When I work with younger people in their journey of recovery, one of the first roadblocks I encounter is combating their very destructive ideas about what fun and excitement looks like. I once had a mentor of mine describe insanity as changing our goals to meet our behaviors! To most individuals, running from police, getting … Read More
By: Angela Smith Therapist, The Refuge – a Healing Place Inner Child therapy is vital in understanding how we have become who we are. The first thing I tell anyone approaching inner child work, is that it is NOT about blaming, it is about understanding. Our experiences in childhood have an impact on who we … Read More
“Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves I have years of education, months of additional and specialized training and my own personal experiences in recovery from addiction and childhood trauma, but to some clients, I’m just … Read More
By: Janina Sola, Therapist One of the most challenging aspects of life is forming healthy bonds and relationships with others. When mixed with a history of trauma, it can become even more complicated. Often times, a person who has experienced trauma, forms an unhealthy loyalty to others which is termed as trauma bonding. Trauma bonding … Read More
By: Thomas Pecca, MS, CAS, CSAT, CTT Therapist, The Refuge – A Healing Place When I think of Thanksgiving, the classic Norman Rockwell painting comes to mind. A huge family sitting around a table preparing to carve a Turkey, so big it looks almost prehistoric. Smiles and anticipation on every face. For many of us that … Read More
By: Janina Sola Therapist, The Refuge – A Healing Place I’ll never forget the scene in the movie “Forest Gump” when Forest was to attend his first day of school. Forest began the day with his mother at the bus stop and upon entering the bus and after some “formal” introductions with the bus driver, … Read More
By: David Moss, LMHC, CTT3 Outpatient Therapist, The Refuge – A Healing Place During my internship in my Masters in Counseling program I was shown a video of a Ted Talk by Brene Brown that has shaped how I approach counseling to this day. While working on her doctorate Brene collected data on what connects us as human beings … Read More
“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent” -Victor Hugo Entering group each morning I am often drawn to music as a means to quickly connect the energy of the group and set a tone. Not only can it connect a room full of people but it can … Read More
The Refuge is Blessed to have an extremely talented, committed and compassionate staff. For this blog, THE HEART of Trauma we are delighted to occasionally have a guest blogger from our clinical staff. So in addition to my blog on Wednesday, today Cheryl Bailey, LMHC, CGC, CTT our nationally known Grief Therapist is sharing her … Read More
TRAUMA: In the Shadow of Our AncestorsEveryone has a story. There is a personal story, a family story, a mythology and a historical story that is often a mystery. There are answers awaiting us in our untold ancestral story.First let me say that this topic is enormous and overarching for trauma survivors. I will be … Read More
