November newsletter: Sand tray training on Friday, plus Health & Gift Fest, mindfulness

Sand Tray Theatre is Friday's next training.

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.

Register by calling Karen at (262) 633-2645.

Join us for Saturday's Health & Gift Fest

I'm so excited present at our Health & Gift Fest on Saturday, Nov. 13, at Lake House. We have a great group with great wares and offerings, plus a tiny sampling of how I've adapted Jungian principles with the Tarot cards for self development and persona growth.  Here's the link that tells all the details of all the vendors and health professionals, plus a chance to meet Jamie Jacobs, editor and publisher of The Guide To Health, Wellness & Creative Living and get a 10 per cent discount on your ad.

Mindfulness really helps with depression

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.

November newsletter -- join us for our Health & Gift Fest, plus more!

Join us for our Health & Gift Fest on Saturday!

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.

Meaning is the antidote to chaos, worry, exhaustion and panic. Here are my thoughts for 2010 as we more toward the holidays.

You ARE worth the time.

I just discovered the work of Jan Philllips and her video, "You Are Worth The Time," and I am completely, completely charmed.

You can get a free download of "The Art of Original Thinking" here. 

She says, "The act of creating is a healing gesture." I like that. I also like this video with lots of food for thought. Enjoy!

Look who's here for Fall Health & Gift Fest

Chain maille purse by Leayn Tabili

Autumn is here, and leaves are falling...

There’s a crispness in the air, and the holidays are approaching…

Lake House Health & Learning Center will open its doors on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 932 Lake Ave., for its Fall Health & Gift Fest and celebrate its fifth anniversary.

We’ll transform our facility into a cornucopia showcasing local artisans, shopkeepers, health professionals and health resources who will share their wares with the public -- just in time for holiday shopping..

Among the treasures you will find are jewelry, purses, photography, art, crafts, natural soap and body products, Chinese healing teas, cookbooks, cultural gift items, and gift certificates for massage, coaching, personal development sessions and other health services.

• Tracy Bernhardt (Labyrinth Herbals) will offer handmade herbal infused soaps, lip balms and bath tea.
• Christiana Eckert will offer photographs, with all benefits to support the work of SmileTrain, which provides cleft palate surgery to impoverished children around the world.
• Leayn Tabili (Anthelion Hancrafted Jewelry) will offer a variety of contemporary jewelry including beading and chain maille as well as purses and other accessories.
• Bev Schumacher (Learning Props) will offer quality educational games and books for English and bilingual preschool learning.
• Barb McCloskey (Beaderella Jewelry) will offer a variety of handmade jewelry including necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
• Craftswoman Marge Meyers will offer handmade purses and hats.
• Craftswoman Penny Schaubel will offer felted hats for adults and children.

  

  Harmony Botanics

  

• Carol Smith (Harmony Botanics) will offer a line of natural body washes, body oils and lotions, lip balms, soy candles that have been scented with pure essential oils and certified organic spices.
• Kathryn Rouse (MayaWorks) will offer the colorful textiles woven by Guatamalan women along with other handcrafts from this fair trade nonprofit organization that promotes economic development for Mayan women and their families.  
• Sara Lancaster (Re.told Journals) will offer handmade vintage book and eco-chic journals.
• Humor writer Mary Tompsett (Posing As Normal) will offer a peek at her recently published novel, Whinny From The Heart, with the idea that fun and humor are an integral part of health and well being. She'll also sell a collection of her humor columns, with proceeds to benefit the Racine County Food Bank.

Ben Lehner of Circa Celeste (Circa Celeste) will bring soups and muffin mixes to purchase for gifting or for yourself to make the holidays tasty and easy for entertaining friends and family.

In addition, Helene Hellesen, certified massage therapist and Reiki master and owner of Massage Pause, will offer chair mini-massages and gift certificates.



Labyrinth Herbals



Karen Carnabucci, creative arts psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker at Lake House Health & Learning Center, will demonstrate the use of the Tarot images for personal growth and answer questions about experiential and non-traditional psychotherapy. Her Lake House cookbook will debut with natural  and healthy snack, food and beverage favorites collected through the five years at Lake House.

Arthur Shattuck, practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and owner of  Roots And Legends, will offer healing teas and quality medicinal chocolate, miso soup and a miso cookbook and answer questions about food for healing.


Marge Meyers creations


Michele Foy, life coach, will demonstrate her method for communicating directly with the subconscious with the use of a pendulum. She will show exactly how to achieve pain relief, stop smoking and get rid of fears that are interfering with living your life to the fullest. She will offer a free instruction packet and you may purchase a "Phone for the Subconscious," if you feel that you might need one.

In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to take a look at a full-spectrum light box that is a non-medication alternative to Seasonal Affective Disorder, sometimes known as "winter blues" or "winter depression" due to the lower level of sunlight in the winter.

Door prizes, snacks and giveaways will add an extra bit of fun, and participants will have an opportunity to pick up a free copy of the 2010 Guide To Health, Wellness & Creative Living, the regional directory to health resources, healthy food information from Eat Right Racine and learn about the new Wild Root Market.

Christiana Eckert photography

Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no charge to attend although visitors are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food items for the Racine County Food Bank.

For more information on specific artisans and their wares as well as directions, call (262) 633-2645 or join Lake House’s page on Facebook.

October newsletter: Problems, solutions, homeopathic programs, how art heals

Do you think that when you know why you have a problem -- whoosh! -- the problem will go away?

This desire to know more about the problem -- why we have it, when it started, how big it is and on and on -- is an old and tired therapeutic illusion. The fact is that you still have the problem -- you're just really well informed about it.

The solution is not to know why you have the problem but to have the problem disappear from your life so that you can move forward, unencumbered and free. This is exactly why experiential healing, including experiential psychotherapy, becomes so important. When we are open, experiential healing assists in making shifting our experience of the problem to an experience of peace and well-being.

Our fall schedule is replete with opportunities to find experiences that are life-changing. Whether you are communing with the images of the Tarot -- and letting them communicate with you -- or participating in the new Ancestors & Constellation gathering -- or making art -- you are giving yourself permission to make a shift.

Peruse your choices:

Karen Carnabucci facilitates the next Constellation gathering at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to look at the hidden problems in families that deny us inner peace with the use of Systemic Constellation Work, the emerging healing process coming from Germany to explore problems that have been intractable. We'll also have a  powerful all-day group just for women with a Constellation focus. Gerlinde Gelina, a German native who has been involved in Constellation work for more than 14 years, will join Karen. (Continuing education credits will be offered to professionals). Then watch the schedule for additional opportunities to participate in other Constellation gatherings at Lake House and at Carolyn's Coffee Connection in Kenosha.

Robin Mitchell, Milwaukee artist and bodyworker, started open art studio last week. It happens every Thursday at 2 and 6 p.m. through Dec. 16. Attend as many studio sessions as you like and experience the healing power of the expressive arts.

If you are not familiar with art therapy, we've borrowed this video from YouTube by Cathy Malchiodi, an internationally known art therapist:




Homeopathic practitioner returns with new programs

Marybeth Buchele

Marybeth Buchele, our visiting homeopathic clinician, be back for two programs – Learn To Make Your Own Flower Essence To Ease Life's Emotional Challenges and Healing Winter Colds & Flu The Natural Way. She'll also be taking 1-1 appointments Oct. 19-21. See her site or Lake House's calendar for more info.

Save Nov. 13 date for our fun Fall & Gift Fest!

We'll be celebrating our fifth year at Lake House with a fun Fall Health & Gift Fest, bringing fabulous gifts such as jewelry, natural soaps, ethnic textiles, cookbooks and more, plus health and wellness ideas and offerings. Save the date and watch this space! (We have three  more open spaces; if you know of an artisan who would complement current offerings,  please let us know.)