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Grounding Box
Physical Grounding Box I’m going to give you two suggestions, a physical grounding box and a virtual grounding box. With a physical grounding box, find a box to contain items like this: small smooth rocks textured fabrics small sculptures fidget toys like fidget spinners, blocks, magnetic sculptures therapuetic putty or play dough or silly putty squishy ball squishy string essential oils like peppermint or lemon Include pictures – pets, safe places, friends Feel free to bring the box with you to in person sessions; and even more importantly, have the box with you for virtual sessions. Virtual Grounding Box music calming photos of the beach or nature photos of you…
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Stress Reduction Techniques
Here are a few of my stress reduction techniques – of note… I don’t include alcohol :)!!! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – Notice 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste. If you need a printable document, click the link. Notice 5 things that are red or some other color in your room, or 5 things that are circle or rectangles Do square breathing – breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4, hold for 4 Do 7/11 breathing – breath in for 7 and out for 11 Notice…
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Addiction, Anxiety, Coping Skills, COVID, Depression, Mindfulness, Postnatal, Pregnancy, Trauma, Uncategorized
COVID-19 Response for Georgia
In my Marietta office, we are seeing clients face to face. Cleaning procedures are informed by the best practices described by the state of Georgia and the American Psychological Association (APA.) I clean the room in between each sessions which means I need to maintain a 55 minute session time. We do not require a form to be filled out as yet. But please check your temperature before you come for your appointment, verify that you and your household members are not sick with COVID and that you have not been exposed to the best of your knowledge to anyone who has tested positive. I will ask you all these…
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Addiction, Anxiety, attachment, Coping Skills, Depression, DID, Dissociation, Mindfulness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Somatic, Stillbirth, Trauma
What does “bottom up processing” mean?
A lot of effective therapy is considered “top down.” As in we talk, using our brain, cognitive work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a tried and true and effective method for therapy. I happen to use “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: ACT ( pronounced like the work “act”) to do this cognitive work. But we know from research (in fact the more research that is done, the more it confirms this fact) that trauma memories are stored quite differently than regular memories. Trauma memories when re-experienced can feel here and now, and unending. Often times, they are experienced as “emotional flashbacks.” That is a feeling that has no words or explanation of…
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What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: ACT?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: ACT (pronounced like the word “act” is a cognitive behavioral approach of therapy. I will write more about why I use ACT in working with clients. More to come…