Wearing A Red Nose: Healing through Humor In the 1980s a film about a Medical Doctor, Patch Adams, was very popular. Based on a true story, Patch Adams is a doctor who uses humor and laughter to support healing in patients reducing additional illness by fostering laughter and a positive outlook on life. A professional clown…
Healing Through the Art
Healing Through the Art “Giraffes Can’t Dance” is an inspirational story of a Giraffe who believes he cannot dance until one day he finds the music that speaks to his soul. Then he finds that he can dance. Like the Giraffe, most of us believe that we do not have any artistic talent and so we do…
When Trauma and Loss Become Domestic Violence
When Trauma and Loss Become Domestic Violence We become upset when we hear or see the results of domestic violence; physical injury, emotional distress, fear and terror by those experiencing the results of extreme anger and rage by another. It is natural to side with the person injured and condemn the person inflicting the injuries.…
Helping Your Children Recover from a Catastrophic Event
Helping Your Children Recover from a Catastrophic Event by Paulina Rael Jaramillo As adults we have a history of loss, grief and recovery. We often use information based on past experiences to make determinations about the present situation and use logic to help us remain calm and resolve problems. Whereas, children lack experience and tend…
Healing from a Crisis
Healing from a Crisis Ultimately each crisis and the accompanying trauma it creates comes to some type of resolution or end. But the impact of the crisis and the trauma experienced will continue for a long time afterwards, for months and even years. What we do after the crisis individually and together will determine the…
Dealing with Grief During the Holidays
Dealing with Grief During the Holidays By Paulina Rael Jaramillo Grief and the emotions that accompany the loss of a loved one is an agonizing experience and during the holidays it can seem like an overwhelming ordeal. Reassessing our attitude toward the holidays, deciding how involved we want to be as well as modifying old…
Grieving Together
Grieving Together All losses we experience result in a period of grief. This grieving process is the way we heal both in body and mind from the trauma. Whether the loss is singular, experienced by an individual or multiple, experienced by many having others support the grieving process provides comfort and helps healing. This is…
Creating New Beginnings for Healing
Creating New Beginnings for Healing Every day we have the opportunity to start again, to create new beginnings and heal from the challenges and losses from the past days, weeks and years. But too often instead of seeing each day as a new beginning we drag the old pain, hurt and trauma with us into…
Heeding Our “Emotional” Heart
Heeding Our “Emotional” Heart We hear statements such as “He has a broken heart”, “My heart is sad”, “That is a heartache” and we understand that a person is going through a sad and hurtful experience. We associate our heart with emotions; painful, sad, and joyful. Does our heart really break or are we…
Understanding Trauma and Loss
Understanding Trauma and Loss As our culture and society becomes more accepting of mental health as an intricate component of each person’s overall health there is now more interest in the concept and impact of trauma and traumatic events on physical and mental wellbeing. Information, educational programs and environmental cultural shifts are occurring in all…