I am thrilled and honored to be part of the following panel where we will be discussing some questions, concerns and strategies as related uniquely to families with youth (1-25 years old) at home during this incredibly stressful time. Please tune in, with your own questions or just to listen for tips and strategies that you can use, at noon on Thursday, May 7th using the following link: www.burlingtonvt.gov/COVID-19/webinar/7459
The Season of Grief
On a cold winter’s morning drive, with a blanket of snow covering the rolling Vermont hills, frosted branches catching the rising sunlight, red farmhouses dotting the landscape and the blue sky tinted with hazy shades of purple and pink , I listened to a heartbreaking story about grief.
Dr Joanne Cacciatore was interviewed on the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock, talking about her book “Bearing Unbearable Loss.” I have included a link below to the show and encourage anybody who is currently grieving or is close to someone who has experienced a loss, to listen. Dr. Cacciatore and the host, Dr. Yael, talk about deeply personal experiences with grief and ways in which people who are actively grieving can sit with their pain and how friends and family of grievers can provide support. It is an incredibly touching , raw, and powerful episode.
The beauty of the insights and vulnerability of the hosts against the backdrop of the beauty of the landscape I was driving through, highlighted how during this harsh season of cold, darkness and death, there can be moments of sparkling beauty. And while we sometimes wish we were bears that could crawl into a cave to hibernate through the winter or escape the pain of loss, we all go through the season and eventually, the weather changes, ushering in a new season.
https://www.offtheclockpsych.com/podcast/bearing-unbearable
If you have recently experienced a loss, either through a loved one dying or through divorce, separation, and/or moving, please reach out.
Downloads for Presentation on Anxiety and the Middle Schooler.
Thanks so much for coming to the presentation. Below you will find some of the material that I discussed during the presentation:
You can find some worksheets to help you and your child have conversations about their anxiety here.
You can find the recipe to making your own glitter jar here.
You can find a word list for mindful Jenga here.
Anxiety and The Middle Schooler!
Middle school can be a very stressful time for our kiddos! Not only are their bodies changing, but their peer groups may be shifting, old friendships may be disappearing and new friendships may be developing. They can also sense a shift in what is expected of them but may not quite have figured out how to meet that expectation. In addition, we as parents may not be able to exert as much control over their sources of information as we used to, so they are hearing the alarm bells around climate change (which tends to be presented in language that is much more pertinent to their generation) and about mass shootings and the general political rhetoric that is all around us. All of these factors can contribute to the fact that anxiety among youth is on the rise. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/anxiety-depression-children.html
I will be conducting a presentation for parents about anxiety and how it can affect our children. I will talk about some possible reasons why anxiety is on the rise amongst our children, how social media plays a role and what you as a parent can do to best support your child. Finally, I will give some pointers on, if and when you should seek extra support for your child. Please join me on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30 pm at Browns River Middle School, located at 20 River Road in Jericho, Vermont. The presentation will be approximately 1 hour long with plenty of time afterwards for parent questions and discussion.
It is not always easy to know how to be the best support for our kids so I do hope you will join me and your fellow parent community in Jericho to get some good tips, vibes and maybe a few laughs!
September is suicide awareness month
To raise awareness about suicide, free screenings of “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” are being offered by local mental health agencies across Vermont on Wednesday September 25th and Thursday September 26th.
From the website - “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” is a feature length documentary film and MOVEMENT, focusing on the devastating effects of suicide and the tremendous positive ripple effects of advocacy, inspiration and hope that are helping millions heal & stay alive. Seen by over 500,000 people already, across 7 countries, this film is having a global impact.
The film highlights the journey of Kevin Hines, who at age 19, attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Today Kevin is a world-renowned mental health advocate, motivational speaker and author who travels the globe spreading a message of hope, recovery and wellness.
Washington County Mental Health Services will be hosting two screenings at the Barre Opera House on Wednesday September 25th and Thursday September 26th at 6:30 pm..
Northwestern Counseling and Support Services will be showing one screening in their Main Conference Room in St. Albans on Thursday 26th at 6:00 pm.
Lamoille County Mental Health Services will be offering two screenings, one at Green Mountain Technology Career Center in Hyde Park and another at Sterling College at 16 Sterling Dr. in the 1958 room, Craftsbury Common. Both will begin at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, September 25th.
Every screening is free and open to the public and will be followed by a Q & A session.
These screenings are made possible in part by the Gregory S. Hillman Fund and Charlies Fund.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy [CPT] was featured on “This American Life” as an effective method to treat PTSD. If you get a chance, listen in on one woman as she completes 10 sessions of CPT to deal with the trauma sustained from a sexual assault when she was 13 years old.
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/682/ten-sessions
If you or somebody you know suffers from PTSD, I have studied CPT and would love to help clients heal from past trauma.
Moving right along!
I am booking clients for the week beginning Monday, August 26th. Please call, email or fill in the contact form on the web page to schedule your appointment!
New Office
My office is anticipated to open it's doors to new clients on Monday, August 19th.