Athens Counseling & Psychotherapy, LLC

"Trauma victims cannot recover until they become familiar with and befriend the sensations in their bodies. Being frightened means that you live in a body that is always on guard. Angry people live in angry bodies. The bodies of child-abuse victims are tense and defensive until they find a way to relax and feel safe. In order to change, people need to become aware of their sensations and the way that their bodies interact with the world around them. Physical self-awareness is the first step in releasing the tyranny of the past." (The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel A. van der Kolk)

Learning to love yourself, taking time to honor and care for your body, mind, and spirit, feeds your entire system messages that bear value and worth. It is a practice that is far from being a luxury. Caring for your self is an imperative. We are socially conditioned to believe that caring for our self is a selfish, prideful, time-consuming, expensive, or unworthy pursuit. In fact, along socioeconomic lines, self-care is often seen to be something only the financially wealthy... can afford. But we are now facing a hidden epidemic in America, where nearly 1 in 5 adults are diagnosed with mental illness, to the sum of 44 million, and 19 million have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder. And the #1 contributor to relapses with mental illness and substances is... you guessed it, stress that leads to distress. Stress found in all tiers of our society, and systemic forces create added risk for our BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Caring for your self can be as accessible as intentionally packing a lunch for yourself, not eating at your desk, setting a restorative sleep schedule, signing up for a class or course you have always wanted to do, or prioritizing your time and resources in other ways. We have to bring ourselves back to the basics. Take a moment to leave a comment about something accessible you do to take care of your self. Here are a few more ideas to help you care for your self. #selfcare #selflove #love #loveyourself #mentalhealth #motivation #wellness #health #happiness #life #yourself #mindfulness #inspiration #healing #meditation #mentalhealthawareness #healthylifestyle

Thoughts are powerful. They can influence our emotional and behavioral responses in a present moment. They can impact the connection we have with ourselves, our environments, and others. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #selfcare #anxiety #selflove #love #depression #motivation #health #mentalhealthmatters #wellness #healing #loveyourself #therapy #happiness #psychology #recovery #wellbeing #meaningmaking

Atlanta Pride 2020 is happening this weekend!! Keep up with the events, and latest news on the festival by downloading the "Atlanta Pride Festival 2020" app on Google Play and Apple! #lgbt #gay #lgbtq #pride #loveislove #lesbian #love #queer #instagay #bisexual #transgender #trans #gaypride #lgbtpride #lgbtqia #dragqueen #nonbinary #bi #drag #pansexual #atlanta #georgia #atlantapride #atlantapride2020 #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth

10-DAY NeuroMovement Breathing for Life Program! Wake up your brain, Free Your Breath, Energize your life! Experience 10 NeuroMovement Lessons, One a Day, taught LIVE by Anat Baniel! NeuroMovement Healingfest Breathing for Life program begins on Monday, October 12, and runs through Wednesday, October 21, 2020.... Beginning at 2:00pm Pacific Time (4:00pm Central, 5:00pm Eastern) on Monday, October 12, you can do these lessons free of charge on the internet. Each of the 10 lessons is 20 minutes long and will be presented live by Anat Baniel. The lessons will be demonstrated by one of her colleagues. You simply follow along. There will be a new lesson every day for 10 days. If you cannot watch a session live, you can watch a recording on the Learning Strategies web site. The recording of each session will be available for 24 hours after the live presentation. Get your Free pass for NeuroMovement Breathing for Life Program. What is NueroMovement? https://www.anatbanielmethod.com//neuromovement-and-9-ess/

It's more than an hour.

Just got this news for any Aetna insurance members: "Aetna extended all member cost-sharing waivers for covered in-network telemedicine visits for outpatient behavioral and mental health counseling services through December 31, 2020.6 Aetna self-insured plan sponsors offer this waiver at their discretion. Cost share waivers for any in-network covered medical or behavioral health services telemedicine visit for Aetna Student Health plans are extended until September 30, 2020.... Medicare Advantage will continue to waive cost shares for in-network primary care and specialist telehealth visits, including outpatient behavioral and mental health counseling services through December 31, 2020."

Your body keeps the score.

When we open ourselves to possibility, we make room for creativity. "Creative individuals are remarkable for their ability to adapt to almost any situation..." (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)

Your therapist refers to these as "resources" They help restore you, so you can be strong and ready to handle this life.

This reminds me of that old adage, "every drop of water makes a mighty ocean". Your efforts, no matter how small, support you through adversity, and engage growth.