Beat depression naturally
Are you looking for a natural way to treat depression, anxiety, and other emotional problems?
People ask me why I switched from studying and practicing psychoanalytic psychotherapy to energy psychology and HBLU. The simplest answer is that I saw the improvements it makes in my life and the lives of people close to me. I love psychology. I love what I do and I love to help people. I love to see results that are fast, easy, replicable and permanent.
My Journey
In 2000 I saw Francine Shapiro give a keynote address about EMDR at the Renfrew Centers annual eating disorder conference. She presented 2 cases and showed a video of several sessions spaced a few weeks apart. I was energized by her excitement and I could see how valuable EMDR was to trauma treatment. I read a few of her books and found myself a local EMDR therapist.
I was no stranger to therapy. Therapy had become my career after years of therapy to treat my teenage depression. My own therapist had been a mentor of sorts and a surrogate parent. Mark, my EMDR therapist had a laid back spiritual aspect. He was deeply involved in EMDR as a trainer and […]
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol abuse is prevalent in the U.S. – one in four Americans had at least one binge-drinking session in 2016 (four drinks for women, and five for men). According to the most recent study from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), at least 30,772 deaths (excluding accidents and homicides) in the U.S. were directly attributable to alcohol in the same year. The NCHS also counted nearly 20,000 alcohol-related liver disease deaths in 2014.
Those with an addiction to alcohol are clinically diagnosed with an “alcohol use disorder” (AUD). AUD is a chronic brain disease characterized by a lack of control over alcohol use despite negative social, occupational, and health consequences.
Some of the dangers of heavy drinking include liver, heart, and brain damage, lifelong harm to an unborn child, and depression and violent behaviors. Reduced productivity, far-above-average health care expenses, and other economic costs result in hundreds of billions of dollars lost annually in the U.S. from alcohol abuse.
Read on for a comprehensive look at statistics on alcohol use, the science of alcohol addiction, and the effects and dangers of alcohol usage.
The Definition of Moderate Alcohol Use:
The moderate use of alcohol is not generally considered dangerous and may have […]
Tapping your way to health. Using acupressure points to supercharge your therapy.
When I first learned about tapping or eft, I learn that it was the stimulation of the endpoints of meridians that moved the stuck energy in the body and rebalanced the system. This made sense to me because I had experienced acupuncture and sort of understood the way it worked. The eastern view of dis-ease and medicine is that when the body becomes unbalanced, a disease is a result. I use tapping and teach clients how to do it themselves because it’s an effective treatment to reduce symptoms of depression anxiety, and phobias, but can also be used in therapy to treat limiting beliefs and install positive affirmations.
Meridians correspond with organs and organs are govern emotions. In addition to unblocking the flow of energy, tapping helps your body release opioid peptides and endorphins that turn off the chemical reaction which happens during the fight or […]
The Science of Energy Psychology
Energy psychology is the blanket term for a group of therapeutic self-help methods, based on the idea that you can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, activate stress-reducing genes, normalize aberrant brainwave patterns and increase serotonin, endorphins and other pleasure-oriented neurotransmitters. This has been researched in clinical populations including veterans, survivors of genocide, and survivors of natural disasters.
The energy refers to Meridians, Chakras
and the biofield of the body
Tapping works on the meridian system. It’s like acupuncture without needles. HBLU stands for healing from the body level up. A mind-body healing modality that finds unconscious interference patterns and allows you to release them with a list of interventions. TAT balances the subtle energy of the body, focusing on forgiveness and psychological reversals.
Like most therapy, energy psychology is done by calling to mind a psychological difficulty or desired state and while performing an intervention designed to reduce the body’s stress response. When the body is recalling something stressful, traumatic or painful, there is a physiological response. By focusing on the internal energy system, we can lower the physical response which in turn, lowers the emotional response.
1. recall an anxiety-provoking memory
2. rate it on a scale of 0-10 […]
Adult attachment and relationships
The quality of adult relationships hinges on a number of factors including adult attachment. Do you ever look at the couples around you and wonder how they stay together? I’m impressed by couples who seem to navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and commitment to their relationship.
A lot of couples aren’t so happy. Many have a difficult time because of outside circumstances or situations of their own making. Relationships are hard because we each bring our own unique perspective and psychology to them. We each believe our perspective is the correct one and we each feel like what we give is more significant than what we get in return. This is valid and true in a sense because what we give is often what is most important to us and most like what we would like in return.
Our perspective about relationships forms very early in our childhood. Infants have an innate attachment system which is a biological function that serves to keep them close to primary caregivers for the purpose of protection and safety. Depending on how attuned the mother is to the needs of her child, the child will attach in an organized, predictable […]
Avoidant attachment in relationships
Avoidant Attachment
People with an avoidant attachment style give the impression that relationships aren’t important to them. They see themselves as fiercely independent and tend to prefer many casual relationships to one serious one. They can be dismissive and drive people away with their avoidance of intimacy. They worry they will be trapped in a relationship or miss a better opportunity. They are relieved when their partner wants to keep things casual and may not even have much reaction to seeing their partner flirt with other people. Although they may seem callous, internally they are craving a stable loving relationship. They push people away to avoid the pain of being let down. This is in fact, their biggest fear. They use deactivating strategies in order to justify their feelings about relationships and diminish the importance of relationships they’re in.
Tips for relationships.
The dating pool is heavy on anxious and avoidant people because secure people tend to pair up together. People with Avoidant attachment tend to pair up with anxious attachment people but stir up each other’s issues. If you think you tend to be avoidant in relationships, don’t worry. You can still learn to […]
Anxious Attachment and Relationships
Anxious attachment
People with an anxious attachment style worry their love won’t be there when they need them. This fear drives their anxiety. They rely on constant contact and affirmation from their partner. They have keen instincts about relationships and a sixth sense about disappointment or waning interest. They tend to be preoccupied with their social media, checking voicemail, email and texts with great frequency. They may want to text you to stay connected through the day. They are prone to feelings of jealousy because they are insecure that they can rely on their partner to stay faithful. While it may appear on the surface that people with anxious attachment disorder crave closeness, they can also be surprisingly afraid of achieving the closeness they desire. They may send mixed messages that lead you to believe that they are interested, only to disappear or behave so badly, they send you running. People with anxious attachment disorder don’t trust that love is real or reliable, and so they often behave badly when things feel good. They are so hungry for love and so preoccupied with it that they may drive people away with their behaviors.
What do you do if […]
Attachment and Relationships
Intimate relationships are the foundation of life. Through them, we learn who we are, how to see the world, and how to interact with people. The ability to form and exist in relationship with other people determines the success of families, couples, careers, and society. From the time we are babies we are biologically driven to stay close to our caregivers. This closeness is necessary to ensure survival. At the biological level close proximity assures that food, safety, shelter, and comfort will all be delivered as quickly as possible when the infant cries out. The more attuned the mother is to the baby’s needs, the less discomfort the baby endures and the more trust they develop that their needs will be met. The baby develops the ability to predict how quickly and under what conditions the mother will be able to meet these needs. Over time the child forms a “mental representation” of what support and love and truest feel like and carries that into their exception of how the world will respond to similar needs. As the child grows, this mental representation strengthens into a belief system. The more successful this process is, the easier it is for the […]
Mental health awareness blog 3
May is mental health awareness month
This is the last installment of the three-part blog series. If you’ve been following along, you’re up to 20 days of creative self-care and happiness boosting suggestions. For more information about therapy with Tracey…
20. Stop putting so much weight on other peoples’ opinion of you. What people think has more to do with them than it does with you. Be a trailblazer.
21. Clear the air. Burn sage to clear out old stuffy energy.
22. Stop saying you can’t. You don’t have to justify your situation. You face many challenges in life. Don’t hang onto your limitations.
23. Meditate every day. Just 10 minutes a day to quiet your mind and get in touch with your inner being. This will help you access your intuition, creativity and inspiration. I know it’s hard. I know you don’t think you’re good at it. I know you’re bored. Do it anyway.
24. Take a break from social media. Since you’re already given up comparing yourself to others, and caring about what they think, this should be easy.
25. Clean up your diet. Excess sugar and processed weigh you down and affect your mood. Start by adding some fresh fruits […]
Mental health awareness blog 2 keep the care going.
Happy ongoing mental health awareness.
All month I’ve been talking with people about adding self-care to their routine. We’re in the 3rd installment of my blogs for mental health awareness month and I’m happy to say that clients are saying they feel better having a daily task that’s all about them.
9. Say a positive affirmation. An affirmation is a thought you want to believe but don’t. Start with something manageable like “I am becoming the person I want to be.” Or “things are always working out for me.” You can add and make adjustments as you go.
10. Start your morning with a big glass of cold water. Hydrate your way to early morning self-care.
11. Play with an animal. Animals are calming and provide unconditional love. If you don’t have a pet, visit a shelter. It’ll make your day, and theirs too.
12. Make your bed. Even if this is the only thing you accomplish all day, it’s an accomplishment and it organizes you.
13. Watch a comedy. Take your mind off your problems with a lighthearted comedy. It’s a good reset.
14. Stretch. Get some blood flowing with a little morning stretch. Reconnect with your body in this gentle way.
15. Try some […]
May is mental health awareness month
In honor of mental health awareness month, I decided to blog a daily idea for improving your outlook and lifting yourself out of depression, sadness, anxiety, loss, betrayal, or anger. Frequently the focus of mental health is actually an illness. I want to direct the conversation toward health, positivity, and self-love.
So here is this week’s list.
- Stop comparing yourself to other people. You are unique and unlike anyone else. When you compare yourself, you ignore your inner self and limit your self-expression. Be you.
- Set goals for yourself. Every day. Set one small goal to be happy. Keep yourself always moving forward.
- Smile in the mirror. Yes. Smile at yourself. It will make you feel better just to smile.
- Practice Patience. Become more patient with yourself and others.
- Breath in the fresh air. Spend some time in nature. It’s naturally relaxing.
- Spend time with friends. Social support prevents loneliness and makes you feel better.
- Focus on forgiveness. Forgive the past and let go of it. If you hold onto it, you’re depriving yourself of all the good things that are happing right now. And now. And now. And now.
- Say hello to a stranger. Yes. Use your voice and say hello to […]