REFLECTIONS

In our current era of collective trauma, mental health issues are becoming a part of daily conversation. In spite of this increased exposure to concepts of stress, trauma, anxiety and mental illness, many terms are misunderstood within our popular culture.

A few years ago my dear friend and counsellor colleague Dorion Dellabough, M.Ed., RCC (https://helpisinsight.com) shared his idea for a great book title “The Thousand Faces of Dissociation” to describe the nuances and continuum of this mental health phenomenon called dissociation. It is with his permission that I borrow his title today to share my experiences of the meaning, physiology and support for states of dissociation.

"Shame on you, shame on you, shame on you!”

These are words we’ve been hearing a lot recently, being directed at different people in different contexts. In some of the situations, we agree the judgements themselves are valid; in others we see the words as angry projections triggered by the shamer’s own emotional pain. In either case, the shamer is likely trying to change the person they are pointing at, to make them feel bad about themselves, so that they will be held accountable for something. Given we’re feeling that blaming and shaming and "black and white thinking" is on the rise in many corners of the world, we’d like to dedicate this blog space and time to asking ourselves this question - is blaming and shaming actually effective at changing other people’s behaviour? And if not, what can we do to bring more accountability into this world that needs it?

We have amazing potential to positively impact people around us. What we’re seeing is increasing evidence of the value of mindfulness in all corners of the world, it’s worth encouraging: the time for increasing our emotional intelligence has most definitively arrived.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull was a timely inspiration to me when I was 19 years old and scratching the surface at looking deeper. In hindsight, that little book written in the 60s about a seagull trying to learn about life and flight was one of the first illuminations that influenced me to want to become my best self - without anyone else telling me to.

“The only person you can change is yourself” has consistently been expressed by Kim Barthel (with conviction) in every workshop offered over the past years. One thing this means to me is that when our efforts are purely to control others’ “bad behaviour” we are wasting our time or worse, causing damage to the relationship.

A large part of providing therapy services is supporting people, offering options, and doing many things to help them be their best selves. But any act of service begins with us being our best selves.

Anyone who’s seen a few of Kim’s workshops, particularly on the themes of relationship, will recognize the Jhamtse Gatsal Children's Community. It’s the location where the Emmy-award-wining “Tashi and the Monk” documentary was filmed, in the remote foothills of the Himalayas of india. We would like to fully dedicate this time and space to its example of bringing compassion into action, despite hardship. Why raise the example of this unique community? And why especially now?

Helping Our Children Be Their Best Selves with Kim Barthel took place online via Zoom Thursday Feb. 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jon Chabun of the CFB Esquimalt The Lookout Newsletter wrote an article about this presentation.

Eating is an integral part of living. Our survival, attachment, self-regulation, social connection, pleasure, and health are outcomes of this complex daily living activity. Most of the time we eat without consciousness, yet the act of eating requires such a significant amount of integrated brain function. During COVID times when our food habits (for better and for worse) had been brought more to light, we decided to explore the topic by creating an all new workshop called “Eating and Feeding Matters”.

In this episode of WE Earth Radio Conversations, Kim talks with Michael Stone about personal and collective trauma and the many approaches and methods of healing. They talk about how we suppress and dissociate from the wounded parts of ourselves when they are critical to embrace and become aware of if real healing is to place. Don't miss this captivating episode of WE Earth Radio from The Well of Light.

On January 26 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Kim will be giving a virtual presentation titled, Supporting our Children to Be Their Best Selves. The Aldergrove Star wrote an article about this presentation.

With a such a crazy year just about behind us, some reflection is natural - and also necessary. Many might be thinking that 2020 is the year they would like to erase from their memories. Such was the discomfort, pain, uncertainty and in some hearts, deep loneliness and fear. And, we can also choose to lean into the priceless things we've learned in part because of the unique circumstances we faced. Healing isn’t curing, and it also isn’t forgetting. Healing is coming to terms with what is, while still hoping for more. Towards the goal of healing for all of us after 2020, here is Kim’s Top Ten List of things we can choose to keep from this past turbulent year…

Throughout my career as an occupational therapist, individuals on the spectrum have taught me and required from me a level of attunement in relationship that has expanded me as a human. Putting our mind in the mind of another who is differently wired, attempting to put our feet in the shoes of someone who has a different reality of the sensations around them, is an opportunity for a deeper awareness of the myriad of experiences that are possible, and for increased compassion. The state of presence and self-regulation that neurodiverse beings teach us plays a profound role in expanding the conscious evolution of the human spirit.

Stop right there! You might be thinking “I don’t work in the area of trauma, this podcast won’t be relevant to me”! You couldn’t be more wrong. This podcast episode is relevant for every single OT on this planet – including you! Join Rhiannon Crispe and Kim Barthel in an engaging and inspiring discussion for anybody who supports others.

In this video, Jess and Kim briefly discuss topics such as sensory processing, self-stimulatory behaviours, trauma and challenging behaviours.

It is almost impossible not to reflect on the topic of leadership at this time when so many Americans are about to make a collective decision about who they want as their leader, a choice that will impact so much.

This reflection is critical. Yet, whatever the outcome of the US election, some people will not believe that they had - nor imagine that they have - the power to make any difference in their circumstances anyway. My point to strongly encourage is that we are in the driver’s seat, no matter what. Even in the most horrible situations, we have the power of our own thoughts.

Therapists providing intervention to children with movement challenges have traditionally considered and have perhaps treated “muscle tone” specifically as an impairment impeding motor performance in daily living function. In our hands, we can “feel” the resistance, heaviness, responsiveness and changes of each child’s body with whom we interface in therapy. Kim speaks to the science and therapeutic approaches with this important matter of tone.

Episode 12 - Kim Barthel- Psycho-Sensory Intervention: Informed and Integrated Mental Health Strategies for the Treatment of Trauma.

In this second interview with Joanne in the Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast- A Polyvagal Theory Informed Therapy, Kim shares information about trauma and the connection with sensory processing, attachment and our postural system. The discussion starts by defining what is "trauma?" A very expansive discussion......one that is well needed!.