Leaps of Faith in Recovery
In one of my all-time favorite films, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the hero, the rugged adventurer-professor Indiana Jones, is faced with a set of tasks he must complete in order to find the Holy Grail and save his father’s life. In one task, deep inside an...
A voice From the Circle
Anna Packard PhD and contribution from a group psychotherapy client When my clients graduate therapy, I always ask them to write a “This I believe essay” as a final assignment. The purpose of this assignment is to put into words their healing transformations or...
Permission to Move Forward in Recovery
Have you ever heard of a “live list”? It’s the concept of creating a list of things you want to complete or experience within a specific time frame. It could be a summer live list, a live list to complete by a specific age, or maybe even a list of things that you...
Commit to Coping, Here’s How
How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing? Life can be hard and learning how to really take good care of yourself can take a little time, but it’s so worth the effort. Coping Skills are for Humans If you’re a human, congratulations, you need coping skills....
Understanding your Relapse Warning Signs in Recovery
We have a brand new 16 year old at our house, and with that has come the experience of teaching another young driver the ropes. Having been a driver myself for- well, many years- I recognized while teaching my daughter that there are a lot of things about driving...
The Power of Play
When was the last time you played–really played and had fun? Maybe it was recent; maybe you can’t remember the last time. Either way, let’s talk about why this therapist is coming to realize just how important play can be. A couple of years ago, I decided to try...
Embracing Body Kindness
Take a moment to notice how you feel about your body or what others might have said about your body. Think about the primary messages, both positive and negative, you were given about your body from family, friends, your community, media, images, doctors, church,...
Living Beyond Body Image
One of my favorite ways to spend my free time is boating with friends and family. For as long as I can remember, I have looked forward to the carefree days on the lake with nothing to worry about aside from how long I can surf the wake and the downloaded playlist that...
Motivation is Not Enough for Recovery
Motivation can be a slippery little sucker. Anyone who has had a hard task in front of them can tell you from experience- motivation is not a constant companion on the way to the achievement. Motivation isn’t always going to be there for you, pushing you towards...
Lessons from my Relationship with America
I was the grumpiest one at the parade. Maybe the only grumpy one? Everyone else was smiling and laughing, all decked out in their red, white, and blue outfits. But I was having a hard time celebrating America this year. The last month has been heavy for me. The mass...
A Letter to Myself in Recovery
One of the many reasons I cherish the opportunity to work with clients in recovery from eating concerns is that I have been on my own recovery journey. While my eating disorder does not play an active role in my life anymore, I still find it valuable to look back at...
Everyone Needs Help from Time to Time
This month I hit my four-year mark working at Balance Health and Healing. What started out as “just a job” has truly changed my life forever because of the people I have worked with and the lessons they have taught me. Lesson #1 – Be Kind First When I first started...