healing journeys TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE within the THERAPEUTIC CONNECTION CREATING STRONGER

and HEALTHIER FAMILIES

WORDS : KRISTY OLSGAARD PHOTOGRAPHY : MIKE

Suspended in mid-air, a chrysalis embraces a caterpillar. It hangs, not in limbo, but in transformational determination. Eventually it emerges from the safe silky chrysalis into what it is destined to be — a butterfly.

Like the butterfly, we often find transformation necessary during our life journey in order to emerge from difficulties and live up to our potentials.

Chrysalis Behavioral Health Services and Training Center in Fargo is equipped to accompany people along their journeys. Healing the whole person and creating stronger and healthier families is their goal. Adults, adolescents and children entrust them to help heal the brokenness that lies beneath.

With 30 years of education and clinical experience, Dr. Angela Cavett, an Enderlin, North Dakota, native, opened this practice in September 2018. Therapies at Chrysalis are state-of-the-art and based on highly regarded research and literature.

Cavett says, “Our therapies are based on three things. First, the relationship between the client and therapist is the most important healing element. The therapeutic relationship creates an environment based on safety, trust and compassion. Maya Angelou said, ‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.’”

“Coping skills can be beneficial to get through a moment, but true transformation does not happen by just using a coping skill,” Cavett continues. “It happens from deeper processing with another person bearing witness and providing support and guidance.

“Second, evidence-based treatments assure clients that approaches are consistent with what research shows is most effective.

“Third, holistic approaches are integrated into care of the mind-body-spirit in order to allow for optimal change. When a person struggles with depression or anxiety or trauma, these things have an impact not only on the person’s feelings, thoughts and beliefs, but also on their bodies.”

The Chrysalis staff includes Dr. Cavett, Cathy Hjelle, Jessica Mertz, Dera Johnson, Dr. Roberta Nelson and Jessica Hotchkiss. The multidisciplinary team includes psychology, psychometry, social work, counseling and play therapy. They offer psychological testing for ADHD, trauma, autism, depression and anxiety.

SMITH

As we tour Chrysalis, we see more than offices. They have five play therapy rooms, two sand tray rooms, a sensory room and wall, four healing gardens, a labyrinth, a therapeutic kitchen and a multi-purpose room for training, yoga and drumming circles. Each of these spaces is intentional for healing trauma, anxiety, depression and behavioral concerns.

Cavett explains, “Neuroscience influences the process of therapy at Chrysalis. American Psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Perry of the Child Trauma Academy in Houston recommends treatments focus on “regulate, relate and then reason.” This means therapies must occur in this order for the best results. Most behavioral health practices focus almost exclusively on reasoning for therapies.”

Regulating activities offered include interventions like children using the sensory wall, or adults meditating while walking around the labyrinth. Or a family therapy session could include baking cookies together for the first time while working on interactions transferable to the home.

Cavett says, “According to Perry, patterned, repetitive, rhythmic activities are necessary for helping clients become more regulated. He suggests drumming is beneficial to help calm the brain. Children and adults alike love the Beat The Odds drumming circle. Drumming helps reduce a wide range of behavioral problems like inattention, withdrawn/depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity, oppositional defiance and sluggish cognitive tempo.”

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and Dr. Peter Levine are also experts whose work influenced the development of Chrysalis. They emphasize that since the body is involved in trauma it must be involved in treatment. For example, Cavett, Hjelle and Nelson use eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, and Mertz and Cavett use sensory room therapy. Including the body allows for deeper understanding of the impact of trauma and how to help the individual heal.

Chrysalis has the largest play therapy space in the region, which is the treatment of choice for young children. Mertz, Hotchkiss and Cavett appreciate how play therapy allows children to communicate and learn concepts using the developmentally appropriate treatment.

Cavett says, “It’s astounding how playing allows kids to express things. It lets them get into things unspoken. Through puppets or sand or figurines, their stories have depth beyond words.”

C.S. Lewis said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Many people find the therapeutic journey rewarding, though difficult. Chrysalis exists ready to accompany people on their healing journey toward their personal destiny.