Change Behavior, Alter Emotions & Perinatal Mental Health
The Elephant, The Healer
We use the elephant as a symbol because she can remove obstacles and negative forces. She represents wisdom and loyalty. The elephant is symbolic of the water from which life begins and the rainfall that feeds our crops to grow. The majestic elephant is a symbol of fertility and therefore a representation of a new beginning. She is connected to divinity, ancient knowledge, tribal wisdom, prosperity, and alas VICTORY! Your new beginning starts now.....
If you are a birthing person experiencing depression, anxiety, or intrusive thoughts we can help!
The brain is plastic and the body wants to heal. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Toxic Stress, and Trauma negatively impact the brain. We are wired for survival. When we feel unsafe, an alarm in the brain sends a distress signal to the rest of the body and we prepare to fight, flee or freeze. Overusing our threat response system causes mental, behavioral, social, economic, and physical dis-ease, potentially decreasing our quality of life and life expectancy. But, WE ARE BUILT FOR RESILIENCE! We can change unwanted behavior and alter painful emotions.
As humans, we are the integration of mind, body, and spirit. True healing comes when we address our humanness in its entirety. Western healing systems typically prioritize the mind for healing symptoms like Depression, Anxiety, Intrusive Thoughts, Anger, Withdrawal, Aggression, and various forms of Addiction. Eastern healing systems emphasize the importance of spiritual evolution for sustaining wellness. From our Indigenous perspective, we focus on learning to control our brain chemistry and body physiology through mindfulness, energy medicine, or spiritual practices, and the innate physical practices used by our ancestors for generations.
Healing Retreats, Group Coaching and One-On-One Coaching Available
We use Psychoeducation, Expressive Arts, Contemplative Arts, Cultural Arts, and the Seven Circles of Wellness, supported by Indigenous and energy medicine to integrate all the aspects of our being for sustainable healing. Contact Heal Historical Trauma today to learn more about booking options.
Not Therapy. Period.
Can You Relate?
"Are you in therapy?" Is a question loaded with judgment and expectation. There are thousands of people who;
- Have been failed by therapy & rehab
- Have been unable to find a whole and healthy therapist
- Haven't found a therapist who aligns with their personality
- Have cultural beliefs that don't support the Western therapeutic process
- Don't have access to mental health care
- Want to take action to heal themselves
- Simply don't want to talk about past traumas
Therapy is great for people who feel drawn to that process, but it's not for everybody and that's OKAY! It doesn't make a person non-compliant, unwilling to get treatment, or someone who doesn't want to make changes in their life. Mental Health is the only area of medicine where regardless of the dis-ease, the answer is the same; talk therapy and/or medication. Every human is beautifully unique and has different requirements. Seeing people and meeting them where they are is how we value each other.
Toxic Stress, Trauma & Attachment
60% of our least vulnerable population have experienced adversity in childhood (ACEs)
The great news is that the brain is plastic and the body wants to heal!!! Since the 1990s we have known that the more adversity a child experiences before the age of 18, the more likely they are to have negative economic, mental, behavioral, social, and physical health outcomes in adulthood. Trauma is cumulative. When we live with toxic stressors in our daily lives, it increases the stress hormones in our system and strengthens the most primitive part of the brain. As a result, we will struggle with impulse control, anger, focus, learning, relationships, withdrawn behavior, and so much more. Here is a list of behaviors that are often a response to trauma:
- Shutting Down
- Walking Away
- Playing the Victim
- Keeping too Busy
- Playing the Persecutor
- People Pleasing
- Getting Defensive
- Emotional Numbness
- Hyper-Independence
Toxic stress and trauma change our brain and body chemistry. The changes are so powerful that they can cause physical illness, unwanted behaviors, and extremely maladaptive personality traits. When the brain becomes imbalanced and dysregulated due to the chemical changes, it actively seeks regulation. The brain wants to be regulated by any means necessary. We can regulate the brain by activating its pleasure center.
- Eating Sweet, Salty, Fatty Foods
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Indiscriminate Sex
- Gambling
- Online shopping (sound familiar?)
These are all the problematic ways we activate the pleasure center of the brain for regulation. This is also how addiction can come into play because of the dopamine release that occurs in association with the aforementioned activities.
ATTACHMENT
When a baby is hungry, the baby cries and the caregiver lovingly feeds the baby. The baby learns to have a secure attachment and the brain develops accordingly. If the caregiver responds to the baby's needs with irritation, inconsistently, or with violence, the baby's brain development is chaotic. The brain can continue to be dysregulated into adulthood. Attachment in childhood is the template for how we handle relationships in life. Our basic attachment style is determined by the time we are 18 months old. This isn't to say that we can't work at acquiring a secure attachment, but how we show up in relationships and our relationship patterns are set before the age of 2 years old. Those of us who had caregivers who experienced post-partum depression, mental health challenges, incarceration, alcohol and/or drug use, were in abusive relationships or dissociated during our early years, may struggle with impulsivity issues, anger, addiction, relationships, and more. Recognizing an issue and learning to regulate the brain are all within our capabilities! WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.
Trauma & Resilience Life Coaching
Our Approach to Healing
A full expression of RESILIENCE is accessible to all of us! We can consider experiences that overwhelm our body chemistry as trauma. Stressors that may seem innocuous, yet persist and sustain us in the flight, fight, or freeze response can be considered toxic. Experiences from the past that caused fear or uncertainty can impact our behavior and physical health today. The key is changing our brain pathways and strengthening the connections in the more sophisticated part of the brain.
OUR PROCESS
- Motivational Interview- an opportunity for the client to discuss traumatic experiences without dysregulating the brain and learn about their strengths
- Seven Circles of Wellness Assessment
- Adult Attachment Interview- to assess how the client identifies, prevents, and protects themselves from perceived dangers, especially those related to close relationships.
- Create an Action Plan
We utilize a variety of tools throughout our time together to meet each client's individual needs, support brain regulation, and the establishment of new neural pathways. Eco-therapy, clay therapy, expressive arts, contemplative practices, Yoga Nidra, and other ancient tools are integrated to create a unique opportunity for healing.
Schedule an appointment today!
Text 480-207-9778
healtraumaglobal@gmail.com
