
https://twitter.com/enlightinterllc
@EnlightInterLLC

Our Website: The 411 on many of our services, our team, and our values.
www.enlightenedinterventionsllc.org

Our LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9229118?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tarId%3A1421358385261%2Ctas%3Aenlightened%20interv%2Cidx%3A1-1-1

Happy Following!

Liz

Holistic Health: What are all those alternative therapies anyways?

“Never allow your mind to entertain thoughts of illness or limitation; you will see your body change for the better. Remember that mind is the power that is creating this body and if the mind is weak, the body becomes weak. Don't grieve or worry about anything.”

Paramhamsa Yogananda

I have been on my own personal journey of healing for the past 30 or more years. In the course of my own journey, I have had many epiphanies, and made a lot of exciting discoveries. As a result, I have seen major improvements in my own health. I have even impressed my own allopathic doctors at points (and that is not easy to do!). What I have “discovered” is not my own invention; the wisdom is out there, one just needs to find it. And study it. I have done that, and now am certified in and practice several very exciting and promising modalities, that happen to complement each other and work very well together.

Eastern medical practices have been utilized for over a thousand years and have stood the test of time tin terms of helping fight illness, recover from pain, and prevent health issues. These natural interventions call upon your bodies own resources in a planful and natural way to help you heal. 

But many people are wary of trying new alternative approaches, or think they will need to give up their allopathic (western) treatment. This is simply not true, and many of these techniques can be used as a supportive Intervertion while undergoing allopathic care, or simply on their own.

Let's break down some of the alternative therapies that can help you with your health goals.

Auriculotherapy: Ear Acupuncture, which I practice using no needles, totally non-invasive. According to auriculotherapy, as developed by Dr. Paul Nogeir, a French neurologist, in the 1950's, there is a map of the human body plotted out on the ear, and any part of the body can be addressed by treating the ear in the corresponding points.

Sujok Therapy: Korean hand and Foot Acupuncture, which I also practice non-invasively.

Quantum Chinese Herbal Therapy: a new twist on traditional herbal medicine, using only several herbs, and in much smaller amounts. Safe, very effective, even for children, and tasty too!

Energy Work: I do a combination of pranic healing, qi gong, and Body Space Medicine energy work

Spectra-Chrome Therapy: a modality in which colored lights are used to address pain and illness.

I look forward to sharing this wisdom with you. If you have a health concern you would like to discuss, you can schedule a (free) consultation, or, schedule an hour appointment so we can address your concerns with these cutting-edge holistic modalities. I encourage you to be in touch.

I am offering a holiday season package discount of 4 treatments for $200.00. (Buy a package for a friend (before January 15th) and receive an additional discount!) Ask me for details.

(Look for more info. on other health packages coming soon.)

Dr. Yosef Resnick, HMD

Yosefresnick@enlightenedinterventionsllc.org

Start the New Year Right: Hypno-Coaching To Change Your Life

 

Many people are introduced to hypnosis through some fun show at a college event, at a bar, or at a festival of some sort.  You see some friends or strangers act foolish, dance about like crazy, forget their names, forget their ability to know the number 5 or a host of other things.  It looks like they lose the ability to have free will, that they’re completely controlled, or some other scary thing.  When I talk to people about hypnosis, most people warily admit to an apprehensive rejection of it, with the notion that they’ll lose control and they don’t want to do that.

While the notion and fear of losing control through hypnosis seems logical from the experiences that people may have had with it in the past, it is actually the exact opposite. 

Hypnosis isn’t a state where you hear nothing, see nothing, feel nothing, and can’t do anything. Hypnosis is a state of higher consciousness, away from the blockade of negative thoughts that usually try to tell us what we can and cannot do, that from past experience, inappropriately filtered and processed, created fake limitations.  Hypnosis allows us to bypass these ways of thinking completely and speak to the true agent of change, our subconscious mind.  It is not a process of losing control, but instead a process of reconnecting with the inner power and control you already have within you.

However, hypno-coaching goes even deeper than that.  Where traditional hypnosis used to use the authoritative model of change,  Hypno-Coaching seeks and successfully brings forth true growth and results through empowerment, helping you find your strongest and most powerful self, helping you become the happier and more empowered version, and helping you see the brighter and more promising future that lays in front of you.

 Hypno-Coaching is about strategic growth, with the practitioner helping you discover the true path and tools that will help you truly create the results you’re looking for.  Instead of a singular session where you’re left with the hypnotic suggestion, you’re given tools, techniques, strategies, and methods to continually address the issues, and future issues you may face, to create and attain the results you want in your life.

Hypno-coaching doesn’t just put you in a hypnotic trance, and for those weary of hypnotic trances, it doesn’t need to use them to help you attain the results you want.

With a toolbox of techniques from the greatest arts and sciences of change, hypno-coaching utilizes the best strategies imaginable to help you discover what it is that you truly want.  Every session is specific to each and every person, utilizing the frames that you use for your world, and not trying to speak in any other language than the one your subconscious best speaks in.

You will leave every session with a greater insight into what has been driving your actions and most importantly the tools to work with these Action Drivers, to get the results you want as quickly as possible.  In the session however, you will also be aided by the hypnotic protocols that will help you start to reach your maximum, true potential through your subconscious process, and attain your goals better, faster, and sustainably. 

            Change isn’t the goal of hypno-coaching. 

            We Don’t Change! 

            We Become More of our Better Self!

           

With hypnotic coaching, you’ll become more of your better self each and every day, leaving the session with the knowledge and ability to access your highest self and your maximum potential.

So forget about those old hypnosis comedy shows.  Forget about the weird shows you might have watched, or any of your old preoccupations with hypnosis.  Instead, look into yourself, think of all the things you’re truly capable of. Think of your life without cigarettes, think of weighing 10, or 30, or as was my case, 147 pounds less than you are right now, imagine having more confidence, better energy management, or even better, unleashing a life with no boundaries and infinite possibilities.  Take a moment, really think about it, create that image in your mind.  A life unbound.  A life completely free from the past, free from I Can’t, free from the impossible.  What would you have tomorrow, if you started living fully today?

 

            Do you have that image in your head?

            Hypno-Coaching can and does help you bring that image into reality.

            It gives you the control of your life to shape it as you dream.

            Forget SMART Goals!

            It’s Time To Dream Big!

            It’s Time To Give Hypno-Coaching A Go!

 

By: Clarence Oliver, CHP and NLP Practitioner

Hypnotherapist @Enlightened Interventions, LLC

 

Call for a FREE consultation: 774-261-2259

E-mail at clarenceoliver@enlightenedinterventionsllc.org

Spotlight on Interventions: The Value of Dance and Movement Therapy

If I asked you to close your eyes and visualize what dance looks like, you might envision dance as it relates to modern entertainment. Dance is currently a popular theme in competitive reality TV shows such as “So you Think You Can Dance and “Dancing with the Stars.” Dance has also become a significant part of social media. Perhaps you visualized a viral video with a toddler bouncing to a current pop song, carefully scripted choreography for a wedding party, or a thought-provoking social platform such as "One Billion Rising" which raises awareness of world-wide Domestic Violence.  Over the course of time, dance has had significant celebratory, religious, and community meaning.  In the mind’s eye, dance may mean art and athleticism. Regardless of what you imagine, ideas about dance evolve based on our lived experiences. When I visualize dance, I see movement that expresses more than simple word. Movement is a very powerful tool for the emotional well-being of people regardless of age, gender, physical status, ethnicity and/or socio-economic status.

Dance Movement Therapy  (DMT) and Counseling is often misunderstood. As a professional, I educate colleagues and the community about what I do and how movement affects our daily lives.  As you are reading this, it might help to dispel some of the basic assumptions I hear.

 

“Are you a physical therapist for dancers?”

“If I spin around in a few circles I’ll magically be better?”

“You’re going to teach me to dance?”

“Are you going to expect me to do that stuff I see on tv? I can’t do that!”

 

The best way to explain “what I do” and the therapy I provide is to discuss how it is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA). Dance/Movement Therapy is the use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual. All in all, it’s a fancy way of stating that a Dance/Movement Therapist works with every aspect of the client and what they’re experiencing through the use of movement instead of just traditional “talk” therapy.

Dance/Movement Therapy is a psychotherapy. Just like with any therapy session it is essential to have a solid sense of psychological safety, referred to by many as a “safe space”. Within these safety nets, the patient/client is able to freely explore thoughts, feelings and their unconscious. A movement therapist, like myself, works first on establishing this quality of safety and understanding. Many people are intimidated by the idea of moving in front of others, fearing judgment and embarrassment, and this fear holds them back from wanting to experience a therapy such as DMT. But under this fear, I want to instill the understanding, in this post, that Dance/Movement Therapy looks different according to whom it is being conducted with. There are DMTs who work with a wide variety of populations, such as, those diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Eating Disorders, Personality Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, substance abuse, at-risk teens and children, and veterans as well as medical diagnoses such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and Dementia; and the list goes on and on.

Movement, just like the people creating it, is individualized. It also comes in many varieties, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. It ranges from the gestures that we use while talking, to the fast-paced movements of a leg shake some may display when anxious. Movement also occurs at barely visible levels right down to the breath we take. Think about it, breath is the most natural way that we move. It is the foundation of our entire existence wrapped into a simple inhale and exhale. Some fundamental work I do as a Dance/Movement Therapist centers on breathing patterns. Examining how deep, shallow, fast, slow, tense, or relaxed the breathing is often translates to a better analysis and/or understanding of how the individual is feeling…and then we build from there. It really can be that “simple” of a movement.

So now you might ask, what does Dance/Movement Therapy look like? A colleague of mine, Lora Wilson Mau (2011) stated. “[The] Key to dance/movement therapy (as opposed to a dance class or a Zumba™ class) is the therapeutic relationship that exists between therapist and client. All movement expression that occurs does so within that relationship. Movement communicates. Dance communicates. The dance/movement therapist is uniquely trained to understand that communication, facilitate it and deepen it.

You may also wonder if Dance/Movement Therapy is for you.  Spoken word is something that we learned as we developed but sometimes it falls short.  Humans may not always be “tuned into” our movement but it’s no secret that words can’t always describe how we are feeling.  Dance/Movement Therapy with a trained therapist can unlock barriers to good emotional health and well-being.

My goal as a DMT is to bring a holistic, wellness experience to each child, teen, and adult in therapy. As a Dance/Movement Therapist and Counselor, I work using movement in conjunction with other forms of expressive therapies as well as traditional “talk therapy.” The process all depends on the individual as well as personal history, goals, and comfort levels.

Enlightened Interventions is offering two group workshops with special purposes designed to empower the attendees.  One group is for teen girls age 13-17 who may struggle with seeing the beauty in their bodies. In an age where teens are barraged by unhealthy portrayals of the “ideal,” these sessions will focus on self-esteem and celebrating their uniqueness. We are also excited to offer a group for girls and boys ages 6-8 who need some help with social skills. This movement therapy group will engage your little super heroes while having fun!

 

If you have a child/teen in your life, these groups may be just what they need after the holidays, please feel free to contact Liz at enlightenedinterventions@gmail.com or me at BriannaMartin@enlightenedinterventionsllc.org about setting up a referral.  Both groups will take place on Wednesday nights after the New Year. Tune into our facebook page or contact Liz at the email listed for more information on our official start date!
If you have a particular interest in movement therapy, we will tailor sessions for you or someone else in your life.
 
We are looking forward to expanding our Dance/Movement Therapy services in 2015!!

 

There will be posts to follow specific to each of these groups and what the goals and approaches are aimed to be.

 

Remember dance skills are not needed for any group or individual session; it is all about the movement.   

 

Yours in Movement,

 

Brianna

 

Dance/Movement Therapist and Counselor

MA, R-DMT

Co-parenting for the Holidays: LET THERE BE PEACE!

 Dear Santa,

I want a Nintendo DS and for Mami to not be broke from having to go to court when she fights with Papi.

Love,
--------

This is a  letter to Santa I had a client's teacher show me a few years ago, and as I am sure it is for all of you, it broke her family's heart.

Popular media would have us believe that the holidays are this picture perfect, Norman Rockwell-esque time of the year with smiling children, laughing parents, and a jolly guy in red handing out presents. Take a look at any holiday picture book, and you will see happy, INTACT families, giving off the impression to our youth that the only way to spend the holidays is with your whole family in one room. Now cut to reality of the holidays with stressed out parents, anxious and overtired children, and pressure-cooker expectations that are enough to have any one burst. I will say it: The holidays are hard enough before you had divorce to the mix, now imagine being the kid with two houses this time of year.

After a divorce or separation, the holiday stress changes for kids. Who will I be with for the celebrations? Will my other parent be upset? Is everyone going to fight? What will I miss out on? The questions are endless, and for the divorced kid, they serve to increase anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. However, the holidays do not need to be marred with pain. In the essence of making the holidays a little easier for parents and kids this time of year, I have compiled a list of 3 things to Let Go Of, and 3 Things to Instead Build to manage the holidays as a divorced family.

LET IT GO....
1. Bringing up Memories of the Past
I often tell clients that the best part about the human brain is that we get to have this Blockbuster video style anthology of memories in our heads, and the nostalgia of the holidays tends to being these to the forefront. We can find ourselves sitting around talking about old family memories and traditions. For the child of a divorced family, this can be incredibly painful. These kids are still trying to navigate what "family" means since separation or divorce, and focusing time, energy, and emotions being sad about the past is not helpful or healthy for kids during this rocky time, especially early on.

INSTEAD.....
1. Build new Memories and Traditions
Every family has a story, and the great thing about the road through a life transition is that you get to write it collaboratively with your kids. You can decide that new memories can be made with each parent and the children, perhaps including extended families and other loved ones if it makes sense. Perhaps Dad gets to declare the Friday before Christmas "Jammies and Christmas Movie Night" and Mom gets to plays the Christmas lights game with the kids on an evening drive. You have more control than you think over what kind of holiday this is for your kids, and the making of new memories and fun times will be what stands out to the child when they reflect on this holiday season.

LET IT GO....
2. "My" Time
Someone once said that holidays are about children, and if we reflect on many holiday traditions within many denominations, we see that they are often catered to children. This includes holiday concerts at school, extended family celebrations, and holiday festivities. We all know that many divorce agreements outline specific time frames and schedules for children, and that sometimes these can be slightly rigid. No matter how you cut it, insisting that children miss out on treasured holiday activities is internalized by them as deprivation, and makes for resentful, angry kids.

INSTEAD....
2. "Your" Time
Work with your mediator or professional team to work out balancing flexibility with predictability around the holidays, with the goal being that everyone feels satisfied with their holidays. You may need to swap weekends so Little Susie can go to her aunt's cookie swap, or flex your pick-up plans so he can help Grandma make matzo ball soup. Let go of that petty voice inside you, and work collaboratively with your team and co-parent to develop a plan where children know a predictable plan on a week to week basis, and can express their needs and wants during the holidays (who knew that stringing up the lights with Papa meant so much to them!).

LET IT GO...
3. Those Fightin' Words
The old sticks and stones analogy is simply not true. Words DO hurt. Many time separation or divorce comes with leftover anger, hostility, and sadness at not only the ex-spouse, but sometimes their immediate and extended families as well. We can find ourselves so filled with hatred that all of a sudden all the things we are thinking in our heads are running out of our mouth at the speed of Usain Bolt... all while little ears are sitting right next to us.

Kids don't divorce their parents. You did such a great job raising your little spitfire to be securely and lovingly attached to that person you are spitting venom at. It hurts them to hear bad words abut someone they love, and creates mistrust with BOTH their caregivers.

INSTEAD....
3. Be a Resiliency Coach
I hear all the time from parents about how they want their children to be able to handle whatever life throws at them, to be strong, and be resilient. One would argue that divorce and parental separation is perhaps one of the richest opportunities for strengthening resiliency in children. We have an opportunity to teach them that things will be okay even when it seems that the world has fallen apart. Instead of modeling hatred, model love, and if you can't do that, model tolerance and co-existence. Use our words, our actions, and our empathy as a chance to model being the kind of person we want our kid's to grow up to be.

I often tell clients the story of the lotus flower (our logo) during times of fostering resilience. The lotus flower is one of the world's most beautiful flowers that only grows in murky, muddy, stinky swamps. I like the challenge parents to find ways to nurture their child's inner lotus flower when it seems like they are stuck in the most icky, muddy, painful place on earth.


I hope you found some of these ideas helpful, and please remember, we can't always pick the hand we are dealt, but we can chose how we play the cards!

All for Now,
Liz