I can't believe we are already at the end of February!
This month has been a hive of activity. I attended a celebration of Hanley's 40th Anniversary of healing individuals and families with substance use disorder and mental health issues, visited Alta Mira in Sausalito, California, to enjoy a great lecture by Dr. Baron on lifestyle psychiatry, attended an open house at Bridges to Recovery in Beverly Hills and also went to Caron Foundation in Pennsylvania to meet their new CEO, John Driscoll.
In addition, I was honored to be interviewed about childhood trauma and self-worth, and I will share more information on how you can view the interview soon.
And let's not forget the Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and President's Day celebrations!
February also holds a very personal date for me, as it is my sober birthday. On February 24, 1982, I checked myself into treatment. I was tired, scared, hopeless and full of shame, and I had no idea I was about to begin my healing journey. I just knew I couldn’t go on the way I was living.
My dreams of a new and beautiful life where I am happy, joyous and free have all come true. Today, I love my life and am grateful for my loving family and friends, a career I love, and a life full of all my beloved animals - my little slice of Heaven.
No matter what happens, stay the course, stay focused and stay true to your purpose.
Warm regards,
My next International Transport Training is in Dallas next month - here's what a previous attendee from my London training had to say about their experience:
"Trauma-informed transport training has been incredibly useful in my practice. Knowing how to support young adults who need it most is so important when helping them to get treatment. Understanding the role of trauma and mental health, and therefore why young adults may act out, is necessary to help them move towards recovery. Heather's training is thorough and practical, and everyone who works in the addiction industry would vastly benefit from her expertise."
Book your ticket to my next training course now to discover the unique approach of the HRH&A Respectful Adolescent Transport Process™ and develop your skills
The following is a round-up of our monthly blogs in case you missed any on our social media posts.
Social media personalities have become some of the most profitable and influential figures in the United States. These influencers, who use various social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to create and share content about their lives, earned a collective $700m USD in 2023. According to Forbes business magazine, some of these influencers have over three hundred million followers, and many of those followers are teenagers and young adults.
Regardless of the individual who is posting, there is no doubt that these influencers have a massive impact on the young people who follow them.
We frequently stress the importance of raising awareness about mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and substance use disorders, and in recent years there has been a steady growth of social media content which seeks to discuss and provide support for mental health conditions and even to offer therapeutic advice.
Certainly, those who struggle with these conditions benefit from support and visibility from others, and such types of online content are often a positive thing. However, what are the ethics surrounding mental health influencers online, and does this type of therapy content really offer long-term benefits to individuals who may be struggling with a mental health condition?
Here's a little peek behind the scenes for a Zoom interview I did with AVAIYA University on the topic of Healing Childhood Trauma and Building Self-Worth.
The next AVAIYA Online Event will be taking place in April, and you will be able to view my interview then, so stay tuned for more details.
Down on the Farm
February has seen the weather getting a little warmer! The horses and the donkey have been enjoying some time outside, and Coco has been having a lot of fun with her new chew toy!
We're also beginning to see the beauty of Spring as the daffodils come into bloom too!
