Wouldn't be Christmas without The Boss

A Christmas Classic

I love Mae West!

I have always loved Mae West! I ran across another of my favorite quotes of hers...What can I say? I have a bit of the wild "WEST" in me!

When choosing between two evils, I always choose the one I haven't tried.

Take Care of YOU:: Live Simply

Simplicity can't reign very well in your life if you have untreated mental or physical health problems. And how you take care of yourself must be sustainable. It makes no sense to begin a vigorous exercise program and a monk-like diet if you are going to abandon it in two weeks or two months. You will need to integrate health into your daily routine for life.

TACTIC: See qualified health professionals about an exercise, dental hygiene, and nutrition program that you can sustain. See a doctor and get a physical exam first. The exercise program must be realistic: it should involve activity that you enjoy doing so that you will continue doing it. Your goal is to get a lifetime diet and exercise routine, not a quick fix or a fad. If you've carefully chosen a place to you live ("Optimize Your Place"), you may be able to routinely walk to work, school, shopping, or other activities. This builds exercise right into your regular schedule. Your shopping day may give you a chance to go for a long walk throughout your neighborhood, combining exercise with accomplishing errands. Be willing to try different exercises. Your local YMCA probably offers many different kinds of exercise classes. Consider dancing as a social activity and exercise. Consider using your lunch or break periods at work for walking or see how you can integrate exercise into your routine.

TACTIC: Seek professional help for depression or mental distress. Depression is an illness that can limit a person's enjoyment of life. One of depression's symptoms--reduced ability to make a decision--will hobble plans to simplify your life. Just as your regular routine may involve visits to a doctor, your mental health routine may also involve regular treatment or regular counseling and support groups. Contact you local mental health department or agency.

TACTIC: Quit smoking and the misuse of alcohol or drugs. Probably nothing is going to complicate your life than an addiction to tobacco or drugs. Seek help to end any dependence you have.

TACTIC: Keep to a fixed sleep pattern by waking up at the same time each day. Getting up at the same time will make your life a whole lot easier. Your body will adjust, and you'll be able to wake without aggravation. You may recoil at the thought of getting up on your days off at the same time you have to get up for work. If so, ask yourself--if I can get up at 5am for someone else, why can't I get up at 5am for myself? You'd be surprised how much more time you have on weekends to follow your interests when you make full use of all the time you have. You'll also be surprised how getting up at 5am consistently isn't difficult at all.

TACTIC: Tell the truth. If you were a Boy or Girl Scout, go back and look at the pledge you took. You probably pledged to keep yourself mentally, physically, and morally fit. No matter how corny or trite, pledges of integrity keep your life simple. Lies will complicate your life beyond measure. A lie can easily grow into a series of lies to cover up the first lie. Make a decision now to always tell the truth, even in the most mundane situations. Bowled a 45 and golfed a 192? Tell someone the truth. If you find yourself telling someone anything incorrect, correct it with them as soon as possible, no matter how awkward or no matter what the consequences. Avoid lying to make yourself or others feel better. You might be surprised how much simpler your life can become by following what might be considered "old-fashioned" advice.

Wizards of Winter

Nothing says "holiday" to me like rock and roll!!!!! ENJOY!!!!

Holiday Travel Tip

Nip travel setbacks in the bud: Pack a sturdy dog collar in your luggage. If a strap snaps or handle breaks, you can run the dog collar through the rungs of your suitcase or duffel, keeping your bag and sanity in tact!

Just what the Doctor ordered...

WARNING!!! This post contains "grown up" words and "grown up" humor. I could not resist this great "prescription". Anyone know where we can get this prescription filled? ENJOY!!!

Today's Lesson In Miracles

This giving season is upon us, and the best gift is love. As we give love to our sisters, we are giving to ourselves. Today I learn the law of love; that what I give my sister is my gift to me.

Brene Brown

*Please take some time to visit Dr. Brown's website and blog. There is so much wonderful information. See the link to the right. Thanks for the info, Raquel! You're wonderful! :)

Lights! Camera!! Action!!!

I love going to the movies! For a couple of hours I can be transported through time and space and immerse myself in a totally different world. Who knew that going to the movies can be therapeutic? Below is a brief description of "cinema therapy" and why it may be effective. So during the holiday season, visit your favorite video store or cineplex, grab a bag of M&M's or JuJu's and enjoy your therapy!


For more information, visit www.cinematherapy.com.


One aspect of most movies is that they serve as allegories, in much the same way as do stories, myths, jokes, fables, or dreams which can all be utilized in therapy. The cognitive effect of cinema therapy can be explained through recent theories of learning and creativity, which suggest that we have seven "intelligences". The more of these intelligences we access, the faster we learn because they employ different methods of information processing. Watching movies can engage all seven of them: the logical (plot), the linguistic (dialogs), the visual-spatial (pictures, colors, symbols), the musical (sounds and music), the interpersonal (storytelling), the kinesthetic (moving), and the intra-psychic (inner guidance).


Mythic stories explain the purpose and place of humans in the grand design. Many films contain a mythical message that reminds us of our virtue and our authentic self.


"Mining the gold" in movies means uncovering our hidden finest attributes by understanding how we project these virtues on film heroes and heroines. Identifying with a character can help us to develop inner strength as we recall forgotten inner resources and become aware of the right opportunity for those resources to be applied.

Like dream work, cinema therapy allows us to gain awareness of our deeper layers of consciousness to help us move toward new perspectives or behavior as well as healing and integration of the total self.


This inner work is a form of "modern-day shamanism", where we find a way to our soul that makes sense to our mind. Just as in poems, music, and literature, studying film's symbolic and deeper meanings empowers us by helping to integrate emotions, intuition and logic, and therefore blend our rational and "irrational" processes.

Understanding reactions to characters, who are "different" and unlikable can guide us to discover in the "shadow" of your own psyche our true self and our potential.


As observing helps us to "step back", the bigger picture becomes more obvious. This way, watching screen movies helps us learn to understand ourselves and others more deeply in the "big movie" of our life. We develop a skill to see our self and the world more objectively — with less of our habitual rigid, judgmental, or emotional filtering.

Did You Know?

Intense intellectual work can lead to blood sugar fluctuation and overeating, suggests a small recent study. Stay balanced by eating regular meals and keeping healthy snacks on hand.

Thoughts on Whole Living for the Holidays

The best way to entertain guests is to spend time with them. (The dishes can wait.)
Rethink power shopping. Opt for fewer gifts that mean more.
Breathe deeply -- and watch things fall into place.
Revisit natural, time-honored treatments to heal what ails you.
Generous acts are more than simple gestures. They're a way of life.

Don't confuse what you give with who you are.
Exercise can be an effective coping tool, not just another thing on your to-do list.
Rather than ignore stress, take note of it. Only then can you create a plan for change.
Be mindful of what you drink. Nourishment comes in many forms.
It doesn't take a Herculean effort to be a miracle in someone's life.


December 2008 * Terri Trespicio * body+soul

Laughter is the BEST Therapy

Laughter is truly the best medicine...and it is scientifically proven to be GOOD for you! So if laughter is good medicine, then it MUST be good therapy. If the video in this post does not make you laugh, I hope it at least makes you smile.

Getting Through the Afternoon

Day getting the better of you? Feel better in minutes by doing the following:

• Snack on fiber-rich munchies, such as dried apricots, bananas, baby carrots and rye wafers. The fiber slows down the release of glucose (a sugar) into your bloodstream and helps fight energy dips.
• Every hour or two, place hands on hips and breathe in and out deeply. This helps calm you, create mental focus and renews energy level.
• Close your eyes and go on an imaginary vacation: a peaceful scene, an island, a meadow, a beach. Actually imagine yourself "chilling out" there!
• User your personal support network: call friends, family, co-workers to unload and unwind.
• Splash cold water on your face, or pop a breath mint.
• At day's end, jot down some notes about all the positive events of the day. Amazed by how much went right? This helps promote better sleep and re-energizes you for the next day!

It's beginning to look a lot like STRESS-mas!!!

Ahhhhh the holidays! A time to gather family and friends from far and near. A time to relax and reflect on the blessing and bounty we enjoy. A time to eat a bit more than we normally do with the resolve to take off those extra pounds after January 1. Nothing is more blissful than the holiday season. There is no better way to end the year than the warmth and joy the holiday season brings...

Sound familiar?

Not even close for me!!! And I am sure not even close for many of you! While we enjoy the holiday season, many of us look forward to the extra work, extra expense, and extra stress with maybe a bit of fear? loathing? resentment? hostility?

Ladies, the holidays are here to stay. Nothing we can do about it. BUT...(isn't there always a big but?) there are a few things we can do to mitigate some of the stress we experience during these last two months of the year. Here are a few for you! If you have other suggestions, please feel free to post comments and share how you deal with and manage holiday stress!

Happy Holidays to ALL! And to all a stress-free night!

Reminisce over previous holidays. In your notebook create a column for What Works and another for Not That Again. Under What Works list the activities that bring you joy, those that come naturally to you, and those that seem to click into place. Under Not That Again list your challenges. Jot the things that drain your energy and bring you down. What can you do to delegate, dump, or change those items in the Not That Again column and embrace more of the things in the What Works column? What changes need to take place? (Who really is going to make these lists and check them twice? Not me! But I like the idea of making mental lists that resemble the above. Martha Stewart can make these lists and glue pine cones and cinnamon sticks to them...she's got the time...and a staff of 400.)

Set your top 3 priorities. Get crystal clear. Write them down. When you know your priorities you are able to respond easily to a request. When you know what is important to you it becomes easier to set boundaries. When someone asks you to get involved in a project or activity request 24 hours to respond. Look at your top 3 priorities and see if it serves them. If it does, then it is worth considering. If not, the answer is likely no. (Love this! Especially the part about requesting 24 hours to respond! I can use this ALL YEAR LONG!!!)

Simplify! Every task must be handled. Your options are to do it, delegate it, or dump it. Eliminate what does not serve your top 3 priorities. What can you get help on and delegate? This is a good time to get rid of those items on your Not That Again list. Hire someone to decorate or a housekeeper for the month. Have everyone bring a dish instead of you doing it all yourself. Get your family involved and develop a new attitude that things don't have to be perfect. Let go. This will allow you space to embrace what you enjoy. (Triple D! A motto to live by! DO IT, DELEGATE IT, or DUMP IT.)

Set your budget. Develop a budget that feels good. Many people are tight on cash. There are lots of ways to make this holiday special without adding stress to your budget. How can you show people they are appreciated? What activities can you do as a family? Letting people know what is special about them in a card, letter, audio cassette, or video is a great gift. Get creative and have fun. (How about a "naughty" and "nice" list? Santa isn't the only one who can use this method!)

Set your boundaries. Decide now what you will not tolerate. Write it down. Remember your Not That Again list? Is there someone who always ropes you into things you do not want to do? Have the conversation you need to have. No is no. If someone continues to ask after you said no, they are attempting to control you. Setting boundaries is about educating people on how they can treat you. Is there someone you need to educate?

Schedule one hour a week for planning and schedule time for yourself. When is a good time for you to update your task list? When can you take time for you? Put it on your calendar every week through the end of the year and keep those appointments. See if adding this line to your planner will help you keep your appointment: "I have an appointment in honor of myself this ______(day) at __:__ (time) to do something really special for me because I sooooooo deserve it!" (I say as your purchase your 2009 calendars, that you schedule yourself in to your schedule every week!)

Give in a way that gives you joy vs. out of obligation. When you give in a way that comes naturally to you, you stay in integrity with who you are. Therefore, you are able to share your own special gifts with others. When you are doing what you love life seems to click. If there is a situation you are dreading, think about how you can tweak it and handle it in a way that would bring you joy. (Obligation is such a dirty word. Are we really obligated to do most of the things we find ourselves doing? Think about it...)

We're all in this together, troops! Now let's get out there and ENJOY the holidays!

Leave your Print

Early voting has ended here in Utah but you still have November 4th to ROCK THE VOTE. It does not matter your party affiliation, either way you vote you are making U.S. history. Leave your mark. Make a difference in your life and in the lives of generations to come.

November in a Nutshell

Explore what your hunger has to tell you.

Focus on feeling great, and the looking good part will follow.

You can't make anyone healthier. That's a decision we all come to on our own.

Worst-case thinking makes life harder. Expect things to go smoothly for a change.

Money responds to the way you treat it. If you want stability, treat it with care.

When you feel the urge to react, ask why. Respond with gentleness.

Healthy foods should be enjoyed, not endured.

Stop looking for excuses to sit still. Find reasons to get up and move.

Stronger immunity isn't found in a bottle, but in sound lifestyle choices.

Your family can teach you about who you want, and don't want, to be. Heed the lesson.

-Teri Trespicio

Reader Poll - How do you handle stress?

When stress hits, what are you most likely to do?

53% Eat anything within reach.

25% Call someone. I have to talk it out.

15% Walk or do yoga. It gets my mind off things.

7% Hit the gym. I need to do something physical.

Source: Whole Living: Body+Soul Magazine; November 2008

Candy Corn Wishes and Halloween Dreams!

Trick or Treat! As many of you hear your doorbells ringing as the ghouls, goblins, princesses, Indiana Jones', and Presidential Candidates come seeking "tricks" or "treats", remember the following:

• Halloween candy and treats are calorie and fat free


• Candy corn is considered a serving of vegetables


• It's okay to be a real witch today! (Well, actually, it's okay to be a witch any time you feel like it...in my humble opinion) I have flying monkeys and I am not afraid to use them...


• Take the opportunity to vote early today in costume! How much fun will that be???


• Dust off your old "Thriller" album and send it for a good spin

Have a spooktakular day today and enjoy the fun!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Y'all!!!!!

Stand For Something

I would rather stand alone for the right reasons, than follow the crowd for the wrong reasons. I believe this is the definition of character. A person of character stands for something. They stand up for themselves and others. Most importantly, we must be moral and ethical leaders. We must stand for something. Character does stand for something. In leadership, in standing for principle, there is loneliness. But men and women of integrity must live with their convictions. Unless they do so, they are miserable - dreadfully miserable... I refuse to be miserable. I choose to be true to myself and stand for what I believe in: Me.

Six Surprising Headache Triggers...and how to FIX them!

Getting more than your share of headaches?

Maybe the following article can help!

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/6-surprising-headache-triggers-fix-them

Stolen Post

I ran across this WONDERFUL website called "Confessions of a Pioneer Woman". Not what you might think at first glance. As I let my fingers do the walking through her site, I found a FANTASTIC post by the author of the site and her mother. The content is below. I will post a link to "Confessions of a Pioneer Woman" to the right. Check it out sometime!

Stress Reduction 101

Ha…gotcha, didn’t I? You know, part of my approach here on Confessions of a Pioneer Woman is to change things up, to keep you on your toes, to make absolutely no sense from day to day. And in that respect—if in no other—I’m a rip-roaring success! One day, it’s calf nuts. The other day? Cheesy Harlequin knock-offs (New installment coming this week, for those of you who don’t mind Cheesy Harlequin knock-offs). The next day I might have a story about how my developmentally disabled brother loves to hang out at fire stations. And then next day, BAM! I post a photo of my other brother wearing a wrestling singlet. I make about as much sense as a ferret.


Today, in keeping with that there-is-no-cohesive-theme-to-this-godforsaken-website approach, here’s a post my mom, Gee, wrote for us this morning. Gee, my mom, is a clinical social worker in a cancer center and a mind-body-medicine therapist, which means every time she visits me, she forces me to lie down on my bed, close my eyes and breathe out the stresses and toxins of life. Literally forces me, through emotional and psychological means. Then she performs some sort of bizarre massage ritual on my feet and makes me eat a live chicken. All of this to prove her research-backed belief that in many ways, our health and wellness are directly tied to the level of stress we allow into our lives.

Not really on the live chicken part.


Here’s my mom. I hope she helps make your Tuesday more relaxing, stress-free, groovy and centered. As a physician’s daughter and natural skeptic when it comes to “alternative medicine”, I have to say that the technique my mom is about to describe to you has become a regular, daily exercise for me. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say I think she’s onto something.

Take it, mom! Sorry I never answer your emails. Don’t be hatin’.
__________________________________________
Hi, guys—it’s Gee, Ree’s mom, and I want to talk about breathing today. Breathing: what could be more automatic? Why would I write a tutorial on breath? Well, believe it or not, it’s because your breath is one of the most powerful tools you possess for improving your health.

You may never even have noticed that from your first step onto the floor in the morning until the time your head hits the pillow at night, you breathe in shallowly and rapidly according to your emotional state and external stress. You singers and yoga types are with me already, aren’t you? This is unconscious breathing. Your emotional state and external stress determines your breathing.

The good news is this: You can turn that around. You can make your breathing determine your emotional state, and this can vastly improve your physical health. It involves learning a simple technique called Soft Belly Breathing (a.k.a., “conscious breathing” or “diaphragmatic breathing”).

No pieces of exercise equipment are required; your breath is always with you! What IS required is intention—intention and a minute or two at your desk, on your front porch, waiting in the carpool line, sitting in your physician’s waiting room (plenty of evidence exists that belly breathing lowers blood pressure), after an argument with your boss, or, for Ree, while preg-testing cows. It’s YOUR intention, YOUR awareness, YOUR experiment…not an imposed agenda.


Why bother to learn belly breathing? Evidence-based research now shows that stress is a component of almost any disease we can name, and that by committing to de-stress, we can promote our own healing. What great news!

You say there’s no time in your life for week-long vacations or even twenty-minute meditations? No problem! In one or two minutes, you can halt the secretion of those stress hormones (adrenaline, epinephrine, cortisol) that are are playing havoc with your immune system. Not only that, they are being produced entirely without your permission since they’re a product of the autonomic nervous system (meaning they happen automatically.)


The bottom line is this: Stress hormones are toxic to your health, and YOU have the antidote! So, let’s get to it! Are you ready to signal your body that you are in charge?

(Note from Ree: My mom seriously does this every time she comes to my house. Welcome to my world.)


Sit in a chair in which you feel comfortable and supported, with your feet on the floor. Soften your belly (Yes, this move is a bit counter-cultural, as we’re all about holding it in, aren’t we? Ree always has a problem with this part. It’s a ballet dancer thing. But don’t worry—no one is watching!) Breathe in through your nose and imagine a column of air going directly to your belly and filling the space, almost as if blowing up a balloon. Breathe out slowly through your mouth.

Try it again. Breathe in through your nose, directing the air to the abdominal region…..then out through your mouth. Your upper chest is not moving—only your belly. Continue that breathing and on every outbreath, imagine more tension and worry leaving your body. Breathing in calm…..breathing out tension.

(Note from Ree: I feel it, Mom! I feel it! Ahhhh. I’m letting it happen.)


Hush, Ree. I’m not talking to you. Now, continue with several more belly breaths, then stop and notice where you feel relaxation in your body. Are your shoulders coming down? Are the muscles in your arms, legs, neck letting go and relaxing?

Hooray! You’ve done a great thing for your health while investing only a couple of minutes! Now, when you think of it throughout your day today (remember, intention is the key), try it again, and again, and again. (Note: If you want, add soft, relaxing music, low light, and continue for 5, 10 or 20 minutes.)


Here’s to your health, PW readers! Keep breathing!

Love,Gee

Heal Thyself

Take a look at the article below: "Hey! Mental Health Expert! Heal Thyself!" Don't we all wish it was that easy! Being aware that we need to take care of ourselves is the first step...The rest will take care of itself.

FREE Stress and Life Skills Assessment and Consultation

In honor of Stress Awareness Month and National Stress Awareness Day...

Expiration Date: Monday, December 15, 2008 (Better hurry and call!)

Phone: 801-486-1111

For the 15th consecutive year, April has been designated Stress Awareness Month. Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organization, Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society.

In honor of Stress Awareness Month and National Stress Awareness Day (April 18th):

The Academy of Life Management is pleased to announce as a public service to the community a FREE STRESS ASSESSMENT AND CONSULTATION, until April 30th.

This free stress assessment and consultation will assist individuals to target the areas in their lives that may sabotage their personal growth, happiness and personal achievement. The free consultation and stress assessment will assist each individual in developing a personal plan to implement stress management and prevention skills in their life.

The Academy of Life Management is open Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 8:30pm, Saturdays from 9:30am to 4:00pm. The Academy is located at 3098 South Highland Drive #317 Salt Lake City, Utah 84106. Consultations, including Free consultations, are by appointment only. For further information, interview, and appointments, please contact Dorie Olds, Academy of Life Management, 486-1111, dorieolds@sisna.com

Self-care Assessment

Click on the link below to assess your self-care needs!

http://www.counseling.org/wellness_taskforce/PDF/ACA_taskforce_assessment.pdf

ACA's Taskforce on Counselor Wellness and Impairement

Rethinking Your Shoulds

One of the struggles in making the case for a wellness effort among counselors is that often counselors do not practice what they preach (O'Halloran & Linton, 2000). The task force is sensitive to the fact that counselors have unique challenges to their own wellness when regularly and intimately involved in the painful experiences of other peoples' lives. Cognitive restructuring-namely taking time to track negative cognitions that interfere with self-care-can be an effective tool for clinicians who clearly know successful strategies to promote their wellness yet have difficulty implementing them. What are the "should" statements that prevent you from leaving the office earlier, saying "no" to requests from colleagues, or taking lunch? Giving yourself permission to set limits and say "yes" to your own needs is a critical first step.

Begin Where You Are Now

In assessing your wellness strategies generally, ask yourself the following two questions:

• When I examine my wellness needs, what area do I want to begin with Today?
• What area is being most taxed Today?

Develop a Self-Care Program for Your Whole Self

A self-care program should take a holistic approach toward preserving and maintaining our own wellness across domains. Pearlman and MacIan (1995) note the ten most helpful activities that trauma therapists use to promote wellness. They include 1) Discussing cases with colleagues 2) Attending workshops 3) Spending time with family or friends 4) Travel, vacations, hobbies, and movies 5) Talking with colleagues between sessions 6) Socializing 7) Exercise 8) Limiting case load 9) Developing spiritual life, and 10) Receiving supervision. These are strategies that cut across the domains of wellness and match perfectly to the causes of counselor vulnerability.

Wellness Activities-Cognitive

• Meditation
• Journaling
• Reading for pleasure
• Hobbies
• Volunteering at something NOT counseling-related
• Going to the movies, theater, symphony, museum, county fair

Wellness Activities-Emotional

• Talk to friends
• Laugh
• Keep in touch with important people
• Participate in an Encouragement Exchange with a colleague
• See a Counselor
• Give yourself permission to cry

Wellness Activities-Physical

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat regular meals
• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep
• Turn off the computer/cell phone
• Go for a walk during lunch
• Get a massage
• Yoga, acupuncture, meditation

Wellness Activities-Spiritual

• Take time for reflection
• Learn to garden
• Spend time outdoors
• Find or connect with a Spiritual Community
• Seek social support

The support of peers and other social supports are often overlooked, and yet consistently appear as an asset in maintaining wellness. An active supportive relationship with supervisors and peers is an especially important component of self-care for counselors (Catherall, 1995; Munroe, Shay, Fisher, Makary, Rapperport, & Zimering, 1995).

When a counselor is struggling, their ability to accurately monitor their own wellness may also become impaired. At those times the support of peers and supervisors can be especially helpful. More important than simply identifying whether we are stressed, distressed, or impaired, supervisors and peers play a role on the assets side of the ledger. Too often supervision is provided only for counselors who are new to the field or seeking licensure. Supervision can help, even veteran counselors, maintain an appropriate perspective on the counselor's role, mitigating the harmful secondary exposure to trauma by helping counselors to process their counseling work. It is especially important for supervisors in this role to understand that counselors experiencing impairment, or the prelude to impairment, require support towards ameliorating the problem and promoting resiliency. Ultimately, the care that counselors provide others will be only as good as the care they provide themselves.

What Agencies Can Do to Support Wellness

• Educate your staff and supervisors on the concepts of impairment, vicarious traumatization, compassion fatigue and wellness.
• Develop or sponsor wellness programs (such as in-service trainings and day-long staff retreats)
• Provide clinical supervision (not just task supervision)
• Encourage peer supervision
• Maintain manageable caseloads
• Encourage/require vacations
• Do not reward "workaholism"
• Encourage diversity of tasks and new areas of interest/practice
• Establish and encourage EAPs

Are you in the PINK?

Breast cancer will touch all of our lives on some level. A mother, a sister, a friend, a colleague...

To show our support, I encourage everyone to wear PINK at least one day a week during the month of October. Show your support to the women in your life who may be affected by this disease. Take care of yourself. Remember to do your monthly self-breast exams!

Together, we CAN and WILL make a difference.

Let's Hear It For The "Girls"!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today marks the first day of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a yearly international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, and cure. When it comes to breast cancer prevention, early detection through monthly self-breast exams and annual mammograms for women over 40 is key. So take this as your friendly reminder to take charge of your breast health. Knowledge really is power, and having access to facts and support when dealing with breast cancer is imperative, so check out these helpful links from well-known websites:

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month organization (NBCAM): Info on early warning signs of breast cancer, male breast cancer, and current news articles about the disease.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Info on how to prevent breast cancer, different types of treatments, and a list of complimentary therapies.

For more helpful links about breast cancer read more.

American Cancer Society: Info on every type of cancer and cancer facts and figures.

National Breast Cancer Foundation: Info to help you understand breast cancer if you've just been diagnosed, an explanation of the different stages of breast cancer, and also myths about breast cancer.

Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization: Offers support programs and services and a 24-hour Hotline.

Note to Self: Be True

"Let's tell the truth to the people. When people ask, 'How are you?' have the nerve sometimes to answer truthfully. You must know, however, that people will start avoiding you because they, too, have knees that pain and heads that hurt and they don't want to know about yours. But think of it this way: If people avoid you, you will have more time to meditate and do fine research on a cure for whatever truly afflicts you." -Maya Angelou in Letter to My Daughter

We Want YOU!

Greetings! Salutations! & Welcome!

Welcome to the WASATCH WOMEN'S ALLIANCE for MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS official blog! A good friend and I have been talking about gathering a group of women who work in the mental health field and starting a group dedicated to the proposition that as we care for others, we need to care for ourselves. As we all know all too well, our needs, wants, desires, and sometimes just a few minutes of peace and quiet are the LAST things on a long list of TO DOs on any given day. So, we are making it official! We are starting an alliance to connect professionals in a supportive way. First of all, we need to get a "board of directors" together, or "bored of directors"...whichever you prefer! If you are interested in being a part of the genesis and synthesis of this alliance, please contact me! I want to hear from you! As we grow, we hope to be able to provide a nice array of support, services, some laughs, and maybe even a slice of sanity. Okay, sanity may not be available, but for those who know me, CHOCOLATE is always available. In my world, chocolate is a constant for my sanity. We are looking for your wit and wisdom, your hopes your dreams, your fears and your triumphs. If nothing else, hopefully this blog will serve as an outlet for a good laugh, a source of strength, or even comfort in knowing we are not alone! Sorry for the long and rambling diatribe...Bottom line is this: We'd love to have you on board in whatever capacity you choose! Please feel free to email me if you are interested in helping us get this project underway!

Ciao for now!

Hollie

Hollie1230@yahoo.com

Call for Content

Hello!

As we get the WASATCH WOMEN'S ALLIANCE for MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS up, going, and rock and rolling, we need your help for content for this blog! Please feel free to send along articles, links to websites, or any other "self-care for counselors" information you have found helpful to you. Chances are, what helps you will help others! Please send content to Hollie at the following email address: Hollie1230@yahoo.com Looking forward to all y'all have to offer!