AMAC Group

This is a 20-week group session which focuses on learning new skills to deal with abuse issues and to begin to heal.

Topics addressed include: healthy boundaries, fear and anger issues, relationship issues, coping skills for stress and triggers, trust and forgiveness.

Group starts on January 4, 2011, $40 per session. For more information, please contact Lisa Bradford, LCSW, 801.660.8441

Renew & Restore

Resilient Solutions, Inc & Infusion Yoga Studio are offering a course for therapists to Renew & Restore while they earn 6-CEU's on Friday, February 4th, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM. This program is approved by the Utah Chapter, National Association of Social Workers.

$119 for registration before 1/1/11, $139 after. Lunch inclued.

Dress comfortable. We will learn simple, relaxation techniques. We will explore Burnout Reduction, Compassion Fatigue and Increase Compassion Satisfaction.

To registration or further questions, contact Becky at becky.lpc@gmail.com or 801.259.3883.

Parenting with Love and Logic

Michael Van Dam, LCSW, will be offering an 8-week course and discussion group beginning Wednesday, January 12th at 7:00 PM. The course is $120/person or $200 per couple.

For further details contact Michael Van Dam, at 801.292.1549 or email: vandam.michael@gmail.com

AMAC Group

Lisa Bradford, LCSW, will be offering a 20-week group for Adults Molested as Children (AMAC). This group will begin Wednesday, January 5, 2011. Group is $40 per session.

Topics addressed include: Healthy Boundaries, Fear and Anger Issues, Relationships Issues, Coping Skills for Stress and Triggers, Trust Issues and Forgiveness.

For more information, please contact Lisa at 801.660.8441

Nurturing Ourselves this Holiday Season

Are you grieving this holiday season? We invite you to join with us on Monday, December 6, 11:00 - 1:00. Warm Soup will nourish our bodies, Sharon, a yoga instructor will guide us through some relaxing techniqes, and conversation with others who can understand your grieving heart.

$25 for lunch and this group. RSVP to Becky Andrews, LPC, 801.259.3883 or email: becky.lpc@gmail.com by Thursday, December 2nd.

Within each of us is the capacity to heal, and in any given moment we do the best we can.

Supporting Yourself

The anticipation of the holidays when one is grieving can be so challenge. Join us for our Grief & the Holidays: an evening of support on Wed, Nov. 17 at 7:00 PM. RSVP to Becky at 801.259.3883 or email: becky.lpc@gmail.com

Article from Bereavement Publishing, Inc. 1-888-604-4673, by Joanetta Hendel. Awesome Resource.

-Refrain from projected suffering, anticipated heartache, or manufactured anguish. Now is theonly eternity there is --and the only reality. Let the road rise to meet you, rather than jumping ahead to agonize over projected illusions of doom and despair.

--Consider allowing this holiday season to become a meditation on life rather than a distraction from it. Trust the mind and psyche to guide you in the direction you need to go. Embrace this moment and give it expression. Make peace with your place in the universe. Feel the feelings that are present now -- solve today's problems, receive today's gifts.

More in tomorrow's posts. What have you done to support yourself through the holidays?

Grief and the Holidays

The holidays can be a difficult time for those experiencing grief and loss. Join us for an evening of support with our special guests: Dennis and Joyce Ashton.

Wednesday, November 17th, 7:00 PM

If you'd like bring an ornament for our Remembering Tree and/or a treat to share with others.

To register or further questions, please call Becky at 801.259.3883 or email: becky.lpc@gmail.com

Grief Support Groups

We will start our next Grief Group for those experiencing the death of a loved one on Wednesday, October 20th at 7 pm. This group will be 8-weeks and is $25/group session. For more information, contact Becky at801.259.3883 or email at: becky.lpc@gmail.com

Also, our Mom's Group on Mondays at 11:30 - 1:00 still has openings. This group is for moms who have had a child die. Join with us for support.

Join us ...

Groups offered in our office:

Cultivating Beauty Women's Group, Contact Jackie for details at 801.628.6344

AMAC (Adults Molested as Children) Women's Group, Contact Lisa Bradford at 801.660.8441.

Group for Children experiencing Divorce, Contact Michael at 801.815.6152

Mom's Group for women who have had a child die, Contact Becky at 801.259.3883.

Spouse Group for men and women who have had a spouse die, Contact Becky at 801.259.3883.

Finding Hope Group for women experiencing depression, Contact Becky at 801.259.3883

Finding Hope

Our next group for women experiencing depression and/or anxiety will be starting on Monday, September 13th. (4:30 - 6:00 PM - $25/group session).

Learn techniques to help the healing process and gain your life back. Some of our topics of discussion will be nutrition, exercise, medications, anxiety management, cognitive behavioral techniques and more. MOSTLY, we're a group to support and encourage you to take back control and find hope again in your life.

Contact Becky at becky.lpc@gmail.com for details.

Open House

You are invited to an Open House at Resilient Solutions, Inc. & Resilient Center for Grieving Families. Stop in for a few minutes, have a quick tour and a treat, or stay longer and meet some of our therapists.

Thursday, September 9, 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Fall Grief Groups

Twelve-week Fall Groups to begin the week of September 13th.
Mother's Group: for those experiencing the death of a child, Mondays - 11:30 - 1:00
Adult Grief Group: for those experiencing the death of a spouse, Wed, 5:30 - 6:45
Adult Grief Group: for those experiencing the death of a loved one or friend, Wed, 5:30 - 6:45
Adult Grief Group: for those experiencing the death of a loved one to suicide, Thu 5 -6:15
Teen Group (14-18), teens experiencing the death of a loved one, Wed, 3:45 - 5:00
Pre-teen Group (9-13), Wed 3:45 - 5:00
Children's Group (4-8) Wed 5:30 - 6:45.
Pet Loss - Call for Schedule.
Group for those experiencing a Physical Loss (illness, disability, accident), Wed, 1:30 - 3:00.

Groups are facilitated by licensed therapists. For more information or to register for a group, call Becky at 801.259.3883 or email: becky.lpc@gmail.com

Groups are 12-weeks and $25/group session.

Resilient Center for Grieving Families

Mission: To offer a safe, caring environment for children, adolescents, and adults to come for support while grieving a death, divorce, disability or other loss.

Our Values: Our grief is unique. An environment of caring and acceptance assists in the healing process. Within each of us is the capacity to heal. Grief is a natural reaction to a loss.

Support for Families: We offer individual theapy, specialized grief support groups, family session, monthly educational evenings, holiday healing events, and outreach educational support.

For further details on upcoming groups, contact Becky at 8012593883 or email: becky.lpc@gmail.com

Teen Girls

Feeling anxious? Want more self-confidence? Feel like the world is on your shoulders? You're not alone! Join us for a group for teen girls. Meet new friends, prepare for school, and learn more about yourself!

Group begins Friday, July 16th, 10 - 11:15 am ($95/ 5-week course). Groups will be facilitated by Kaylene Whicker, SSW and Becky Andrews, LPC, CT.

To register contact, Becky at 8012593883.

Girls Group

Kaylene will be starting a 5-week group for teen girls on Friday, July 16th, 10 - 11:15 ($95). Topics range from goals, accomplishments, decision making; self-esteem building activities. Meet new friends, prepare for school and learn more about yourself. To register: email: becky.lpc@gmail.com or call 8012593883.

Be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

Summer Grief Gatherings

Mothers Group for Moms who have had a child die. Our next group will begin Monday, June 14, 11:30 - 1:00 pm. ($120 - 8-week group).

General Grief and Loss Group. Thursday evenings to begin June 10, 5:00 - 6:15, ($120 - 8-week group)

Adolescent Grief Group to begin Wednesday, June 9, 5:30 - 6:45. (6-week group, $90)

Contact Becky at 8012593883 or email: becky.lpc@gmail.com to register for one of the groups.

Within each of us is the capacity to heal and in any given moment we do the best that we can.

The Five Things We Cannont Change ...

My latest read is David Richo's book: The Five Things We Cannot Change. They are:

1. Everything changes and ends.
2. Things do not always go according to plan.
3. Life is not always fair.
4. Pain is a part of life.
5. People are not loving and loyal all the time.

He indicates we find happiness by embracing these.

Mother's Day Luncheon

Life events can take our breath away. No one plans to have their child die. Join us for a Mother's Day Celebration like none other. A peaceful remembering time in a location of serenity; wondrous companionship and serene encouragement; delicious nourishment from lunch and understanding women with love, smiles, affection, and understanding.

Date: Monday, May 3; 11:30 - 1:30
Where: Resilient Solutions, Inc., 1355 N. Main, Ste. 1, Bountiful, Utah
For: Mother's who have had a child die
$25 per women for lunch

RSVP to Becky at becky.lpc@gmail.com or 8012593883 by Friday, April 30th.

Finding Hope Group

Our Women's Group - Finding Hope for Women Experiencing Depression/Anxiety is in its fourth week. This group of women have found support and connection in realizing they are not alone in what they are experiencing. We have talked about the five areas that we need to find ways to practice self-compassion: physical, social, cognitive, spiritual, and emotional. They have begun to implement kindness to themselves in each of these areas ... perhaps a nice walk to nourish our body or journaling our feelings to release our emotional. We have talked about the ten hits that impact depression/anxiety: genetic, developmental (these two we cannot control), the other eight we have some control over: lifestyle, circadian rhythm, addictions, nutrition, toxic thinking, social stress, medical conditions, frontal lobe. This week we will have Carena from Infusions Yoga and Pilates join us and teach us about healthy living. A couple of the women have indicated that they look forward to Monday evenings and the support they are receiving from this group.

My Current Read

The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions by Christopher K. Germer, Ph.D.

page 38: Mindfulness is a moment-to-moment awareness. There's freedom in mindfulness because paying attention to our stream of perceptions, rather than our interpretations of them, makes every moment fresh and alive! Life becomes a festival to the senses when we're mindful.

Questions to Ask Yourself

This article captured my attention: 12 questions to ask yourself -- right now. As a solution focused therapist, I believe that we do know the answers to our life - 1. How do I spend my alone time? ... walk out your door and into the world, and let yourself feel newly challenged by all the cool stuff out there. Who knows what you'll love -- what class, what group, what hiking trail, what art show?
2. Do I pay attention to what my body needs? Do you listen when it tells you it is working too hard? Treat your body like a new pal who has lots of insightful things to tell you.
3. To Whom am I grateful? Reflecting on who coaxed you to express your opinion, who advises you to fearlessly try new things, who gave you their attention, their encouragement, their caring and generous spirit.

The list goes on and is a fun list to ponder your answers to ...

Finding Hope

Our group for women experiencing depression/anxiety will begin this Monday, March 8, 4:30 - 6:00 PM. We are excited to offer this psychoeducational group to women who can join us in Bountiful and as indicated we will post our journey in this blog as well. Join us if you can! Contact becky at 8012593883 or email: becky.lpc@gmail.com for more information. Some of what we'll learn:

how to stop being so hard on yourself
how to handle distrubing emotions with greater ease
how to motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism
how to practice healthy self-care

Acceptance

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am then I can change.
Carl Rogers

Surrender

The concept of surrender teaches you that when you stop resisting and surrender to your situation exactly as it is, things begin to change. Resistance is an instinctive mechanism you use to push away or deny your pain to protect you from your feelings of loss and grief. In the end, resistance robs you of your capacity to heal and transcend. when you surrender, you acknowledge, "This is what I am faced with right now in my life's journey. While Id like it to be different, I must allow myself to face the reality of what is happening -- When you surrender you release attachment to how you feel your life should be and invite yourself to be in the presence of your life exactly as it is. While naturally difficult to do, surrender is an act of courage. Dr. Alan Wolfelt.

SOS Help for Emotions

My current professional read is: SOS Help for Emotions - Managing Anxiety, Anger & Depression by Dr. Lynn Clark, Ph.D. It is a book grounded in Albert Ellis' Cognitive Behavior Therapy. It is an easy to read book with exercises and a summary of the main points at the end of each chapter. He states: Manage your Emotions or they will Manage you! Effectively managing our emotions includes: soothing and calming ourselves when update; practicing self-control; managing anger; controlling impulses; expressing emotions in healthy ways; avoiding sustained anxiety, anger and depression; handling inevitable defeats and setbacks in life; preventing negative emotions from dominating our judgment and problem solving. Two additional ingredients for managing our emotions are: tolerating frustration and accepting and valuing ourselves. Learn to soothe your emotions.

Thus far, a good read with some helpful suggestions.

Finding Hope

For women experiencing depression and looking to find hope, join us for our 8-week psychoeducational group to begin Monday, March 8th from 4:30 - 6:00 PM. Learn techniques to help the healing process and gain your life back. Nutrition, exercise, medications, anxiety management, identify underlying causes, eliminate negative habits of body and mind will be some of our topics of discussion. We're a group to encourage women with depression how to find hope and joy in your life.

We will post summaries of our lessons so that if you can't join us in Bountiful you can be a part of us!

What Happy Couples Know

This article has 5 great tips on keeping your relationship happy. In summary they are: 1. Talk to each other (seems obvious but SO important ... connect each day) 2. Flirt & Have fun 3. Get Stupid Together (laugh & be silly) 4. Declare Your Independence (Have activities/friendships outside your marriage) 5. Share a Spiritual Moment each day.

Healthy Assertive Rights

I recall my mom encouraging me to read the book My Perfect Right as an adolescent girl. I appreciate her encouraging me to implement the following into my life.

I have a right to put myself first, sometimes.
I have a right to make mistakes.
I have a right to be the final judge of my feelings and accept them as legitimate.
I have a right to express my own opinions and beliefs.
I have a right to question what I don't like and to protest unfair treatment.
I have a right to ask for clarification.
I have a right to negotiate for change.
I have a right to ask for help or emotional support.
I have a right to feel and express pain and or uncomfortable feelings.
I have a right to receive recognition for my special qualities and talents and for my work and achievments.
I have a right to say "no" to other people's requests.
I have a right to be alone, even if others request my company.
I have a right not to have to justify myself to others.
I have a right not to take responsibility for someone else's problem.
I have a right not to have to anticiipate the needs and wishes of others.
I have a right to say "I don't know" or "I don't understand.

Pain & Hope

In the words of Alla Bozarth-Campbell, "Pain is bearable when we are able to trust that it won't last forever, not when we pretend it doesn't exist.

As Helen Keller states, "The only way to the other side is through."

These two quotes are among many in Dr. Alan Wolfelt's Understanding Your Suicide Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing your Heart.

Tonight we will meet for our grief group - 5:15 - 6:30 for those who have experienced the death of someone they love from suicide. 6:45 - 8:00 for those who have experienced the death of someone they love.

If you'd like to join us, you can contact Becky at 801.259.3883 or email: becky.lpc@gmail.com

What's Self-Compassion?

... bearing witness to one's own suffering, and responding with kindness and understanding.

What do you do to create self-compassion in your life?

Why a Grief Group?

The death of a loved one is a powerful and emotional experience. It can shatter life as we used to know it. Three elements that seem to assist in recovering from the devastating effects of the death of a loved one are:
*gathering relevant information
*talking to others about your loss
*listening to others who have had similar experiences.

Join our Grief Groups

Shakespeare said: Our lives are shaped by those who leave as much as by those who remain. Everyone we have trully loved is a part of us. He who lacks time to mourn lacks time to mend.

Our Grief Gatherings still have openings for you to join us this Thursday, February 4 at our office: 1355 N. Main, Ste. 1, Bountiful, Utah. Two groups have just started: Adult Grief Group for the Death of a Loved One: 6:45 - 8:00 ($190/10 week session); Adult Grief Group for the Death of a Loved One (Suicide): 5:15 - 6:30.

Groups include Dr. Alan Wolfelt's book and journal.

Out of loss can come hope; not from forgetting or letting go of love, but through sharing with others.

A friend in Grief

As Henri Nouwen states: When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cure, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement. Who can tolerate not-knowing not-curing not-healing, and face with us the reality of our powerlessness. That is the Friend who Cares.

Grief Gatherings

Since the beginning of time, people have come together in times of grief to help one another. Grief Support Groups provide an opportunity for this kind of help and support. Join us --
10-week groups to begin Thursday, January 28, 2010 at Resilient Solutions, Inc., 1355 N. Main, Ste. 1, Bountiful, Utah. Two groups will be offered:
Adult Group for Death of a Loved One, Thursdays 6:45 - 8:00 PM
Adult Group for Death of a Loved One (Suicide), Thursdays 5:25 - 6:30 PM

To register for a group, contact Becky at 801.259.3883 or email at: becky.lpc@gmail.com

Within each of us is the capacity to heal, and in any given moment we do the best that we can.