Resources for your healing journey
Explore resources for trauma, PTSD, women's health, and somatic and holistic healing. Find guidance on your journey to health.
UNDERSTANDING COMPLEX POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (CPTSD)
Complex Trauma Resources
Complex Trauma Resources is a website devoted to educating about complex post traumatic stress disorder ( CPTSD). A curated collection of books, videos, articles and more to educate consumers, caregivers and professionals about Complex Trauma
The Wisdom of Trauma feat. Dr Gabor Mate
Incredible documentary on “Trauma is the invisible force that shapes our lives. It shapes the way we live, the way we love and the way we make sense of the world. It is the root of our deepest wounds. Dr. Maté gives us a new vision: a trauma-informed society in which parents, teachers, physicians, policy-makers and legal personnel are not concerned with fixing behaviors, making diagnoses, suppressing symptoms and judging, but seek instead to understand the sources from which troubling behaviors and diseases spring in the wounded human soul.
Our intention, in producing this do was to inspire an active movement towards a trauma-informed society, a society where:
• We recognize the prevalence of trauma among all of us
• We learn to notice and feel the trauma symptoms in ourselves
• We acknowledge that whenever we have an emotional reaction, an old wound is being triggered
• We understand the imprint of trauma on our behaviors and its impact on our relationships
• We recognize the pain in others and understand how that pain might be driving their behavior
• We see the real person underneath the behavior and the trauma
• We support connection and compassion as the foundations of safety
• We know that the experience of safety is the beginning of healing
• We understand that all trauma is intergenerational”
The Holistic Psychologist
Dr Nicole Le Para, ‘The Holistic Psychologist’ - “Dr. LePera helps us recognize how adverse experiences and trauma in childhood live with us, resulting in whole body dysfunction—activating harmful stress responses that keep us stuck engaging in patterns of codependency, emotional immaturity, and trauma bonds. Unless addressed, these self-sabotaging behaviors can quickly become cyclical, leaving people feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, and unwell.
In ‘How to Do the Work’, Dr. LePera offers readers the support and tools that will allow them to break free from destructive behaviors to reclaim and recreate their lives. Nothing short of a paradigm shift, this is a celebration of empowerment that will forever change the way we approach mental wellness and self-care.”
@the.holistic.psychologist
Elephant Journal
ELEPHANT JOURNAL ARTICLES by me on healing CPTSD
Elephant Journal is a community-driven publication dedicated to sharing "the mindful life”: yoga, organics, sustainability, genuine spirituality, conscious consumerism, fair fashion, the contemplative arts…anything that helps us to live a good life that also happens to be good for others, and our planet.
“QUIT SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE YOU MISS YOUR WHOLE LIFE” piece I wrote after experiencing being a primary caretaker for my dying best friend, being chosen to support her on her death bed, about what I learned from her death and my lack of presence being addicted to social media.
“BEHOLDING YOUR BEAUTY” a piece I wrote sharing tools that helped to support me to heal my own trauma.
Eating Disorder Recovery
EATING IN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON BY DR ANITA JOHNSON
Anita Johnston, Ph.D., CEDS is a clinical psychologist and certified eating disorder specialist and supervisor, working in the field of women’s issues and eating disorders for over 35 years. I was part of a women’s therapy group that used the book for guidance with weekly psychodrama. This was one of the most helpful tools to support me to recovery from an eating disorder as a young woman.
FERTILITY RESOURCES
THE INFERTILITY CURE BY DR. RANDINE LEWIS
“For tens of thousands of women, The Infertility Cure has become the roadmap for getting pregnant naturally with the benefit of timeless wisdom and remedies proven effective over centuries. The book offers a groundbreaking and highly detailed program for treating infertility using traditional Chinese medicine, on its own or to optimize the latest Western-based reproductive technology. It is invaluable for preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy.”
INFERTILITY LIES BY DR. KAREN SNOW, ND
“Whether you're seeking answers or solace, "Infertility Lies" offers a raw and relatable perspective on the path to understanding infertility. Embrace the journey to discovering your own truth.
* The Emotional Impact: Understanding the psychological toll of infertility.
* The Search for Truth: Debunking common myths and revealing the realities of infertility.
* Self-Discovery: How the journey through infertility can lead to personal growth and understanding.”
IT STARTS WITH THE EGG BY REBECCA FETT
“A book backed by science on how to get pregnant naturally, improve your odds in IVF, and help prevent miscarriage. Learn why egg quality is so critical and how you can improve it with clear, step-by-step guidance”
NARCISSISTIC ABUSE, DOMESTIC ABUSE/ INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE RECOVERY
Understanding and identifying narcissistic abuse, domestic violence/intimate partner violence AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE can be the first step to freedom:
NAVIGATING NARCISSISM WITH DR RAMANI - there is a lot of information out there on narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic abuse in recent years. I find Dr Ramani is the most legitimate in her education and most captivating with her teachings about narcissistic personality disorder and abuse. She is very charismatic and her podcast has interesting guests including Jewel and Evan Rachel Wood (several of my favorite episodes).
THE VOW- DOCUMENTARY ABOUT NXIUM CULT- being in a relationship with a narcissist is like being in a cult of one. This is an excellent documentary following members of the self improvement group NXIUM whose leader, Keith Raniere, was convicted of sex trafficking among other offenses, to reveal the emotional toll of unfolding events for these individuals.
POWER: Surviving and Thriving After Narcissistic Abuse - by author and blogger Shahida Arabi , #1 bestselling author and Columbia graduate, Harvard researcher on narcissistic abuse. “‘Power’ teaches us that it is important to not only understand the tactics of toxic personalities but also to recognize and combat the effects of narcissistic abuse; it guides the survivor to learning, growing, healing and most importantly of all — owning their agency to rebuild their lives and transform their powerlessness into victory.”
PHOENIX RISING - a documentary following “Evan Rachel Wood as she takes her experience as a survivor of domestic violence to pursue justice, heal generational wounds, and reclaim her story. Almost a decade after escaping a dangerous relationship, Wood co-authors and successfully lobbies for passage of The Phoenix Act, legislation that extends the statute of limitations for domestic violence cases in California. Wood courageously uses her own experience to bring visibility to the issue; ultimately, in solidarity with fellow survivors.
On February 1st, 2021, Wood publicly named Brian Warner, aka Marilyn Manson, as her abuser, free from the burden of silence, even as the promise of justice remains ambiguous. To date, no charges have been filed against Warner, who denies abusing Wood or any other person. Using archival footage, intimate home videos, and candid testimony from Wood and other survivors, Phoenix Rising charts Wood’s journey from silent victim to vocal survivor and her rise to a domestic violence advocate.
Connecting the dots between the progression of her relationship with Warner and phases of the clinical domestic violence cycle, Wood successfully lobbied for The Phoenix Act, which was signed into California State Law in 2019, extending the statute of limitations for domestic violence felonies from three years to five years.
Phoenix Rising delves behind familiar headlines and explores the often-misunderstood aspects of domestic abuse, helping to shed light on the many factors that prevent survivors from coming forward with their stories as they deal with years of aftershocks and emotional trauma."
THIRST: A MEMOIR by Lisa Fierer - “On December 6, 1984, twelve-year-old Lisa Fierer is called out of class to the principal’s office and told that her mother has been killed and her father arrested for the crime. Over the next twenty years, Lisa battles through school, addiction, relationships, and various forms of self-destruction. Along the way she learns that loss, violence, and betrayal create a deep desire for something she calls the new ‘f-word’: forgiveness. Thirst is about the distance between the lives we are given and the lives we choose. It’s a story about survival, hope, yoga, self-discovery, and the tremendous support of compassionate communities. It touches the part of each of us that longs for the healing power of laughter, the transformative force of forgiveness, and the bravery required to learn to love again.”
SAFEHOUSE PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE BOULDER - “SPAN is a human rights organization committed to ending violence against adults, youth and children through support, advocacy, education and community organizing. SPAN began providing services in 1979 and is crucial to the network of support that offers critical “safety net” services to vulnerable, low-income and at-risk populations. It is the only organization serving Boulder, western Broomfield, smaller towns and unincorporated Boulder County designed to provide shelter and advocacy for victims of domestic violence.”
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) - “is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE,online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.”
PERSONAL GROWTH
EMBODIMENT PRACTICES
Belly dance became my favorite form of a healing embodiment practice beginning at the age of 38. My love for the dance took me on a devoted odyssey enrolling in dance school with Zoe Jakes of Beats Antique to becoming a professional belly dancer in a Denver circus (Phantom Circus) at the age of 42. Belly dance helped connect me to my body and heal my sexual abuse and body shame.
A Little Lighter podcast interviewing me.
My blog documenting my belly dance journey @compassionatedancer
PERSONAL GROWTH
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS) — Working through trauma and grief with an IFS practitioner was one of the most transformative experiences and most supportive tools I found.
“IFS is a transformative tool that conceives every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts lead by a core Self. We believe the mind is naturally multiple and that is a good thing. Just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal.
IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts.
But IFS is much more than a non-pathologizing evidence-based psychotherapy to be used in a clinical setting. It is also a way of understanding personal and intimate relationships and stepping into life with the 8 Cs: confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness. Professionals from many different backgrounds such as, but not limited to, legal mediation, school administration, life coaches and religious leaders may utilize IFS to inform and guide their work. Our growing list of educational programs aim to serve not only therapists but the wider public and other professions.”
HANDBOOK FOR THE HEARTBROKEN BY SARA AVANT STOVER
https://saraavantstover.com/handbook-heartbroken
“In a heartbreak-illiterate world, Handbook for the Heartbroken offers solace and support through personal, professional, and collective losses of all kinds—including the end of a relationship or a job, death of a loved one, a natural disaster, infertility, abortion, or a financial crisis.”
Sara Avant Stover is a longtime mentor and teacher of mine. I did weekly IFS mentorship with her for several years as I traversed a stretch of immense loss and hardship. Sara’s guidance and teachings were a great comfort to me. I trusted Sara to guide me to build a relationship with my most tender, traumatized parts. Sara navigated her own series of losses and wrote this book “Handbook for the Heartbroken” to help other women navigate their most challenging seasons of life. Sara’s latest incarnation of work focuses on blending IFS and spiritual entrepreneurship.
Kripalu was an ashram that I discovered as a teen and lived as a resident to study Kripalu Bodywork and Energy Balancing. This was where I discovered the transformational power of living a holistic life and experiencing soulful bodywork for the first time. During my residence there, Kripalu transitioned from ashram to a retreat center because of
revelations that surfaced of sexual and financial improprieties committed by the ashram’s guru, Desai, and the community called for his immediate resignation. In the wake of his departure, the integrity of the original teachings carried Kripalu through the transition from guru-centered ashram to secular retreat center. I highly recommend Kripalu for personal growth and yoga retreats. Plus their healing arts center is next level!
I have participated in this program twice in my life and both were highly transformative and resulted in me having profound psychic changes. This was the safest space I have ever been, and because of that, my deepest wounds were able to me revealed in community and healed through community. I recommend Breakthrough for deep transformational work in a retreat space and healing childhood wounds.
“Breakthrough’s specially designed workshops at Caron Florida and Caron Pennsylvania can help anyone who desires emotional health, mutually satisfying relationships, and wellbeing. Built on emotionally focused therapy, resilience building, the expressive arts, and psychodrama, Breakthrough workshops explore relational patterns and barriers in order to build a foundation for emotional wellness, authenticity, and fulfillment.
Five-Day Personal Growth Workshop
This foundational five-day workshop can help adults achieve greater self-awareness and inner peace. In a safe space guided by credentialed therapists and counselors, participants can examine and modify long-standing emotional and relational patterns that interfere with their ability to live the lives they envision.
Through guided group work, participants explore their inner critic and ineffective patterns of thinking and behavior. They begin developing healthier, more effective alternatives, gaining insight and self-confidence that can lead to lasting change. Participants are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and try new things while practicing the change they hope to achieve — all in a safe and affirming environment.
EARTH CENTERED SHAMANIC ARTS
A Little Lighter podcast interviewing me teaching how to heal yourself with the plants that grow all around us
https://bellydancebodyandsoul.com/heal-yourself-with-the-plants-growing-around-you-now/
ANN DRUCKER
https://earthcenteredhealingarts.com/about-ann-drucker
MELISSA WILLOWHAWK
https://www.willowhawkmedicine.com/home
ESTHER MEIMA
PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE
KAT COURTNEY
Highly trained with integrity and profound wisdom, my mentor for psychedelic integration and plant spirit medicine Kat Courtney’s book “Plant Medicine Mystery School Volume I: The Superhero Healing Powers of Psychotropic Plants “ Embracing the wisdom carried by indigenous lineages, this book is driven to address the serial crises unfolding across the planet with a sense of fierce love, drawing on insights gained through personal trials and transformations. It presents a vision of deep hope in our capacity to learn to care for ourselves and for one another in alliance with larger scale other-than-human forces.”
PLANT MEDICINE PEOPLE
https://www.plantmedicinepeople.com
“We are the Plant Medicine People: A Tribe Committed to Safe, Ethical, and Profoundly Healing Relationships with Ayahuasca, Huachuma, Magic Mushrooms, Iboga, Cannabis, and all of Nature’s Miraculous Entheogens”
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