Healing-Circle Blog

This past February, I had the chance to visit Rivermend Treatment Center in Augusta, Georgia. The treatment center is located in the beautiful, tree filled scenery of Bluff Plantation and offers a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment. The residential addiction treatment and rehabilitation center offers those seeking addiction recovery a discrete and private setting with 178 acres on the Savannah River. The center is breathtaking and the staff are welcoming and well-informed.

Rivermend offers patients treatment for alcohol and drug dependency, dual disorders, and chronic pain. Clients receive multi-dimensional, evidence-based therapeutic modalities from some the world’s preeminent experts in pain and addiction medicine. The program is led by their Medical Director, William S. Jacobs, M.D., a nationally recognized pain and addiction medicine expert, triple board certified in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine and Addiction Medicine. I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Jacobs and was immediately impressed by his knowledge and attentiveness to his patients’ needs.

During my 2-day visit, I was amazed at how my stress melted away, as I visited Bluff Plantation and met the Rivermend team. The highlight of my trip was visiting the equine therapy staff and viewing some of the horses. While visiting the equine area, each staff member and volunteer shared their intimate stories on addiction and their relationship with Rivermend. It was an emotional experience and really gave me a great picture of what Rivermend is all about. I would highly recommend Rivermend to anyone who is suffering with addiction and is looking for a getaway, where they can not only detox and get clean, but have an introspective experience.

RiverMend Health specially trained behavioral health counselors and nurses provide an array of therapeutic modalities, including group, family and individual counseling, patient and family education, and recovery coaching. As an added plus, patients experience yoga, equine therapy, and healthy eating. Their excellent chef prepares unforgettable meals specifically for addiction recovery. His philosophy includes decreasing sugar, preparing more lean proteins, and balancing patient’s diet with fresh, vegetables.

Want to learn more? Recovery is a phone call way. Call 877-652-3609.

http://www.rivermendhealth.com/our-approach-to-addiction-treatment.html#sthash.Ek4Ke69t.dpuf

http://www.bluffplantation.com/experience-a-five-star-luxury-residential-addiction-treatment-program/luxury-addiction-rehab-accommodations.php#sthash.daxXTVAZ.dpuf

This month I had the opportunity to visit two Gateway Foundation treatment program facilities in Swansea and Caseyville, Illinois. The staff, welcoming and well-trained, shared with me how their programs help the community and common substance abuse issues their clients are facing. Visiting the two sites made me reflect on how important, now more than ever, substance abuse counseling and support is needed. Prescription drug abuse is a growing dilemma in the United States, especially among teens and young adults (https://talbottcampus.com/). In the United States alone, more than 15 million people abuse prescription drugs (Foundation for a Drug-Free World) and 52 million Americans over the age of 12 have used prescription drugs non-medically in their lifetime (National Institute on Drug Abuse). These statistics indicate a rising problem and prove that increased support is not only needed for those facing substance abuse but support is needed for family members in crisis as well.

Gateway Foundation is leading the fight on addiction. Their treatment programs not only offer proven theoretical approaches to addiction but they also offer an open community for friends and family suffering from addiction. One of the things that sets Swansea and Caseyville Gateway apart from their competitors is their substance education initiatives. Gateway provides an adolescent at-risk program that runs weekly, 8-10 weeks, for teens that have been assessed for their programs but do not meet the criteria for services. Shockingly, a survey conducted by the Foundation for a Drug-Free World found that almost 50% of teens believe that prescription drugs are much safer than illegal street drugs. The Gateway program educates youth on the dangers of substances and even brings in former users to talk to the teens about their experiences with substance abuse. Additionally, they offer a family education program for parents and family members who need more education about addiction, enabling behaviors, and how they can support their loved ones. This is a free group offered to the community.

The United States makes up 5% of the world’s population and consumes 75% of the world’s prescription drugs. (National Institute on Drug Abuse). With President Barack Obama signing the 21st Century Cures Act in December 2016, the fight against substance abuse continues. The legislation includes $1 billion in funding for opioid abuse prevention and will help to help fight the opioid epidemic (http://www.goodtherapy.org/). Opioid addiction drives the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, which is drug overdose. In 2015, alone, there were 55,403 lethal drug overdose, with 20,101 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers, and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin (http://www.asam.org/).

If you, or someone you love is abusing prescription drugs or other substances, please reach out to get some help.

Gateway Foundation 24-Hour Confidential Helpline: 877-505-4673
Urban Balance, https://urbanbalance.com/, intake: (888) 726-7170 x 1, [email protected]

“Welcome to the Healing-Circle Radio Show, where we support, connect, and share!” This is the opening for my weekly radio show on iHeart Radio, Hallelujah1600AM. The show focuses on mental health topics in the African American community. There is a need for mental health programing for this audience due to America’s current predicament. With the election results hitting many of us with shock, fear, and disbelief we must come together to heal. But with healing comes fighting, fighting for our way of life, our health, and our families to thrive in the 2000’s and beyond. Not only has the election heightened paranoia in many communities around the United States, there is a stigma of mental health in the African American community. 13.2% of the U.S. population identifies as Black or African American, of those, over 16% had a diagnosable mental illness in the past year (taken from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/african-american-mental-health). The percentage of African Americans going to and completing college continues to increase and Black owned businesses in the United States has increased 34.5% between 2007 and 2012 (taken from http://blackdemographics.com/economics/black-owned-businesses/). Black professionals continue to thrive, however, racism continues to have an impact on the mental health of Blacks. White people make up roughly 62% of the population in the United States but only about 49% of those who are killed by police officers. African Americans, however, account for 24% of those shot and killed by the police despite being just 13 % of the United States population (taken from https://www.washingtonpost.com/).

African Americans need a voice, resources to apply in our daily life, and support in our relationships, professional growth, and raising our children. For these reasons I’m so excited about the show! We will be talking about couples healing through getting counseling, healing through talking to your teen, and healing through finding your professional purpose. Within these topics, dealing with in-laws, effective communication, and texting and your teen will be explored. Listeners have a chance to write in to the show and share their thoughts, questions, and comments. It’s an interactive show that is doing its part to make a change in an ever changing world. Join us on Saturdays at 5:30pm!

St. Louis Listeners: 1600AM.
Online: http://hallelujah1600.iheart.com/
Phone app: http://news.iheart.com/features/get-the-iheartradio-app-240/.

Please note, this week the show will air on Sunday, 11/20, at 9:30am

In 2016 it’s hard to come to the realization that we have so far to go when talking about race relations, politics, and religion in this country. It seems many cannot agree to respect each other’s differences. Social media highlights the pervasiveness of the issues. It affects us all differently. Some decide not to view their social media outlets temporarily, fearing they’ll read about another tragedy. Others would rather avoid the uncomfortableness and focus on positive happenings in their life, family members, and friends. It’s important to note that everyone is different, with unique family dynamics, values, and beliefs. Expecting each of us to cope with life’s struggles in a similar fashion is unrealistic.

As an African American woman, it’s important for me to post information about the importance of self care for African Americans, and when working with African Americans, to help protect our mental health when dealing with race issues in America. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that many associate with combat veterans. However, an estimated 7.8 percent of Americans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, with women (10.4%) twice as likely as men (5%) to develop PTSD. Additionally, about 3.6 percent of adults in this country aged 18 to 54 (5.2 million people) have PTSD during the course of a given year (http://www.ptsd.ne.gov/what-is-ptsd.html).

There has been an increase in research on race related experiences as it pertains to PTSD, particularly for African Americans. Racism-related experiences that African Americans in this country encounter on a daily basis range from subtle micro aggressions to blatant violence and verbal abuse. Micro aggressions can be defined as vague insults or non-verbal exchanges, such as a woman holding her purse tightly when she walks into an elevator with a black person. These experiences take place not only in spaces where African Americans are minorities but also in predominantly black spaces. Dr. Monnica T Williams wrote in a Psychology Today article that these experiences create unpredictable anxiety and paranoia for African Americans (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/culturally-speaking/201509/the-link-between-racism-and-ptsd). Coupled with these experiences, some African Americans are reminded of the long affects of terrible race relations between African Americans and the rest of the country via oppressed communities, broken down schools, lack of healthcare and job opportunities, wrongful arrests and mistreatment in and outside of their communities. These events can be summed up as frequent, ongoing psychological trauma.

So, if you are reading this, feel exhausted, distressed, angry, confused, and sometimes hopeless with what you experience and see on a frequent basis around the issue of race in America or know someone feeling these symptoms, consider these steps from JustJasmineBlog.com to help you with this psychological trauma (http://justjasmineblog.com/self-care-for-people-of-color-after-emotional-and-psychological-trauma/):

1.Mindful Isolation. Disconnect from triggering interactions or other situations that may increase anxiety. We all need a break sometimes. Maybe it’s time to take a social media break or a personal day from work to disconnect.

2. Discharge Energy. Find ways to exert energy. Exercise, a nice walk outside, journaling, yoga or meditation are great ways to discharge energy.

3. Community. Connect with people who you’ve identified as empathic, supportive, and help you process your feelings.

These are great steps toward self care. However, if you need further help don’t be afraid to ask. It’s okay to not be okay. With more research to support and normalize these realities find comfort in knowing you are not alone.

Yesterday during my usual perusal of Facebook I came across an article on a young woman who committed suicide. She was a new mother and experiencing postpartum depression. After reading the article I began to mentally travel back in time. I have a 7 and 9 year old. I remember, vividly, being pregnant with my first born, up until my youngest was 2 years old, being in a fog. Those were the hardest 4 years of my life. I, like the woman in the article, experienced postpartum depression.

Even to this day it’s hard for me to think back on that time. I would rather forget it, push it away. I still have shame and disappointment, as I hoped that time would be one of the best in my life. However, it wasn’t. It was a nightmare.

Postpartum depression seems to be a mystery to many people. I’ve often heard other women quickly chime in when I share my story and say they’ve experienced postpartum depression right after their baby was born as well. I hate to admit it, but it makes me cringe sometimes when I hear other woman talk about the first few weeks of motherhood, referring to their “baby blues” as if it was postpartum depression. It is important to highlight, there is a huge difference between the “baby blues” and postpartum depression. For this reason, women who have experienced this mood disorder often feel even more alienated when trying to share their stories because it is far from the “baby blues” symptoms most women experience.

After having a baby it is very common for a woman to experience the “baby blues” due to the hormone changes that occur after delivery. The baby blues can last a week or two, starts about 5-7 days after the baby is born, and usually goes away on its own. The symptoms can include feelings of worry, unhappiness, and fatigue. It affects 80% of mothers (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/postpartum-depression-facts/index.shtml). However, postpartum depression can be extreme and sometimes interfere with a woman’s ability to care for herself or her family. It occurs in nearly 15 percent of births and can begin shortly before or anytime after birth. Most importantly, it usually begins between a week and a month AFTER delivery (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/postpartum-depression-facts/index.shtml). Therefore, when other woman are starting to feel better from the baby blues the postpartum victim starts to go to an even darker place.

Unfortunately, some women are at greater risk for developing postpartum depression. Someone who has struggled with depression before, or has had family members who have struggled with the mood disorder or other mental illness may be at risk. Additionally, a stressful event during pregnancy or shortly after can trigger symptoms. In my case, my first pregnancy was unexpected, I had experienced depression in my early 20’s and I had traumatic birth experiences with both children. I was the poster child for postpartum depression.

In my early stages I thought I was going crazy, having visions of dropping my newborn or accidentally hurting him that consumed me. I couldn’t get the thoughts out of my head and I wasn’t sleeping. Would my baby die if I fell asleep? What if I died in my sleep, who would care for this newborn baby? The level of anxiety and lows I felt were consuming and to top it off I wouldn’t talk about it with anyone, not even my husband.

After about 3 months in bed nearing the end of my second pregnancy and after the delivery where we thought we may lose our son, my husband finally suggested medication. His concern prompted me to get some help. I started my own counseling and, with support, I started to feel better. It took awhile, but it got better. That is so important to remember. It gets better.

So, if you are reading this and experiencing postpartum know that it gets better and get help! You are not alone. Having a baby can be the best and worst thing that happens to you. Your emotions, your independence, your self esteem, and your identity as a woman, to name a few, are turned upside down. Don’t think you have to be super woman. Get in a group with other women experiencing postpartum, talk to a counselor, and your partner. The silence only makes it more palpable. Don’t stay in silence, get the help you and your family deserves.

Are you or a loved one experiencing postpartum depression? Do you need someone to talk to? For counseling services please contact me at [email protected], www.healing-circle.org.

What can I say. This is unfortunately, the American Way. What makes this incident so typical is the level of excuses that American writers and some of the American public have made for these guys. The fact that some Americans are dismissing this incident and saying its not a big deal is embarrassing. This foursome disrespected the Olympic games and this incident just highlights a bigger problem, the double standard for White Privilege.

This is typical frat boy, entitled behavior that needs to be checked. The most unfortunate part of this moment is this could be a growing opportunity for our country, to hold ourselves accountable, to humble ourselves. Unfortunately, it looks like more of the same. Does the Stanford rape case ring a bell? These guys will probably not lose much of anything because of their actions. As endorsement deals, reality show contracts, and fans roll in supporting their every move, these guys will most likely go on to live the lucrative, untouchable life they have grown accustomed to and it’s nothing new.

We all know that having the Olympics in Brazil was said to be a mistake. Brazil is widely known for their crime and some Americans believed having the Olympic games there would threaten the lives of our Olympians. Just this past May the New York Post rolled out an article stating that Rio De Janeiro was too dangerous for the Olympics. So, of course these four knew they could say they were armed at gun point and know one would question them. Who cares if it leaves a stain on Brazil. Who cares if they urinated on the gas pumps. Who cares if they vandalized the gas station bathroom. Where is the empathy for the people of Brazil? It’s a microcosm of America’s lying legacy.

So, what can we do? We need to continue to speak out on these injustices, writing their financial backers and boycotting products and services they endorse. If the United States, at large, will not hold them accountable, we the people must. I’ve been very proud of the comments I’ve read from fellow Americans on the matter in various articles on the topic. Many people agree with my sentiments and don’t want to stand for this type of behavior. Living an authentic life means speaking your truth even when it’s difficult. What’s your truth when it comes to this incident? Do you think Lochte, Conger, Bentz, and Feigen deserve a pass? If you had a child that acted in this manner would you just let it go, saying boys will be boys? It’s important for each of us to ask ourselves these questions.

Life isn’t easy.  We all have an allotted amount of time to live on this earth.  For some of us, it’s long–lasting close to 100 years.  For others, it seems that time is cut too short–only experiencing life on earth for several years.  Dying is something that some never talk about, even though it’s integral to our existence.  We all, in fact, will die one day.  No longer being a part of this world is terrifying for some of us.  Others are able to accept it and embrace all that has happened, is happening, and will happen.  
 
Whenever I meet with clients for the first time, I assess their spiritual values.  Some believe in God, some believe in a higher being, some believe we are connected to all living things, and some believe that once we take our last breath on earth there is nothing else.  Whatever the belief, it is a healthy practice to become at peace with the cycle of life and to gain a foundation in spiritual values.  
 
In this life, we cannot guarantee anything.  One minute we are living our best life, the next we are preparing for the unknown.  If we do not ground ourselves and become comfortable with our beliefs, whatever they are, we will have fear and anxiety about the unknown.  For many of my clients who have passed the early 20’s transition, I encourage them to go on a spiritual journey and become connected with their beliefs.  After all, we cannot run away from what is truth.  All of us will die one day.  Understanding spiritual beliefs and working towards acceptance of the transition from physical existence allows us room to live our best lives, while we still can.  It also allows us to connect with others on a deeper level.  

This weekend I had the pleasure to be a part of Congressman Danny Davis Town Hall Meeting to discuss the state of today’s youth. The meeting took place at the Johnnie L. Miller Abundant Life Center on the West Side of Chicago. There was a panel of social workers, law enforcement, and community activists present to hear what the youth had to say about the violence in their communities. The purpose of the event was to come together to brainstorm conflict resolution.

The Town Hall Meeting was interactive and many of the youth in attendance participated by sharing their ideas on how the city can affect change for at risk youth. Immediately when I arrived I felt connected to comments and opinions of all who participated. For me, the take away from the day was that we all need to challenge our perceptions about the violence in our communities. Get involved in the community. Mentor and advocate for youth programs. As the old saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Violence is often times learned so access to resources and positive activities for children are imperative to affect change. Let’s join Congressman Danny Davis to make a change in Chicago.

http://www.davis.house.gov

This past Friday, I had the privilege of visiting the graduate students of the Northwestern Family Institute to talk about the counseling job market. The graduate students were engaged and had great questions about the field of counseling. Many of the questions addressed the challenges of finding a job in counseling, the importance of setting long-term professional goals, and fears associated with a lack opportunities following graduation.

As a guest at the Family Institute, I was excited about the direction of the counseling field and the new professionals that will soon be making a difference in mental health. The counseling field is constantly evolving and students are being challenged by new curriculum incorporating multiculturalism, empathy skills, and new and improved specializations.

Some of the highlighted points from my visit were:

LinkedIn – Joyce Marter, owner of Urban Balance, says that you should make sure you get endorsements on your LinkedIn when you can and keep it updated.

First impressions – Voicemails may be your first introduction to a possible employer before they meet you face to face. Joyce says, make sure your voicemail is professional. Additionally, the tone of phone interviews should be welcoming.

Your contribution – Think about how you can be an asset to the organization and prepare to talk about it in your face to face interview.

Networking and mentorship – It is very important to network in the field of counseling. Connecting with other professionals in the field can offer support and guidance. However, there is balance between keeping in touch with someone you want to connect with and being intrusive.

Get involved with your professional counseling association. Attend their workshops and networking events. It’s a great way to meet other professionals in the field. The Illinois Counseling Associate (ICA) and Illinois Mental Health Counseling Association (IMHCA) are just two examples of great organizations where you can get involved.

Google yourself. Now in the 2016’s employers are sure to be curious about your online presence.

Do your own work. If you are going to work in the counseling field, it’s imperative that you understand your own work. It’s okay to highlight the personal benefits to counseling and support while keeping boundaries in tact.

Change is hard. Change is anxiety filling and can be uncomfortable. However, it is nice to see new counselors stepping up to the challenge, ready to take the field by storm. I am proud to be a part of their experiences.

When clients visit me for their anxiety, I tell them that having a toolbox to manage their anxiety symptoms is essential. However, techniques to help with anxiety only work when we can accept our symptoms and be present with them instead of fighting against them. This is the first step to introducing tools to help with anxiety.

Incorporating mindfulness is a great tool to practice in order to help with anxiety symptoms. Mindfulness is a meditation technique where the participant practices observing their thoughts and feelings in a nonjudgmental way. Instead of trying to ignore the feelings and thoughts, they are acknowledged and observed so the participant can gain insight and awareness. There are many great books on the topic, as well as mobile apps that you can download. The key is practice, practice, practice! I always tell my clients to think of using mindfulness for their anxiety like training for a marathon, especially if they have an anxiety inducing event coming up. Mindfulness should be practiced until the client is comfortable with the necessary steps to be present and nonjudgmental about their thoughts that may spiral them into a panic attack.

After repeated practice of mindfulness, there are many other tools that can be incorporated with managing anxiety. Some of these include:

-Deep Breathing. While mindfulness meditation incorporates deep breathing, the exercise on its own can also be helpful. Taking slow, long, deep, breaths can ease some of the symptoms of anxiety.

-Counting. Rate your anxiety (1-10, 10 being unbearable) then start counting backwards from 100 and then rate your anxiety again. If your anxiety is an 8 or higher, repeat.

-Spelling. Rate your anxiety (1-10, 10 being unbearable) then browse the environment and start spelling objects backwards. After 3-5 objects rate your anxiety again. If it is an 8 or higher, repeat.

-Envision a safe place. Your safe place should be somewhere you’ve been that you love or somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. After becoming more comfortable with your mindfulness practice you can incorporate a safe place. As you practice, this place should become more detailed. When experiencing your anxiety go to your safe place. Close your eyes and start to focus on the details of this place (i.e. smells, textures, temperatures).

Anxiety is not something that has to take over our lives. It can be managed with practice, patience, and acceptance. It is important for someone experiencing moderate to severe anxiety to share their symptoms with their health care providers and seek the necessary support systems to manage anxiety symptoms.