The first month of 2024 is already over - how time flies! Did you set any resolutions for the year ahead?
New Year's resolutions can be great aspirations, but they can also elicit anxiety and stress. It is often not about the goal itself but about how you get there. This is especially true for those who are managing their mental health or overcoming substance use disorders because the end goal of sobriety or general well-being can only be reached one day at a time.
Shifting your focus from outcomes to processes is a powerful way to reduce stress around goals. It is crucial to consider how your processes can support the person you want to be - for example, you might keep your journal ready on your desk to start the day or set a reminder to prompt you to meditate regularly.
My goal for this year is simple: spend more quality time with the people I love!
Warm regards,
Don’t miss out on my next International Transport Training, which will take place in Dallas, Texas at the DFW Behavioral Health Symposium.
This course covers everything you need to know about Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Transports™ for teens and adults alike.
Accompanying people to treatment, regardless of whether they want to go, comes with significant challenges. It's vital to treat everyone with respect and empathy to ensure a smooth transition and avoid compounding existing trauma.
This immersive workshop includes sixteen hours of training and focuses on acquiring skills such as collaboration, safety, and relational dynamics to help those who need it take the first step into recovery.
Whether you're a social worker, clinician, recovery specialist, or medical professional, this course will deepen your skills in trauma-informed transportation and benefit those in recovery who need it most.
Spaces are filling quickly, so reserve your place in the course now.
The following is a round-up of our monthly blogs in case you missed any on our social media pages.
After the bustle and activity of Christmas and New Year, transitioning into the new year can seem particularly gloomy. In fact, many of us experience what is known as the January blues.
Last month, we explored the difference between the winter blues and the serious mental health condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Those who struggle with SAD are likely to experience chronic depressive symptoms throughout the winter months.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at SAD – particularly winter SAD – and explore how and why it is often at its worst in January.
Recovering from addiction requires a great deal of inner work. It is a lifelong process and not merely a matter of stopping the problematic behavior that characterizes addiction. But, how do we begin this process of healing which is so critical to the success of our recovery journey?
One way of starting this journey focuses on what Dr. Thema Bryant calls psychological homelessness. This refers to the way in which many people who have undergone trauma feel alienated from their authentic selves, which results in feelings of anxiety, fear, and a deep sense of being unsettled. It can also lead to the adoption of unhealthy coping methods.
It was great to catch up with friends and colleagues at the NATSAP Annual Conference on January 16-18 and to meet new people, connect with new programs, and gain new knowledge from some really outstanding speakers. I look forward to expanding in the coming months on the issues we discussed at the conference.
Down on the Farm
January has been a busy month on the farm! We filled the house for a fantastic New Year's party on January 2nd, and it was wonderful to have so many friends and family together in the same place.
As always, the animals are a pure joy! In the stables, Dino, Mini Me, Whoopie and Sobre have been keeping warm and toasty in their fashionable coats.
