Thoughts about contemporary psychotherapy and personal growth from Karen Carnabucci, MSS, LCSW, TEP, non-traditional psychotherapist, coach, educator and psychodramatist at Lake House Health & Learning Center at 932 Lake Ave., Racine, Wis.
Addiction is one of the most perplexing and challenging of human habits. Why do some people become addicted to drugs, to alcohol, to gambling, to sexual activity, to tobacco, to overspending? And why is it that we seek such destructive ways to comfort ourselves?
And why is it so difficult to stop these habits, even as they threaten our health, jeopardize our relationships and corrode our spirits?
For more than 10 years Gabor Mate, M.D., was been the staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a residence and harm reduction facility in Vancouver, British Columbia. His patients are challenged by life-threatening drug addictions, mental illness, Hepatitis C or HIV -- and in many cases all four. In this video, he shares how the brain develops and why and how the drugs of abuse offer so much vitality and excitement, even to our detriment.Countering prevailing notions of addiction as either a genetic disease or an individual moral failure, Maté presents an eloquent case that addiction – all addiction – is in fact a case of human development gone askew, the importance of a non-stressed nurturing parent and the reality of trans-generational trauma.
Alternative treatments are no longer on the fringe.
I've been preaching non-drug options for children who have problems with attention and hyperactivity for years, so I'm really glad to see the brand new book,Non-Drug Treatments for ADHD: New Options for Kids, Adults, and Cliniciansby Richard P. Brown and Patricia L. Gerbarg, plus information on diet, vitamins, and nutrients as well as mind-body practices.
Drawing on stories and anecdotes from their own clinical practice, these two physicians address the questions that are particularly important to those dealing with ADHD. Early chapters provide information about diagnostic issues and the scientific foundation for understanding the known causes of ADHD, as well as how different treatments may work and why. Multiple contributing causes of ADHD exist—genetic, nutritional, chemical, psychological, trauma-based, and environmental—and the authors explain how treatments need to be strategically combined and tailored to patients’ unique needs and sensitivities.
Later chapters present integrative strategies that combine the best practices of psychological treatments with herbs, nutrients, cognitive enhancers, mind–body practices, and brain stimulation. Throughout, the authors draw on the work of talented clinicians, yoga therapists, and teachers who have found creative, effective approaches to helping their clients who struggle with attentional problems.
Ecologist Eric Berlow doesn't feel overwhelmed when faced with complex systems. He knows that more information can lead to a better, simpler solution. He illustrates the tips and tricks for breaking down big issues, which is applicable not only to U.S. strategy in Afghanistan (in this video) but it is also information that can apply to most "complicated" ideas -- including the way that we are interconnected.
It’s always wonderful when a teacher inspires her students enough to take the next step.
Our monthly Tarot classes last year at Lake House Health & Learning Center have been a joy to teach, with receptive students coming from Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee to learn how the symbolic images of the Tarot are an amazing tool for personal growth.
Virginia Nuorala, a craftswoman and needle worker, came in one day with pretty purple drawstring bags to hold the deck of cards. She keeps alert for interesting fabrics for her distinct bags which she custom embroiders your name or other pertinent words or phrases. Since then she’s fashioned roll-up Tarot mats which have placement blocks for a simple card layout; a third idea was birthed when she designed and made mats for work with the pendulum, which many people have found another helpful tool to discern subconscious wishes.
You can find her products at the Anything’s Possible shop at 237 Main St., Racine, where I’ll be doing a program on “Introduction To Tarot: How to Navigate 2012” from 5 to 7 p.m. See more details here.
My regular Tarot class, Tarot For Self Discovery, begins on Jan. 14 and continues the second Saturday morning of each month at Lake House Health & Learning Center. Details are here.
Tracy Bernhardt, another class member, had fun recently when she made a batch of Tarot cookies for a women-only Tarot party at a friend’s home. Tracy, who is a talented soap maker and craftswoman at Labyrinth Herbals who writes an occasional craft column for the Caledonia Patch, ordered edible printed wafer papers from an artist on Etsy and put them on frosted sugar cookies.
Tracy happened across the artist’s work about two months ago, first seeing sugared replications of the Old Maid game cards, which made her think of Tarot cards. “I asked her if she'd make me some Tarot wafer papers and she did,” says Tracy. “It was a special order, but I think she liked how they turned out and is planning to list them in her Etsy store.”
At the party, a friend brought the deck that with images similar to the sugar wafer pictures. Everyone drew a card and then ate the corresponding cookie.
Classes bring from six to 12 people from all walks of life to learn about the Tarot. It is not about fortune telling. Instead, we look at the images in the cards and ponder how they apply to our lives, wishes and goals – and we always have the responsibility to make our own choices. Participants have explored every topic imaginable – relationships, parenting, career change, weight loss and more. I refer my students to many Tarot books and sites depending on their interest with art, history, symbolic interpretations or psychology. One book that I frequently recommend is The Tarot: Methods, Mastery and More by Cynthia Giles.
One thing is for sure – Tarot is a great way to stimulate creativity! And that's what it's all about.
In Lynne McTaggart's new book, The Bond: Connecting Through the Space Between Us, she says that nothing -- including humans -- exists independently and that we have an inherent need for belonging, agreement, giving, and taking turns.
Her views offer an entirely new scientific story is emerging that challenges our most basic premise: the sense of things as separate entities in competition for survival.
McTaggart is a best-selling author, researcher and lecturer whose work has often been described as “a bridge between science and spirituality.”
Here are some points she makes:
We are inescapably connected, hardwired to each other at our most elemental level—from cells to whole societies.
The desire to help others is so necessary that we experience it as one of our chief pleasures, as essential as eating and having sex, and we succeed and prosper only when we see ourselves as part of a greater whole.
Every conflict that occurs—whether between husband and wife, social or racial groups, or nations—is resolved only when we can fully see and embrace the space—the bond—between us.
People who fire together wire together: Whenever a group works together for a common goal, the brains of all parties begin to get on the same wavelength, strengthening the bond within the group
Fairness is more powerful than unfairness: A small group of individuals committed to strong reciprocity can "invade" a population of self-interested individuals and create a fairer society.
Once we view ourselves as a part of a bigger whole, we begin to act differently toward each other. By removing a self-serving aim from the relationship, we stop fighting nature and surrender to our natural impulse toward holism. We can easily embrace difference within that larger definition of connection.
If You Really Knew Me is a MTV reality show based on the Challenge Day program, in which various high schools devote a day to examining and breaking down barriers between teens as they explore popularity, bullying, prejudice and cliques.
In one recent episode, a popular student council leader bonds with a meek freshman girl to seek a truce with a school bully. In another episode, the students address the school's rumor mill and confront each other. In another, there are the preps, jocks, jicks, emos, stoners and others at Neenah High School in our very own Wisconsin.
The series is based on the popular Challenge Day program, which uses powerful experiential methods to help young people identify the roles that they have taken on to survive life in school. They are able to risk to safely share their social experiences with their peers and make connections with each other on deeper levels than the superficial.
As a psychotherapist, I've worked with many, many adults who carry scars of painful bullying from their school years. Invariably, they want to express their pain and feel that someone is listening. Ultimately, we work together to discover healthy ways to feel genuinely powerful in the world today.
I keep hoping there will be a movement in my home community to bring Challenge Day here. Although Challenge Day is not the all-purpose solution to feeling alone and marginalized, it certainly allows us to talk openly and learn the hearts and souls under the labels and stereotypes.
A man having lunch on a park bench noticed a chrysalis on a nearby tree branch. A large caterpillar was struggling mightily to emerge from the small opening of its cocoon. Feeling sorry for the bug, the man took out his pocket knife and use it to slice a larger opening, hoping to make the exit easier for the emerging butterfly. The caterpillar flopped out, fell to the ground and died.
When the man recounted his experience later during a conversation with a friend, his friend told him that the caterpillar – in the process of leaving the cocoon, pushing against its sides and struggling to move its body forward – converts certain tissues into muscle and strengthens its wings and makes its body slim and able to exit. Only then can it emerge to its new life as a beautiful butterfly.
I think of this story when I talk with parents who love their children so much that they want to make their children’s lives as easy as possible. Invariably, these parents “help” their children way too much, and the children are never able to build and exercise the muscles they need to become responsible adults.
Are you a helicopter parent – the kind of parent who pays extremely close a child’s experiences and tries to micromanage every aspect of your child’s life?
Remember the story of the caterpillar. You have the opportunity to give your child positive emotional health and being less dependent, neurotic and less open, a slew of personality traits that are generally thought of as undesirable. More here about helicopter parents from MSNBC.
Just when your thoughts are filling your head, and the stories that you are telling yourself about your life are crowding at the edges of your experiences, and giving no room for openness and presence...
Along with the growth of interest in alternative medicine, a growth in the interest about choices in alternative psychotherapy.
"Alternatives" don't just come down to herbs, massage and yoga, as valuable as they are. People can experience significant growth and change -- often in short amounts of time -- with activities that use drama, guided imagery, music therapy, art therapy, sand tray therapy and other modalities that speak to people's whole brains, not just symptoms.
When people think about seeking counseling -- or "talk therapy" as it is often called, it is important to know that there are other options available
Psychodrama -- translating from the Greek to "mind in action" -- is an action method that has been adapted to psychotherapy treatment since the early 1920s. A psychodrama director, as the therapist is called when working in this method, will assist a person in exploring an issue or problem in action, which may include experimenting with a variety of role play, working with simple props or making other active choices in the context of therapeutic concerns. It is not necessary to feel like you are an "actor" or actress but rather experiment with For more information, see American Society of Psychodrama and Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama Certification. Good book: The Living Stage: A Step-by-Step Guide to Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy.
Art therapy encourages expression of feelings in the making of art -- whether painting, drawing, working with clay, making collages and also three-dimensional objects. In working with an experiened art therapist, people can experience the self in new ways and gain a feeling of empowerment in expressing their creativity. Another good site here. Good book: Art Therapy Sourcebook (Sourcebooks).
Music therapy helps people express feelings and communicate with a variety of music, sometimes live and sometimes recorded. It improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. Music therapy interventions can be designed to relieve stress and reduce pain and improve memory, as well as many other documented health benefits. Good book: Acting Your Inner Music: Music Therapy and Psychodrama.
Systemic Family Constellation Work is a very leading-edge healing method coming from Germany, developed by Bert Hellinger. It has recently arrived in the Midwest through several psychotherapists in Milwaukee and postulates that trauma, pain and personal problems are often connected to the troubles of previous generations. Most often defined as a "soul healing" process, it is done in groups and works with the unconscious to explore influential trans-generational family bonds. Good book: Love's Hidden Symmetry: What Makes Love Work in Relationships.
Animal-assisted therapy involves including animals -- dogs, horses and the like -- in working with people in emotional pain as well as those experiencing physical and mental disabilities. One of many good sites is Delta Society.
Imagine a constellation in the sky – a grouping of stars that depicts your ancestors.
Each one has an invisible string connecting one to another and to you. As you live your life, you are tethered to these people of the past. You’ve inherited some of their characteristics: Grandma’s love of baking, your dad’s eyes, Aunt May’s red hair…
But there’s more.
You also have inherited their joys and sorrows, and you may be carrying pain, guilt, anger or other burdens from past generations that impact your life today – even if you do not exactly how or why.
The “Ancestors, Constellations and Healing” groups at Lake House Health & Learning Center are a new and profound way to help you connect and correct the past so that you can move forward with a sense of inner peace. Each participant may be involved as much or as little as they are comfortable with, sharing general issues, not details.
Whether you merely observe or actively participate in this safe and confidential setting, you’ll learn a lot about yourself and how you are a part of those who came before you. .
We're adding more dates for 2011, alternating between day and evening times to accommodate your varied schedules. See calendar for more details.
This unconventional healing process of Family Constellation Work comes from Germany and I've started a web page with article links and information to newcomers and interested others.
Groups begin on Monday, Jan. 10. Your insurance may cover some or all of the fee, although a sliding scale may be available for those without insurance. Contact Karen at (262) 633-2645 for reservations or questions.
Help with constellation survey
The International Systemic Constellation Association (ISCA) is currently creating a research study on the effectiveness of constellation work. If you have taken part in a group or individual constellation session with Karen at Lake House and are willing to complete a preliminary questionaire based on your experience, please follow this link. Your input is greatly appreciated.
Jan. 13 Ancestors, Constellations & Healing Jan. 14 Make A Vision Board For Meetup Jan. 14 Professional Training: Make A Vision Board Jan. 15 Tarot For Self Discovery Jan. 19 Learn to Make Your Own Flower Essence To Ease Emotional Challenges Jan. 20 Natural Health, Homeopathy & Other Remedies Jan. 18-20 Homeopathy appointments with Marybeth Buchele
Services at Lake House Health & Learning Center
Psychotherapy
Coaching
Professional training with continuing education credits
Wellness classes
Personal growth groups
Homeopathy
Massage
Reiki
Feng shui
Referrals
It's the new year, and how are those resolutions going for you? Are you committed, motivated, dedicated to what new change you want to bring into your life?
Or has that great resolution already faded into obscurity in the first week of the new year?
I had the pleasure on Thursday to take part in the annual Whole Body Detoxification program at Roots and Legends, with the invitation of the program's originator Arthur Shattuck. The invited topic was change: how not only approach change but to sustain change over a period of time.
It's an important subject because the four-week detox program involves changes in food (no cheese), in storing foods (nuts and oils in refrigerator) and personal habits (no deodorant, aluminum pots or plastic bags.)
That's the challenge. I always refer to Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward by James Prochaska, John Norcross and Carlo DiClemente. The trio has elegantly sketched a six-stage process of change. It begins with "pre-contemplation: -- which most of us would call "clueless" -- to the final stage of "termination" -- which most of us would call "success." In the middle, there are the steps of contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance.
It's those middle steps that we need to identify. We identify them because we need to know where we fit with them.
Among the first questions that we need to ask is, "Am I really serious about this change?"
Most of us hope (secretly!) that the change will happen magically and we won't have to take responsiblity for it. Other times we may be wishing for change, but the people around us don't want to change. Then we need to have a plan to pursue our goal even when other people may not approve, support or understand.
So, good luck and good contemplating and good planning to those of us in the detox program. And for you? You don't need to wait until 2012. Just figure out where you stand in the six steps of change and start again.
Thinking about the past year? Here is a way to make a good end to 2010:
Remember all of the painful and difficult experiences that took place. Write these experiences in your journal and say one by one, “I acknowledge and agree that this happened.”
Notices how you feel in your body when you make this acknowledgement.
Then remember all the joyful and wonderful experiences that took place during the year. Write these experiences in your journal and say one by one, “I acknowledge and agree that this happened.”
Notice how you feel in your body when you make this acknowledgement.
It's nearly 2011! That means that Wisconsin professionals think about making our goals while also figuring out how to get continuing education hours by Feb. 28.
The January training will help you learn how to make a vision board as fun and interesting tool to help your clients, students and other learners to focus on their dreams in a positive way. The training is designed for counselors, coaches and others who work with people who may need to set goals.
In this hands-on session with Karen Carnabucci, LCSW, TEP, you make your own vision board and you will learn:
The story behind vision board tradition
Alternatives to vision "boards" for various populations.
How to carry the process for significant personal growth so the project is not craft-oriented or busy work.
How to integrate with additioinal experiential processes including psychodrama, guided imagery and others.
From 1 to 4 p.m. with three continuing education hours for social workers, licnesed professional counselors and addictions counselors, plus psychodrama credits. Tuition is $35 for program, materials, handout and credit hours. Send check to Lake House and contact Karen at (262) 633-2645 to reserve. Details on this and other trainings here.
Here's an example of a vision board that I recently created:
Book update
I'm hard at work at writing "Integrating Psychodrama & Systemic Constellation Work: New Directions For Action Methods, Mind-Body Therapies And Energy Healing" with my co-author Ron Anderson. Our deadline is February 2011and Jessica Kingsley Publishers tells us the book will be published in August 2011.
Karen to present at psychodrama conference
Karen will be presenting "Stories Of Our Ancestors" at the 69th annual conference of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy & Psychodrama on May 1, 2011 in Clearwater, Fla. For information on the full schedule of workshops and other events, find brochure here.
Constellation conference in 2011
The U.S. Systemic Constellations Conference is planned for Oct. 28-30 in San Francisco. It brings the Constellatins community together to enhance connection, belonging and expansion. Whether you are a Constellation professional practicing or learning Systemic Constellation Work or new to this healing process, please explore the full web site for details on the many presentations and workshops.
Eating disorders resource
Gurze offers a free 48-page catalogue with more than 200 carefully selected eating disorder resources including books, DVDs, newsletters, free articles, facts about eating disorders and a list of treatment facilites. Here's the order link.
I keep this catalog available for my clients and supervisees. Gurze is offering a 50 percent discount until the end of the year to get the word out. Also, check out the newly reorganized bulimia.com web site, which inlcudes "Quick Links" on the right-hand menu bar, with topic-driven, hand-selected articles, books and information.
Sand tray training
Postive comments on the recent "Sand Tray Theatre" training for professionals, when participants had the hands-opportuonity to create a series of sand tray scenes, starting with gentle work with their hands in the sand and then continuing with various vignettes for various therapeutic and coaching issues.
We ended up with this final scene:
Among the comments on the evaluations:
"This should be a series!"
"I liked the hands-on aspect."
"I can see how I can use this with my clients."
"Great personal growth..."
This is one of the most popular trainings at Lake House, and it will be offered again in 2011 for those who requested it. Next training program: "One-To-One Psychodrama For Individual Psychotherapy, Coaching & Personal Growth" on Feb. 18. See calendar.
"Listening can be the greatest meditation"
Philosopher Eckert Tolle talks about listening to patients in this great video -- not just with words but also with presence of heart, mind and spirit. "The most important part is the energy field of listening," rather than just the story, which elevates the human interaction and avoids deletion in the helper.
As the year ends, we remember all the goodness that has happened at Lake House during 2010.
We've introduced spiritual teacher Markus Kasunich, had fun with InterPlay, and made healing art in the open art studio with artist Robin Mitchell, plus enjoyed a succesful and well-attended Health & Gift Fest.
We've hosted Marybeth Buchele, who's become our visiting resident homeopath, offering workshops, classes and appointments with homeopathic and natural remedies, the only homeopathic practice in Racine. (She'll be back in January!)
People have come from Illinois, Milwaukee, Racine, Union Grove, Burlington and Kenosha to take part in our new "Ancestors Constellations & Healing" groups, and particpants in our trainings for helping professionals and educators have been enthusiastic.
It's been gratifiying to have so many people embrace these new ideas and programs. Stay tuned for more. We have great programs coming up for 2011.
Keep holidays happy and healthy.
See my blog with lots of tips to stay healthy and enjoy the holiday season. Avoid overeating and overdrinking, rest and have remedies for colds and flu.
Make sure your insurance company isn't overcharging you!
Here's important news from the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers:
Insurance companies are attemping to undermine the new mental health parity bill with high co-payments. The chapter has been informed of at least three insurance companies in Wisconsin that have charged consumers specialty doctor co-pays instead of a primary doctor copay as the result of the new mental health parity law.
Federal regulations prohibit the charging of a specialty doctor co-pay for mental health services. Anyone who is charged a specialty doctor copay instead of a primary doctor copay should file a complaint with the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. You also should send Marc Herstand, execuctive director of the Wisconsin NASW chapter, a copy of any response from Office of Commnisioner of Insurance.
When people (men, politicians) cry...
Such a good blog post, we want recommend it. A little essay on crying, inspired by John Boehner, U.S. Congressman who will be the new speaker of the House.
Tune into this beautiful solstice video
Truly we are all one in this beautiful universe. Enjoy!
You can turn this phrase into reality with some thought and planning.
The key is to take care of yourself.
Many people have learned to use flower essence remedies for calming at stressful or busy times. Here's a link from educator Nancy Buono, who tells how you can pick flower remedies to keep your spirits light, avoid discouragement and deal with the chaos that is present in some families.
Make sure you get enough sleep, always a good plan for people who want to keep their emotions even. Make sure that you are eating properly and stay away from sugary and salty items if they are trigger foods for you. This is the time of year that I make a list of meals and snacks that I can eat daily and keep away from sugar, which is an addictive substance for me.
Overeaters Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous can help you to refrain from overeating and drinking if you expect to be tempted. Some communities and clubs have all-day meetings for recovering alcoholics and many find online "meetings" helpful, especially when the weather is cold, cold, cold. Use your search engine like Google to find online meetings that stretch around the globe.
Thanks to Hazelden, here is realistic advice for family members who are dreading the holidays due to someone else's drinking. The advice comes from Bob Poznanovich, formerly an interventionist, who defies the myth that the holidays are not a good time to get help.
Worried about a catching a bug? There are many natural remedies that will help build your immune system. See your neighborhood acupuncturist or natural food store for healing teas (yin chiao) and other herbs like astralagus that you can add to your chicken soup to fortify your immune system.
If you want to go the homeopathic route, natural remedies like Allium cepa helps with runny noses, colds and red watery eyes; Oscillococcinum helps with symptoms of flu, like fever, chills, body aches and pains.
Finally, remember to rest. With all the bustle, remember that your body needs rest to heal and recharge.
Just about every news channel and every other Internet article is commenting on the tears of John Boehner, the congressman who cried on the 60 Minutes news program the other week. And just about every news commentator is analyzing those tears -- is he weak? Does he have an emotional problem -- as Barbara Walters says -- or is crying a virtue because he is showing his feelings as a sensitive man?
This bit of news brings up lots of opportunities to talk about feelings, as one blogger on The New York Times who questioned why a man -- who will be the most powerful Republican in Congress -- is tearing up while talking about opportunities for himself in the United States with has a record of two decades in Congress voting "against nearly every boost for the working stiff. "
Much of the current "debate" is focusing on when or if it’s appropriate for men in public life to cry. However, we have to be careful about jumping to conclusions about tears and what they mean, whether they are leaking out of men's eyes, or women's eyes or anyone else's eyes.
Tears, in themselves, mean nothing in particular. In counseling, we learn that everyone cries at some times, even sociopaths. Alcoholics have cried buckets of tears and then go out the next day to take the next drink, not at all mindful about the havoc their drinking wreaks for families. Abusers sob about their sorry-ness and promise never to hurt anyone again -- and then continue to batter the people they say they love while refusing to find help to address their anger. It's been reported that former president George Bush cried after visiting wounded service people and just last month when talking with NBC's Matt Lauer about facing a military family after their son's death. And, of course, we also know about the tears of Brett Farve on the day of his first retirement.
What is important about crying is the experience. Is the person -- man or woman -- actually able to actually feel his or her feelings -- or do they seem to have a life of their own, separate from our humanness and personal vulnerability? Do the feelings impact on his or her relationship with other people in a positive way? For instance, are the person's feelings able to be integrated into a sense of empathy with other people's feelings, experiences and needs? Does that empathy advance the quality of relationship because we are sensitive to the needs and feelings and vulnerabilities of others?
Crying is an important emotional release and often serves as a great stress reliever. Asked to give suggestions about whether to cry or not, I typically recommend crying -- it is entirely human. But what we really need is empathy, sensitivity and humanness in all of us -- including our nation's leaders.
We had people dancing with smiles on their faces for the InterPlay programs in November! If you missed the groups with Georgia Jean Kaftan, she'll be back this weekend for more.
More fun, more joy and more opportunities to connect with self and others, that is. Enjoy the introductory program and learn how InterPlay is changing the world at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, and bring light to season at the "Re-Visioning The Darkness" at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4.
Free will donation for the Friday program; $10-15 donation for Saturday program.
Thursdays through Dec. 16 Open art studio with Robin Mitchell Dec. 2 Holidays, Peace And Families: Systemic Constellation Work with Karen Carnabucci Dec. 4 Blessing Of The Gifts, when we'll sort, package and bless gifts for the needy in Racine County, our annual charity project. Dec. 15 Professional Networking Women
Make best use of your insurance benefits before Dec. 31
The clock runs out on your 2011 health insurance benefits on Dec. 31. Take advantage of your regular health insurance or other health savings accounts right now by scheduling for your health care needs, including psychotherapy. This is especially important if you've paid a big deductible throughout the year. Contact your insurance company for visit your insurance site online for details.
Need a gift? We have gifts at Lake House
Give the gift of health and well being with a gift certificate from Lake House Health & Learning Center. It won't be the wrong size or the wrong color but will say "I care" in a big way.
Gift certificates for coaching, psychotherapy and Tarot For Self Discovery personal growth sessions are available from Karen Carnabucci, licensed psychotherapist and coach.
Gift certificates for massage, Reiki, Reiki-ssage and Reiki-Reflex are available from Helene Hellesen, certified massage therapist and Reiki master. Pure bliss!
Gift certificates for feng shui consultation sessions are available from Niiti Gannon and Sea Daniel of Wind Water Feng Shui. They're good for the holidays, as well as housewarmings, anniversaries and engagements of the season.
We also have our newly published Lake House Cookbook available for just $5 with many of the healthy recipes we've enjoyed for our five years at Lake House. See web site for contact information or call (262) 633-2645.
Free housecleaning for cancer patients
If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning thanks to Cleaning For A Reason.
The services take place once per month for four months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her ZIP code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the entire United States and currently has 547 partners that help. Be a blessing to someone and pass this information.
Slow down and breathe...
Take a moment to slow down and breathe with this video of images and music:
InterPlay is an active, creative way to unlock the wisdom of the body. InterPlay is easy, fun, and life changing. It is based in a series of incremental "forms" that lead participants to movement and stories, silence and song, ease and amusement. In the process, we discover the wisdom in ourselves and our communities.
InterPlay integrates body, mind, heart and spirit. Life has become so fragmented. InterPlay helps to pull everything back together so we get more of what we want.
Georgia Jean Kaftan, left, practicing the fun of InterPlay.
InterPlay teaches the language and ethic of play in a deep and powerful way. If you are convinced that seriousness is the path to inner wisdom, then you might want to look elsewhere. If you would like to become a "recovering serious person," then InterPlay might be for you.
Georgia Jean Kaftan, a retired attorney, recovering "serious person" and certified InterPlay leader, will facilitate the Nov. 19 and Dec. 3 evening introductions and the Nov. 20 and Dec. 4 afternoon "Revisioning The Dark" InterPlay programs at Lake House. Maybe she'll even talk about how InterPlay changed her. See calendar for specific info
Veterans Day was last week but every day is an important day to refocus attention on the sacrifices and needs of those who risked their lives in service to our country. Psychologist Ken Pope offers this list of resources for people in the military, veterans, veterans' families and friends and and professionals who are interested in helping veterans here.
The use of a sand tray and miniatures offers an engaging way to work with children, teens, adults, couples and groups. Sand tray can be used to clarify and resolve the conflicting energies, motivations, values, and voices that often contribute to a sense of “stuckness.”
The process also engages people who may have difficulty in talking about their problems or life issues. In Friday's training with Karen Carnabucci, MSS, LCSW, TEP, you will learn:
What is needed to add sand tray to your work repertoire.
How to introduce sand tray processes to the people you work with.
The use of sand tray for self disclosure, identifying problems and problems solving.
Options for the use of sand tray with other creative arts
From 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 12, with three continuing education hours and psychodrama hours. Tuition is $35. Handouts and beverages will be provided; in addition, participants will have the opportunity to purchase “starter” miniatures for a nominal fee of $5.
Here's a picture of a sand tray creation with one of my clients, who was addressing personal and professional growth in embodying leadership and power. She was given the opportunity to express her vision of embodying power. At the beginning of the process, the items were spaced far apart; by the end of the process, she pulled them together in this arrangement.
She gave permission to share this picture-- take a look:
The arrangement of items looks like a mandala, doesn't it? The maker used a variety of images of women's bodies, plus ritual items such as a bundle of sage and a smudging feather.
As always, Karen's trainings offer continuing education credits for social workers, licensed professional counselors and addiction counselors, plus psychodrama credits.
There is a body of research that shows that mindfulness meditation does significantly reduce the relapse rate of depression. This research is now being embraced by many practitioners of Western medicine – even some quite conservative ones!
With more of my clients seeking non-medication resources for depression, here's a book for laypersons that I like to recommend:
The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness by J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, Jon Kabat-Zinn. Guilford Press, Through simple lessons drawn from Eastern meditative traditions and cognitive-behavioral therapy, this book demonstrates how to sidestep old habits such as rumination and self-blame that inevitably lead to despair, so people can face life’s challenges with greater resilience. Jon Kabat-Zinn gently and encouragingly narrates the accompanying CD of guided meditations.
E-books available
Check out Karen's e-books for sale at Lake House Health & Learning Center's store.
The Psychodrama Notebook (formerly Practical Psychodrama) is a great review for psychodrama certification candidates and anyone who wants an overview of the magical action method of psychodrama. Whole Person Marketing gives practical and creative ideas for building and marketing holistic practices.
We've been having a lot of fun putting together Saturday's Fall Health & Gift Fest.
It's 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake House Health & Learning Center, and it's definitely not your ordinary holiday fair. We've assembled artisans, chefs, writers, health professionals and others with beautiful jewelry, hats, purses, photographs, eco-journals and much more.
Find the whole list of artisans and events, plus pictures, here. And join us -- no admission, just a donation of non-perishable food for the Racine County Food Bank. You'll find us at 932 Lake Ave., just across from Gateway Technical College in Racine.
How to make a meaningful holiday?
Every year I ask myself, "What would make a meaningful holiday for me?" And I ask my clients. And I ask anyone else, too.
The more answers I get, the more thoughtful I can become about creating a good and positive holiday for myself.
, she says that nothing -- including humans -- exists independently and that we have an inherent need for belonging, agreement, giving, and taking turns.
and 
.
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by J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, Jon Kabat-Zinn. Guilford Press, Through simple lessons drawn from Eastern meditative traditions and cognitive-behavioral therapy, this book demonstrates how to sidestep old habits such as rumination and self-blame that inevitably lead to despair, so people can face life’s challenges with greater resilience. Jon Kabat-Zinn gently and encouragingly narrates the accompanying CD of guided meditations.