Natural Awakenings of Grand Traverse Region Michigan - November 2022

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Tuning the Soul to Nature

About 15 years ago, I realized I had completely lost my exuberant enjoyment of life. Much of the time I felt overwhelmed and uneasy, out of sync in mind and body, and knew that a major shift was in order. The worst of it occurred after watching the news on TV. I even had a hard time sleeping some nights.

As I looked for a solution, my mind wandered back to the days of a carefree youngster playing outdoors all day and only returning home at sunset. My fondest memories often involve just rambling around outside, and the smell of a campfire instantly elicits treasured images of childhood. Each summer, Mom took us and our friends up north to camp, swim and hike in the woods. We all loved hanging out together with no particular agenda, staying up late into the night and talking about everything under the moon. I knew that I longed to recapture this relaxing and nourishing experience in my adult life, and decided to make a concerted effort going forward to spend more time outside instead of turning on the news.

It didn’t take long for me to re-experience the harmonious sounds of nature and the sound of silence to hear my inner voice experiencing deep peace. Tuning back into nature, I watched TV less and less until one day, I stopped watching altogether and discovered I was happier and slept much better, too!

It is understandable that with so many of us tethered to devices and constantly bombarded with trivial entertainment and information overload from all forms of media, we can easily be overwhelmed if we allow it. I believe generations like mine without such up-to-the minute communication turned out well, but I do worry that our kids are at an unhealthy disadvantage if we don’t encourage them to disconnect from electronics and experience nature in the wonderful ways that it offers balance to our lives.

Mental health experts advise building resilience to the perils of accelerating socie tal and personal change through self-care that includes taking steps in our own and our family’s lives to make a difference. I know that tuning back into nature was the best thing I could have ever done to foster my own well-being and sanity. There is even the possibility for creative transformation if we work together and inspire each other by sharing our own journeys. That is what this month’s feature story is all about, and I hope my words have encouraged introspection within you, as well.

As you consider your blessings this month, perhaps you’ll recall a similar kinship with Mother Earth like mine while breathing in the delicious autumn air. For quieting a tumultuous world, there sure is nothing like an extended absence from devices and elec tronic stimulation while you listen to the crunching of leaves under your feet and the busy birds in the trees. Stargazing around a cozy campfire with family is still one of life’s many delights for us, and something I’m truly grateful for. May all of this be yours as you enjoy the warmth of family this season and a harvest of heartfelt moments.

From all of us at Natural Awakenings, Happy Thanksgiving!

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Edson Farms

Edson Farms

Natural Foods has healthy Thanks giving meals, even for vegans. Turkeys are local, non-GMO, and fresh. They are taking orders through November 19. Edson specializes in cater ing to customers with food allergies with a full line of wheat-free, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-, egg- and casein-free foods. Custom ers can pre order complete Thanksgiving meals, including their popular organic butternut squash, stuffed with wild rice medley, cranberries, pepitas and veggies.

Edson Farms offers impeccable customer service, a deli/juice/ coffee bar, produce, refrigerated and frozen foods, a full grocery line, local and organic meats, bulk items, pet supplies, herbs, teas, vitamins, local products, online sales, cosmetics, makeup and gifts.

Location: 835 S. Garfield Ave., Traverse City. For more information, call 231-941-5221. Shop online at EdsonFarms.com.

Third Coast Bakery Wins National Honors

Third Coast Bakery, a fully licensed commercial bakery, retail storefront and full-service coffee house, has award-winning pies for Thanksgiving that are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and vegan, so food intolerances, allergies and lifestyle choices won’t limit the party. Every rec ipe is handcrafted using premi um ingredients like gluten-free and allergen-friendly flours, ancient grains, dairy-free milk alternatives, raw and organic sweeteners, pure chocolate, fresh fruits and healthy fats.

Apple pie is a staple year-round, but especially during the holi days. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals named Third Coast Deep Dish Apple Pie, made from scratch with a blend of Michigan Gala apples, as one of the 10 Best Vegan Pies in America. Owner Heather Burson says it’s an honor to know her apple pies are made with compassion toward animals, and the national recognition puts Third Coast among some of the top bakeries in the nation.

Location: 523 Munson Ave., Traverse City. For more information, call 231-421-8696 or visit ThirdCoastBakery.com.

New Kombuchas at Purely CBD

Purely CBD sells high-quality, organ ically grown CBD hemp products. They now have locally cultured Kombu cha in strawberry rhubarb and lavender bliss. Kom bucha is a fermented tea that has been consumed for thousands of years. Not only does it have the same health benefits as tea, it’s also rich in beneficial probiotics. Kombucha also contains antioxidants, can kill harmful bacteria and may help fight several diseases. Fermented products in general are good for the microbiome and gut health. Fermenta tion makes probiotics that help with diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, and they may even strengthen the immune system.

Owners Jennifer and Ramiro Jimenez say, “We carry both full- and broad-spectrum CBD (cannabidiol) tinctures, pain cream, edibles and a large variety of other CBD and hemp products. We take great pride in the quality of our products and our exceptional customer service. If you are looking for a natural way to improve your health, give us a call or stop by our store today.” Purely CBD sources its hemp from local American farms.

Location: 1112 E. Front St., Traverse City. For more information, call 231-421-1070, email purelycbdtc@yahoo.com or visit purelycbd-tra versecity.com.

The Grow Store Knows Hydroponics

The Grow Store, established in 2009, can help expe rienced growers and passionate horticul turists alike with sup plies, new equipment and advice about which systems are best for hydroponics, the process of grow ing plants without soil. From water conservation, growth time and overall quality of the plants, hydroponics is growing in popularity because it is the perfect system for growing a thriving indoor garden.

Owners Paul and Kim Watson say, “You can grow anywhere. You use 20 times less water than soil-based gardening. Your environment is sterile, which means no pesticides. You’ll use 20 percent less space for growing, too!” For advice on which planting solution is best or which climate control system is the most efficient, The Grow Store can help.

Location: 90 N. U.S. 31 S., Traverse City. For more information, call 231421-5191, email TheGrowStoreTC@gmail.com or visit TheGrowStore.com.

Arts for All Has a Heart Art Mart at New Location

Nonprofit Arts for All of North ern Michigan, providing arts and cultural experiences to connect people of all abil ities, has a new studio loca tion at 1485 Barlow Street, in Traverse City. Their Have A Heart Art Mart will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 4, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 5, and noon to 4 p.m., November 6. Attendees can shop for handmade and locally made gifts, to support artists, Arts for All and arts education. The Real Estate One Charitable Foundation is making a 50 percent match ing donation on all sales.

Executive Director Valeri McCarthy says, “The arts are more than a source of entertainment and pleasure; they are an exceptionally pow erful tool for learning. Studies show that music improves mathematical abilities. Dance enhances spatial awareness and motor skills. Drama promotes communication and provides emotional release. The visual arts encourage decision-making and nurture sensitivity, while creative writing increases verbal skills and engages imaginative effort.”

Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit Arts ForAllNMI.org.

Hexenbelle Seeking New Team Members

Hexenbelle, one of Tra verse City’s most in novative restaurant/cafes, is known for its unique menu of comfort food from dif ferent global perspectives, and the owners aspire to be about expanding peo ple’s horizons (culinary and otherwise), tempering prejudices, bringing people together and supporting worthy causes by fostering an atmosphere of respect and inclusion for people of all kinds.

It’s not just the menu that’s comforting; everything at Hexenbelle is meant to be soothing, from the soft pink walls inspired by a wom an’s womb to the books waiting to be read. Co-owner and head chef Christian Geoghegan says, “We’re majority women-owned, queer, non-binary, I’m brown—all these things—and we want it to be a place you come to and feel instantly welcomed and safe, especially for people who don’t have those spaces.”

Location: 144 Hall St., Ste. 107, Traverse City. For more information, call 231-486-6128, email Hexenbelle@gmail.com or visit Hexenbelle. square.site.

Warming, Aromatic & Delicious!

Indian Chai Tea Now Available!

Chai tea, ubiquitous throughout India and a popular coffeehouse staple in the United States, is actually quite simple to prepare from scratch with a well-stocked spice rack. This sweet-and-spicy beverage combines black tea, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, black pepper, ginger and steaming milk, making it a wonderfully warming, aromatic cold-weather drink. Spice and Tea Merchants of Traverse City carries more than 100 varieties of high-quality loose-leaf teas, from wake-up tea to a detoxifying herbal or healthy green tea packed with antioxidants.

news briefs

Traverse City Shop & Sip

The annual Traverse City Shop & Sip, northern Michigan’s premier hand made market, will be held from 1 to 7 p.m., November 12, at the Park Place Hotel & Conference Center, featuring more than 50 vendors, a fresh VIP expe rience and three cash bars. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to Project Feed the Kids, which is also providing a wrapping station.

The new 1 to 3 p.m. VIP Preview ticket ($15, advanced purchase only) allows shop pers to skip the lines and have first access to all of the one-of-a-kind treasures. Traverse City Shop & Sip is committed to supporting the handmade movement in this region by securing artists that provide exclusively handmade, original works. A jury team reviews all applications.

General admission is $5 from 3 to 7 p.m., and children 12 get in free. Location: 300 E. State St., Traverse City. Buy tickets at Tinyurl.com/TraverseShopSip. For more information, visit TraverseCityShopAndSip.com.

Don’t Ignore Nagging Sciatica

Smith Chiropractic & Wellness, the of fice of Dr. Perry Smith, treats sciatica, a painful condition caused by irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, extend ing from the buttocks down to the toes. Those experiencing a shooting, piercing pain that runs from the lower back down to the legs are probably suffering from sciatica.

Many find the pain to be so debilitating that they are forced to miss work and social gatherings, and among patients with lower back pain, those with sciatica experience the highest level of disability. A chiropractor can adjust the spine in a way that increases spinal movement, which improves spine function and decreases pain.

If the sciatic nerve is damaged, it can result in numbness, tingling and in more severe cases, weakness in the knees or legs. The longer it is left untreated, the longer it will take for numbness and weakness to go away, and they may become permanent. Smith also provides chiropractic adjustments, lipo laser, massage therapy, nutritional counseling, supplements and orthopedic products.

Location: 920 Hastings St., Ste. B, Traverse City. For appointments and more information, call 231-421-9229, email SmithChiro33@gmail.com or visit SmithChiropractictc.com.

ensembles, classic stories and more. The program concludes with a sing-along of holiday favorites led by Santa Claus.

Established in 1928, Interlochen Center for the Arts, a global destination for artists and arts enthusiasts, compris es Interlochen Arts Camp; Interlochen Arts Academy; Interlochen Online; Interlochen Presents; Interlochen Public Radio; and Inter lochen College of Creative Arts.

Tickets are $29 (students $17). Location: 4000 J. Maddy Pkwy., Interlo chen. For more information, call 231-276-7800 or visit Interlochen.org.

Celebrate Michigan Cherries from Traverse Bay Farms

Fruit Advantage (owned by Traverse Bay Farms) was the first brand created to offer a complete line of dietary supple

ments based solely on the antioxidant benefits of fruit. Their Montmorency Tart Cherry juice concentrate can be enjoyed daily to help relieve joint pain and reduce inflammation. Studies show the anti-inflammatory benefits found in the tart cherry. It is never imported—it is Michigan-grown and 100 percent sugar-free, glass-bottled in small batches. This non-GMO juice is naturally gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

It takes the juice of approximately 100 cherries to make just one serving of Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry juice. Customers can get up to 15 percent off on a mini-case (six bottles) or a case (12 bottles), with free shipping. Founder Jennifer LaPointe has won 30 national food awards, making Traverse Bay Farms the number one award winning super fruit in America.

Location: 204 River St., Elk Rapids. For more information, call 231533-8788 or shop online at TraverseBayFarms.com.

The Power of Deep Presence

Tools to Reset Yourself & Emerge Awesomely Alive

Uvita,

– December

What’s Included?

P Pre-trip Preparation Call to have the chance to meet everyone in the group, share your intentions for the retreat, and learn how to best prepare for this epic experience.

P Daily Group Kundalini Yoga Sessions & Nightly Powerful Share Circles, including but not limited to guided meditations, chanting circles, and ceremony.

P Breakfast every morning.

P Dinners every evening.

P Local trips to a grocery store as wanted or needed at arranged times during the week.

P LUXURY Accommodations at La Cusinga Eco Lodge. These are double occupancy, and yes there are 2 beds in the rooms. SINGLE OCCUPANCY is an option if you choose to room alone.

P Transportation to and from airport November 28th the & December 3rd (designated times only!)

P All entrance fees to any sites we visit together

at JessicaMerwin.com/costa-rica/

health briefs

Colonic Therapy is Nothing to be Embarrassed About

Colonic hydrotherapy was developed in the early 20th century, and the use of enemas (similar to colonics) and beliefs surrounding colon impurity have been around since ancient Egypt, around the 14th century B.C. People understood the need for the kind of deep colon clean ing that went far beyond daily bowel movements. Our ancestors administered enemas using hollowed-out reeds and clear river water to flush out the colon and our great-grandparents grew up during a time when ene ma use was part of a widely accepted wellness regimen for detoxification, vitality and immunity. Today, we are needlessly becoming diseased, even dying prematurely, because we no longer understand how dependent our wellness is on keeping the colon thoroughly cleansed and healthy.

Colonics are known to alleviate symptoms including irritable bowel syndrome, food sensitivities, skin rashes, constipation, mood swings, bloating and gas to relieve intestinal autointoxication; when foul material from the intestines, especially in the presence of constipation, reabsorbs back into the bloodstream via the microbiome. This makes the blood toxic, and if the body’s eliminatory organs (liver, kidneys, lymph, skin and lungs) are not able to handle these blood toxins due to their own tox icity, stagnation and lack of energy, then the toxins keep recycling, thus autointoxication and disease occur. This is why colonics are helpful for overall health, body, mind, and spirit.

According to the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy colon hydrotherapy (colonics and colon irrigation) are a safe, effective method of removing waste/ fecal matter from the large intestine without the use of drugs. By introducing pure, filtered and body-temperature water into the colon, the waste is softened and loosened, resulting in evacuation through natural peristalsis. The

inflow of a small amount of water and the release of waste is repeated several times during a 30-to-45-minute ther apeutic session.

Nancy Gurney, a certified colon hydrotherapist and traditional naturopath, is the owner of Creative Lifeflow, located at 1817 W. Stadium, Ste. A, in Ann Arbor. For ap pointments and more information, call 734-674-0922 or visit CreativeLifeflow.com.

Reduce Cholesterol Naturally with Whole Grains

Although high-fiber diets reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and car diovascular disease, the latest research from Stan ford University indicates that not all fibers are equal in their effect on different species of probiotics in the intestines. Arabinox ylan, which is common in

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whole grains, was found to reduce cholesterol naturally and was easier to digest than long-chain inulin, which is found in onions, chicory root and Jerusalem artichokes. Commonly used for weight-loss products, inulin was linked to a modest decrease in inflammation markers and an increase in Bifidobacterium,a “good” gut microbe; however, at high doses it increased inflammation and raised the possibility of liver damage.

Fruit and Vitamin B6 May Relieve Anxiety and Depression

The best strategy to stay upbeat may be to reach for the fruit bowl, suggests a new study comparing the habits and mental states of 428 people published in the Brit ish Journal of Nutrition. Researchers at the UK’s Aston University found that the more often people ate fruit, the lower they scored for depression and the higher for mental well-being. The frequency of fruit consumption seemed to be more important to psychological health than the total amount consumed. People that ate savory snacks such as potato chips, which are low in nutrients, were more likely to report more frequent memory lapses and greater

Discover the Path to a Happier, Healthier You through IV Hydration Therapy

levels of anxiety and depression. The researchers found no connection between eating vegetables and psychological health. Nutrients can be lost during cooking. “As we are more likely to eat fruit raw, this could potentially explain its stronger influence on our psychological health,” says lead author Nicola-Jayne Tuck.

In another study, researchers from the UK’s University of Reading gave 478 young adults either high doses of vitamins B6 or B12 or a placebo. After one month, they found that 100 milligrams of the B6 (about 50 times the recom mended daily allowance) significantly boosted gamma aminobutyric acid, which inhibits excitatory impulses in the brain, and reduced self-reported anxiety and depression levels. B12 had no such effects.

IV hydration therapy provides immediate delivery of fluids and electrolytes with the addition of essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids into the bloodstream to allow for 100% absorption and utilization.

We are proud to offer mobile IV services to cater to everyone from stayat-home parents to the busy professionals, athletes, as well as partiers too worn out from last night’s fun. IV hydration therapy is provided in location of choice. Groups and events are welcome.

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Staying Serene in Turbulent Times

How to Turn Anxiety into Positive Action

by Ronica O’Hara

In this day and age, we have good reason to toss and turn in our beds at night. As our nation faces climate catastrophes, acrid politics, stubborn in flation, unpredictable virus variants and hot-button issues like abortion and guns, there’s good reason our collective anxiety levels are at a high pitch. A recent Yale survey found that 70 percent of Ameri cans report being anxious or depressed about global warming, and a Penn State survey this year found that 84 percent of us say we are “extremely worried” or “very worried” about where the country is headed. Researchers are coining new

terms: “polycrisis”, for complex, cascad ing crises in interacting systems, and “pre-traumatic stress disorder”, when fear of an outcome makes it as good as real to our psyches.

“It’s easy for people to feel overwhelmed now, feeling there are breakdowns and threats on many fronts. People can wonder ‘Where do I even start?’ and feel powerless and hopeless and numb,” says psychiatrist Janet Lewis, M.D., a founder of the nation wide Climate Psychiatry Alliance and a University of Rochester clinical assistant professor of psychiatry. “We are part of a complex system that is moving into new

ways of functioning, but there’s no way of predicting ahead of time exactly what all the features of the new ways of operating will be. That makes it impossible for us to wrap our minds around everything that is happening.”

Still, she adds, “We are also by definition part of the system, and therefore have a responsibility to do what we can. We can’t sit on the sidelines and merely hope that things transform in good directions. The situation being so serious also means that what we do now is really important.”

To move from anxiety into effective ac tion, mental health experts advise several

taking a wider perspective, building resilience through self-care and taking individual steps to make a collective difference. As the Dalai Lama encourages, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito!”

Taking a Wider Perspective

News reports almost always sound dire—just like the amygdala of our brains, journalists often see their func tion as focusing on threats to alert us to dangers. “Still, if you take the long view of history, we are much better off than we were 200 years ago or 1,000 years ago, but it took many years to make those changes,” counsels Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy and au thor of the bestselling The Worry Cure and the upcoming If Only

never know if something is hope less until we have all the data, and we sel dom have all the data,” he says. “And when it comes to political emotions, many of the predictions that are made by the ‘talking heads’ in media never come true.”

Leahy counsels patience: “Social change does not come about by one person doing something. That usually comes about by a long process of millions of people chang

ing their attitudes and changing their behavior. Small efforts can be made on a daily basis that move this slow process forward. We need to take a longer view, rather than expect immediate change.”

In this ongoing process, anxiety has its rightful place. “Anxiety makes us look around, figure out solutions and act. This can absolutely be turned into something positive,” says neuropsychologist Barbara Easterlin, of Jackson, Wyoming, an expert on eco-anxiety who is on the steering committee of the Climate Psychology Al liance of North America. “Doing just one thing to help the planet consistently helps defeat anxiety.”

Taking action moves us into our power—as 15-year-old Greta Thunberg demonstrated by holding a sign outside the Swedish parliament. Personal actions matter because numbers add up. Only 25 percent of individuals in a social group need to make a shift before significant social change follows, conclude researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science that analyzed a decade of societal changes in voting, health, technol ogy and finance. Once a group reaches that tipping point, it can trigger a change in the rest of society, says study author Damon Centola, Ph.D., author of Change: How to Make Big Things Happen.

Building Resilience with Self-Care

Fears about the shape of the planet and na tion are often piled on top of our everyday living anxieties about family and finances, which can induce emotional overload. “We all have a ‘zone of resilience’ or ‘window of tolerance’, outside of which we be come more reactive, less able to function effectively. But it is not fixed. We can learn tools to expand it and cultivate the capaci ty to be with more,” says Easterlin.

Therapy can be a part of that process by challenging us to examine “the mental narratives that can exacerbate distress,” says Leslie Davenport, a climate psychology con sultant and author of Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change. It’s important to find a therapist, she says, that “validates that your feelings are a normal response to an existential crisis.” She has helped develop new programs at the American Psychology Association and the California Institute of Integral Studies to train therapists in treating eco-anxiety. For low-cost online support, the Good Grief Network offers a 10-step, 10-week program to help process personal anxiety and grief about climate change. People are also sitting down to share their distress at climate cafes, small local gatherings springing up across the country and globe, including some online.

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Getting enough sleep, eating healthy and exercising are also key self-care strategies. When anxiety strikes, psychologists advise shifting attention from the head to the body, using such approaches as mindful breathing, dancing and grounding. Medi tation, easily accessed these days through apps like Calm and Headspace, helps us to enter into what religious and spiritual teachings call “the still point within.”

Rather than “doomscrolling” when anx iety mounts, cutting back our media use can significantly lower stress levels, studies show. Wise media strategies include choos ing well-established, credible news sources; reading rather than watching the news to lower its emotional impact; limiting news intake to 10 minutes once or twice a day; taking a “news fast” on occasion; and pass ing up sources that incessantly feed fury.

On the other hand, it’s essential to find sources for hope, an emotion important in recovery from anxiety disorders, according to a study in Behavior Therapy. Googling “good news on climate change” will bring up articles about alternative energy growth, new super-enzymes that eat plastic rubbish and black rhinos coming back from the brink of extinction. Although dystopic books abound, others offer hope, such as Drawdown, with its sensible, scaled-down strategies to stop global warming by 2050.

Moving into Action

Virtually no one can take on all the prob lems of the nation and globe at once—and the good news is that unless we hold high public office, we don’t have to. Instead, “In taking action, focus on what you are good at, what your sphere of influence might be,” advises Lewis. “What are you most heart broken over? Get involved in that and allow yourself to feel really good about what you’re doing and other people are doing.”

By narrowing our focus, we can hone in on an issue and figure out our part in its solution. “We need a broad range of collective action for transformation,” says Davenport. “For climate change, a teacher could bring social-emotional learning to climate education into the classroom or start an after school ‘green club’; an artist could use their creative medium to com

municate about climate in a moving way that could engage others; a nurse could create a waste-reduction initiative within a medical setting. These efforts all have rip ple effects and help to elevate each other.”

In one recent study, people were found to consume less energy if they believed their neighbors did so and personally cared about conservation. Our neighborhoods are the place to take the small, meaningful steps that address the “crisis of connection” underlying rancorous national crises, says New York Times columnist David Brooks. He advocates “radical mutuality”, saying, “Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.” Through simple actions like having casual conversations around town, pitching in to help a family in crisis, bringing a salad to a block party, tutoring a child or holding a civic post, we build the warm relational bonds that strengthen communities. As we meet others that feel as strongly as we do about our issues, our numbers start building and collective action can unfold.

“Independent of political beliefs, many people can find common values such as wanting safety for their families, a clean envi ronment with clean waterways and recreation in natural environments,” says Easterlin.

That, in turn, helps lower our distress. A recent Yale study found that eco-anxiety was linked to depression only among stu dents not involved in group activities; those engaged in collective action such as being part of an environmental group, working in a letter-writing campaign or going to events or protests did not spiral downward emotionally. “Personal transformation and social transformation happen simultaneous ly. When you reach out and build communi ty, you nourish yourself,” Brooks says.

As Thunberg has put it: “When I’m taking action, I don’t feel like I am helpless and that things are hopeless, because then I feel like I’m doing everything I can. And that gives me very much hope, especially to see all the other people all around the world, the activists, who are taking action and who are fighting for their present and for their future.”

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Moving from Victim to Creator

by Julie Chai

Thedramas we watch and the fairy tales we were told as children have three major characters: the victim (helpless damsel in distress, person done wrong); the villain (big bad wolf, serial killer, thief, cancer or other illness, environmental disaster); and the hero (person, substance, god or situation) that rescues the victim, giving temporary relief to their inner state of anxiety. Dr. Stephen Karpman, the only person to have won the Eric Berne Memorial Scien tific Award in Transactional Analysis twice, named these three characters Victim, Rescuer and Persecutor in the 1960s. and called it the Karpman Drama Triangle.

Although we play all three roles, which in an instant can switch dramatically within this dysfunc tional drama triangle, there is a ten dency to lean more toward one role than the others. This preference can be seen in our behavior as children. Each of us developed one of three ways of dealing with fear and getting our survival needs met. These strat egies were developed by German psychoanalyst Karen Horney.

Move toward others to please, accommodate, appease and be help ful, with the aim of receiving the love and care they need. These children grow to be rescuers.

Move away from others to avoid, withdraw, observe, isolate and wait, staying above the chaos to be safe. These children grow up to be victims.

Move against others to dominate and control. This defensive strategy is what creates the bully, attacker and verbal abuser. These children grow up to be persecutors.

David Emerald, in his book The Power of TED, suggests an an tidote to what he calls our default Dreaded Drama Triangle. It is The

Empowerment Dynamic (TED). In that mode, the victim becomes a creator. Instead of being helpless, incapable and disempowered, they are creative, resilient and capable of learning and growing. The persecutor becomes a challenger, nudging the creator into discovery of their desired outcome and vision for their life.

The rescuer becomes a coach that believes the creator (previously the victim) is capable, can learn and grow from the situation for lifelong improvement, not just the quick fix of the rescuer that masks the deeper, unmet needs of the creator.

We have all suffered in the Drama Triangle, no matter which roles we have played. Most importantly, we have the choice to be a creator instead of a victim with practice and self-awareness. This is where the wis dom of a coach can be helpful.

The world would be a much lighter, brighter and more loving place if we each made the choice to come out of the darkness of the victim/res cuer/persecutor triangle and entered into the empowerment and joy of the creator/coach/challenger dynamic.

By choosing to be a creator in our own lives, we awaken to our passion, purpose and joy of living in an energy that increases planetary light and love. The effort we put into our inner work journey is well worth the effort when we become the transformational creator in our own story.

Julie Chai is an ordained Presbyterian minister, spiritual director, in tuitive, Inner Work facilitator and artist, offering clairvoyant readings and healings and workshops. For more information, email Julie@Julie Chai.com or visit JulieChai.com or InnerListening.me. See ad page 8.

12 Quick Fixes for Anxiety

Simple Strategies for Mental Well-Being

by Ronica O’Hara

It is an all-too-human experience to have anxiety—feeling fear or apprehension about what might happen. A survival mechanism for our species, it can easily get out of hand in times of uncertainty, morphing from a timely signal to a crippling, chronic condition. Hap pily, mental health professionals have found many useful anti-anxiety strategies to ease us through difficult moments.

Breathe Deeply. “Controlling your breathing is a fantastic hack to help you move out of a stress/anxiety response state. It’s important to try different breathing techniques to figure out which ones work for you,” says Krista Jordan, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Austin, Texas. Many options exist such as breathing slowly into the belly; inhaling through the nose for a count of four, holding the breath for a count of seven and exhaling through the mouth for a count of eight; slowing the breath so that the in and out breaths equalize; and placing mindful attention on our breathing until 10 breaths are completed.

Tap with the Fingers. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a five-minute approach using two fingers to tap on specific points of the head and chest in a certain sequence. In one 5,000-person study, 76 percent of participants found anxiety relief after three EFT

sessions, while only 51 percent experienced relief after 15 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy. “EFT sends a calming signal to the brain that reduces your anxiety, which allows for newfound thinking and solutions,” says Colorado Springs therapist Dana C. Avey. Simple instructions can be found online and in YouTube videos.

Write It Off with Journaling. Whether it’s a three-page brain dump in the morning, a frantic scribbling on paper in a stressful moment or a nightly ritual in a bound journal, writing out anxious thoughts helps clarify worries and puts things into perspective, research shows. Seattle spinal surgeon David Hanscom, a chronic pain expert and author of Back in Control, counsels writing down in longhand whatever is on the mind using graphic and descriptive language twice a day for 10 to 30 minutes, and then promptly tearing it up to let the thoughts go.

Meditate Mindfully. Many soothing types of meditation can be tried out on apps like Calm, InsightTimer and Headspace, but the best-studied approach for anxiety is mindfulness, which involves focusing on the breath and body sensations while letting distracting thoughts float by. A 2017 Australian study found that just 10 minutes of daily mindful meditation can help prevent the mind from wandering and is particularly effective for repetitive, anxious thoughts. “Just be clear that having a constant stream of thoughts is fine and part of the process. It’s sadly ironic that people turn to meditation to help with anxiety, and then get anxious that they are doing it wrong,” advises Jordan.

Move the Body in Nature. According to the Harvard Health Letter, “Just a single bout of exercise can ease anxiety when it strikes.” Studies have proven the value of everything from aerobics to swimming and yoga, and it’s even better if exercising can be done outdoors, because decades of research have found that being amidst the sights, sounds and scents of natural settings lowers anxiety markers. In a recent study, walking without using a smartphone or another electronic device in urban settings just two hours a week reduced cortisol levels 21 percent in 20 minutes, “which helps to reduce the medical effects of stress, including chronic inflammation, GI disorders and heart problems,” says Santa Barbara-based John La Puma, M.D., co-founder of the ChefMD health media brand and creator of MyNatureDose.com, a free, anti-anxiety walking program.

Say a Favorite Prayer. Making a deep spiritual connection— an age-old anxiety solution—can involve praying or for example, reading psalms, saying a rosary, chanting a mantra or reading sacred scripture. Eric Almeida, a mental health practitioner in Bernardston, Massachusetts, recommends the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” He says, “It doesn’t matter if you believe in God, the wisdom is useful nonetheless.”

Chill Out. “Sip cold water, hold ice cubes, take a cold shower, blast the AC in your face. Our body and mind are very connected, so if you can’t cool down your mind, cool down your temperature,”

advises San Diego-based marriage and family therapist Sarah O’Leary. Some people find the opposite works: taking a long, hot bath infused with essential oils like bergamot, frankincense and lavender.

Get Rooted. Stand barefoot in grass or dirt while breathing deeply or imagine the roots of trees growing from the soles of the feet deep into the earth. “This helps ‘ground’ you or ‘root’ you, and can help you find steadiness rather than getting lost in anxiety,” says mindfulness trainer and author Joy Rains of Bethesda, Maryland.

Soothe with Supplements. Boston integrative medicine physician Sarika Arora, M.D., of the Women’s Health Network, rec ommends vitamins B5, B6 and B12 to improve cellular energy, lower cortisol and restore equilibrium to the nervous system; magnesium to support balanced metabolism and increase feelings of calm; L-the anine, found in green tea, to lower stress hormone levels; eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) to limit excess cortisol; and vitamin E to support hormone production and stress recovery.

Be with the Anxiety. Tyler Read, the San Francisco-based owner of Personal Trainer Pioneer, decided to bite the bullet by using the tools of dialectical behavior therapy to put himself into anxiety-producing public places. “Instead of convincing myself that I was at peace or not nervous, I accepted that I was nervous. I gave myself permission to shake, sweat and feel nauseous; at times, I ac

knowledged that I felt like I was dying. And by permitting myself to be nervous, the anxiety decreased over time,” he says.

Move to Music. Relaxing music can be as effective as medi cation in altering brain function, research suggests, especially if the rhythm is 60 beats per minute, which encourages the slow brainwaves associated with hypnotic or meditative states. Dancing to upbeat music like no one is watching can also chase worries away. Holistic psychotherapist Kellie Kirksey, Ph.D., of Youngstown, Ohio, suggests shaking to a favorite song: “Begin by shaking out the hands while holding the thought, ‘I let go.’ If shaking the hands feels good, add in shaking one leg at a time. Shake the whole body while imagining yourself releasing the tension stored in your muscles.”

Bond with an Animal. Merely petting a dog or cat releases the feelgood bonding hormone oxytocin into our system. “Animals speak to you in a nonverbal communication, so the interactions require you to be present and to feel. Both allow for a meditative experience that is tremendously impactful for reducing anxiety,” says Shannon Dolan, an Austin, Texas, nutritional therapist and horse owner. “If you don’t have your own pet, look up equine therapy in your area, go to a local dog shelter, spend time with a friend’s dog or travel out to a petting zoo, where you can experience the healing power of animals.”

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Liberate yourself from suffering.

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Rachel Jones on grief in the healthcare front lines

by Sandra Yeyati

Now, for the first time in history, it is possible for anyone to study the most sacred and ancient knowledge. This knowledge is profound, nearly incomprehensible, and ultimately only useful when made practical in one’s daily life. Live it, and the truth will be made starkly evident. Learn more at GnosticTeachings.org

Experience is better than belief.

After earning a journalism degree from Columbia University, Rachel Jones spent four years as a reporter in Caracas, Venezuela, including a year and a half as a correspondent for The Associated Press. Her articles have appeared in Time magazine, The Lancet, The Delacorte Review and Scientific American. In her book, Grief on the Front Lines: Reckoning with Trauma, Grief and Humanity in Modern Medicine, Jones examines the emotional challenges that healthcare workers face in hospital emergency rooms, hospices and other front-line settings.

What are your most surprising findings about healthcare heroes?

That they’re humans, just like the rest of us. They can make mistakes. Their work affects them, and they take it home. We have this impression that they’re emotionally cut off from their work, and this couldn’t be less true. Also, healthcare workers don’t have all the answers. We have this fantasy that if anything goes wrong, we can go to the doctor and have it fixed, but they can’t save everybody. Even the concept of a hero—that they’re going

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to swoop in and save us—does a disservice because it feeds into that false impression.

What are the most pressing challenges in these medical settings?

There’s a stigma where it’s considered weak if you need mental health care, even though you work in a stressful environ ment dealing with death and traumatic incidents. Many doctors and nurses don’t access mental health services for fear that when they renew their licenses, they’ll have to reveal that and be further investigated— even in states where that’s not the case.

Another problem is the shortage of doc tors and nurses that we’re experiencing and will be experiencing in the next decade as Baby Boomers age. Many places are shortstaffed, heightening the burden on those that remain, which doesn’t help retain peo ple. Patching things with travel nurses for short-term contracts isn’t sustainable, and we don’t have enough new people coming into the system.

How do these challenges affect patient care?

Medical errors increase when healthcare workers haven’t slept or eaten, which seems to be the standard, especially medical residents who work insane schedules or hospital nurses who don’t have time to take breaks. Also, mental health issues and

depression closes them off from colleagues and patients, giving them tunnel vision. Then there are issues such as bullying where because of the toxicity of the work environment, maybe doctors and nurses aren’t sharing information in the way that they should be, and that can have a very detrimental impact on patients.

Why is it important for healthcare workers to remain emotionally connected with patients?

Traditionally, doctors and nurses are taught to keep an emotional distance, but that can cause them to compartmentalize and numb out feelings, which then spreads to their personal lives. They may be less able to engage with loved ones and feel discon nected from patients so their work isn’t as meaningful. Most healthcare workers care about people. They want to help patients and want to feel connected, so that discon nection is harmful to them and to their patients who don’t feel seen or cared for.

At the opposite end, some healthcare workers take on their patients’ suffering, bringing it home and obsessing about it. The idea is to find a balance—remaining open enough to connect, but not seeing yourself as the sole responsible person for a patient’s recovery. You’re not entirely in control, so realizing there are other forces at play when things go wrong, even if you made a mistake.

What coping strategies can help practitioners?

It’s essential that healthcare administra tions provide space and time off for staff to heal and grieve, encouraging staff to speak with chaplains or therapists—normalizing mental health care—and ensuring that therapy is covered by insurance and widely available in safe and confidential settings.

Jonathan Bartels, a nurse in Virginia, came up with The Medical Pause—a moment of silence after a patient dies to honor their life, think about what they meant to you and un derstand you did everything you could to save their life. Honor walks for organ donors are where everyone lines the hallway and watches as a patient is wheeled into the operating room after they’ve died and are going to have their organs transplanted into others. Stepping back for a brief moment of mindfulness is a powerful way to set down emotions, rather than letting them lodge in your body.

Self-care—things like yoga, exercise, jour naling, taking walks—and peer support are important, but administrations need to make time for them to happen. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, a project called RISE [Resilience In Stressful Events] allows practitioners to page a peer after a bad outcome. Sometimes, talking to someone like you that has been there them selves can be more helpful than a therapist.

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

MAKING FOREVER CHEMICALS GO AWAY

Manmade Compounds Pose Lasting Threat to Our Health

by Sheryl DeVore

Decades ago, environmental groups urged the banning of what are known as forever chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, compro mised immune systems and hormonal imbal ances, among other health issues. To day, although some of these man-made per- and polyfluo roalkyl substances (PFAS) are being phased out, there’s still much to worry about.

“These chem icals are every where–in products, in our homes, in our drinking water. They’re even coming down in rain,” says Mike Schade, director of the Mind the Store program of Toxic-Free Future (ToxicFreeFuture.org), a national nonprofit based in Seattle. “This is a growing public health crisis.”

A recent Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) report says that 200 million Americans are likely drinking water contaminated with PFAS, and that these chemicals are even more toxic than once thought. In June, the U.S. Environmen tal Protection Agency (EPA) established new health advisories for these chemicals, warning about the toxicity of even lower amounts in water. The EPA is offering $1

billion in grants initially and $5 billion over time to help remove them from drinking water. Recent research has also shown PFAS detected in sludge used as fertilizer in home gardens. “We need action at all levels of government,” Schade says. “We need states to step up. We need Congress to step up. We need big companies to step up and consumers to take action.”

Origin of PFAS

Since the late 1940s, forever chem icals have been manufactured for use in products such as nonstick cookware; water proof, water-resistant and stain-resistant textiles; dental floss; and food packaging, such as microwave popcorn bags and fast-food contain ers. Firefighters also use foam that contains the chemicals. “Production and disposal of these chemicals is leading to the contamination of drinking water supplies and surface water bodies all across the country,” Schade says. “It’s a huge issue, especially in the Great Lakes.”

“We’re talking about more than 9,000 chemicals,” says Susie Dai, Ph.D., a leading PFAS researcher and an associate professor of plant pathology and microbi ology at Texas A&M University. “Because they contain one of the strongest chemical bonds, the carbon-fluorine bond, they are very stable. That makes it difficult for the chemicals to break down and easy for them to accumulate in the environment.”

Several years ago, chemical companies began manufacturing what they deem are less-toxic PFAS. They’re known as either

short-chain or alternative PFAS, and include chemicals named GenX and PFBS. “The more that scientists study this very large class of chemicals, the more that scientists find the replacement chemicals are likely just as toxic,” Schade says. The EPA June health advisories include these two new PFAS.

Meanwhile, as public concern grows, 11 states have banned PFAS in food packaging, and Congress is considering a similar ban, says Schade. Whole Foods Market has stopped using the chemicals in food packaging, and Keen, an outdoor shoe brand, has phased out use of PFAS in their products.

In February, Toxic-Free Future sent rain jackets, hiking pants, cloth napkins, bedding and other products marked as stain- or wa ter-resistant to independent labs for analysis. “Seventy-two percent of them contained forever chemicals,” Schade says. Some of these products are manufactured by recreational equipment company REI, which Toxic-Free is urging consumers to write to, asking it to end the practice.

In July, Columbia Sportswear received petitions with 48,000 sig natures from the Natural Resources Defense Council and other en vironmental organizations urging the company to eliminate PFAS from its products. Although it has begun taking steps, Columbia has yet to set a timeline or define PFAS sustainability standards.

“We can minimize the threat of PFAS contamination by turning off the tap on their use,” says Paloma Paez-Coombe, an associate of Environment Illinois, which participated in the petition drive. “One of the best ways we can do that is by getting a major brand like Columbia Sportswear to publicly lead the way.”

These actions, however, won’t fix the problem of PFAS already in drinking water. Dai and other researchers have created a new bioremediation technology using plant-based material and fungi that could clean places where forever chemicals have been disposed. She hopes a similar concept can be applied to PFAS-con taminated drinking water.

Northwestern University researchers published a paper in August in Science showing PFAS can be destroyed using somewhat harmless chemicals called sodium hydroxide, which is the lye used to make soap, and dimethyl sulfoxide, a medicine for bladder issues. Dai says that before these new approaches, the only way to break down PFAS was to expose them to high temperatures in an incinerator, but that is costly and still introduces harmful chemi cals into the environment.

Meanwhile, the Delaware-based chemical company Chemours, a spinoff of Dupont that manufactures PFAS, has filed a lawsuit against the EPA saying the agency’s most recent health advisory regarding PFAS is based on flawed science. Chemours is the same company that has been ordered to pay a $12 million fine to the state of North Carolina after contaminating waterways with PFAS.

Schade surmises, “This is an issue that should be of concern to every American, especially when these chemicals are linked to health problems that are on the rise in our communities.”

Sheryl DeVore has written six books on science, health and nature, as well as health and environmental stories for national and regional publications. Read more at SherylDeVore.wordpress.com.

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Trembling,,Brain

The Gut-Brain Connection

How Food Affects Our Mood

by Kimberly B. Whittle

We’ve

all heard the phrase, “You are what you eat,” but the con nection is more than just phys ical because food impacts our mood, too. During the last decade, there have been an increasing number of studies exploring what’s called the gut-brain axis and the role that microorganisms in the gut play in mental health conditions like anxiety, stress, depression and other disorders.

Depression is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. and worldwide. There are long-held views in medicine that depression is caused by imbalances in brain levels of serotonin—the neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regu lating mood and other functions like digestion and sleep. These beliefs resulted in decades of extensive use of antidepressants, most of which boost serotonin in the brain.

However, research by University College London, published in July in the journal Molecular Psychology, found “no consis tent evidence of there being an association between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations.”

Michael Gershon, M.D., a Columbia Uni versity professor of pathology and cell biology, and author of The Second Brain, has explained to psychologists that “scientists were shocked to learn” that about 90 percent of serotonin is not created in the brain, but is actually produced in the gut and carried from there to the brain, not the other way around. This relationship is called the gut-brain axis.

A recent literature review of 26 studies suggests that imbalances in gut bacteria can disrupt the two-way communication along the gut-brain axis, leading to depression and other psychiatric issues.

Gut Health Equals Mental Health

“Gut health is extremely important for mental health,” says Bhavna Barmi, Ph.D., a senior clinical psychologist, relationship therapist and founder of the New Del hi-based Happiness Studio. “The traditional belief that only psychiatry and talk therapy can treat mental health has widened to include lifestyle and food, too.”

“The truth is that our food is the primary contributor of the quality and diversity

of bacteria in the microbiome,” says Ishi Khosla, a clinical nutritionist and president of the Celiac Society of India. “There is an intricate relationship between the gut and the brain.” Food sensitivities, alcohol and highly processed, refined and sugary foods can lead to a lower diversity of good bacte ria and increases in bad bacteria in the gut, which can trigger gut inflammation and unfavorable health conditions.

Most mood-related disorders start with inflammation of the brain as a response to inflammation in the gut. “Certain foods, like gluten, can cause an inflammatory re sponse in the gut. Over time, sensitivities to gluten and other foods can lead to a ‘leaky gut’, an impairment of the gut lining that lets toxins into the bloodstream. Often, if it remains unresolved, it leads to mood-re lated disorders and other chronic health conditions,” says Khosla.

Clinical nutritionists and other practi tioners use biochemical markers and food sensitivity tests to help identify food ingre dients that trigger inflammation in patients. However, if a leaky gut is present, a food sensitivity test may not be very accurate. As

Tom O’Bryan, DC, chief health officer of KnoWEwell, explains in his bestselling book

The Autoimmune Fix, “When you have a leaky gut, a practitioner may do a 90-food testing panel that comes back sensitive to 20 or 25 different foods. And then the patient exclaims, ‘Oh my God, that’s everything I eat.’ Well, of course it is, because your immune system is doing what it is supposed to do—protecting you from toxins. Once the inflammation in the gut is reduced through the elimination of wheat and other offensive foods, and the implementation of a per sonalized diet and protocol to heal the gut [takes place], the same food testing panel will correctly identify those few ingredients to permanently avoid.”

Mood-Lifting Foods

Kelly Brogan, M.D., a holistic psychiatrist and author of The New York Times best sellers A Mind of Your Own and Own Your Self, as well as co-editor of the landmark textbook Integrative Therapies for Depres sion, recommends making three dietary changes to lift mood:

n Eliminate processed foods and food toxins

n Add whole foods, good fats and ther apeutic foods

n Add fermented foods

Eating foods that are fresh, whole, simple and organic when available fuels good gut bacteria and eliminates the toxins found in packaged foods such as hydrogenated veg

etable oils, preservatives, dyes, emulsifiers, taste enhancers and sugars that can upset the proper balance in the gut. A powerful mood regulator is the omega-3 fatty acid found in such cold-water fish as salmon and trout or taken as a dietary supplement. These fatty acids regulate neurotransmis sion and gene expression, act as antioxi dants and have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Good fats from pasture-raised

crab and tuna; organ meats; leafy greens; lettuces; fresh herbs; peppers; and cruci ferous vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli.

Choosing what to eat is complex and affected by culture, cost, environment and taste preferences. Dietary changes can be difficult and take time, and those suffering from mood swings, depression or anxi ety have additional challenges in making

Focus on incorporating a rainbow of red, yellow, orange and green foods into meals.

meats, wild fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil and grass-fed ghee also contrib ute to mood regulation.

“Resetting the gut through good bacteria in probiotics and feeding the good bacteria with prebiotics is a powerful tool to fight mood disorders,” says Khosla. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles (truly fer mented, not just cured in vinegar), kimchi and coconut kefir are natural sources of probiotics. They are delicious and easy to make at home.

A 2018 University of Toronto study in the World Journal of Psychiatry identified 12 nutrients to prevent and treat depressive disorders and found that the following foods had the highest levels of those bene ficial nutrients: bivalves such as oysters and mussels; various sea foods such as octopus,

changes. Nutritionists advise starting small by incorporating one or two foods rich in beneficial nutrients and eliminating a highly processed or packaged food or two. Focus on incorporating a rainbow of red, yellow, orange and green foods into meals. “Food therapy to improve mood is inex pensive, free of side effects and can begin to show results within days,” says Khosla.

In view of the gut-brain axis, says Barmi, “It is imperative that from this point on, nutritionists, psychiatrists and psychother apists work together for holistic care of the client to lead to maximum benefit.”

Kimberly B. Whittle is the CEO of KnoWEwell, the Regenerative Whole Health Hub online solution for health and well-be ing. Visit KnoWEwell.com.

The Colors of Healing

ART THERAPY FOR KIDS

by Marlaina Donato

Opening a brand-new box of crayons or making a happy mess with homemade salt dough can provide hours of fun for most kids, but art therapy—based in a clinical setting—can help children achieve emotional equilibrium, cultivate social skills and increase their capacity for learning. Dipping a brush into bright colors or creating a collage under the guidance of a qualified therapist can help a child express what is beyond spoken language: unprocessed trauma, emotional and physical pain or the multilevel challenges of autism spectrum disorder.

“Art therapy is completely different from arts and crafts, or even teaching a child how to do art. The idea behind art therapy is that not everyone attending therapy is able to talk about what is going on inside of them,” says Robyn Spodek-Schindler, owner of Paint the Stars Art Therapy, in Manalapan, New Jersey.

Art and the Nervous System

According to 2018 research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology & Behav ioral Science, painting-based art therapy has been effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in preschool-aged children. Dipping into the unconscious wellspring of creative impulse through doodling and drawing, finger painting or taking a photograph can help kids bounce

Sukjai Photo/AdobeStock.com

back more easily from bullying or family conflicts, including divorce. Splashing color on a canvas or throwing pottery has been shown to enhance fine motor skills, increase attention spans and instill a sense of accomplishment. For those that are not neurotypical, engaging in guided artistic expression can foster sensory integration and promote positive social interaction.

“I have worked with children who have lost a parent, experienced abuse, abandon ment, consequences of addiction in the family, COVID [-19] anxiety and autism spectrum disorders,” says Andrea Davis, founder and CEO of Dallas Art Therapy, in Richardson, Texas. “Many times, the body is expressing the trauma in the form of sleep disturbance, eating changes, anxiety, depression and panic attacks, to name a few. Art-making bypasses the brain’s trau ma response. The art therapist is trained to support the person in the process of cre ation and allows the person to utilize their other senses to express themselves.”

Celeste Wade, an art psychotherapist at the Child and Family Art Therapy Center, in Haverford, Pennsylvania, emphasizes that emotional processing cannot occur when an individual is on the alert for potential danger, a physiological response from an overstimulated amygdala. “Trau ma needs to be processed for the client to gain mastery and function in a calm state versus fight, flight or freeze. Art making can also activate this area of the brain and have calming effects to counteract trauma responses,” she says.

Willingness, Not Talent

The art therapist provides a nourishing presence without art instruction or critiqu ing, and sessions can be private, in a group

setting or include family members. Con versation, combined with art making, is typical in any art therapy session. Schind ler stresses that creating pretty images is not the goal of an art therapy session and dispels the common assumption that “the person attending art therapy needs to have either a talent in art or an interest in art. They just need the willingness to participate in a session.” Some children see immediate benefits, while others realize emotional progress after several sessions

Art therapy, sometimes in conjunction with other modalities, not only gives children a voice, but provides them with an opportunity to stretch their wings. Group therapy, says Davis, “can look like working together to create a collaborative mural. In the process, taking turns, hearing one an other’s ideas, sharing materials, respecting boundaries and each other’s art becomes an important part of meeting goals.”

During an initial art therapy assessment, Wade might ask a client to draw a family of animals, which creates an opportunity “for the client to share about their own family dynam ics in a safe way. If the client has experienced any type of familial trauma and I were to present the same directive as, ‘draw you and your family doing something,’ the child may be more hesitant or may shut down.”

In a world that can be overwhelming, self-expression through art can give a young person a safe harbor. Schindler accentuates human rapport in the clinical setting, saying, “Art, much like play, is a universal communication tool for children. Sometimes you just feel better when creat ing and sharing with a trusted person.”

Marlaina Donato is an author, painter and composer. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

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natural pet Caregiving Companions

The Many Benefits of Service, Therapy and Emotional Support Animals

by Karen Shaw Becker

Animalsoffer support to humans in innumerable ways, acting as loyal companions, providing soothing therapy and emotional support, and being attentive service animals for invaluable medical assistance. As animals increas ingly take on these roles in public spaces, it is necessary to understand what each category offers and the type of access each is given.

“Some people misrepresent their animals as assistance animals in order to bring them to places where pets are not allowed, to avoid fees or out of a misunderstanding of the animal’s role,” states the American Veterinary Medical Association (avma. org). It points out that although service, therapy and emotional support animals are sometimes referred to interchangeably, they are distinct categories, each with its own definition.

Assistance Animals

As defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an as sistance animal is “any animal that works, provides assistance or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provides emotional support that allevi ates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability.” If certain conditions are met, a person may be entitled to keep an assistance animal in a housing facility that would otherwise prohibit animals.

Service Animals

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 defines a service animal as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individ ual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability.” Aside from miniature horses, no other species are included.

Service animals perform such tasks as helping with navigation, pulling a wheel chair, assisting during a seizure, providing protection or rescue work, alerting a per son to allergens and interrupting impulsive or destructive behavior.

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals (ESA), ac cording to the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), can be any species. Both laws require a disabili ty-related need and a recommendation by

a medical or mental health professional. ESAs do not have to be trained to perform a particular task and may be permitted in otherwise banned housing facilities. Some international airlines allow them to travel at no extra cost. As of January 2021, following a U.S. Department of Transporta tion rule-tightening, virtually no American domestic airline allows ESAs to fly free. (Small dogs can still be flown by passengers paying extra.)

Therapy Animals

According to the ACAA, therapy animals may take part in animal-assisted inter ventions when there’s a “goal-directed intervention in which an animal meeting specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process.” Animal assisted ther apy may involve dogs, cats, horses, llamas, pigs and other species, typically in hospi tals, schools and rehabilitation centers.

Why They Can Be Controversial

While service animals are highly trained and can even receive certifications as psy chiatric service dogs, ESAs are often pets that help a person to cope with daily life or situations they may otherwise find intol erable, such as being in stores, restaurants, museums and on airline flights and other public transportation.

Controversy has arisen when some people have pushed the line, claiming their pet is necessary for emotional support, but in reality, are just there to enjoy access benefits. Yet, in a survey of more than 500 Americans, both service dogs and emo tional support dogs were viewed favorably, and most participants reported feeling that the majority of people with such dogs were not taking advantage of the system.

The Many Benefits

There is seemingly no end to the emo tional, physical and mental benefits dogs

offer to humans. Regular visits with therapy dogs may improve the well-being of people seeking addiction and mental health treatment. Animal-assisted inter ventions have been used among Canada’s correctional population, for which mental health, addictions and trauma histories are major concerns.

Research published in the journal Anthrozoös found that animal-assisted therapy decreased the need for pain med ication in people receiving joint replace ment therapy. Studies by the Delta Society suggests holding, stroking or simply seeing an animal may lower blood pressure while lessening feelings of hostility and increas ing self-esteem. For children, service dogs can be trained to detect the scent of

allergens like peanuts or gluten in food and even provide comfort to them and adult witnesses in courtrooms.

Be aware that out in public, certain rules of etiquette apply. Service dogs, in particu lar, should never be approached, talked to or touched unless permission is granted by the dog’s handler. And take no offense if the handler says no. Distracting a working dog can result in potential harm to the han dler and may interfere with the dog’s focus and ability to follow potentially life-saving commands or cues.

Veterinarian Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, has spent her career empowering animal guar dians to make knowledgeable decisions to extend the life and well-being of their animals.

Regular visits with therapy dogs may improve the well-being of people seeking addiction and mental health treatment.

calendar of events

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Have A Heart Art Mart – Nov 4-6. 11am-5pm, Fri/Sat; 12-4pm, Sun. Shop for handmade and locally made gifts, to support artists, Arts for All and arts education. The Real Estate One Charitable Foundation is making a 50% matching donation on all sales. Free admission & parking. Arts for All of Northern Michigan, 1485 Barlow St, Traverse City ArtsForAllNMI.org.

Virtual Decluttering: Transform Your Space, Transform Your Life – 12-1pm. Join the Foundations of Wellness for Women for a conversation with Charlotte Kaye, a decluttering expert, for practical tips and strategies about how to get started (and how to keep going). $18. Register: Tinyurl.com/ mryce9m9.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

Country Market – 9am-4pm. Featuring hand-made Christmas items, crafts, jellies, woodworking decor, pillows and more. Christ Episcopal Church, 200 State St, Charlevoix. Charlevoix.org.

Holiday Gift Fair – 10am-3pm. Shop over 60 artists and crafters. Shanty Creek Resort, Grand Ballroom, Bellaire. 231-533-6023. BellaireChamber.org.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

Full Moon Sound Bath – 7-8:30pm. Lindsay Lewis incorporates kundalini breathwork, guided meditation and sound healing. Charlevoix Circle of Arts, 109 Clinton St, Charlevoix. 231-547-3554. CharlevoixCircle.org.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Wild Turkey Trot 5K – 11am-12pm. Run or walk the designated course on race day with other partic ipants or run your own 5K at your own convenience and submit your time later. Grass River Natural Area, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. More info & register: GrassRiver.org.

Traverse City Shop & Sip – 1-7pm. Featuring more than 50 vendors, a fresh VIP experience and 3 cash bars. Portion of all ticket sales donated to Project Feed the Kids. VIP Preview, 1-3pm ($15, advanced purchase only) allows shoppers to skip the lines and have first access to all of the one-of a kind treasures. $5, 3-7pm; free/children 12 & under. Park Place Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E State St, Tra verse City. Tickets: Tinyurl.com/TraverseShopSip. TraverseCityShopAndSip.com.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Castle Farms Sip and Paint – 6-7pm. Follow along with the guide and paint a unique canvas while en joying 1918 Cellars wine. $35; includes canvas, art supplies and one glass of 1918 Cellars wine. Castle Farms, 5052 M-66, Charlevoix. CastleFarms.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

Holiday Open House – 10am-8pm. Participating merchants will offer shopping deals, food specials

and Holiday treats. Downtown Bellaire 121 N Bridge St, Bellaire. BellaireChamber.org.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24

Up North Media Turkey Trot – 8:45am. Featuring a 5K Run/Walk & 5-Mile Flier. 123 E Eleventh St, Traverse City. Tinyurl.com/yzcekwv8.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25

Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting – 3-6pm. 400 Bridge St, Charlevoix. Charlevoix.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

Retreat in Uvita, Costa Rica – Nov 27-Dec 3. An opportunity to reset, cultivate deep inner-wisdom and connect with the sacred heart. It includes daily kundalini yoga sessions, journal prompts, medita tions, group sharing and deep, heartfelt connections. More info: JessicaMerwin.com/costa-rica.

ongoing events daily

Healing Immersion Retreats – Thru Fall. With Aria Mae Everts. Schedule a 1-day, immersive private healing retreats for individuals and couples. For those during a difficult or transformative life event or decision that seek further guidance. Free consultation. Bellaire. For more info: 774-578-2762, Aria@AriaMae.com or AriaMae.com.

Get Hydrated on the Go – Renue Wellness offer ing Quench intravenous (IV) hydration to provide individuals holistic options for promoting wellness. Mobile IV and other services provided by board-cer tified nurse practitioner Kimberly Marino. For more info: RenueWellness.net.

Sacred Lights Collective Events – A digital platform and virtual community for seekers and facilitators to walk the spiritual path together of fering daily classes, groups and workshops. With Aria Mae Everts. Virtual. 774-578-2762. Sacred LightsCollective.com.

Pets & Parents Reiki Session – 9am-9pm. Sessions for wellness, critical care and end of life transition. Actively experience the use of reiki touch with your pet. Learn additional tips for helping your pet. Vir tual 40-min appt. $20. 231-590-0001. tcdesoto@ gmail.com.

sundays

PLAN AHEAD

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

Holiday Merchant Open House – 9am-5pm. Mer chants will be armed with entertainment, samples, snacks, refreshments, special sales, raffles and more. 400 Bridge St, Charlevoix. Charlevoix.org.

Winter Art: Tracery – 1-3pm. Explore nature’s creations at Grass River and create your own tracery using mixed media, like sketching, watercolors, and pastels. $10. Grass River Natural Area, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. More info: GrassRiver.org.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17

Sounds of the Season Concert – Dec 17-18. 7:30pm, Sat; 2pm, Sun. The Arts Academy Wind Symphony and Choir lead a family-friendly show case that features works by both ensembles, classic stories and more. Concludes with a sing-along of holiday favorites led by Santa Claus. $29. $17/ students. Corson Auditorium, 4000 J. Maddy Pkwy, Interlochen. 231-276-7800. Interlochen.org.

Kundalini Yoga – 10am. A dynamic, powerful tool that is designed to give you an experience of your energetic body. All levels. Sliding scale $10-$20. New Moon Yoga, 10781 E Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City. 231-392-5813. NewMoonYogaStudio.com.

Men’s Circle: Stories in Council – 6:30pm. 1st Sun. An open group of men who come together in a safe, confidential space to share and gain from each other’s experience and presence. Free. Yoga Bel laire, 216 Portage Dr, Bellaire. YogaBellaire.com.

mondays

Free COVID Testing – 10am-2pm. Pre-registration not required but helpful. The Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital Wellness Workshop, 411 Bridge St, Charlevoix. Charlevoix.org.

Indoor Farmers Market at the Village – NovApr. 10am-2pm. Presented by The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Free admission. The Mercato corridor, 830 Cottageview Dr, Traverse City. TheVil lageTC.com/farmers-market.

Cancer Care Support Discovery Call – 6-6:30pm. For those looking to incorporate a holistic, function al element of care into their cancer treatment plan by working in conjunction with your oncologists, surgeons, primary care physician and physical med icine practitioners. More info: MIHolisticMed.com.

Mantra & Meditation with Jess – 7pm. Begins with a light warm up, then moves into a mantra practice, and ends with a simple divine meditation bathing in the stillness of silence. All levels. Sliding scale $10-$20. New Moon Yoga, 10781 E Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City. 231-392-5813. Pre-regis tration required: Jessica@NewMoonYogaStudio. com. NewMoonYogaStudio.com.

tuesdays

Charlevoix Senior Center Veteran Social & Lunch – 9am-1pm. 1st Tues. Honoring our Veterans. Social beginning at 9am and Free Lunch for Veter an’s at 11:30am. Charlevoix Senior Center, 06906 Norwood Rd, Charlevoix. Charlevoix.org.

Empowerment Circle – 10:30-11:30am. With Heather Zigler. By bringing new light to an ancient and traditional tool used by indigenous people around the globe. Circles are a place to transform ME to WE as a space where the principle of shar ing power with each other exists instead of having power over one another. 1st class free. Pure Essence Wellness Center, 1240 E 8th St, Traverse City. 231499-8595. HeatherZigler.com.

Turntables and Tacos – 4pm-close. Stone Hound Brewing Company, 3593 Bunker Hill Rd, Williams burg. 231-421-5010. StoneHoundBrewing.com.

wednesdays

Empowerment Circle – 5:30-6:30pm. See Tues listing. Pure Essence Wellness Center, 1240 E 8th St, Traverse City. 231-499-8595. Heather Zigler.com.

Wine Down Wednesdays at Castle Farms –6-8pm. Visit 1918 Cellars for live music, food, wine and more. No tickets necessary to enjoy the music. Check their lineup to see who’s going to be performing this summer. Castle Farms, 5052 M-66, Charlevoix. CastleFarms.com.

thursdays

Weekly Facebook Live with Dr. McSwain – 5:306pm. More info: MIHolisticMed.com.

Living with Joy – Thru Oct 20. 6-7:30pm. Lift up your spirit and join chose joy, releasing struggle, and opening to your unlimited potential for personal power and spiritual transformation. $10 donation. Pure Essence Wellness Center, 1240 E Eighth St, Traverse City. 231-499-8595. PureEssence WellnessCenter.com.

The Goddess Workout Beginner Hula Dance Class – 6:30-7:30pm. For absolute beginners of all ages, sizes and shapes. Learn basic hula moves and combinations. $80/8-wk session, $15/drop-in. First Congregational Church, 8066 W State St, Central Lake. AmiraHamzarRaks.com.

Red Tent: Women’s Circle – 7pm. 2nd Thurs. Meet local women, share your journey and grow together. Hosted by Aria, Red Tents are a gentle introduction to women’s sacred circles. Free. Yoga Bellaire, 216 Portage Dr, Bellaire. YogaBellaire.com.

Community Night – 7-9pm. 4th Thurs. Each month we will host a different theme for connecting with your fellow Bellaire community members. Movie nights, potlucks, cacao and conversation, etc. Ev eryone welcome, including families; do not need to practice yoga. Yoga Bellaire, 216 Portage Dr, Bellaire. YogaBellaire.com.

fridays

Kundalini Yoga – 10am. A dynamic, powerful tool that is designed to give you an experience of your energetic body. All levels. Sliding scale $10-$20. New Moon Yoga, 10781 E Cherry Bend Rd, Tra verse City. 231-392-5813. NewMoonYogaStudio. com.

saturdays

Mindful Morning Flow – 8-9am. In-person and online. Gently energize your body and focus your mind, drawing attention to each movement and breath to each posture in this vinyasa-style practice. $25 in studio, $15 virtually (bundle 6 classes for $120). True Balance Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness, 1128 S Garfield Ave, Traverse City. 231-519-0808. TrueBalanceLife.com.

farmers market directory

classifieds

EDUCATION/WORKSHOPS

SPRING CLASSES NOW OPEN – for registra tion. This term: Biology B. How to Read Scientific Studies. Biology of the Immune System. Wholistic Approaches to Human Health. Herbology and Health, Applied Biostats plus more. Join the IP AK-EDU community of advanced learners. Find us at ipak-edu.org.

SALE

HOLISTICALLY RAISED MINI-AUSS IEDOODLE PUPPIES – Blue Merle male & female, will likely be 15-17lbs. We prep pups for the healthiest start by avoiding toxins that can dam age the nervous system & feeding most naturally. HerdingAcres.com. 989-275-9976.

HELP WANTED

PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE. GREAT PAY & SIGNING BO NUS – possible depending on start date, availability and experience. Earn $50-$70/hr at established spa on beautiful West Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City seeking experienced Massage Therapist that is passion ate about their career and enjoys working with others. Supplies and appointments provided for you to come work your magic! Will accommodate to work with your schedule. Postion available for Front Desk Receptionist as well; $15-$18/hour. Call Urban Oasis Salt Spa today at 231-938-6020, or email UrbanOasisSaltSpa@gmail. com to schedule and interview today!

SARA HARDY DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET

Between Cass and Union streets, Traverse City 231-922-2050

June-October

Saturdays, 7:30am-12pm Wednesdays, 8am-12pm

FARMERS MARKET AT THE VILLAGE & GRAND TRAVERSE COMMONS 830 Cottageview Dr, Ste 101, Traverse City 231-941-1900

Traverse City's only year-round indoor market. Mondays, May-October, 2-6pm Saturdays, November-April, 10am-2pm

EMPIRE FARMERS MARKET

10234 W Front Street, Empire 231-866-0922

Saturdays, June 11-September 3, 9am-1pm

GROW BENZIE FARMERS MARKET

5885 Frankfort Hwy, Benzonia 231-882-9510

INTERLOCHEN FARMERS MARKET 2112 M 137, Interlochen 231-970-1340 Sundays, 9am-2pm

GLEN ARBOR FARMERS MARKET

6394 Western Ave., Glen Arbor 231-866-0922

Tuesdays, June-September, 9am-1pm

LAKE LEELANAU FARMERS MARKET

112 W Philip Street, Lake Leelanau 231-866-0922

Sundays, June 14-September 6, 9am-1pm

NORTHPORT FARMERS MARKET 105 Bay Street, Northport 231-866-0922

Fridays, June 7-September 13, 9am-1pm

CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER ARTISANS & FARMERS MARKET

461 East Mitchell Street, Petoskey 231-347-4337

October to June, 10am-1pm

ADVANCED WELLNESS

EARTH LABS

317a E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1490

EarthLabsHeal.com

Subtle mo dalities in cluding sound, light, frequency and thermogenic therapies to enhance and transform your quality of life. Our techno-therapy will reduce pain and restore energy. See ad page 19.

CBD PRODUCTS

MY CBD Kelly Young MyTCBD.com

All-Natural CBD products. We source from only organic, environ mentally socially responsible compa nies that believe in cruelty-free testing. Life is too short to feel anything less than your personal best. Ask about our distrib utor options where you can be your own boss. See ad page 17.

CHAGA PRODUCTS

U.P. CHAGA CONNECTION

906-282-0787

MidnightSpcl_59@yahoo.com

UPChagaConnection.com

Freshest, clean est, wildest or ganic Chaga available in the Upper Peninsu la. State certi fied. Im mune-Boosting Superfood. For centuries, people have used chaga mushrooms for medicinal purposes. Packed with antioxidants, its extract may fight cancer, chronic inflammation, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

COACHING & COUNSELING

ARIA MAE EVERTS

Coach, Facilitator, Healer

Aria@AriaMae.com

AriaMae.com

Spiritually integrative coaching, healing and re treats for Conscious Lead ers. In-person and virtual personal development for those who envision a world where all life is honored. See ad page 23.

TRANSFORMATION COACHING LLC

Ken Scott & Jessica Merwin Ken@TransformationCoachingLLC.com 231-883-7769

TransformationCoachingLLC.com

GIFT CERTIFICATES

URBAN OASIS SALT SPA

13709 S. West Bayshore Dr, Traverse City 231-938-6020

UrbanOasisSaltSpa.com

We teach individuals, teams and organizations science & researched based techniques for mental and emotional regulation increasing resilience, promoting health and improving performance. See ad page 9.

COOKING & TEA BREWING

SPICE & TEA MERCHANTS

145 E Front St, Traverse City 231-947-7423

SpiceMerchants.biz/traverse-cityspice-store

Providing the world’s best herbs, spices and teas for

your kitchen. We carry over 200 spices from everyday use to the most exotic as well as over 120 different teas. See ad page 7.

EMF INVESTIGATOR

GOOD WAVES EMF INVESTIGATOR

Serving Central to Northern MI 231-714-0477

EMFInvestigator.com

Many unexplained health issues are showing links to Cell Phones/Towers/ Wi-Fi (with levels now stronger than bodies nat urally adapt to). We de tect EMF-related causes by determining sources of harmful radiation & offer solutions to mitigate. See ad page 21.

FRESH MILK HERD SHARES

SHARED BLESSINGS FARM 7291 18 Mile Rd, Marion 231-743-2286

We are a family farm fo cused on healthy soils to pro duce healthy animals so they can produce healthy raw milk for your good. Taste to know the difference.

Give the gift of health and beauty this holiday season. Treat a loved one to our dry salt therapy, massage, detox, organic facial services, or ex clusive salt room made from 15,000 pounds of Himalayan pink salt that supports overall health and wellness

HALOTHERAPY

URBAN OASIS SALT SPA

13709 S. West Bayshore Dr, Traverse City 231-938-6020

UrbanOasisSaltSpa.com

Dry salt therapy, massage, de tox, organic facial services, exclusive salt room made from 15,000 pounds of Himalayan pink salt supports overall health and wellness

HEALTHY PET

HEALTHY HERDERS OF HERDING ACRES 989-275-9976

HerdingAcres.com

Holistically raised mini-Auss iedoodle puppies for sale. Blue Merle male and female, will likely be 15-17lbs. We prep pups for the healthiest start by avoiding toxins that can dam age the nervous system and feeding most naturally.

HOLISTIC MENTAL WELLNESS

KELLIE ZIEHM

Kellie.Amare@yahoo.com 734-344-2339

AmareMentalWellness.com

Come join my team with this ground floor dis tributor opportunity with the only holistic mental wellness company in direct sales. I’m also looking for healthcare professionals to join our influencer program.

LESS ANXIETY NATURALLY

EARTH LABS

317a E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1490

EarthLabsHeal.com

Advanced technolo gies in the sound and

light lab ease anxiety and relieve chronic pain. En hance your mood and bring balance to the limbic system. See ad page 19.

MEDICAL/CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIANS

WHOLE HEALTH TRAVERSE CITY

3639 Cass Rd, Traverse City 231-943-2100

WholeHealthTC.org

We help people suffer ing with chronic joint and muscle pain, and peripheral neuropathy to decrease pain, in crease quality of life, and maximize their competitive edge. See ad page 13.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION

503 East Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714

Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info

NaturopathicInstitute.info

Educational pro grams offered: Natural Health Program: four years (one week end a month); Massage Therapy Program: one year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program: six months (one weekend a month). Indi vidual classes available. See ad page 3.

PERSONAL & SPIRITUAL GROWTH WORKSHOPS

INNER LISTENING™ WORKSHOPS

Rev. Julie Chai 231-922-9699

InnerListening.me

Inner Listening™ workshops for compassionate self-aware ness, presence, serenity, love, and joy, offer you the theory, practice, and support to move beyond emotional reactions and into deep healing, compassion and empowerment. See ad page 8.

RELIEF FROM TRAUMA, ANXIETY & DEPRESSION

ACT ABSOLUTE CHOICES TODAY COUNSELING NANCY WARNARS, LPC

OperationAbleNancyW@gmail.com 248-845-0513

AbsoluteChoicesTherapy.com

Virtual Teletherapy for all ages. Immediate appointments avail able. Accepting most insur ance. Office in East Lansing. Change happens when you take responsibility to create thinking that supports ways to feel bet ter. Family of origin, groups and media can have a profound effect on your inner being. Letting go of the neg ativity is critical to co-create new pathways toward hope, peace and love for the life you have a choice to envision.

SCHOOL / EDUCATION

NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION

503 East Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714

NaturopathicInstitute.info

Educational pro grams offered: Natural Health Program: four years (one week

end a month); Massage Therapy Program: one year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program: six months (one weekend a month). Indi vidual classes available. See ad page 3.

WELLNESS & HYDRATION

RENUE WELLNESS & HYDRATION

KimberlyMarinoDNP@yahoo.com 231-252-1000

RenueWellness.net

We’re proud to be a mobile IV hydration company. Stay-athome parents, ath letes and busy pro fessionals can enjoy the benefits of a wide array of IV cocktails, as well as partiers too worn out from last night’s fun, can receive a hangover recovery IV drip in the comfort of their own homes or setting of their choice. We are available for groups, as well. See ad page 11.